I'm in my second year of college and I took an Introduction to Shakespeare class this semester. I've always been terrified of Shakespeare, but the professor is phenomenal and I love, love, LOVE this class. It just so happens that my professor's birthday is next week, plus she has mentioned several times how our class is the best Shakespeare class she's had during her whole teaching career, so I took it upon myself to make her a charm bracelet reminiscent of our class.
There are 3 charms for each of the plays we've studied in class, plus a couple extra. If you've read any of these plays, hopefully the charms will make some sense to you.
Le bracelet:
Charms, beginning at the clasp and going clockwise:
- 2012 (for our class, obviously)
The Taming of the Shrew:- A sun/moon (for when Kate and Petruchio argue about what of day it is)
- Fork (when Petruchio starves Kate as part of his plan to "tame" her)
- Moneybag (since Petruchio married Kate for the sole reason of her dad having tons of money)
Hamlet:- Saw (partially hidden)
- Hawk (one of my professor's favorite quotes - Hamlet is trying to prove he's not crazy and says "I can tell the difference between a hawk and a handsaw!")
- Skull (alas, poor Yorick . . .)
The Tempest:- Book (Prospero's magic comes from his books!)
- Wine bottle (Stephano and Trinculo spend the entire play being drunk)
- Anchor (for the shipwreck that landed the whole lot on the island)
A Midsummer Night's Dream:- Love-in-idleness flower (that makes all the potions)
- Lion (for the actors who won't dress up as a lion because "It might scare the ladies")
- Fairy (because half the characters in this play are fairies!)
Titus Andronicus:- Piece of pie (for Titus' treatment of Tamora's sons, a la Sweeney Todd)
- Sword (so much violence!!)
- Hand (Titus' allegiance to the King . . . ouch)
Much Ado About Nothing:- Donkey (for Dogberry, who wants the world to know he is a . . . well, you know)
- Masquerade mask (for the dance in the play, and the many lies and deceptions)
- Perfume bottle (Benedick wears perfume while trying to impress Beatrice)
And lastly . . .
- Greek comedy/tragedy masks (after all, Shakespeare wrote comedies and tragedies!)
Charms were a combination of Hobby Lobby, Watchus, and Beads and Charms. I bought the chain, the clasps, and the jump rings separately and put the whole thing together. I can't wait to see my professor's reaction when she opens the box.
