It's the first Wednesday of the month,
the day that members of the
Insecure Writer's Support Group
share their writing struggles
and writing successes
and offer their encouragement
and support to fellow writers.
To visit the IWSG website, click here.
To become a member of the IWSG, click here.
Our wonderful co-hosts who are volunteering today,
along with IWSG Founder Alex J. Cavanaugh are Nancy Gideon,
along with IWSG Founder Alex J. Cavanaugh are Nancy Gideon,
I hope you have a chance to visit today's hosts and thank them for co-hosting.
I'm sure they would appreciate a visit and an encouraging comment.
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Every month the IWSG announces a question that members can answer
with advice, insight, a personal experience, or a story in their IWSG posts.
Or, the question can inspire members
if they aren't sure what to write about on IWSG Day.
Remember the question is optional.
This month's featured question is:
Ghost stories fit right in during this month. What's your favorite classic ghostly tale? Tell us about it and why it sends chills up your spine.
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Happy October, Everyone!
I sure many IWSG Members will have fun with this month's question.
Favorite classic ghost story?
I'm going Shakespeare's Macbeth, which technically isn't a ghost story,
but contains a scene where the ghost of Banquo appears at a banquet
to haunt Macbeth after he has murdered King Duncan and ordered the killing of Banquo.
Parnell as Macbeth and Dr. Cronin as Banquo's ghost.
Plate to: St. Stephen's Review, June 1889.
I've always been fascinated with Shakespeare's tragedy
because my maiden name is MacBeath which is pronounced Macbeth.
I endured decades of teasing over my name, from the incantations of the three witches,
to the cry Macbeth hears, “Sleep no more! Macbeth hath murdered sleep!",
to the sleepwalking anguish of Lady Macbeth uttering "Out, damned spot! out, I say!"
Out, Damned Spot!
Lady Macbeth by Alfred Stevens, undated, oil on canvas, 127 x 97 cm.
Musées communaux de Verviers (Verviers, Belgium)
The ghost of gory-locked Banquo, Macbeth's former best friend
and fellow general in battle, is more disturbing than chilling.
Banquo's ghost speaks no lines, only appears, disappears, and reappears
visible to no one but King Macbeth.
Macbeth's horrified reaction results in Lady Macbeth sending everyone away.
The really chilling part of Shakespeare's tragedy
is what highly ambitious people can do in seeking political power
and the damaging physical and psychological consequences of their ruthless actions.
I find it a tale and a warning for our troubled world.
Poster of Thos. W. Keene in William Shakespeare's Macbeth
circa 1884
Wishing each of you a fun IWSG Day.
A big thank you to our awesome co-hosts today.
Have a healthy, happy, and creative October!
Oh, guess who's traveling today ~ Again!
I'll visit around as quickly as I can.
Till next time ~
Fundy Blue
Standing Into Danger https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com
Copyright ©2024 – All rights reserved.
My next post will be October 11th!🤞
Happy travels.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, MacBeth is as relevant today as when it was written.
Thanks, Sue! We're in Las Vegas for a few nights, meeting up with friends from the East Coast. Shakespeare was uniquely talented. Dr. Brugaletta, my professor at Cal State Fullerton who taught me so much about Tolkien, was also my professor for Shakespeare. It was one of my favorite courses ever. I've always been torn between stories written in rocks and stories written in literature ~ lol! Have a restorative weekend, my friend!
DeleteOops! I keep thinking it's Friday, and it's only Wednesday. Enjoy the rest of your week, Sue!
DeleteYeah, that one is close to reality.
ReplyDeleteHave a great day, Alex! thanks for all you do!
Delete...Louise, I wish you an Outstanding October.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tom! I wish the same for you!
DeleteMacbeth is scary in it's own way :-)
ReplyDeleteRonel visiting for IWSG day Adventures in Audio: Recording and Publishing Audiobooks
Shakespeare really saw into the hearts of people in a timeless way. Enjoy IWSG Day, Ronel!
DeleteI was having trouble leaving a comment on your post, Ronel. Thanks for all your information about recording audio books.
DeleteHi Ms. Blue, I like your choice of ghost story! So far, in my admittedly small sample, I've heard stories from two of my favourite writers- Dickens and Shakespeare so it is a good morning. I was out near your old stomping grounds on Monday picking apples in the valley. What a gorgeous day! Did you get home this year? I always have a desire to fling off my duds and go sliding on that lovely loo,ING Fundy mud. Sure it's full of shell shards and rocks so I don't, but if you hear one day of some crazy old woman being arrested for that you'll know who it is.
ReplyDeleteHi, Jan! Yes, I did make it back to Nova Scotia for a too brief visit. But it was wonderful! My mother loved to slide and roll on the low tide mudflats around Smith's Cove. She didn't care about the things in the mud. Now me: icky, icky, icky! I'm very squeamish about icky things ~ lol! Have lots of fun today!
DeleteMacbeth is a good choice and is sadly really relevant today. Sorry you got teased about your name.
ReplyDeleteAll these centuries have gone by since Shakespeare wrote Macbeth, and humanity still hasn't learned. All the best to you, Natalie!
DeleteI know the story but never read it or seen the play.
ReplyDeleteKids can be cruel when it comes to names, can't they? That's the reason I don't go by my first name anymore.
Hi, Diane! I'm sorry that you were cruelly teased about your first name! As a retired elementary teacher, I know how inventive and mean kids can be when it comes to making fun of names! My parents and family always used my middle name. My first name is Myrtle, after my grandmother MacBeath. She didn't like Myrtle either ~ lol. I was teased a lot about Myrtle too, when I was growing up. Have fun visiting around today!
DeleteBanquo -- the original gatecrasher.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Debra! I hope you are enjoying your week!
Deletehey dear Louise ! hope all is well with you and Terry!
ReplyDeletei enjoyed your response
it reminds me of my favorite one and only ghost movie "ghost" starring Demi Moore and i could not remember the actor name .central idea was a friend betrayed by his best friend and i watched it many times
thinking of you with heart full of best wishes and prays!
Hi, Baili! I am so sorry. I'm so behind visiting you! I am not improving with age; I'm getting worse. I'm sure you are referring to the 1990 movie "Ghost," staring Demi Moore, Patrick Swayze, and Whoopi Goldberg. (Google makes me look smart ~ lol!) I saw it a long time ago and loved it. And now that you've reminded me of it, I'd like to see it again. I think of you and your family every day. Love and best wishes to you!
DeleteGreat post, Louise. I forgot about Shakespeare's ability to spin a good scary story. Thanks for sharing all of this. Happy IWSG day!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joylene! I hope all is well with you, my friend! Enjoy today!
DeleteCool connection to MacBeth for you, Louise!
ReplyDelete"The really chilling part of Shakespeare's tragedy
is what highly ambitious people can do in seeking political power
and the damaging physical and psychological consequences of their ruthless actions."
WELL SAID.
Thanks, Jennifer! Thank for cohosting today!
DeleteI think that's a great pick for a ghost story!
ReplyDeleteThanks, HR! Happy IWSG Day!
DeleteYou? Traveling? Never would have guessed.
ReplyDeleteIt sure rings true no matter the age of humans. Always the power hungry nuts out there who will do whatever they want to get more.
You're right about human nature, Pat! Some things don't change. Home again tomorrow. I hope things are going well for you!
DeleteI like that you chose Shakespeare's tragedy as the ghost story to feature today. Perfect.
ReplyDeletehttps://substack.com/home/post/p-149546624
Thanks, Lee! Shakespeare is a storyteller for the ages.
DeleteOh, a tale that has gone unheeded! But a good choice for a ghost story pic. And I'm sure you have declared more than once: "Out damned spot . . ."
ReplyDeleteMy all-time fav "ghost stories" are the chicken skin tales of marching spirits and ghostly appearances in Hawaii.
I am not familiar with the Hawaiian tales. I'll have to look into that, Gail! You can be sure I've thrown back plenty of Macbeth quotes myself ~ lol! Have a good one
DeleteMacbeth was the first play I saw in a theatre. So exciting and it made the language pop, since I was a kid and was struggling with it.
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
Hi, Anna! Thanks for visiting. I remember my Shakespeare professor saying the biggest challenge in the future for teaching Shakespeare's works was the language barrier they posed. And that was over 40 years ago. 😱 I love seeing the plays. I'm glad that you enjoyed Macbeth!
DeleteI'm going to read Macbeth now!
ReplyDeleteGreat! It's always lovely to see you!
DeleteEnjoy your travels!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Christine! Enjoy the upcoming week!
DeleteIt been ages since I did an word cloud.
ReplyDeleteThey were all the rage once! Have a great week, Dora!
DeleteMacBeth is a fantastic story. It's still relatable in so many ways today. I hope you have a super weekend ahead Louise.
ReplyDeleteSo far my weekend has been great, Erika. I hope you're having a good one too.
DeleteI really enjoy Macbeth and love what you wrote here, The really chilling part of Shakespeare's tragedy
ReplyDeleteis what highly ambitious people can do in seeking political power
and the damaging physical and psychological consequences of their ruthless actions.
I find it a tale and a warning for our troubled world. Thank you for sharing with FFO and have a lovely weekend.
Thank you, Nicole! Your comment is so encouraging. I'm working on my sentence writing. Enjoy your weekend! Hugs to you!
DeleteHappy holidays, Louise. I've read Macbeth in my time, but can't for the life of me remember much about it! What sticks out in my mind was the struggle to understand old English words - i spent more time in my dictionary than the book! Which was really frustrating. But I got brought up in special schools, and learnt very little, only later in my life did I get the bug for studying and writing literature. But when I get paid, Tuesday, I'm going to look on Amazon for a book on the Shakespear's plays. I'm sure I'll enjoy them better now with using my phone as a dictionary, rather than using an actual book, which is time consuming.
ReplyDeleteI got made fun of with my nickname, which was Wilbur, with the association of Wilber the pig in the book Charlottes Web. Kids can be cruel, not fully realising their impact on others. Sorry you have suffered too.
Enjoy your time in Vegas, or are you back now? Take wonderful and gentle care. Love love, Andrew.
Hi, Andrew! We returned home Thursday evening. I was wiped out, but then, I always cram as much into our visits as I can. This trip included two nights standing in front of amplifiers at the edge of an outdoor stage and listening to great musicians playing rock from the 60s to today. That's almost six hours of music, both night's ending with a cover of Metallica's "Enter Sandman." Terry actually joined me for about 20 minutes the last night.
DeleteI'm sorry that you were teased by kids. And you're right, I don't think kids realize the long term impact their teasing can have. I read "Charlotte's Web" aloud to my second and third graders a lot of years. I'm sorry that such a wonderful and classic book means painful memories to you.
Understanding old English words is what makes reading Shakespeare and other old literature challenging. I hope that your phone makes it easier to read his plays. I was in my local Barnes & Noble bookstore today for over an hour. I was looking at Judi Dench's new book "Shakespeare: The Man who Pays the Rent." I may buy that. The only problem is my stack of books to read that I've already bought to read is almost as tall as I am. My husband was relieved to see that I came home from the book store empty handed today.
Time to make dinner ~ groan! Have a great week, my friend!
I always thought Banquo was an odd name for a story set in Scotland 🏴
ReplyDeleteI agree, Adam. The name sounds more Italian than Scottish; but, in fact, it is a Scottish name. It means "Thane of Lochaber." I hope that you and the people you love came through Helene okay. What a storm!
Delete