An Analysis of a Film Adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”
An Analysis of a Film Adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”
Discussion Questions:
1. Individual Reaction – Discuss the poetic text of the play and any problems you may have had during your reading. Answer: “Romeo and Juliet” has been translated for numerous times from the Old English language to contemporary one. These translations were made due to the difficulty in understanding the language Shakespeare used in writing his play. This is also the exact reason why I find some parts of the play hard to understand. Although the language is simple, it is primarily based in Old English. Some passages and expressions are no longer being used the period of the story is also a factor. The play was written during the Elizabethan Age. The exchange of dialogues among the characters represents the anarchical state of the English society during the said time.
2. The Use of Coincidence in Writing – Discuss the use of coincidence in the play, citing as many examples of coincidence you can find. Answer: The use of coincidence in the play serves as a way for the characters to meet and interact. The most salient coincidence is perhaps the accidental meeting of Romeo and Juliet in the party. They are members of two rival families and yet twist of fate let them fall in love with each other. Other example of coincidence, but in a more unlucky sense, is the accidental death of the two lovers because of miscommunication. They were not supposed to die but twist of fate seems to have interfered also in their love affair.
3. Themes in the Play- Discuss the themes of love and hate, youthful hastiness, seeming versus being, and adult meddling and interference. Answer: In the play, love and hate was portrayed as two absolute and extreme entities Perhaps they could be considered as two inseparable things. Hate was given life by the rivalry of the Capulet and Montague families. However, amidst hate, love springs. In addition to that, youthful hastiness is also one of the themes in the play. The tragic ending of Romeo and Juliet’s love affair is said to be a product of their being hasty to get be together and get married. Seeming versus being can also be portrayed using the theme of love. Love, for Romeo and Juliet, seems to be full of happiness well in fact, love is all about being willing to sacrifice. Finally, meddling and interference of parents is also salient in the play. In fact, it is not only Romeo’s and Juliet’s parents who meddled with their love affair. It is the members of the Capulet and Montague clan who opposed their relationship.
4. Film Director’s Choices- From your viewing of the film, discuss how the director invents action to suit the lines of dialogue. Discuss how the choice of cast, costuming and setting details enhances or detract from the text of the play. Answer: The cast, costuming, and setting details of the movie fit perfectly with the original text. Leonard Whiting (Romeo) and Olivia Hussey (Juliet) were perfecta actors for their roles. Costumes also play a vital part in the keeping truthful to the original text. The use of warm colors for the costumes of the Capulets and cool colors for the costumes of the Montagues is very admirable of the director. Settings are also realistic. In addition to that, the actions and dialogues of the characters are also realistic.
5. Comparison Between Play and Film – Discuss the overall presentation of the play in its film version. Using the last scene of the film, compare or contrast its presentation to the text of the play. Answer: As for me, the 1968 adaptation film has retained the important details of the text’s setting and plot. The cast could also be considered as perfect for the roles they portray. Most of all, the film remains truthful to the original themes and ideas Shakespeare conveyed in his play. The last scene of the movie also portrays the last scene in the play. The director seems to have valued the importance of fidelity while doing the film. Because of this, the 1968 film adaptation is said to be one of the best adaptations of Shakespeare’s most prominent masterpiece.
Essay Question:
Characterization in Soliloquy
Choose one soliloquy in the play and discuss how it demonstrates a characteristic of the speaker. Be sure to include details as well as other theatrical elements that connect with your observations.
Answer:
One of the most famous soliloquies in William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” is that of Juliet’s. The scene is also regarded by some as the most famous scene of the play. The setting is in Juliet’s balcony where she questions fate regarding Romeo’ being a Montague. On this particular scene, Romeo was just hiding behind and hears Juliet’s agony.
In this particular soliloquy, Juliet was complaining why Romeo has to be a Montague—the rival family of the Capulet. The initial lines clearly state this:
“ Romeo O Romeo/Wherefore art thou Romeo?/
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;/
Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love/
And I’ll no longer be a Capulet”.
Here she questions why his love has to have an identity that seems impossible for the Capulet clan to accept. At the same time, she also complains about her own identity—why does she have to be a Capulet. In the play, this emotion of Juliet towards fate is intensified using some particular details in the setting of the scene. For example, balcony as a setting is already an indication that the scene is a soliloquy. Balconies are known to be a good place where people could think of their thoughts alone. This is a quiet place where one could reflect and think clearly. Balconies are also a good place for people to spend their privacy. In addition to that, the time when the scene took place also helped in the clarification of Juliet’s mood in her soliloquy. The scene took place during nighttime—a time when people are commonly in solitude, closed in their rooms. The setting—time and place—where the scene took place is perfect to reflect one’s thoughts.
Juliet, in this particular passage, sees fate as a traitor. Moreover, she regards life as unfair. The problem she and Romeo face makes her think that it is better for her to abandon her family and to dent her family obligations: “Deny thy father and refuse thy name;” This characteristic of Juliet is very much admirable. She is very strong to give up her family just to fight for her love. She could also be considered as strong-willed and determined to fight for what she wants. She did not easily let her family to dictate her of what she should do. Instead, she used her own free will to decide for herself.
However, even if Juliet could be seen this way, the traits mentioned above could also be regarded implications of her being still young. Her determination to fight for her love could be regarded as a sign of stubbornness. She sees fate as a traitor and life as unfair because of the negative events she was experiencing that time. But before she met Romeo in the party, she seems happy and contented with how her life was going.
The passage “Deny thy father and refuse thy name” could also be seen as a sign of being impulsive. Juliet did not spend enough time to think about her decision stated in the aforementioned passage. She did not think carefully of the implications of such decision. Moreover, Juliet was not able to realize that abandoning her obligations with her family to be able to be with Romeo would not stop the feud between two families. Instead, it would only gather a much bigger misunderstanding between the Capulet and the Montague who seems to be both blinded by their own ideals and philosophy.
In addition to this, Juliet’s hatred or anger towards fate and life seems to be a sign of being a teenager. It seems that she only sees the black and white of the issues, thus, she came up with a decision with such kind of nature: if her relationship with Romeo is being prohibited by the fight between their families, then it is better to cut the tie that binds her to her clan. Juliet’s decision to abandon her family is not an act of free will but an act of having no choice. She sees that the problem is the conflict between the Capulets and the Montagues, and so her first impulse and solution to this problem is to abandon her family.
It seems that Juliet is not taking her situation from the perspective of a grown-up. She did not acknowledge the presence of other outside factors that might affect her decision. For example, she was too hasty that she forgot to consider the implications of her decision to her family and to Romeo’s family. Probably, Juliet is not aware of this. If she is not aware of this, it only shows that she is not yet capable of handling serious situations. In addition to this, Juliet is not also capable of balancing her logos and pathos.
Overall, the famous soliloquy of Juliet in her balcony is an indication of how disturbed her feelings the time the scene took place. She feels various emotions inside her—anger, hatred, love, and passion. She was also confused on how to make up her mind regarding her relationship with Romeo. However, from her soliloquy, it was found out that she is very determined to fight for her love. She barely considers the implications of her decision. Nevertheless, this attitude of Juliet is seen both in a positive and negative manner.
References
Shakespeare, William. (1997). Romeo and Juliet. US: Cengage Learning
“Romeo and Juliet” directed by Franco Zefferelli, 1968
English Coursework
Essay Question 1: Discuss the lines in “The Hollow Men” that explicitly state disillusionment. How does this tie into Conrad’s Heart of Darkness?
Answer: “The Hollow Men” is a poem which depicts immense distress and devastation. It comprised of heartfelt written lines from a mind which witnessed despair and anxiety and is willing to venture every possible way to get out of it. As an overview, the term “hollow men” refer to minds at their adversative states. As we go through the poem, certain lines obviously express extreme disilusionment and a mass of drought and disorder. Every entity may it be a mortal creature or a divine one seemed to be useless. Most probably because this literary work was created only a few years after World War I, wherein the hangover or post effects of war still remains.
The first stanza shouts deprivation from their ability to convey, to be capable of being perceived by their senses and to interrelate. The coalescence of their voices resulted only to an unheard whisper. Unheard cries as described by “quiet and meaningless”. These soulless creatures existing in a subjective realm which refers to twilight setting awaits the dawn. No nobility or rank could rescue them from the aftermath of the prevailing wreckage. “Paralysed force” and “Gesture without motion” conveys that the products of both great minds and idiots seemed to be equal since no ears has the ability to hear and comprehend it anyway. A life full of exhaustion waits since the continuous search for the meaning and value of life and existence will all be in vain. There is vagueness in their quest for their sense of purpose as described in “Shape without form, shade without color”. Violence and the tendency seemed to be the last resort. When the situation calls to hold at the edge of a knife, the lines further express that they are not to blame.
The sunlight on a broken column, the voices carried by the winds singing and a fading star can be related to a tiny spark of hope. Hope seemed to be very distant and almost nonexistent, like a grain of sand in the ocean. This desire for hope, rebirth and salvation led him to formulate a “dream kingdom,” a land of his own, existing only within the depth of his minds. This feeling of despair led to the mentality that life could be much better after death. To “wear such deliberate disguises” suppresses his identity and lets him be swallowed by a throng of hollow men. A multitude of hollow men does not make them united instead they still suffer the hell of solitude.
The message of third stanza describes the feeling of being situated in a hopeless case. Dead land and cactus land are perfect correspondence of unproductivity, uselessness and nothingness. The existence of a forlorn soul in a barren land describes the highest level of disillusionment. With no one to run to and nobody to listen there exists no resort but to contemplate on the transcendental.
The lines on the fourth stanza illustrate the malfunctioning of the senses, most probably the instincts and natural perception. The consequences of severe cynicism and frustration led to numbness. “The Eyes” seem to be his own senses which were eventually lost due anguish, apathy and distress. The “valley of dying stars” depicts the land of unseen hope. The “hollow valley” is place wreck and damnation. But a percentage of his sanity is still allotted to the reappearance of “The eyes”. That peeking hope of “empty men” or wandering souls of meaningless existence is compared to a “multifoliate rose” and a “perpetual star”. The rose could denote love and the star could refer to an unending nurture, collectively both symbolisms retaliates redemption.
The “Prickly pear,” satirized from the nursery rhyme “The Mulberry Bush” tends to grow only in desert areas. These hollow men who live in “the desert” or the land of barrenness sang their frustrations as they seem to remain there, at the state of infinity or circularity without a sign of flight. “The Shadow” exists between the real and the world after death. “The Shadow” could relate as if the existence is within the walls of the purgatory. These are all products of the mind, may it be the reality or the idea. Escape from the harsh reality and emptiness towards living in the ideal world are all formulated within the depths of his depression. Muttering “For Thine is the Kingdom” tells his submission to the Divine and his deepest contemplation on why the world’s fate is nothing but a solemn cry. When everything else seemed to be damned, these hollow men still remained to be hopeful of a Mystical being, definitely detached from them and capable of bequeathing their tremendous hunger for deliverance.
“The Hollow Men,” which originated from the deepest emotions and heartfelt appeals of T.S. Eliot is an excellent expression of disillusionment with the contemporary society. “The Hollow Men” are souls devoid of dignity. This may be attributed to the casualties and most especially the psychological post effects of war and colonialization. The writer’s certainty that the existing environment was culturally deserted was strong indeed. Conrad’s famous novella “Heart of Darkness” explores the depths of human excruciation and corruptibility. Examining the story, Kurtz’s greed led to his descent into cruelty and violence. His fate is analogous to the consequences of domination and colonization from nation to nation, on a large scale. Dark men were also described in such a way that they are uncivilized. It shows Conrad’s objections to European colonial practices in Africa. The similarities of both literary works include the thematic approach, despair and justification of the negative for survival. These two literary works become parallel in the pattern of pursuit and fiasco.
Discussion Q1: (Hero versus Anti-Hero) Discuss how the anti-hero is different from other more heroic characters in literature and film.
DQ1 Answer: In a typical film or story, a hero somewhat appears to be a knight in shining armor, ready to rescue a damsel in distress. A hero is described by a man of astonishing courage and extraordinary quality who has the tendency to commit acts of bravery. In a story, these qualities can automatically be attributed to the main character or the protagonist. A hero plays a vital role in the progress of the story. Also, not a single negative quality is associated to a hero, making him perfect. Superman may enter our minds with these descriptions. An anti-hero on the other hand is a hero possessing non-heroic characteristics. It may usually be mistaken as a villain or an antagonist. However, an anti-hero is a protagonist in a non traditional way. One classic example is Robinhood, who tends to steal from the rich to help the poor. His imperfections particularly being a theft made him a suitable anti-hero but also turned him to a more realistic character, as opposed to a perfect yet nonexistent character such as Superman. The emergence of an anti-hero in literature and film may be because a typical hero in literature and film seemed to be too good to be true, therefore unrealistic. Some writers materialize in their literary works the attributes that they conceive in the real world.
Discussion Q2: (Anti-Hero Characteristics) Discuss how Pablo in “The Wall” is an anti-hero. Pinpoint exactly what makes him “anti.”
DQ2 Answer: Pablo is obviously the protagonist in the story. However, he doesn’t have any super powers and he is not even packed with ultra positive traits. Browsing upon the story he is a hard headed, sullen and cold hearted man that you would least expect in terms of offering salvation and hope to his fellow prisoners. Amidst being a captive and a candidate for execution, a hero is anticipated to initially encourage the other prisoners and liberate them from “the wall” or from that despairing situation. To a lesser extent or for a more realistic heroism, a hero is expected to lead them out of such circumstances or rather plot a plan of escape, thinking less of himself for the sake of others. However, Pablo did nothing but fumble and wait for a miracle or for the time of their execution. He even got busy getting annoyed with the other prisoners. At the end of the story he has obviously no intentions of squealing where to find Gris. However the story concludes as he unintentionally and accidentally revealed the hiding place Gris making him even less of a hero. He did not managed to render salvation to other prisoners and worse he paved the way for the capture of one of his colleagues.
Discussion Q3: (Anti-Hero Actions) Discuss the anti-heroic characteristics that Colin demonstrates in The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner.
DQ3 Answer: Colin plays the role of the main character in the story. As a typical hero uses his extraordinary qualities or strengths to solve his problems, Colin could do nothing to suppress his family’s problems and his own frustrations. He seemed to be a useless piece of crap, furthermore adding insult to the injury when he opted to rebellion to escape his problems. He squandered some of the insurance money that he obtained from his mother rather than using it to help himself and his family. Colin’s anti-heroic quality is generalized by his rebellious nature.
Discussion Q4: (Protagonist and Antagonist) Discuss your reaction to Colin’s behavior at the end of the film. Discuss how you distinguish the protagonist from the antagonist in the film.
DQ4 Answer: I became quite frustrated with his behavior or approach to such circumstances. Winning the race seemed to be his only ticket out of his demise yet he chose to be submerged in his murky situation. Although it was obvious that the Governor only used him to attain his political ambitions, there is nothing wrong with hitting two birds in one stone. Winning the race would mean popularity for the Governor at the same time a relatively better life for Colin. He chose to lose and suffer the same fate as the other rehabilitated people although he was greatly capable in winning the race. As the title says, the protagonist automatically refers to the long distance runner, which is Colin. Going through the story, we can say that it revolves around Colin. The antagonist comprised of the Governor and the authorities, since they were the ones who ought to greatly affect and manipulate the main character. Being the protagonist does not necessarily mean possessing positive qualities and, on the other hand being the antagonist does not necessarily mean having negative qualities. In reading a story the protagonist is always the main character, regardless of his qualities. Positive and exceptional characteristics make the protagonist a hero while negative and disappointing qualities make the protagonist an anti-hero. On the contrary, the antagonist, whether he is a good man on not is somebody who tends to oppose or be in conflict with the protagonist.
References
Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. Kimbrough, Robert, ed. New York: W. W. Norton ; Co., 1988.
Eliot, T. S. and Joan G. 1984. The Hollow Men. Kustantaja Hesperus Press. New York City.
Paul, L. A. 1951. Angry Young Man.Autobiography. Kustantaja Faber and Faber.
Sartre, J. P. and Andrew B. 2005. The Wall. Kustantaja Hesperus Press. New York City.
Richardson, T. 1962. “The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner,” Movie.
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Sir John Macdonald: Shaper Of The Canadian Nation
Abstract
Sir Alexander John Macdonald, Canada’s first prime minister, is a known in history as a practical politician and great tactician. He devised his political maneuvers to ensure his swift climb to the political ladder. He started from the Tory party or the conservatives until his death. Among his political achievements is building Canada as a nation. He pushed for its independence from Great Britain and sought support from British North American colonies in creating a federation of colonies. He also made possible a seemingly impossible railway when the transpacific railway was realized.
The paper contains an elaboration of the colorful political career of Macdonald, the people he worked with, political enemies and the advocacies that he promoted. It also contains a discussion of the scandals that he was involved in and the effects of these scandals on his career.
Sir John Macdonald: Shaper of the Canadian Nation
Born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1815, Sir John Alexander Macdonald was destined to shape the political history of Canada. Considered as a practical politician, he worked for the creation of the Dominion of Canada and its expansion throughout the continent. He faced a political scandal just to complete his vision of building the Canadian nation and encouraged western settlement.
His father, Hugh Macdonald, came from Dornoch, Sutherlandshire and his mother Helen Shaw, is from a rich family in Inverness-shire. When they got married, they decided to leave the Highlands and transfer to Glasgow. Settling there, Hugh started a cotton manufacturing business with a partner, but the venture failed so the couple decided to migrate to Canada with their four children: Margaret, John Alexander, James and Louisa. The family stayed with the family of Helen’s half sister, Anna Macpherson. The Macphersons had been living in Canada for twelve years at that time. Hugh engaged in commerce to sustain his family (Creighton, 1998).
At age ten, he was sent to one of the best schools in Canada, the Midland District Grammar School in Kingston, Ontario. He was educated in Latin and French, mathematics and writing. At 15 years old he finished formal school and became an apprentice in Kingston to a young Scottish lawyer, George Mackenzie. Among the tasks that he was required to complete were transcribing letters and documents, establishing titles and running errands. He worked by day and studied law at night. Mackenzie’s law firm grew through time and he felt the need to expand it sometime in 1832. Due to the dedication and confidence that Macdonald exuded, Mackenzie sent him to Napanee, southeast Ontario to set up a new branch office. His experience as a branch manager opened him to an avenue to better understand the law and to establish a name of his own. He also continued studying law despite the hectic schedule that his job required. Mackenzie helped him in his studies by sending some of the law books which Macdonald needed (Creighton, 1998). Two years after the opening the new office Mackenzie died, so Macdonald returned to Kingston where he started his own legal practice. In 1835, he passed the bar exams (MSN Encarta online encyclopedia, 2008).
As a legal practitioner, Macdonald built his reputation gradually by taking small cases. The triumph that he received in these cases made his law firm the busiest in Canada in 1842. Through the success that he reaped as a law practitioner, he was appointed in 1843 as a Kingston councilman and a year later, he won by a large majority against an incumbent in the legislative assembly of the Province of Canada which then had two colonies—Canada East, which in modern day is Quebec, and Canada West, which is now known as Ontario.
In 1842, he visited Scotland and met his cousin, Isabella Clark. The two got along well together and entered a romantic relationship. Thereafter, their romantic involvement with each other, ended in marriage in 1843. They had two sons, one of whom died in infancy (Atwell, n.d.).
After his Scotland vacation, he went back to Canada and started to shape his political career. He first ran under the Conservative, or Tory party, and later on helped in forming his new party- the Liberal-Conservative party. He was elected as an alderman in 1843, winning a legislative seat in 1844 (Atwell, n.d.). He became the receiver general in 1847 and held the office for a year. In 1848, the reformers nearly won all the seats, Macdonald just among the few who was able to retain their seats. Being among the few in his party who was able to remain in power, he took the opportunity to heighten the appeal of his party to the people and increase his influence among the members of the conservatives, showing willingness to work go across the aisle, with anyone who espouses the same interests as he does. This willingness was evidenced in the 1854 election. During this election the radical Clear Grits (Liberals) and the Conservatives connived to topple down the Reform government which was ruling the political climate in Canada then (Oneil, n.d.).
As a player in the political field, he defended denominational education and opposed the primogeniture’s abolition. He also believed that practical goals can be pursued by practical means. He devised tactics that would shift the political table in his favor, making his climb to the political ladder faster (Canadian Encyclopedia, 2008).
In 1855, Macdonald supported of Sir Allan Macnab, the head of the Conservative party, helping in organizing the coalition of the conservatives. Their efforts resulted in the birth of the Liberal conservative coalition. His efforts in forming the coalition gained him the attorney general position for Canada West (Marianopolis, n.d.). In 1856, Macdonald was given the chance to form his own Cabinet, securing support for his political group by nominating Sir Etienne Tache as premier of Canada East. Macdonald became the premier of Canada West, being Macnab’s successor.
In 1857, Tache resigned from his post so the governor general of the British government asked Macdonald to establish a new cabinet. He recommended George Etienne Cartier to replace Tache (MSN Encarta online encyclopedia, 2008).
In 1858, George Brown, Macdonald’s main political opponent, challenged the proposal of the government to recognize Ottawa as Canada’s permanent capital. Brown prevented the proposal from passing, airing his frustration to the domination of French Canadian influence in the government (Canadian Encyclopedia, 2008). Due to the dismay experienced by the government, Macdonald and Cartier resigned, thus, Brown took over the position of premier of Canada West. Brown’s stay in power was short-lived—he only enjoyed the position for two days as the governor general asked Cartier to form a new government. In the new government, Cartier was designated as the premier of Canada East ,while Macdonald served as the the attorney general. During this time, a double shuffle was allowed. The system worked in such a way that the ministers could switch positions in the cabinet without going through a re-election thus, Cabinet members may take one position today and go back to their original position the next day (MSN online encyclopedia, 2008).
The years that followed proved to be a challenge for Macdonald as he tried to keep his party united. He was also at logger heads with Brown regarding party representation. Brown was pushing for representation by population which would allow Canada West to dominate the legislature; Macdonald pushed for an equal number of members in the assembly.
In 1862, the American Civil War erupted and Macdonald’s government fell partly due to the war. The Union allowed the Irish patriots to claim Canada from the United States. Macdonald tried to fight the invasion by introducing a bill that will protect Canada; however, the bill was defeated. He resigned from his post thus, the Liberal administration took over governance. The Liberals lacked the skill to devise plans that would solve the political problems, so the government fell in 1864.
During the same year, there was a political impasse; as a result of which, a broad government coalition was formed—Tache-Macdonald government. Brown also joined the coalition on the condition that there would be a general federal union of all the British colonies in North America and if the project fails, Brown may demand a dissolution of the existing union.
Macdonald played a lead role in achieving a unitary and highly centralized form of government. He took over in drafting the federal system. He sought the support of the Maritime colonies during their meeting with Prince Edward I. Macdonald discussed the advantages of having a federation and persuaded the maritimers to attend a formal conference in Quebec. At the conference, Macdonald advocated for a central government. He made 72 resolutions which were all passed, later on becoming the basis of the Constitution of the Federation. The motion to join the Federation was approved in Canada, however, it suffered a different fate in the maritime colonies, failing in every single one. With this event, Canada thought of pushing its own union, but by then, the British government was working on creating its own federation.
In 1865, Macdonald proposed to Great Britain to turn over to them the territories that they are holding east of the Rocky Mountains, but Great Britain did not heed to this request. During the same year, Tache died, leaving Macdonald as the most likely candidate for the post, but, he declined on the verge of Brown’s jealousy and the future of the federation. Narcisse Belleau took over the seat left by Tache (MSN online encyclopedia, 2008).
With the strong command and great abilities that he exuded in creating the Federal government, Macdonald was proclaimed as the Knight Commander of the Bath and designated as the first governor general of Canada on July 1, 1967 when the British North America Act was passed. The act created the Dominion of Canada and made Ontario, New Brunswick, Quebec and Nova Scotia as its provinces. As governor-general, he created a coalition government with an equal number of Conservatives and Reformers. Brown remained to be on the side of the opposition and created the Liberal party (Oneil, n.d.).
During the August legislative elections, the government received overwhelming support in Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick, however, support was weak in Nova Scotia. There were even threats of withdrawal from the Federation. In addressing the problem, Macdonald increased the federal subsidy of the province and gave a Cabinet seat to Joseph Howe, the prime opposition in the province (MSN online encyclopedia, 2008).
The year 1867 proved to be lucky for Macdonald politically and emotionally, as he married his second wife, Susan Agnes Bernard, his first wife dying prior to this marriage. The new couple had a daughter, but she did not grow up normally as she was mentally challenged and crippled. Despite his daughter’s disability, Macdonald was affectionate to her (Atwell, n.d.). In the year 1868, the British government finally ceded their territories in the whole northwest east of the Rockies to the Canadian government (MSN online encyclopedia, 2008). MacDonald appointed a lieutenant governor without consulting the settlers called the “Metis”. The locals did not accept the cession made the British government of the their land and feared that they will not be given land titles. They also desired to set up their own government and in pursuit of this vision, Louis Riel led the Metis in pushing for a “Red River” rebellion in 1869; unfortunately the rebellion dis not prosper (History web, 2008). Despite its unsuccessful result, the rebellion won a provincial status for the Red River area. The Red River area later became the province of Manitoba. A year later, Macdonald was able to convince its leader to join the Dominion (MSN Encarta online encyclopedia, 2008).
The year 1971 marked the greatest achievement of Macdonald when he was able to persuade the British Columbia colony in joining the Federation. He convinced the colony in joining their Dominion by promising a railway connecting Quebec and British Columbia, realizable in ten years.
Macdonald suffered a severe political setback in 1872. His party, the Liberal Conservatives, lost because their dream on the future of Canada did not match the policies they advocated.
The railway project which exuded the height of his power proved to be also his downfall. The idea was a good one but funding it was a difficult matter. Macdonald declared that wanted a private investor group to complete the project. There were tow groups that competed for the project, but it was Sir Hugh Allan’s company who was granted the project. In 1873, it was revealed through stolen letters from a lawyer and a telegram that the company of Allan had a great connection with the Conservatives, Macdonald’s party (Atwell, n.d.). The money which funded the campaign of the Conservatives came from Allan and Macdonald, the former accused of bribery. However, Macdonald said that there was no bribery and pleaded innocent. The Parliamentary commission which investigated the occurrence also cleared him from blame. Nevertheless, he resigned from his post. Alexander Mackenzie, a Liberal, replaced Macdonald (Canadian content, 2008).
In realizing the railway project in British Columbia, the Liberals found difficulty in looking for a private investor thus, it was undertaken as a public venture. Since the project was not originally an idea of the Liberals, the effort they exerted was only half-hearted. The people of British Columbia were “on the verge of secession”. Despite leaving his post, Macdonald found ways in realizing the project and even assisted the Liberals in establishing Canada’s Supreme Court as well as the legal system (MSN Encarta online encyclopedia, 2008).
After the political menace he experienced, Macdonald strove to bring the luster of his name in the 1878 elections. He formulated a National Policy wherein all the needs of the people were addressed. With this political maneuver, Macdonald gained support for the Conservatives. Two years later, negotiations for the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway were spearheaded by Macdonald. Five years thereafter, the railway was completed (MSN Encarta online encyclopedia, 2008).
Macdonald visited England in 1884 to join the British government’s discussion of the independence of Canada. for he believed that the country should enjoy an independent status. He was appointed as a Canadian High Commissioner in London in 1880, with the task of aiding western settlement and other concerns of the Canadians. Macdonald was unsuccessful with this bout; people still emigrated to the United States due to economic depression and increasing dissatisfaction of the people to the national growth. These circumstances, however, did not affect the political career of Macdonald as he won in the 1887 elections. Among the factors that aided his victory are bribery and the giving of promises which are difficult to achieve. His party once again won in 1891 in spite of the political scandals it faced. Macdonald died on March 29, 1891 from a stroke in Ottawa. His death occurred after his fourth consecutive electoral victory and was still serving as prime minister. Many Canadians grieved and thousands paid their respect to his memory (Collections Canada, 2008).
Among the highlights of his career as prime minister was the building of the transcontinental railway, which connected Quebec and British Columbia; the building of a nation when he was able to urge the leader of the British North American colonies, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island to join the confederation; creation of the North-West Mounted police and the creation of a national policy of tariffs in order to protect the local industry (About, 2008).
Macdonald can be considered as the true architect of Canada, for without his genius political maneuvers, Canada would not have emerged as a nation. He may have organized most of his tactics for his personal glory and climb to the political ladder, but these moves were substantial enough for Canada to enjoy its present day status.
He was wise enough to convince the leaders of the colonies to join the coalition and create a federation, brave enough to promise an unthinkable railway connecting the Pacific with Canada. The federation did not only bring additional support for the Canadian force but it was also essential in creating economic stability in the country. These colonies were not only politically necessary, but also economically essential. They provided additional supplies and markets for goods. The tariff policies that he imposed were also helpful in protecting the Canadian market as it espoused patronizing Canadian products and markets. Had he not exerted efforts for the realization of these projects, it would have been difficult for Canada to press for independence from Britain. He showed strong determination and perseverance in achieving his goals and he never gave up no matter how difficult or gruesome the situation was. He also managed to stand up in every downfall and restore the luster of his name.
References
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