LAST WORD
Hamlet and #MeToo
An English teacher reflects on conversations
in his all-male classroom .

BY JOSEPH LA BELLA
I Teaching and
raising boys in
the aftermath
of the #MeToo
movement is a
process toward
thoughtfulness through
conversation. ’ve been teaching “Hamlet” recently — Shake-
speare’s play about the murder of the title
character’s father by his brother and the fall-
out as Hamlet is rendered maddened both by the
truth and his task to “revenge [this] foul and most
unnatural murder.” Perhaps the most unfortu-
nate victim of the play is Ophelia, who is used by
her father, battered by her boyfriend (Hamlet)
and drowned in a stream in what is presumably a
suicide. The conversations that emerge from my
students — all high school-age boys — because of
this text are powerful, transformative and often
incredibly uncomfortable. Does Ophelia deserve
her fate? Every year, a student feeling particu-
larly cozy and confident will explain why Oph-
elia deserves her doom. Then everyone pauses,
though not very long. Most of the students shrink,
glancing at neighbors and predicting the coming
argument. Some settle in and perk up, ready to
mix it up. Talk about a teachable moment. The
challenging conversation that ensues is frustrat-
ingly essential for a better world.

Raising two young daughters, I feel fortunate
to be parenting in our present world. Finally, our
American society seems ready to confront the pain
that has been the historic female sexual experi-
ence. The #MeToo movement has provided a plat-
form for voices long silenced, scared and shamed.

Although the revelation of these painful truths is
tough, the promise of the future is invigorating.

We should strive for a world where vulnerable
people do not have to fear sexual assault; I refuse
to believe this goal is unrealistic. Through this con-
text, it is incumbent upon me to seize any oppor-
tunity to address misogyny or inequality within
my all-male classroom — if for no other reason
than to cultivate a safer world for my daughters.

My students recognize that my classroom is
a sacred place where we suspend judgement,
operate under the presumption of goodwill, and
communally search for deeper truths through the
written word. This can be glorious; it can also be
disastrous. But from day one, we agree to put in
the work. All of us. We must always be open to
new perspectives, or we risk reaffirming archaic
ways of viewing the world.

Many teachers enjoy the luxury of avoiding the
world outside school because their academic sub-
ject doesn’t interface much with current events.

This is not so in a high school literature class
40 WashingtonFAMILY FEBRUARY 2019
where we spend our time reading other peoples’
stories and reflecting on the implications of them.

Is Victor Frankenstein an admirable scientist?
How are we all like Dr. Jeckyl?
I’ve taught “Hamlet” for years, yet in the after-
math of the #MeToo movement, I’ve been strug-
gling through it. Everywhere you look in this play,
women are repressed, abused and victimized. Does
the literary canon justify its exposure of destructive
gendered relationships to impressionable, mallea-
ble young minds? That might be an unfair question.

Maybe the more important question is: How can I
help the young men I teach avoid Hamlet’s missteps?
Undoubtedly, these days my students find them-
selves in a much more complex world than Hamlet’s,
where consent wasn’t really much of a question. For
so long we’ve acquiesced to the reality of female sub-
ordination that it has been ingrained in our experi-
ence of the world, from Ephesians, “Wives, submit to
your own husbands, as to the Lord,” to our present
fight over women’s reproductive rights and remarks
from politicians like Missouri Congressman Todd
Aiken, who said, “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female
body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”
For too long, we’ve espoused the notion, “boys will
be boys” to excuse, if not legitimize, the damage
young men leave in their wake as merely a function
of the growing process rather than a cultural or ideo-
logical misalignment.

Thankfully, this old order is crumbling, but we
must help our young boys navigate this new world
for which the map is still being made. Some of my
most thoughtful students come to me expressing
deep romantic anxiety, not about saying the right
thing but about knowing how to obtain authentic
consent and avoiding the physical/psychological
damage that was previously unacknowledged. What
a heavy burden for a developing adolescent mind!
The 21st-century educator has become the
coach who guides students through their experi-
ence of the world, helping them to think critically
and reflect on their assumptions. In this way,
teaching and raising boys in the aftermath of the
#MeToo movement is a process toward thought-
fulness through conversation. We must provide
boys with safe space to express their thoughts
and the composure to guide them accordingly. ■
Joe La Bella is an English teacher at Loyola
Blakefield in Towson.




CALENDAR
{  f e b r u a r y }
FRIDAY 1
Washington Golf
and Travel Show
11 a.m. | Adults, $12; Children
12 and under, FREE . See the
east coast’s largest presentation
of golf equipment, apparel and
accessories all under one roof. In
addition to great buys, you can
also plan your next golf vacation!
Both local and national golf resorts
will be on hand to help with travel
plans. Other show features include
a manufacturer’s demo range,
several contest and competitions,
stage presentations, celebrity
appearances, free one-on-one golf
lessons and more. Dulles Expo &
Conference Center, Chantilly, VA.

SATURDAY 2
Heathers the Musical:
School Edition
2 & 7 p.m. | $12. Longing for a
way to fit in, Veronica Sawyer
persuades the Heathers to let her
into the most exclusive group of
mean girls in school. Life goes on
for Veronica and the Heathers as
they torment the lives of everyone
at Westerberg High. Everything
comes to a sudden halt when
handsome and mysterious, Jason
“JD” Dean rolls into town. Veronica
instantly falls for his act, creating
a Bonnie & Clyde-esqe romance.

The couple then concocts a
sinister plan to eliminate the
evil cliques that plague their
school. Kogelman Thrust Theatre,
Alexandria, VA.

MONDAY 4
FREE Baby Story Time
10:30 a.m. Story times are more
than just books! They’re interactive
experiences that engage children
with short stories, action rhymes,
songs and finger plays. This story
time event focuses on pre-reading
skills that all children need to
become good readers. Central
Community Library, Manassas, VA.

sugaring process from start to
finish. See sap drip from trees and
taste it. Watch them boil it down
into sweet maple syrup, then
sample a tasty treat. Join in the fun
and activities and learn something
new at this family-friendly program.

Brookside Nature Center,
Wheaton, MD
can play together, challenge
new opponents or explore giant
games. Concessions will be
available for purchase. Ages
3+. Casey Community Center,
Gaithersburg, MD.

FRIDAY 8
1:30 p.m. | $17-$35. In this
whimsical musical adventure,
Anatole, the best cheese-taster
in France, and his best friend
Gaston set out to save the Duval
cheese factory. Yet, they discover
something much scarier than
moldy Brie lurking in the tasting
room. Can Anatole outsmart the
hungry predator and save the
factory? Join Anatole, Gaston and a
chorus of dancing cheeses to find
out! Ages 4+. Imagination Stage,
Bethesda, MD.

Huckleberry Finn’s Big River
7 p.m. | $20. World premiere
co-production with The Lyric
Theatre of Oklahoma based on
FREE S’mores Wednesday’s
the classic by Mark Twain. This
5 p.m. Stop in at Abbott’s Frozen
timeless classic sweeps us down
Custard in Sterling to pick up
the mighty Mississippi as the
a free s’more kit to roast on the
Cascades Overlook Town Center’s irrepressible Huck Finn helps
his friend Jim, a slave, escape to
open fire pits in the plaza. Enjoy a
freedom at the mouth of the Ohio
nice winter evening being fireside
River. Touching and timeless, this
with family and friends. Cascades
Overlook Town Center, Sterling, VA. tale of friendship against all odds
is recreated for young audiences
as two best friends demonstrate
THURSDAY 7
the power of changing the world.

Maple Sugaring Days
Adventure Theatre, Glen Echo, MD.

3 p.m. | $7. February is Maple
Sugaring Month at Brookside
Family Game Night
Nature Center. Experience an
7 p.m | $2. Let loose with board
American tradition — maple
games and more at open play
sugaring! Watch the entire maple
community game nights. Families
WEDNESDAY 6
SATURDAY 9
Anatole: Mouse Magnifique
SUNDAY 10
FREE Discovery Days:
Coins & Stamps
11 a.m. Spend the afternoon
learning about stamps, coins
and currency. These are magical
things to both collectors and
non-collectors. They are art in
2019 LUNAR NEW YEAR PARADE
Feb. 10 | 1 P.M. | FREE
SUNDAY 3
FREE 16th Annual Lunar
1 p.m. Fair Oaks Mall presents
their 16th annual Lunar New Year
Celebration honoring the “Year of
the Pig.” This event is unlike any
in the region with a traditional
dragon dance, cultural dances
from various countries, martial
arts demonstrations and authentic
craft-making. Fair Oaks Mall,
Fairfax, VA.

Join D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser in the 2019 Lunar New Year Parade to celebrate the “Year of
the Pig!” The event features traditional and colorful performances such as a lion dance and a
Kung Fu exhibition, and ends with an exciting firecracker finale. Chinatown, D.C.

WashingtonFAMILY.com 41
PROVIDED New Year Celebration