Abstract This paper will discuss the way that Hamlet is more loosely held in control by his mother Gertrude, and will compare this relationship to Amanda and her son in the "Glass Managerie". By understanding the similarities of these two mother-son behaviors we can see how they are somewhat similar, even though they seem different from each other.
Abstract In Shakespeare's ?Hamlet,? both Laertes and Hamlet take justice into their own hands. The paper explains how they demonstrate pure emotive behavior, restrained with confusion and unrestrained with determination as a means of "righting" a death of which they deem unjust in the Elizabethan world. Both men avenge death by applying their own punishment, even though it leads to the end of both of their lives. Anger and action are the focus of this essay.
From the Paper "As Laertes and Hamlet take justice into their own hands, they demonstrate rash behavior when infuriated in Shakespeare's Hamlet. Laertes and Hamlet are not in fear of the consequences of their actions, for they reason that such revenge is just. Anger in a deceitful world fuel the two young men to seek revenge. Such revenge serves as an individual right to personal justice. Laertes acts upon pure emotion and fury as he avenges the death of his father. Hamlet ponders his situation indecisively before taking action, yet ultimately acts out of anger and fury. Both sons eventually refuse state justice and apply punishment where they deem fair. Their fury eventually leads to the tragic end to both of their lives. "
Abstract An analysis of the character of Bosola in Webster's "The Duchess of Malfi" contending that the character, like the play, is shrouded in uncertain mists of evil, ugliness, and depravity. The author looks at the experiences of the character and how the character changes throughout the play.
From the Paper "The Duchess of Malfi takes place in what Northrup Frye called a "sick and melancholy society" (Rabkin 119). Rupert Brook described Webster's characters as "writhing grubs in an immense night" (Rabkin 112). Evil, ugliness, and depravity rule. Beauty and goodness are doomed. In the beginning the character Bosola appears to fit right in, to be an unprincipled man with no conscience. Whether this is his real self, or whether he is an actor playing a part in order to survive in a polluted and perverted world, or whether he changes during the course of the action are some of the questions Webster enshrouds in the mist of this play. Finding clarity is the responsibility of each individual reader or viewer, as it was, in the end, up to Bosola to find his own way through the mist."
This paper uses research information to support the thesis that Shakespeare portrays Shylock as villain and a sub-human with no regard, feelings or mercy for others, all consequences of his Judaism.
2,090 words (approx. 8.4 pages), 4 sources, 2001, $ 65.95
Abstract This paper looks at one of Shakespeare's celebrated works, The Merchant of Venice. The author discusses how Shakespeare portrays one of the main characters, the merchant Shylock as not only a villain but someone less than human with no mercy for others, both consequences of his religion, while continuing to remind the reader of the goodness of the Christian characters. The author makes frequent references and quotes key passages from the play.
From the Paper "Written sometime between 1596 and 1598, The Merchant of Venice is classified as both an early Shakespearean comedy and as a problem play; it is a work in which good triumphs over evil, but serious themes are examined and some issues remain unresolved. Specifically, anti-Semitism is woven throughout the play through the interactions of Shylock and the Christians around him. Due to the wave of anti-Jewish sentiment in late sixteenth century England , Shakespeare's audiences were familiar with the staging of stereotypical evil Jews."
Abstract In this paper the author looks at the characters in this play by Tennessee Williams. The author notes that despite the main character actual absence absent from the play, he has a profound impact on all the other characters and all their actions and emotions are centered on him. The author concludes by suggesting that Williams wrote the play as an outlet for his own emotions.
From the paper:
?Tennessee Williams uses this play as an outlet for his own pain, and his characters take on a truthful hue that no doubt strikes a chord in the audience. The Glass Menagerie is a play that no doubt has few characters more prominent that Mr. Wingfield, though Mr. Wingfield never once steps on stage. It is Mr. Wingfield's absence from this family that causes their own glass house to break.?
Abstract This essay evaluates the authenticity of Euripides, Bacchae as a typical Greek tragedy. Bacchae's structural features are compared to Aristotle's definition of an archetypal tragedy. Also, Bacchae's story plot is analyzed and compared to other authentic Greek Tragedies such as Oedipus Rex and Antigone. Besides analyzing the structure, this essay also correlates the Greek cultural background with the context of Bacchae.
From the Paper "Bacchae, written by Euripides in 5th century, is a Greek tragedy illustrating intricate relationship between human offense and divine revenge. Both shocking and compassion provoking, the play has remained popular for countless years. Having read many Greek plays over the years, I was fascinated by the similarities between Bacchae and other tragedies such as Oedipus, Antigone, and Electra. Striking structural uniformity of these plays made me investigate characteristics of a typical Greek tragedy, and I discovered that Bacchae displays various aspects of classical tragedy. I concluded that Bacchae is an archetypal Greek tragedy because it exhibits a typical story plot, a tragic hero with pitiful downfall, and a moral theme."
Abstract This paper examines two of the most important school in art and literature, that of Romanticism and Realism. The author discusses how although these schools tend to be assigned to certain specific and bounded moments in history, in fact the impulses toward the Romantic and the Realistic run throughout human history and across the cultural landscape.
From the Paper "Realism as a style in art and literature attempts to describe human behavior and surroundings or to represent figures and objects exactly as they act or appear in life in an objective and unidealized way. Attempts at realism have been made periodically throughout history in all the arts, however the term is usually applied to a movement that began in the mid-19th century that was a direct reaction to the highly subjective approach of romanticism. Realist artists as a group exhibited a profound sense of social consciousness and a high degree of commitment to addressing the political problems of their times; this was also in contrast to the Romantics who often sought to escape the problems of their day and who felt too alienated to try to intervene in the political process."
Abstract This paper explores the theme of magic in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', and discusses how Shakespeare uses supernatural elements throughout the play. It considers the boundaries between good and evil, and comments upon the ways Shakespeare presents the play as a supernaturally charged adventure.
From the Paper "There was a strong belief in the supernatural in Shakespeare's era and subsequently, some form of the supernatural realm is a common theme throughout his plays. The supernatural is a central theme in A Midsummer Night's Dream which is set in an enchanted fairyland wood and the play clearly demonstrates the power of the supernatural and the dramatic influence the spiritual world has upon the natural order of things. "
Abstract The paper examines the character, Willy, in Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman". The author shows how Arthur Miller uses several literary devices to portray the last days of Willy, and offers insight into the perceptions, expectations and illusions that Willy has used to keep up his appearance of apparent success. He shows that Willy's problems with acceptance and denial tear apart his family life, which is overshadowed by his relentless pursuit of the American dream.
From the Paper "All in all, "Death of a Salesman" gives the audience a harsh picture of Willy Loman, and his family at the final breaking point for all members involved. Miller uses colors to express the angry, overpowering world that Willy once considered the beginnings of his success. The set is a symbol for the suppression and failure of Willy's dreams, with seeds in a procrastinated garden representing the procrastinated legacy that Willy never got around to "planting". "
This paper delves into the psychological reasons why and how Lady Macbeth changed so drastically throughout the play of "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare.
Abstract A paper which focuses on the psychological aspects of dreams and psychoanalysis in order to make sense of Lady Macbeth's actions. The author of this paper examines how Lady Macbeth turns from a single-minded, ambitious, unforgiving murderer to a guilty, sleepwalking, absent-minded mess. The author delves into instances from the text that suggest what Lady Macbeth was going through at the time and shows how, psychologically, Sigmund Freud's theory of psychoanalysis would be suited best to find the reasoning behind Lady Macbeth's metamorphosis.
From the Paper "In order to make any headway into this subject, an overview of Freud's psychoanalytical theory is needed. Psychoanalysis is a theory that derives on the idea that the unconscious mind is driven by the sexual urges and primal instinct of man (Quigley 2). One of the most significant points in this theory is the idea that our inborn desires are governed by three separate entities designated as the Id, the Ego, and the Superego (Quigley 3). The Id is the part of the unconscious mind that contains the sexual, instinctive urges of man (Quigley 3). The Superego is the unconscious purveyor of the internalized rules of society; better known as the cautious part of the mind (Quigley 3). The Ego, on the other hand, is the medium between the Id and the Superego; the Ego takes the primal urge under advisement, brings the Superego into the equation, and comes to an eventual compromise between the two (Quigley 3)."
Abstract The paper discusses the theme of the play and various critics? thoughts on the theme and meaning of the work. Luis Valdez writes about Chicano issues. He uses the play to point out the inhumanity of the people who hire Mexicans and how the administration ignores their problems. Critics have called it one of the most important Chicano plays ever to be written.
From the Paper ""Los Vendidos" (the Sellouts) takes place on Honest Sancho's Used Mexican Lot, a "used car lot" that supplies Mexicans to government workers who need token brown-skinned people to fill various roles. Miss JIM-enez is a secretary looking for a Mexican for Governor Regan's office. Someone who will not stand out too much, but will show the Governor has a "brown-skinned" person on his staff. Dark, but not too dark, and suave. "Beige, just the tone" (Valdez). He will be beige in his politics too, a "yes" man to the white politicians who keep him around so they look good."
Abstract The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss and compare the play "Angels in America," by Tony Kushner. Specifically the paper discusses who are the angels, how do they affect the play and what do they symbolize? The different characters and their roles are detailed, as are the different events that shape their lives. The author also explores Kushner's use of magic and how it is threaded throughout the play.
From the Paper "Later, in the second play, one of the characters equates angels to "powerful bureaucrats, they have no imagination, they can do anything but they can't invent, create, they're sort of fabulous and dull all at once" (Kushner). Thus, the angels can stand for anything and everything that is happening to America. Consistently, the characters say how hard it is to live in America. They are referring to how difficult it is to fit into society when you are different ? a Mormon, gay, black, or sick. Angels in America are the ones who know how hard it is to live here, and do it day after day."
Abstract This paper introduces Osvaldo Dragun, often described as Argentina's premiere playwright. It then analyzes his play "The Man who Turned into a Dog" about a man who applies for the job of a watchdog and literally turns into one. The paper shows how the absurdity in the play's storyline is actually a message to show the ridiculous importance society puts on a person's job.
From the Paper "This also leads us to think about the meaning of employment and how we can be defined by our jobs. People everyday become what their job is, taking on a role as a teacher, a policeman, a soldier or any other occupation. In doing this they become something in this role. This occurrence in society is not really noticed because it is common and expected and because it is only a minor change in a person. In the play however, Dragun takes this occurrence to its extremes. The result is that we notice that this happens. We notice that to become a watchdog the man has actually given himself up as a human and become a dog. While this can be laughed off as absurd, we can think about it a little further and see that this is exactly what happens to all people, just in a less noticeable way. In this way then, Dragun makes us think about modern society and the place of employment in it. The simple play then has a much greater meaning than we realized."
Abstract The paper analyzes Sophocles? play "Antigone", which tells the narrative of the demise of Oedipus? daughter/sister in the context of the larger tragedy of the rulers of the ancient Greek city of Thebes. The paper discusses how, in the context of the play, Antigone does not only function as a singular individual, experiencing a single dilemma of character, she also functions as a young woman playing several roles. It shows that her first role is that of a bereaved sister, then her role is that of a daughter and sister of a uniquely tragic oedipal house. Finally her role is one of an ordinary woman dying before her time because of the fundamental, fated, and unsolvable conflict between the obligations of blood and obligations of a citizen.
From the Paper "When her crime is discovered, Antigone adopts a new role, that of a woman whom is not only a sister of a dead brother, but also the descendant of a house uniquely battered at torn at by fate who has a unique destiny to fulfill. She assumes this destiny in contrast to her sister Ismene. When asked if she feels any hatred for the killer of her own brother, Antigone says, ?Brother yes, by the same mother, the same father.? In other words, both brothers slew his brother; both have committed the tragic crime of fratricide. In the face of such evil, who can judge one brother above another? That is the essence of the tragedy of Thebes, of the confusion of familial roles."
Abstract The paper analyzes the different contrasts found in the play. The paper focuses on the way the men in the play view a murder scene compared to how the women view the same scene. An analysis of the different behavior of the men and women is given. The paper shows how the real motive to the murder is discovered through the women's sensitivities. The play is compared to the old Greek myth of the "Three Fates".
From the Paper "The one-act play ?Trifles,? written by Susan Glaspell in 1916, is a play of contrasts. The early and later life of one woman, Minnie Foster Wright, husband of the dead man John Wright, are compared. The lives of the women visiting the crime scene with the sheriff and attorney are contrasted with the life of the woman jailed for her husband's murder. Even Minnie's quilting pieces are contrasted, with some stitched more competently than the last one. The most obvious comparison, though, looks at how the men view the scene versus what the women see."
