Abstract This paper analyzes one of William Shakespeare's most celebrated comedic plays, "A Midsummer Night's Dream". The author examines how the throughout the play the characters attempt to find a way to understand the mechanism of love in a rational way and experience self-alterations that they believe to be a dream in the end. The paper also looks at how the recurring reference to the ever-changing moon parallels the transformation of the characters in "A Midsummer Night's Dream".
From the Paper:
"A Midsummer Night's Dream" brilliantly expresses the profound human uncertainty about love. Dream world and reality merge undetectably so that the characters are not sure themselves in which sphere they move, nor whether what they have experienced has been imagination or truth. What seems to be a fantasy or a dream for the characters in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is actually reality. However, the dreamlike atmosphere of the play accentuates the fact that the lovers appear to be quite removed from any criteria applicable to reality."
Abstract In this paper the author takes an in-depth look at social construction. After examining the definition of social construction the author discusses it in relation to romantic love, with particular reference to Ibsen?s, Nora. The author considers the actions and events in "The Doll's House" and what they tell us about the link between society and inner self. The paper concludes with a look at other metaphors within the play that also tell us something about social construction and finally focuses on the overall message that Ibsen sends throughout the play.
From the paper:
?? society gives us meaning of not only society, but also of ourselves, that our beliefs are a product of what we learn from society, and that through interacting with society we can change our perceptions.?
Abstract The paper discusses figures of sight and blindness used in the play "M Butterfly" examining Gallimard and Song's relationship in the greatest detail. A look at the Western depiction of Eastern women.
From the paper:
"David Henry Hwang uses figures of seeing and not-seeing to depict the relationship between the East and the West in his play M. Butterfly, an inversion of Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly. Gallimard can turn a blind eye to the fact that Song is a man in disguise because of his deeply-ingrained, stereotypically Western fantasy of Eastern women as submissive, fragile ?Madame Butterflies.? Gallimard is so enamored of the Madame Butterfly fantasy that he cannot see past it, and he is blinded to the obvious fact that his "Butterfly" is a far cry from the original."
Tags: butterfly, colonial, cultural, david, east, english, henry, hwang, multi, play, post, studies, west
This paper is an analysis of William Shakespeare's "Hamlet,", and goes into detail about Hamlet's elaborate plan to expose the king as the murderer of his father.
1,185 words (approx. 4.7 pages), 0 sources, 2002, $ 40.95
Abstract This is an analysis of the play "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare. Special attention is paid to the scene where the real murderer of the king is divulged. The author explains how this is a pivotal scene as it solves the mystery that has been building up until that point.
From the paper:
"Act III, Scene II is important for a number of reasons. Essentially, it is the start of the second half of the play. It could be argued that the first half of the play is when Hamlet sets up his strategy to avenge his father's death. Naturally, the second half would then be Hamlet taking the vengeance he so baldy wants. Unfortunately for nearly all parties involved, it does not happen how he planned. In Act III Scene II, Claudius? guilt as well as his moral values had been exposed for all to see. Hamlet's underhanded slyness was also revealed by his non-confrontational means of proving the king's role in the murder of his father. Lastly, the reader also discovers the queen's apparent innocence."
An in-depth analysis of this English Renaissance tragedy, the various factors involved which lead to the tragic ending and the struggle between good and evil.
2,800 words (approx. 11.2 pages), 2 sources, 2001, $ 83.95
Abstract In this paper the author examines the theme of tragedy that runs through this play. In so doing he looks at the primary relationships in the play - the relationship between the Cardinal, the Duchess and Ferdinand and the relationship between the Duchess and Antonio which he suggests is central to the play. He also suggests that the character of Bosola is an additional factor in the events that lead to the tragic end. The author examines each of these factors in turn, looking at the characters involved, their characteristics and the meaning of each factor and concludes by showing, not only how all these events led to the tragic ending, but also what meaning this has for the reader.
From the paper:
?The central tragedy of the play is that of the Duchess. She is represented as a fine woman in terrible circumstances. Her tragic flaw is her need to follow her heart. She defies the reality of the situation and makes the decision to marry Antonio and ultimately suffers for this choice. The tragedy of the situation is that she does nothing wrong. Her relationship with Antonio is pure. Even with the tragedy that results, she accepts this as a consequence of loving Antonio and accepts her fate.?
Abstract This essay examines the relationship between Faustus and Mephistopheles in Marlowe's original "Dr. Faustus". It successfully argues that although Faustus thoroughly believes that he is in control of his own destiny and the magic that he wields, he is really nothing more than a pawn of the devil, and eventually, will come full circle in his life as he begins to realize that he never had control of Mephistopheles ? rather quite the opposite.
From the Paper ?Christopher Marlowe's tragedy "Doctor Faustus" is a Renaissance play about greed, good versus evil, and the corruption that often accompanies the quick acquisition of power and material wealth. The play chronicles the later life of the theologian and scholar Dr. John Faustus; a man who has become bored with the seeming mundane and slow progression of his studies and who longs for the power and omniscience of a deity. In return for these ?blessings,? he agrees to sell his soul to Lucifer, the ruler of Hell, partially because he realizes that the Judeo-Christian god will not grant him such power, and partly because the path he chooses is quicker and easier than a life of academic study.?
Abstract This paper looks at Shakespeare's play "A Midsummer Night's Dream," as an example of how Cupid's arrow can make people defy convention and reason. Through an examination of the characters and their roles, the author supports the thesis that love causes a person to become irrational and can often cause them to lose touch with reality.
From the Paper "The fighting continues between the four. Helena gets more and more upset, particularly at Hermia, who was once her dearest, closest friend, and whom she now suspects is being cruel to her. Hermia herself is very confused, at both the fact that Lysander no longer wants anything to do with her, and the fact that Helena seems to not trust her. Once the argument ceases and the four go off into the forest, so Demetrius and Lysander can duke it out over Helena, Puck catches up to set things "right". Oberon's wish is that the original lovers Lysander and Hermia are reunited, and that Demetrius will stay in love with Helena, and she will believe his love to be true."
Abstract This paper is a literary analysis of how life imitates art in "The Glass Menagerie". The author examines how the character of Tom Wingfield greatly resembled playwright Tennessee Williams' life, and the Wingfields' family life was just as difficult as Williams' upbringing.
From the Paper "Anatole France, French literary critic and author of the late 19th and 20th centuries, once said, "A writer is rarely so well inspired as when he talks about himself." In his one-act drama, "The Glass Menagerie", Tennessee Williams was indeed drawing from an autobiographical well and it is written about his own family struggles."
Tags: drama, play, tennessee, williams, tom, amanda, laura, wingfield, rose
Abstract This paper discusses how "The Misanthrope" reflects some of playwright Moliere's feelings about religion. The writer describes a relationship between sin (lust) and religion in Celemine and Alceste and other characters in the play.
From the Paper "Moliere often mocked religion in his plays. Another of the author's famous plays is "Tartuffe," which satirizes the extremely religious title character's piety. Tartuffe eventually attempts to seduce the wife of his pious patron. But in "The Misanthrope" there seems to be more sympathy for religious ideals. The society in which Alceste dwells is in fact corrupt. It is filled with puffed-up court poets like Oronte who walk about, spouting dreadful verse and engaging in the sort of sexual intrigues with Celimene that Alceste despises."
Tags: religion, sin, catholic, evil, alceste, celimene, tartuffe, society, france, philinte, satire
Abstract This paper explores and contrasts Aristotle's interpretation of Oedipus? tragic tale as the unjust subjugation of fate where Oedipus? choice led him to his downfall. On the other hand while in interpreting Oedipus, Sigmund Freud indicated that ignorance of the sub-consciousness was the result of Oedipus condition and thus Freud's is a mere presentation of the realization of consciousness and the resulting self inflicted punishment by the male lead, Oedipus.
From the Paper ?Hence it could be interpreted that Sophocles seems to think that wisdom is the main culprit for the many choices that Oedipus made. But of core justice is wisdom about human affairs and the difficulty that Oedipus faced when he realized he had committed incest he served justice himself by blinding himself. Yet one see that this was done after a tedious and long quest for the truth because Oedipus still clung on the notion that he could benefit from the situation. However, in the end he was overcome by his own inner sense of justice which served him equity for the sins he committed, for the time he ignored to take any kind of initiative for the acts of fate he experienced.?
Tags: complexity, human, mind, scholars, literary?, work, predecessors, myths, literature
Abstract This paper briefly compares the characters of Hamlet and King Lear, the main characters in two of Shakespeare's plays. It shows how both are very powerful characters yet use their power in very different ways.
From the Paper "In William Shakespeare's play Hamlet, the title character is a young, brooding man in his early twenties who is faced with the murder of his father by his Uncle, who becomes his stepfather. Despite being well aware of the terrible actions of his mother and his stepfather, Hamlet takes quite a lot of time deciding what measures need to be taken. On the contrary, King Lear (of Shakespeare's play titled King Lear) begins the play in the exact opposite mindset. His reign as king is drawing near, and his vision regarding the circumstances of those around him is quite clear. However, King Lear almost immediately begins his downfall into madness, while Hamlet's journey to clarity begins."
Abstract This paper provides a description of the general themes apparent in Ibsen's play 'A Doll's House' and the characters Ibsen creates. In defining the play as a "realism" play, the unique setting Ibsen chooses is analyzed.
From the Paper "All of the characters in 'A Doll's House' are ordinary, everyday people with whom the 19th Century audience would undoubtedly identify. This notion works in the same way as the naturalistic staging, as it prevented the audience from distancing themselves from 'those type of people'. One of the most acclaimed aspects of Ibsen's work is the profound depth and complexity of his characters. The temptation is to label characters as 'good' or 'bad', 'moral' or 'immoral', but their complexity makes such a definite distinction difficult. This is perhaps one of the things that most disturbed people at the time. Ibsen disregarded simplistic definitions and introduced the idea that all people contain elements of both good and bad."
Abstract According to the author, this work is filled with many seemingly tragic yet ironic occurrences. Whenever a character attempts to change fate, this is ironic to an audience who knows that the tragic outcome of the story cannot be avoided. Metaphors are analyzed which deal with eyes, sight and vision as well as distorted perception.
From the Paper "It has been said many times that people have been blinded by the truth. The answer to their question or problem might have been right in front of their eyes all along. Yet, the fail to see the answer. Being blinded by the truth. This irony plays a role in Oedipus Rex. Oedipus while gifted with sight, is blind to himself. The blind may not have physical sight, but they have a different kind of vision that is just as precious. In Oedipus Rex, Teiresias, the blind prophet, presents the truth to King Oedipus and Jocasta. When Oedipus does find the truth, he loses his vision. Because of the truth, Oedipus gains a second vision. In Sophocles tragedy Oedipus Rex, Oedipus is blessed with the gift of perception, yet he cannot see what is right before his eyes. Blinded by the truth, this fleeting view was critical for development of self-awareness and growth of Oedipus."
Abstract This paper discusses the role of minor characters as foils in the play. The two important yet smaller characters which are given significant place in the play are that Nils Krogstad and Mrs. Linde who act as foils to Nora and Torvald because they reveal important information about the two leading characters. Secondly, foils are also vital for any play because they help some of the main characters grow and change. The evolutionary process of the main characters requires the presence of foils just like that of Krogstad and Linde in "A Doll's House".
From the Paper "A Doll's House is a classic play by Henrik Ibsen, which focuses on the theme of individuality, feminism and role of women in the society. Though the play was written in 1879, it can be easily related to because of the farsightedness of the writer who incorporated the modern ideals of feminism and equal rights for women in his play which was written in times when women were completely unaware of individuality and were suppressed by men in every field. The story revolves around an innocent housewife who is constantly deceived by her husband. The husband is not cheating on her and neither is he ever unfaithful to her, but the deception comes from his refusal to let his wife grow and develop her own personality. He, like most other men, maintains that a woman's primary duty is to look after her husband and children. Nora is foolish and naive to believe that her duties as a wife had been her only objectives in life, it is only near the end of the play that she realizes how wrong she had been and that she barely knew her husband."
Abstract An in-depth analysis of four main characters in two of Shakespeare's plays. This essay details Anthony and his inner conflict between his longing to rule the Roman Empire and his strong love for Cleopatra. It also details the very fickle and dramatic character of Cleopatra and the many versatile parts she can play. It includes a brief discussion of the overwhelming love between Romeo and Juliet as well as their families' feud. Finally, it compares the plays and their characters.
From the Paper "Antony is a man in conflict throughout this play. He struggles between his need to rule the Roman Empire, and his great love for Cleopatra. When he with Cleopatra, she is the only thing that matters. He says in the first act, "Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch / Of the ranged empire fall" (Cohen, Howard, and Greenblatt I.i.35?36). In just a few moments however, he worries that his love will cause him to "lose [him]self in dotage" (Cohen, Howard, and Greenblatt I.ii.106) and then he is afraid that his wife had died because of him, and that this is just one ill befalling because of his ?idleness.? He has a hard time deciding whether to follow his passion, and stay with Cleopatra, or follow his duty, and return to Rome."
