Abstract This is a paper comparing and contrasting the two major speeches of Marcus Brutus and Antony in William Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar". The author makes several interesting points and discusses how Antony 's method of toying with the audience's emotions prevailed over Brutus? attempt to use the audience's pride and patriotism.
From the Paper "Great speakers are remembered throughout history for making speeches that touch the audience, or get the audience to believe something that before seemed like nonsense. People like Martin Luther King Junior and Abraham Lincoln changed history, and are remembered to this day for their historic speeches. In William Shakespeare's play, Julius Caesar, two such speeches were made. In the play, both Marcus Brutus and Antony made speeches that moved the crowd, but they used different techniques to accomplish their goals. Brutus? and Antony 's speeches differed vastly in their emphasis, content, and writing style."
Tags: audience, caesar, julius, play, renaissance, shakespeare, speaking, patriotism, william
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 reviews Samuel Beckett's life and the influence it had on his writing. The setting of the play is analyzed, along with the characters' names, the dialogue and various themes of the play including: Self-reflexivity, father figures, and cyclically.
From the Paper "Some of the most in-depth interpretations deal with the setting of the play. Described in the first lines, the room is said to have "two small windows, [with] curtains drawn." That image, along with many other in the play, have led many to presume that the action occurs inside the skull, the players being inside the mind and thought of the body (Mayoux 4). This is a rather accurate assumption, seeing that Beckett was a fan of Descartes, who believed that the mind was a separate entity from the body."
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."
