Abstract This paper takes a look at how Shakespeare shows his audience the noble and ignoble nature of honor and chivalry in the behavior of the play's main characters Henry Percy, Henry Prince of Wales, Sir John Falstaff, and King Henry the Fourth. An examination of "Henry IV" shows how Shakespeare demonstrates these 16th century values of honor and justice to his audience.
Tags: honor, elizabeth, I, england, virtue, valor, glory
Abstract This paper looks at the similarities between Shakespeare's "Henry V" and Machiavelli's "The Prince", and the concept of the perfect king. The two plays are discussed, and the concept that either Shakespeare is drawing his inspiration for his dramatization from Machiavelli or that both Machiavelli and Shakespeare have similar ideas of what the ideal ruler would be.
From the Paper "In Henry V, Shakespeare presents Henry as the ultimate ideal of kingship. The only question is where does this idea of a perfect king come from, and after reading Machiavelli's Prince and Henry V one begins to note similarities. Not the least of which is the passage quoted above, a true Machiavellian manoeuvre. In this passage, the governor of Harfleur, the French city under siege by Henry's troops, has refused entrance to the army of Henry. As Machiavelli says, "it is wiser to have a reputation for meanness which brings reproach without hatred, than to be compelled through seeking a reputation for liberality". Therefore, Henry, following this advice of Machiavelli, does exactly that, and frightens the innocent people of Harfleur into opening their city gates through the sheer grotesqueness of his command. We frequently see these similarities between the actions of Henry, at least through Shakespeare's portrayal, and the recommended actions of a good prince, as documented in Machiavelli's The Prince. Therefore, one might draw the conclusion that either Shakespeare is drawing his inspiration for his dramatisation from Machiavelli or that both Machiavelli and Shakespeare have similar ideas of what the ideal ruler would be."
Abstract This paper examines the contemporary meaning of the flowers used by Ophelia in ?Hamlet.? The meaning of the flowers have been carefully researched and their use and relevance is discussed. There is also a discussion about stage directions and Ophelia's lack of voice.
From the Paper "In the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century, it became a popular trend to speak in what was called ?the language of flowers:? a system where different flowers had different meanings, and entire thoughts could be conveyed through a carefully arranged bouquet. Throughout Shakespeare's tragic play, Hamlet, this language of flowers is used quite prominently, particularly in relation to Ophelia, Hamlet's love. Her flowers ultimately become her voice: all her life she is the lone female surrounded by father, brother and lover, but it is through this language of flowers which she may speak, not in words, but in a way which is completely understood by her contemporaries, since it is safe to say that Shakespeare's original viewers would have been knowledgeable about the "meanings" of different flowers, much more so than today's audience. This conclusion can be reached not only by looking at the period during which this trend was popular,[1] but mainly because some of the most important parts of the play make no sense without a basic knowledge of these meanings."
Abstract This paper analyzes Shakespeare's play, "Romeo and Juliet" and examines its central themes. The author looks at the themes of love and death with reference to determination, passion, madness and uncertainty that the characters experience.
From the Paper "Romeo and Juliet is one of William Shakespeare's most well know plays. The infamous love story between the two main characters is what draws most people to the play. Yet from such a brilliant author, one must look deeper to find greater issues hidden in the lines of this play. Although Shakespeare never specifically states his thoughts, one can find conclusive evidence to support the idea that love is equated with death in this play. Death is defined as destruction; lacking warmth, interest, or brightness; without feeling, motion, or power. On the other hand, love is defined as a strong affection or liking for someone; passionate affection. With such different definitions, it takes the genius of Shakespeare to draw these two phenomena's together."
Abstract This paper argues that William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is a true tragedy according to Aristotle's definition of tragedy. The paper includes textual examples to back up author's opinion. The paper also discusses how the timeless tale is still widely popular and evokes compassion and pity by all who experience the play.
From the Paper "By the end of the play, Romeo and Juliet are in a highly unfavorable position death. Their families also suffer they have lost their only children. This very complicated sequence of events is complex enough to be interesting, but the emotions behind the situations are extremely real. Anyone watching the play would have had experience with missed chances and the consequences of hurrying things. Therefore, we find that " Romeo and Juliet" is a true tragedy according to Aristotle. It follows the sequence of events that define tragedy and evokes the emotions of pity and fear in an audience that identifies with the main characters."
Abstract This paper argues that Shakespeare wrote "Measure for Measure" as a complimentary tutorial for King James. In doing so, he portrays the current state of affairs in England and attempts to provide James with advice concerning the problems facing his kingdom.
From the Paper "Shakespeare's England at the time that Measure for Measure was written was in a state of internal conflict and discord. King James I came to power in 1603 and inherited a kingdom rife with a myriad of social and cultural problems, including corruption in the justice system, religious disputes and crises, and rampant sexual immorality. Shakespeare, the ?King's Playwright,? as Alvin Kernan dubs him, wrote Measure for Measure as a complimentary tutorial for King James. In doing so, he portrays the current state of affairs in England and attempts to provide James, as a ruler with Divine Right and responsibility to his country, with advice concerning the problems facing his kingdom."
Abstract An analysis of Shakespeare's famous play, "Hamlet", concentrating on the storyline and characters. The author discusses Hamlet's contemplative nature and shows its importance. The author feels that if Hamlet was able to put aside his thoughts earlier, Claudius would have been killed in the second act, and the play would be about forty-five minutes long. But the author of this paper believes that Shakespeare does not make Hamlet's rational thoughts disappear until Act III, at the death of Polonius, making Hamlet one of Shakespeare's longest plays. He feels that Shakespeare uses the death of Polonius to show what happens to a man when he kills another human being. In this play, the author says, the murder of Polonius starts a chain reaction of the rest of the deaths the tragedy has to offer.
From the Paper "There are people in this world who are thinkers and dreamers, who think things through completely before anything gets done. And there are people who get things done without thinking too much before hand. In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the main character, Hamlet, is a complex character who thinks about everything to the point where things don?t get accomplished. Throughout the play, the audience can see that Hamlet is a procrastinator, and he cannot kill Claudius, even when he has numerous chances to do so. The key moment in the play when Hamlet's mindset changes is when he mistakenly kills Polonius. Shakespeare decided to include the murder of Polonius to show that by killing a man, Hamlet's mindset has changed and his rational instincts are gone, allowing him to finally avenge his father's death by killing Claudius."
Tags: death, Hamlet, killing, Shakespeare, tragedy, character, Polonius, Claudius
Abstract An introduction and discussion of William Shakespeare's play, "Othello". The writer of the paper also discusses the concept of the tragic hero within the context of the play.
From the Paper "Othello is a tragic hero because he allows the actions of others to determine his own fate, and his own demise. This is one common definition of a tragic hero, especially in Shakespeare's works; the hero must die in the end. Othello certainly fits the definition here, because he falls on his sword in the end, after discovering that he murdered his wife without a shred of real evidence, she was never unfaithful."
Abstract This paper focuses on the importance of the women's roles in the plays Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Othello. Particularly, the relationship between the woman and their fathers is analyzed in this paper. The father-daughter relationship that this paper focuses on is the relationship between pairs of characters in the plays mentioned above: Lord Capulet and Juliet (Romeo and Juliet), Polonius and Ophelia (Hamlet), and Brabantio and Desdemona (Othello). Each character is evaluated according to their interaction not only with other people, but most importantly their interaction with each other. An analysis on the effect of woman roles in contributing to the tragedy that happened in the play is also discussed.
From the Paper "Women in many of Shakespeare's plays establish their own identity in the story through a series of interaction with various characters in the play. Aside from their roles as a woman and a wife or lover to the main characters of Shakespearean plays, the author presents another side of the woman's character through a reflection of the existing father and daughter relationship in the story. If women were regarded as "goddess" by their husbands/lovers, their relationships with their fathers present another part of their persona, and each of them possesses unique characteristics that make their roles in the story memorable. "
Abstract This paper is about how the characters in Shakespeare's "The Tempest" see Caliban as a monster. The writer examines the character and proceeds to compare and contrast him to each of the other characters in the play.. The writer also debates about whether or not their treatment of Caliban is justified.
From the Paper "William Shakespeare?s, ?The Tempest,? provides insight into the hierarchy of command and servitude by order of nature. This play uses the relationship between its characters to display the control of the conqueror over the conquered. It also shows how society usually places the undesirable members at the bottom of the chain of command, even though they may be entitled to a higher social status. For example, the beginning of the play opens with a scene on a boat in the midst of a terrible storm. The boatswain, who is under the command of the royal party, attempts to keep the boat from sinking. Members of the royal party, however, persist in interfering with his duties. The boatswain retorts, "What cares these roarers for the name of the king" To cabin! Silence! Trouble us not?(I, I, 16-18). He is trying to warn his superiors that if he does not let him do his job, everyone will die, and it will not matter who has power over whom. The superiors, however, still take offense to this comment and label him a blasphemer. Caliban, an unfortunate character in this play, suffers from similar constant abuse because he is of the lowest social rank in his community. Critic John W. Draper describes Caliban's position in relation to the other characters when he says, ?Of all the characters in Shakespeare, Caliban is the most fully and repeatedly/ described, though not always consistently; and his bodily parts seem to show little/ relation to his humor or his character except that both are monstrous. Monsters/ were popular; and, as Trinculo remarks, any "holiday fool" in England would pay out/ "silver" for the sight of one. Caliban's monstrosity, however, out-Herods Herod?(Draper 89). According to the other inhabitants of the island, Caliban is a monster. He is a symbol of what they never want to become. Caliban reminds them to act as though they are worthy of their high social status. He is the painfully realistic entity around whom the other rulers on the island silently rally in order to maintain a social balance. They abhor him but desperately desire to possess at the same time. On a narrower scale, the oppression of the underdog is obvious in the undesirable Caliban and his relationship to Prospero, Miranda, Ariel and Ferdinand. "
Tags: character, play, opression, monster, Prospero, Ferdinand, Miranda
Abstract An analysis of the character of Hamlet. This paper debates whether Hamlet was faking his madness throughout the play or whether he was really insane. The writer provides a brief synopsis of the plot and examines scenes from the play which would justify sanity or insanity.
From the Paper "In William Shakespeare's play of the same name, the character of Hamlet appears to be insane to the casual observer. However, many incidents show that Hamlet is simply faking this madness. In exchanges where he appears irrational, his subtle sarcasm may often be misinterpreted. Hamlet also acts irrational as a guise to attempt to buy him time and manipulate other individuals. Further, Hamlet remains rational and logical throughout the play, indicating that he is, in fact, sane."
Abstract Dreaming and what happens during the period of slumber are two important themes that emerge from the Shakespearean comedy "A Midsummer Night's Dream". This paper discusses the difference between actual dreams and the surreal situation in order to grasp the meaning and significance of "dreaming" in the play.
From the Paper "A Midsummer Night's dream, as the name suggest, is full of instances of fantasy and illusion which makes it on the one hand, a beautiful magical tale while on the other a comic story where surrealism outweighs every other force. While many would think that love is the dominant theme of the play, the playwright it appears had another theme in mind when he created this story. Shakespeare has given dreams a more dominant role to play in the plot because it is during the period of slumber that magical things happen to the characters, which completely change the course of the play."
Tags: slumber, love-potion, fantasy, fairies, love
Abstract This paper presents an analysis of Updike's "Gertrude and Claudius". While the plot remains the same as in Shakespeare's "Hamlet", Updike presents a completely different view of middle-aged sexuality in this story. The character of Gertrude is explored.
From the Paper "?The plot of Shakespeare's "Hamlet" seems complicated enough!? a casual reader might be tempted to exclaim. Why render the story even more complicated by attempting to surmise "back story" of some of the more minor characters of the tale, in relation to the action of this already very long play? However, John Updike's novel Gertrude and Claudius attempts create just such a prologue. In providing a past history for the hero's mother Gertrude, Updike creates a far different woman in his novel than the sensual, guilty lady of the Jacobean drama ?Hamlet.?
"In Updike's vision of Gertrude, Gertrude or "Gerutha" was a strong, beautiful young woman who was married to a warrior Horwendil the Jute by her father. She didn?t love the man, but was forced into the arrangement. When the warrior's father died, he and she assumed the throne of Denmark as king and queen. Gertrude never really accepted her status as wife of Horwendil and mother of Hamlet. She only came to a full sensuous understanding of herself as a woman when she entered into a liaison with her husband's brother."
Abstract This paper examines the life of William Shakespeare and compares and contrasts it to one of his most famous plays, "Hamlet". Shakespeare's childhood, education and early attempts at writing are all discussed and finally his adulthood - including relationships and emotional hardships. These experiences are compared to those of Hamlet.
From the Paper "William Shakespeare is considered to be the greatest playwright of all time. He was an English dramatist and poet who lived during the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. As with all writers, Shakespeare's life has probably affected many of his plays, but one which stands out most strikingly in this manner is ?Hamlet.? "
Tags: dramatist, english, literature, plays, poet, theatre, william
Analyzes the character of Othello from Shakespeare's play of the same name to determine if he fits the classical definition of a tragic hero. Concludes that Othello falls short of the definition.
1,125 words (approx. 4.5 pages), 1 source, 2001, $ 39.95
From the Paper "Othello has often been termed a "tragic hero," however, that definition might not be the most accurate or useful one to fully understand the implications of this complex Shakespearean hero. Standard dramatic criticism argues that a "tragic hero," is "a good and noble man brought to a bad end because of some flaw in his character that leads him to the wrong course of action." Implied in that definition are four concepts, or templates, against which Othello can be measured: a) good and noble man; b) tragic flaw; c) wrong course of action; and d) bad end..."
