Abstract This paper looks at the theory of revenge in William Shakespeare's play, "Hamlet." The author compares it to "Romeo and Juliet, "King Lear," and "Macbeth," in order to demonstrate how much further the theme of revenge is taken in the play. The character of Hamlet is compared and contrasted to the main characters in Shakespeare's other works to show how Hamlet's revenge, unlike the revenge of Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, or King Lear, consumes him, leading to his ultimate demise.
From the Paper "But Hamlet's actions toward Ophelia make much sense if we consider them as the symptoms of a madness already implanted far before he falls in love with Ophelia (who has after all done nothing to drive him mad; this is no example of a love denied or betrayed, at least not on the part of Ophelia). But Hamlet is incapable of accepting that Ophelia is either pure or good or innocent, because he himself is not, and so he cannot see these traits in others (Hankins, 1976, p. 41). Ophelia might have been the one person who could have redeemed Hamlet and saved the royal line, but Hamlet is too mired in the endless demands of a maddening revenge that demands continuous new victims to see that Ophelia offers him the possibility of escape and peace (Garner and Sprengnether, 1996, p. 97)."
Abstract The following paper explores Iago's character by examining his relationships with others as well as considering the nature of the other characters in the play. This paper begins with a brief summary of each of these characters with an emphasis on those attributes that combine to bring about the tragedy of the play.
From the Paper "Of all of Shakespeare's villains, Iago is the one that we most love to hate simply because he is the most purely malignant character in Shakespeare's panoply of wrongdoers. Lear brings about terrible consequences because of his pride, but while Cordelia is sacrificed to Lear's blindness, we see that the king too suffers terribly, and he is clearly a man entangled by the arms of fate. Romeo and Juliet die tragically, of course, but there is no real villain in that play."
Abstract The following paper explores how Shakespeare was generally thought to have been no more than a rough and untutored genius in the 18th century, while now his works are held up as the height of sophistication and the core of any "great works" selection in English literature.
From the Paper ?For many years theories were advanced that his plays had actually been written by someone "more educated, more sophisticated and of an altogether better class than Shakespeare" ? perhaps statesman and philosopher Sir Francis Bacon or the Earl of Southampton, who was Shakespeare's patron (Sobran 29). However, it should be noted that Shakespeare was celebrated in his own time by English writer Ben Jonson and others who saw in him a brilliance that would endure and since the 19th century, Shakespeare's achievements have consistently praised. He is now in general regarded throughout the Western world as the greatest dramatist ever (Sobran 37).?
Abstract This paper uses of the characters in Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar," as examples of deceit and naivete, and parallels them with examples from current history. Naivete is illustrated using examples of how both Caesar and the US were unaware of the warning signs of an impending attack. Deceit is illustrated using the fact that the terrorists lived in the US and no one knew, and that Caesar's friends plotted and he never knew. Columbine High School, where two "normal" students went on shooting rampage, is used to illustrate deceit and is compared to Caesar's supporters also going on a rampage and killing him. The author illustrates how Caesar never had chance to change while on the other hand, American is changing and needs to evolve with these changes.
From the Paper "Deception, of course, correlates with the terrorist attacks, too. These Taliban members lived within our communities, shopped at our grocery stores, slept next door and might have even dated a few of our women. All the while, they were secretly plotting a nationwide attack for September 11, 2001. Caesar is also betrayed, though the Senate is supposed to be his supporters. Brutus is his best friend, his confidant. Yet all the while, Brutus is being persuaded to conspire against Caesar. Brutus does conspire, as well as others who once supported Caesar. The conspirators lie, sneak around and deceive their family and friends in order to do what they feel is right for the state of Rome. Eerily, the suicide bombers of September 11 also lied, and snuck around. Perhaps one of the most damaging results of their ultimate deception is that now Americans don?t know who to trust, which leads to many citizens preferring not to trust anyone. (Webb, EDN)"
Abstract This paper analyzes the question about whether Hamlet is truly insane or whether it is all just an act. It draws context from the play, quoting lines and through these analyzes his behavior.
From the Paper "Shakespeare's tragic hero, Hamlet, and his sanity can arguably be discussed. Many portions of the play support his loss of control in his actions, while other parts uphold his ability of dramatic art. The issue can be discussed both ways and altogether provide significant support to either theory. There are indications from Hamlet throughout the play of his mind's well being. Hamlet's "Craziness" may have caused him in certain times that he is in a role-play. Hamlet has mood swings as his mood changes abruptly throughout the play. Hamlet appears to act mad when he hears of his father's murder."
Tags: 400, hamlet, insane, old, plays, sanity, shakespeare, years
Abstract This paper discusses the way in which food is used as a metaphor throughout the play's dialogue as a measure of how excessive various characters are in love and in politics. It shows how the play begins and ends with the theme of food as its focus and quotes lines from the body of the play to strengthen this claim.
From the Paper "Cleopatra in particular uses food frequently to express her love for Anthony. She not only does this physically over the course of the play, using banquets and strong drink as a way of celebrating his return and whiling the hours away when he is in Rome. Everything is something to be consumed in Cleopatra's eyes, and food also functions verbally as metaphor for her love and her desire to possess Anthony completely and utterly. ?Give me some music, moody food/Of us that trade in love.? (2.5.1) However, in the eyes of some of the other characters in the play Cleopatra is herself a kind of food. Enobarbus, Anthony's trusted friend states: ?Other women cloy/The appetites they feed, but she makes hungry/Where most she satisfies.? (2.2.241-244)"
Abstract An analysis of the plot and characters of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream". The author shows how the success of the play depends on the audience's ability to suspend disbelief and believe in magic.
From the Paper "The play is not a play that would have been written in 2002, because it is partly a comedy of manners. For instance, Hermia's and Lysander's crisis is unimaginable in this day and age. No leader, even one who had complete powers, would agree to put the daughter of a friend to death or send her to a convent if she did not marry the husband her father had chosen for her. This is an example of negotiating (2/2/02), but one that dates the play. Nevertheless, eloping was a much greater act of defiance during Shakespeare's time than it is now."
Abstract This paper provides a brief summary of "Oedipus at Colonus" and "King Lear", looking at the characters and their actions. It compares and contrasts these two works - looking at the role of the King in the plays and how the supernatural agents become involved in their life decisions. The writer shows how each central figure becomes capable of seeing the truth of his world only after he is blinded or driven mad.
From the Paper "Shakespeare s play is a much darker one, for while Lear may have been granted a sort of purity of inner sight through his madness, in the end this clarity of vision brings him no surcease from torment. This difference reflects not only the different requirements of these two specific plots and differences in the playwrights own temperaments but also differences that arise between the polytheistic and in at least some ways animistic world in which Sophocles lived and the monotheistic and Christian world of the English Renaissance."
Abstract The play "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare contains a rich diversity of issues and relationships, some of the greatest of which concern those between father and son. The paper discusses these relationships, most notably those between Hamlet and the late King Hamlet, Fortinbras and Old Fortinbras, and Polonius and Laertes, and shows how they demonstrate a number of significant, unique characteristics as well as several themes that are both timeless and universal.
From the Paper "Hamlet's love and loyalty to his father is such that it significantly changes his psyche and motivates his actions for the remainder of the play, or to the end of his own life. In soliloquies such as that of Act III, Scene iii, he reveals tender concern for his father's soul, noting that since King Hamlet was murdered he was unable to confess himself to God before dying, an important religious rite of the period. This, along with the ghostly manifestation of King Hamlet, underlines the spiritual dimension of the father/son relationship, suggesting that the concerns are of divine and religious importance."
Abstract The author states that little is know of Shakespeare's life details, but it is known that he started acting in 1597 before the queen and soon became an expert playwright. He points out that one of the interesting aspects of Shakespeare's life is that he came from the farm class and grew up in a town where most of the people were illiterate. The feminist position of Shakespeare is discussed. The author states that to be a successful playwright in Shakespeare's day, a playwright had to interest many different people and that is why Shakespeare had such a wide range of play topics and styles.
From the Paper "William Shakespeare was born on 23rd April 1564 to farmer class parents. This is the reason why we find his life so amazing. He grew up in a town where the majority of the people could neither read nor write. It is known that about five years after he married he left his hometown, Stratford, and went to London where he started acting before the queen. It is known that his careers as an actor as well as a manger both were illustrious and he had a good many years of criticism and success. He lived the latter part of his life actively and died a wealthy man."
Abstract This paper presents a detailed discussion on the role of women in Richard III. The writer examines the female characters, their station in society, their role as survivors and the impact they have on the other characters in the play.
From the Paper "Throughout time women have held various roles in the large scheme of life. Different points in history have provided the women with different expectations and societal viewpoints change within those eras. In recent decades the role of a woman has changed dramatically as the women's movement came to pass and the world learned to accept their equality. It was not always the way it is today however women have held a role of importance since the beginning of time. The era of Richard III was one in which men were the kings of their castles in a literal sense as well as a figurative sense. It was a time of great acts of chivalry as well as a time in which females did not often have jobs or careers."
Abstract This paper is an in-depth analysis and examination of the contribution that William Shakespeare made to the literary world. The author details Shakespeare's mysterious life, including speculation as to who he may have really been. The paper covers the many different themes covered in his many plays including ambition, cruelty, justice, reconciliation, madness, betrayal and destiny that were found in Macbeth, King Lear, Hamlet and Julius Caesar. The author finds that Shakespeare also used his plays to comment on political events such as in Julius Caesar, Comedy of Errors and Henry VIII. Throughout the paper the author details his masterful understanding of the human character and unparalleled mastery of the English language, a rich imagination and commentary on life in the early 18th century. Shakespeare also wrote over 150 sonnets and there is some speculation that they may have been autobiographical, but once again the author finds that there is no proof.
From the Paper "How is Shakespeare viewed by great figures of the theater? Shakespeare is the greatest discernible influence in the work of Orson Wells (Gottlieb 2000). ? a theatrical and cinematic director, actor, entrepreneur, public figure, and educational and political activist. Wells describes Shakespeare as embodying the fulfillment of almost utopian personal and sociopolitical desires, a figure of considerable stature, power and popularity, a truly great one who bridges the worlds of critical and commercial success. Shakespeare, in Wells? mind, merges individual imagination and artistic independence with tradition and social responsibility, and emphasizes that he has that unparalleled capacity ?to entertain, educate, transport and ultimately unify divergent audiences, high and low.? (Gottlieb)"
Abstract Shakespeare often used "excess" to deliberately create a sense of imbalance in the play. While in tragedies excess was employed to intensify the emotions of grief and sorrow, this dramatic tool had a different role to play in comedies. This paper shows how, in most comedies, "Excess" was incorporated in order to generate spontaneous laughter but in "Twelfth Night", the playwright had a different motive for employing "excess". The writer shows how Shakespeare has made use of the element of excess in this play specifically to expose the weaknesses of Elizabethan society of 16th century. The paper closely studies the instances of "excess" in this play and discusses the playwright's purpose in this connection.
From the Paper "THE TWELFTH NIGHT: element of "excess"
"The Twelfth Night" is one of those comedies of William Shakespeare that revolves around the theme of "excess". Excess thus refers to a certain imbalance in the plot which is highlighted though various means including actions, words and emotions. In Twelfth Night, excess has been used intentionally in order to both generate spontaneous laughter and expose the imperfections of English society. Thus we can say that Shakespeare normally uses this dramatic tool to accentuate a particular emotion. In this play, the same intention is present and this time excess has been incorporated to make the play even more hilarious without losing grip on the real purpose. In the very beginning of the play, we notice that the playwright wants his readers to pay attention to the element of excess when his character Orsino says:
?If music be the food of love, play on;
Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken, and so die.? (Act 1 Scene 1)"
Abstract The author states that Shakespeare's plays live on with great popularity because they deal with life's basic issues intertwined with valuable moral lessons. The author points out these issues in various popular Shakespearean plays. The paper believes that Shakespeare's plays also continue to be popular because of the beauty of his words.
From the Paper "In fact, it would appear that Shakespeare's keen sense of human nature and the repetitive nature of life caused by the same basic issues led to his being quite a philosopher and a visionary. Issues such as jealousy and racism (Othello), the futility and destructiveness of senseless feuds (Romeo and Juliet), the dispersal and reunion of a family (A Comedy of Errors), foolish young love (A Midsummer Night's Dream), and the consequences of power, greed and lust (King Lear and King John) are pretty much at the centre stage of modern life. "
Abstract This paper examines the play "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare. It describes the playful pursuit of romance and the hilarious farce that is totally reasonless. The author writes that "A Midsummer Night's Dream" illustrates the farcical nature of love and celebrates its unquestionable irrationality."
From the Paper "'A Midsummer Night's Dream' is the quintessential romantic parody. Involving the use of magic potions and mythical creatures, Shakespeare portrays love as a potentially ridiculous pursuit and one totally devoid of reason. When Bottom states to Titania in Act 3, Scene 1, ?reason and love keep little company together nowadays,? he sums up one of the main themes of the play. Reason and love usually do not coexist, for emotions take on a life of their own."
