Caliban
A discussion on whether William Shakespeare intended us to feel sympathy for the character, Caliban, in his play "The Tempest".
Book Review # 105588 |
2,569 words (
approx. 10.3 pages ) |
0 sources |
2005
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$ 46.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses how, by ultimately giving the character Caliban, in "The Tempest", repentant language and showing he is an intelligent creature, Shakespeare has given Caliban his approval and recognised that despite the fact he cannot be civilised, he is a creature of sensitivity deserving sympathy. The paper also argues that, by writing "The Tempest", Shakespeare wanted to make a philosophical and moral point about the taming of people who were considered to be savage and in need of civilisation. It also contends that Shakespeare had a humanitarian view towards undeveloped people and therefore created Caliban to represent an uncivilised creature being controlled and oppressed by people from society, represented by Prospero, who consider themselves to be superior.
From the Paper
"However, it is not only Caliban who has an uncontrollable and bestial side. Sebastian and Antonio, educated and civilised members of the Kings court, plot to kill the king while he is sleeping in order to take the throne. This raises Shakespeare's argument of nature versus nurture, which influences the play significantly. For example, the reader might take Shakespeare's descriptions of Caliban's instinctive behaviour and interpret him as an evil creature, but he is not as insensitive as characters such as Sebastian and Antonio. Both men are from an educated and civilised society but they still produce corruption and evil even though they know better, whereas Caliban does not have a clear concept of right and wrong and does not realise his actions are inappropriate. Fundamentally, Caliban's behaviour is horrifying in the eyes of civilized people; nevertheless, his background and the environment in which he grew up in justify his acts."
Tags:Prospero, savage, civilisation
This paper analyzes the role of Caliban in Shakespeare's "The Tempest."
Analytical Essay # 8188 |
2,410 words (
approx. 9.6 pages ) |
8 sources |
MLA | 2002
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$ 44.95
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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
Analysis of William Shakespeare's "The Tempest" and the importance of the characters, Ariel and Caliban.
Analytical Essay # 58543 |
982 words (
approx. 3.9 pages ) |
3 sources |
MLA | 2004
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$ 20.95
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Abstract
The actions of Prospero in relation to his two servants, Ariel and Caliban, very much contradict his motivations and goals throughout the play, "The Tempest," by William Shakespeare. The paper shows that, while Prospero is trying to fight injustice and restore his own life, he is, in a sense, stealing the power and lives of his servants.
From the Paper
"In Shakespeare's The Tempest, one of the main characters in the play, Prospero, has been exiled to an island. While living there he encounters two inhabitants of the island and makes them his servants. Caliban, one of Prospero's servants, has lived his whole life on the island after being left there by sailors with his mother, Sycorax. The other servant is Ariel, a mischievous spirit who Prospero found trapped in tree by a spell cast many years ago by Sycorax. The relationships between Prospero and his two servants are very different, although he maintains his control over both of them through his use of words. Prospero promises Ariel his freedom after he is done serving Prospero's desires, but Caliban is treated very differently. He is looked down upon and treated cruelly with no promise of ever being free. Unlike Ariel, Caliban is not content to serve Prospero and attempts to remove him of his power in order to restore his own life and rule over the island, but in his attempt to do so he offers to become a servant of Stephano. Throughout the play Prospero is attempting to fight the injustice of losing his power as Duke of Milan, but the way he treats his servants and steals their power is unjust."
Tags:stephano, Duke, of, Milan
A critique of Richard Dawkins' "The Selfish Gene" and Jonathan Kozol's "Savage Inequalities".
Book Review # 110596 |
3,224 words (
approx. 12.9 pages ) |
12 sources |
APA | 2008
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$ 55.95
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Abstract
This paper reviews the the Darwinian theory of evolution present in the books "The Selfish Gene" by Richard Dawkins and "Savage Inequalities" by Jonathan Kozol. The author critiques Richard Dawkins' suggestion of a 'selfish gene' in his book, in which he takes the complex science of genetics and uses it to explain sociological phenomenon. The author argues that Dawkins, does not advocate the idea that evolution is equatable with morality instead, he divorces evolution from morality to present his theory of how evolution shapes sociology. The author also discusses Jonathan Kozol's concerns about the moral and political implications of Social Darwinism and critiques that, although Kozol does a good job with describing the problems of social inequalities, he hardly addresses educational reforms.
From the Paper
"Research reveals that meaningful educational reform is going to require an overarching change in the social structure value memes. First, society is going to have to understand that all children are equal and deserve equal educational opportunities. It would be easy to suggest that society should view all humans as equal, but that is an impossible goal. Adults recognize that not all human beings are equal. Through life circumstances, by the time people enter into adult life, they do have differences in potential. Furthermore, by adulthood, differences in choices have frequently furthered the gap in potential. To pretend that those differences do not exist is to try to establish a meme that will not take root because it is contradicted by the daily life experiences of members of both the dominant the subordinate social class."
Tags:sociobiology, genetics, theory of evolution, behaviorism
An analysis of the objections to Richard Dawkins' suggestions about how to approach the study of biology, as presented in his book, "The Selfish Gene."
Book Review # 97426 |
1,748 words (
approx. 7 pages ) |
2 sources |
MLA | 2007
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$ 33.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses the arguments presented by Richard Dawkins in "The Selfish Gene," for a challenging new approach to the study of biology and evolution. The paper suggests that, upon examination, many of the objections to Dawkins' "The Selfish Gene" are based on misunderstandings or gross misrepresentations of Dawkins' original text. The paper discusses this interpretation.
From the Paper
"Both ehtology and sociobiology consider the evolutionary advantages of certain behaviors. Ethology is specifically interested in studying animal behavior, though there is some overlap with psychology. Sociobiology, more broadly, argues that genes play a decisive role in the development of behaviors and that behaviors must be considered in terms of the evolutionary advantage that they offer individuals and species (Hergenhahn, 2005: pp. 559-565). Sociobiology in particular can be seen as the primary intelletual influence, or ally, for Dawkins in The Selfish Gene. Dawkins, too, argues that behavior must be considered in terms of its evolutionary advantage, paying particular attention to altruism and selfishness. His unique contribution to this field of study is his focus on individual genes as the most relevant building blocks of evolution and natural selection. It is not, by his characterization that people are animals that just happen to be made up of genes, but rather that genes just happened to organize themselves into people because this increased their chances for long-term survival."
Tags:sociobiology, ethology, evolution
This paper looks at the work 'Rappaccini's Daughter' by Nathaniel Hawthorne and looks at the effects of the selfish ambitions of three characters.
Analytical Essay # 123535 |
1,250 words (
approx. 5 pages ) |
11 sources |
MLA | 2008
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$ 25.95
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An analysis of Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story "Rappaccini's Daughter". The writer argues that Beatrice is the victim of the three male characters in the story - Giovanni, Rappaccini, and Baglioni - who use her for their own purposes and end up sealing their own and her fate because of their selfish ambitions.
From the Paper
"In Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story 'Rappaccini's Daughter' there are four main characters three men and a woman. There is the scientific genius Rappaccini and his daughter Beatrice. There is Rappaccini's jealous contemporary Baglioni and there is Giovanni a young man who idolizes Rappaccini's scientific genius and his beautiful daughter Beatrice. Van Doren maintains of Beatrice she is the passive victim of her father's art. She did not will to be a poison flower. Indeed Beatrice is destined to live in isolation as her father's victim and ..."
Tags:love, Hawthorne, short story, science, character, idolization
A discussion about the character of Medea in Euripedes' play "Medea."
Argumentative Essay # 147702 |
2,088 words (
approx. 8.4 pages ) |
8 sources |
APA | 2011
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$ 39.95
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Abstract
This paper explains how the question of whether Euripedes' Medea "is a champion of women or a tragic self-saboteur" (Bloom, 2002, p.65) continues to be widely debated. The paper explores the question of whether Medea was an empowering or selfish woman by reflecting on her character and nature, while also focusing on the reasons for her actions, subsequently arguing that Medea was empowered by her thirst for justice in a male dominated world. As such, Medea is symbolic of the intelligent and gifted woman caged by patriarchy.
Outline:
Introduction
The Battle for Justice in a Male-Dominated World
Conclusion
From the Paper
''In all other respects a woman is full of fear and proves a coward at the sight of iron in the fight, but when she is wronged in her marriage bed, no creature has a mind more murderous'' (Medea, lines 264-267).
"The question of whether Medea ``is a champion of women or a tragic self-saboteur'' (Bloom, 2002, p.65) continues to be widely debated. Phillip Vallacott (in Bloom, 2002, p.73), for example, argues that Medea ``can champion womankind because she is in no sense an average woman,'' while others simply view her as being evil, monstrous, and consumed with revenge (Blanchard, 2002). Indeed, some feminist critics argue that Medea's ``only fault is in being too strong and outspoken a woman in a man's world, for which she becomes a victim of power politics, traduced by posterity ever afterwards'' (Christa Wolf, cited by Walters, 1998, p.6), thus suggesting that she was innocent of the crimes she committed.''
Tags:Medea, Greek tragedy, Euripides, theatre, Greek theatre
Looks at the protagonist Prospero in William Shakespeare's drama "The Tempest".
Book Review # 109082 |
2,000 words (
approx. 8 pages ) |
2 sources |
APA | 2008
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$ 38.95
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Abstract
This paper relates that William Shakespeare's "The Tempest"
builds its suspense through the interplay of intricate characters. The protagonist Prospero must elude the treacherous Caliban who wants to usurp his bother's throne. There are those who claim that Prospero is just acting on the outside and that on the inside, he is a warm-hearted person. This paper supports the opinion that there is sufficient evidence in the play to suggest that Prospero is not hiding anything and is a selfish and uncaring as he appears on the outside.
From the Paper
"We learn of Caliban's physical appearance from other characters. The audience first learns of Caliban from Prospero's description to Ariel. We learn that Caliban is the child of the witch, Sycorax. Caliban's witch/mother is described as "A freckled whelp, hag-born--not honoured with / A human shape". Trinculo and Stefano describe Caliban as less than human. Trinculo asks if Caliban is "a man or a fish?". Stefano describes Caliban as a "moon-calf". A moon-calf is a medieval expression that refers to a deformed creature."
Tags:caliban puppeteer selfish, physical limitations, witch
Compares and contrasts the presentation of selfishness in Ernest Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants" and Richard Ford's "Great Falls".
Analytical Essay # 85338 |
675 words (
approx. 2.7 pages ) |
2 sources |
2005
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$ 14.95
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Abstract
Richard Ford's "Great Falls" and Ernest Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants" are two excellent short stories with little in common except that both contain masterful, but under-stated, portrayals of deeply selfish men. A comparison in this paper of how this selfishness is evoked provides insight into the literary techniques of the two writers. In the case of Ford's story, it also shows how characters can evolve, even in a short story.
Tags:ford, hemingway, selfishness
This is a comparison of two short stories: Alice Walker's "Everyday Use" and Eudora Welty's "Livvie".
Analytical Essay # 2388 |
855 words (
approx. 3.4 pages ) |
2 sources |
1999
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$ 18.95
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Abstract
This is a comparison of two short stories, "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker and "Livvie" by Eudora Welty. The author compares the way that both authors convey the theme of human nature using different styles and techniques.
From the Paper
"Skillful authors can reveal much about human nature in the limited work of short stories. ?Livvie,? by Eudora Welty and "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker are two stories that expose the nature of humans. Both authors use common techniques to convey a common theme. Analyzing the setting, characterization, and conflict of these stories, the theme of man's primary concern with him self and his condition."
Tags:characterization