Abstract
This paper presents a character analysis of Prince Hal from Shakespeare's play "Henry IV", explaining that Shakespeare introduces Prince Hal as an individual that is mischievous and irresponsible, carousing with others at the Boar's Head Tavern that in modern society would be considered the wrong crowd. These individuals include Poins, Falstaff, Bardolph and Francis the Page. The paper further explains that the escapades of Hal and his comrades include the staging of a play at the tavern that is intended to degrade the English court, and the theft of a knight's ring. The acts of Hal during this period of the play further include schemes intended to embarrass his friends, who are continuously manipulated into aiding Hal's efforts. The paper also notes that the presentation of the character in this manner leads to an initial impression that Hal holds no true concern for others, and that the crown will never be an issue of priority within his life.

Tags:prince, hal, henryiv

Abstract
This paper analyzes the title character Sula, whose multiple identities and outspoken sexuality, the writer suggests, are a result of her lack of father figure and the presence of strong independent eccentric women in Sula's life. The paper discusses Sula's place in Morrison's thematic search for self.

From the Paper
"One critic, Patricia McKee, takes what seems to me to be a particularly perceptive view of Sula's character. She describes Sula in terms of her "spacing and placing" of experience. In essence, Sula's ways of "closing down or opening up distances between things and persons" is what makes her so different. We see how she creates her own identity and understand some of what makes her an imperfect model for others. In Sula we watch things that are missing and connections that failed or never took place. Sula misses what never was, "things denied or negated" (McKee 1-3). Sula "disconnects elements of meaning that other people connect." (McKee 13) Sula creates her own identity through "distancing. . .like an artist with no art form"(Morrison 121) she doesn't use form to control experience: but rather "realizes the capacity of absence" to "provide definition" McKee (12-13). She destroys what has meaning for others and she does not truly create meaning for herself. "I don't want to make somebody else (babies) I want to make myself " (Morrison 92). Sula is an experimenter with life. . . an active destructive artist who, in the absence of "paints, or clay" or a knowledge of "dance, or strings" (Morrison 121) makes human beings her adventure in life. Sula is her own art form, but she is destructive to herself and others. In the dream she has just before she dies, Sula sees herself as The Clabber Girl Baking Powder lady disintegrating into powder. This, in the end, is how she sees her life, as a fine uncatchable dust."

Tags:thematic, self, identity, women, black

Abstract
This paper explains that Othello, like most of Shakespeare's tragic heroes, is a man notable for the contradictions in his character. The author points out that the combination of vanity, naivete and an inability to perceive correctly the world around him are the three characteristics that allow Iago to transform Othello from a conquering and triumphant war-hero into a cold-blooded murderer. The paper stresses that the most dramatic way in which Othello is imperceptive is that he fails to recognize Iago's lies before killing Desdemona; and, even after learning that she did not have an affair with Cassio, Othello still failed to realize that he has been manipulated by Iago. Many quotes as illustrations.

From the Paper
"One of the most striking things about Othello is his naivete. Although Othello is a renowned war hero who has seen and experienced horrors throughout his lifetime, he retains a basic naivete about life, especially life in society. Initially, Othello, though able to confront and kill the enemy, is unable to conceive of the idea that one who calls himself friend could be a threat. Othello's naivete is first demonstrated by his lack of knowledge regarding Desdemona's character. Othello idealizes Desdemona, and has characterized her deception of her father as something necessary in order to further their love, instead of considering that they could have admitted their romance to Brabantio rather than eloping. It is Brabantio, not Iago or Othello, that first brings up the concept that Desdemona might deceive Othello."

Tags:vanity, naivete, imperception, contradictions, murderer

Abstract
This paper examines the characters in the play "Othello," and discusses many of the reasons for betrayal and deceit between the characters. Through the unraveling of the plot, issues such as infidelity, jealously, and loyalty are detailed by the author.

From the Paper
"In Act IV-scene 3, Emilia and Desdemona are alone in Desdemona's room engulfed in an intimate talk on infidelity. Desdemona tells Emilia that she doesn't believe there is such a woman who would betray her husband. Emilia responds, "Yes, a dozen; and as many to the vantage as would store the world they played for. But I do think it is their husbands? faults if wives do fall." This is no doubt the opinion of a woman who has been married to a man such as Iago. To Iago, love is only lust. Even his wife sees this in his character. He treats her no better than any character in the play. She admits to Desdemona that she would betray her husband, undoubtedly due to her husband's lack of loyalty. The true nature of their relationship can be seen in Act V-scene 2, here Emilia finally betrays her husband and tells Othello and the others of Iago's scheme."

Tags:othello, shakespeare, william, characters, loyalty, character, jealously, infidelity, iago, honest, betrayal

Abstract
This paper analyzes the four main characters of Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter" and provides a historical view of what was expected from members of a Puritan society. It looks at how, although Hester Prynne, Pearl, Roger Chillingworth and Arthur Dimmesdale all turn from their societal obligations in the novel, each character depends on another's ability to fulfill their role for salvation.

From the Paper
"As a mother Hester Prynne is a strong example in the contemporary world, but in the time setting of the novel she is unfit to mother the child. Several times she had almost lost the wild Pearl to a household that would raise the child to be a subservient, noble and God-fearing woman. Hull writes, "To convince Bellingham to let Hester keep Pearl, Dimmesdale reverts to the same claim that the child has been 'sent' with an intended meaning, though the meaning he interprets is different from Hester's. Pearl 'was meant for a blessing; for the one blessing of her life! It was meant, doubtless, as the mother herself hath told us, for a retribution too; a torture' (114)" (5). "

Tags:chillingworth, dimmesdale, hester, puritan

Abstract
This paper examines the long-range effects of their sin on Arthur Dimmesdale and Hester Prynne after committing adultery in Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter". The paper analyzes both characters as marked people.

From the Paper
"In "The Scarlet Letter" the long-range effects of adultery on Arthur Dimmesdale and Hester Prynne are remarkably similar even though Arthur keeps his sin hidden and Hester's has been revealed to the world. While Hester must wear the scarlet A for adultery, the scarlet token of infamy on her breast. Dimmesdale often covers his own breast with his hand as if wearing the A himself with all its mysterious horror, it is but the shadow of what he bears..."

Tags:Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter, Dimmesdale, Hester Prynne, adultery, effects

Abstract
This paper provides an analysis of shame and forgiveness as two concepts central to Nathaniel Hawthorne's characterizations of Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth in' The Scarlet Letter.' Additionally, the paper shows how shame and forgiveness impact the characters in terms of psychology and behavior.

From the Paper
"Set during the Puritan era Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel 'The Scarlet Letter' is a story that revolves around the concepts of shame and forgiveness. The novel revolves around three main characters: Hester Prynne a woman shamed by her public exposure of adultery. Hester's cuckolded husband Roger Chillingworth, whose shame stems from his inability to forgive Hester and her lover, and Arthur Dimmesdale a preacher whose shame stems from his adultery with Hester. This analysis will explore the psychological dimensions of shame and..."

Tags:infidelity, compassion, redemption, Hawthorne, vengeance, Divine, Puritans, morality, transgression, God

Abstract
This essay compares and contrasts the three main characters, Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale and Roger Chillingsworth, particularly in the ways that they act and react to conflict, their value systems, and their changes as results of their actions.

Tags:scarlet, letter, hawthorne

Abstract
The paper explores the similarities between the characters Roderick Usher in Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher" and Arthur Dimmesdale in Hawthorne's "Scarlet Letter." The paper analyzes how the concern of mind over matter is realized in different ways by both Poe and Hawthorne and shows how for Poe, decay incorporates the idea of madness as the inevitable condition of the human mind, while for Hawthorne, decay represents the sinfulness of the people in general. The paper illustrates how both stories follow the connections between physical and mental or spiritual decay and the way in which matter itself hints at a higher, transcendental reality.

From the Paper
"Nineteenth century American literature is pervaded by a late Romantic current promoted by a few very original writers. Edgar Allan Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne are two of the most representative writers of the first half of the nineteenth century. The authors' names often appear together in criticism, since their works share primarily in the laden atmosphere and grotesque style of the period. Their novels and short stories are imbued with a grim mood and their heroes are tragic personages who undergo transcendental and all-together transforming experiences. While Poe is more concerned with what he calls the psyche and the intellect however, Hawthorne investigates the realms of spirituality and religious experience."

Tags:decay, death, tomb, destruction, sinfulness, reality

Abstract
This paper analyzes Nathanial Hawthorne's novel and, through analysis of the characters, explains why the story is a powerful allegory about the nature and dangers of sin. The paper further explains that the characters are used to represent the different ways that people deal with sin including the acceptance of sin, the hiding of sin and the anger incurred because of sin.

From the Paper
"Sin is a problem that has plagued every culture since the beginning of time. Different cultures have different opinions as to what sin is and how it should be punished. Puritan Christians like Nathaniel Hawthorne believe that humans are basically evil and imperfect, and all humans sin In Puritan times, sin was absolutely unacceptable. At the same time, sin was - and of course, is - inevitable. Obviously, this belief caused many problems for the Puritans. The characters in The Scarlet Letter struggle with the emotions and behavior associated with sin in an environment that makes no effort to deliver them from their suffering, but only to drive them deeper into feelings of hopelessness. The Scarlet Letter is allegorical because each of the main characters demonstrates an aspect surrounding sin."

Tags:hester, prynne, punishment, fall, remorse, long, penance, redemption, arthur, dimmesdale