Abstract
Written in 1603, "Othello" by William Shakespeare, is a tragedy that was transformed into an opera by Giuseppe Verdi. "Otello" is considered to be Verdi's greatest opera and was performed in Milan on February 5, 1887. This paper discusses how throughout the opera, Otello and Desdemona's relationship changes dramatically and how their relationship change is most evident when contrasting the end of Act I with scene two of Act III. The paper also looks at how Verdi uses many unique musical techniques to match the dramatic needs of the libretto in these two scenes.

From the Paper
"At the end of Act I Otello, the protagonist of the opera, walks into the bedroom where Desdemona is lying clearly enjoying the solace and quietness of his bedroom with his new wife. This scene contrasts directly with the scene before it. With all of the uproar outside now broken up, Otello is now enjoying the peace and quiet with his adored wife. While Otello is walking toward Desdemona, the focus is placed on Desdemona while violins are playing very softly. The soft violins playing in the background give Desdemona even more of a romantic quality to her. As Otello sits down on the bed he reaches to touch her face and once again soft violins are playing without any drums or horns in the orchestra. "

Tags:opera, Desdemona, libretto

Abstract
This paper discusses "Midsummer Night's Dream" as the author believes Shakespeare intended the play to be - as a delightful, fun frolic, and contrasts it to Moshinsky's film version which emphasizes the darker elements of the script and loses much of the comic elements of the story.

From the Paper
"This sentence would be a perfect introduction to Elijah Moshinsky's film adaptation of Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream", since it is not delightful, but instead stresses the tragic elements of the play. Shakespeare's language, rich of colorful images, creates a flower-scent and magical atmosphere. "The descriptions breathe a sweetness like odors thrown from beds of flowers." Though Moshinsky adapts Shakespeare's original text, the language loses nevertheless a part of its imaginative power. He focuses rather on the tragic elements of the play and renders it thus more serious and less bland."





""We do not come, as minding to content you, our true intent is. All for your delight, we are not here. That you should here repent you, the actors are at hand; and, by their show you shall know all, that you are like to know (p.57)."

This sentence would be a perfect introduction to Elijah Moshinsky's film adaptation of Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream", since it is not delightful, but instead stresses the tragic elements of the play.

Shakespeare's language, rich of colorful images, creates a flower-scent and magical atmosphere. "The descriptions breathe a sweetness like odors thrown from beds of flowers." Though Moshinsky adapts Shakespeare's original text, the language loses nevertheless a part of its imaginative power. He focuses rather on the tragic elements of the play and renders it thus more serious and less bland."

Tags:elizabethan, bard, comedy

Abstract
This paper shows how the role of Hamlet has changed throughout the ages. The Jacobean English adaptations see Hamlet as a hero revenging wrongs set up against himself, focusing on his melancholy and malcontentism. The same character in eighteenth century German society was different and the version of the play was simplified. The paper looks at how the changes in society directly influenced the way that the play was performed and the character of Hamlet portrayed.

From the Paper
"The Jacobean English interpretation of Hamlet sees Hamlet as a romantic avenger. But what is it really that makes Hamlet so romantic? The grief of his father's murder and the humiliation of his mother's marriage influence the unhappiness in Hamlet's soul, but there are other numerous tragedies that happen around him. "

Tags:criticism, english, german, literary, jacobean

Abstract
This is a short essay that analyzes the character flaws of William Shakespeare's Macbeth. The paper emphasizes the qualities of overconfidence and impulsiveness while using the play as a primary reference.

From the Paper
"In "Macbeth," William Shakespeare suggests that overconfidence and impulsiveness are fatal character qualities. Overconfidence leads characters to impulsiveness. When a character believes certain things about themselves or other objects and events around them that are not true, their perception and judgment become clouded; this leads the character to act impulsively. Characters end up carrying out actions rashly and without considering the consequences that they will have to face later. These consequences are often extremely severe and detrimental to the character's ultimate goal."

Tags:character, flaws, shakespeare

Abstract
This essay exemplifies how tragedy through deceit and corruption occurred in both Shakespearean plays, "Othello" and "Hamlet". The arguments prove the contributions of the protagonists, antagonists, and the innocent characters to the evil and corruption, which creates a tragedy in both plays.

From the Paper
"Lies, deceit, and false appearances are everywhere in one's life and these negative aspects of people contribute to sorrow, pain, and tragedy. In all of Shakespeare's tragic plays, the protagonist dies, along with many other characters due to a problematic theme occurring in the plot. This is obvious in both Hamlet and Othello. In Hamlet, Claudius kills his brother, Old Hamlet, so he can become King. Old Hamlet's son discovers his secret and attempts to avenge his father's death, which he does at the end of the play when he kills Claudius along with others, and dies himself. In Othello, Iago, the Moor's assistant sabotages Cassio, the first lieutenant in order to get his job. When this works, he attempts to split Othello, the Moor of Venice and his wife using jealousy and murder, and gets killed when is discovered for his scheming. Both plays touch upon common human problems and desires such as greed, jealousy, and revenge."

Tags:comparison, contrast, desdemona, evil, iago, jealousy, moor, murder, ophelia, othello, revenge, shakespeare, venice

Abstract
This paper examines the role of women in Shakespeare's classic play; their reactions and coping abilities within the Elizabethan patriarchal society. Katharina is often looked upon as a threat to the system. She defies the expectations of society upon women and plays with masculine characteristics. In her defiance, she gains power. She discovers a power within her choices. To play along, or not to play along? Her realization of existing oppression is power in itself.

From the Paper
"Elizabethans were attentive to the world's digression from the ideal order. Shakespearean comedy is farcical with a comic re evaluation of social norms. The ideal order consists of a hierarchical system in which everything and everyone has a fixed place. The family was to follow a corresponding order within the divine system. Tensions concerning Elizabethan faith in the order were heightened by the Puritan challenge to the established regime. The feisty and independent Katharina reflects the increasing threats to authority in society. Katharina inflates the attempt to re establish order within the familial system in Shakespeare's, "The Taming of the Shrew". Katharina communicates the notion that freedom is not absolute as she plays with accepted social restraints."

Tags:constraints, elizabethan, oppression, patriarchy, women

Abstract
This paper explains how throughout the classic play plots are intertwined between the two settings of the human world and the fairy world. There are distinct similarities in each world, which run parallel to the other. Both love and forms of authority exert power over the lives of humans and fairies. This paper provides an examination of both worlds and their connection to one another, and shows how the relationship between imagination and reason/ art and reality comes to the surface. The imagination of Shakespeare and the audience is magically transformed into a midsummer reality from dream.

From the Paper
"In Shakespeare's ?A Midsummer Night's Dream,? a connection is made between art and reality through the double settings in the play. The audience maintains consciousness of an invisible world, which parallels the world of reality. Shakespeare creates an opposition between waking and dreaming that is continually enforced and fused together. The world of Theseus's Athens is a world of reason and reality. The enchanted world of the woods outside of Athens is a world of imagination and magic, yet is in many ways similar to its parallel world. By escaping into a different world a new perspective is gained on the world left behind. The double setting in the play highlights connections between art and reality."

Tags:athens, duke, fairies, hermia, lysander, oberon, puck, spirits, theseus, titania

Abstract
An analysis of Shakespeare's themes in "The Tempest" including humanity's dark and light dualities as revealed in his characters' and all humans' reality and illusion, imprisonment and freedom, dark magic and white magic, beauty and ugliness and power. A look at the themes of the play.

From the Paper
"In"The Tempest", Shakespeare, like a juggler plays with many ideas, or themes. Through the magic of his remarkable art, he keeps all his idea balls in the air at the same time and keeps his audience entranced. Magic and enchantment are in fact the central force that Shakespeare uses to keep all those balls aloft. What I propose to do within the limited scope of this short paper is to describe just a few of the thematic balls being juggled in The Tempest and to reveal through the use of comparison and contrast just a little of how Shakespeare managed to keep those balls spinning at dizzying speed."

Tags:reality, illusion, imprisonment, freedom, dark, magic, white, magic, beauty, ugliness, power

Abstract
Using Shakespeare?s thoughts and feelings regarding love expressed in the 116 Sonnet, this paper analyzes the love relationships in "Much Ado About Nothing". The play paints a clear picture of the thoughts and opinions Shakespeare expresses in the sonnet. When a reader compares the foil love relationships of Benedick and Beatrice to that of Hero and Claudio, Shakespeare?s meaning of a love that doesn?t ?alter when it alteration finds? can be truly appreciated. This paper is filled with many textual examples of ways that Claudio and Hero both fail to build the kind of love that Shakespeare admonishes lovers to have. It also examines the inconvenience and pain of Benedick and Beatrice?s love, which at times seems to be ?against their will?.

From the Paper
"Here [quote from Sonnet 116] Shakespeare express his feelings about true love and the elements that need to be included in a loving relationship. Love should not be a mere infatuation that is easy to overcome, but rather a long-lasting relationship that can never be broken. This was not a conventional idea in Shakespeare's time, where the woman's dowry, not her love, was the prize most sought by suitors. Shakespeare gives a wonderful example of what he thinks true love should be in Much Ado About Nothing in Benedick and Beatrice's relationship. In the play, he also offers a relationship foil to Benedick and Beatrice, that of Claudio and Hero. This foil compares the traits Shakespeare feels need to be included in true love with the conventional ideas about love of his day."

Tags:dowery, claudio, hero, benedick, beatrice

Abstract
This well-though out paper takes an in-depth look at the character of Hamlet; it discusses his life and the factors which led him from innocence. The paper also discusses Hamlet?s feelings of being lost and out of his depth and his procrastination when facts are put before him. It, however also puts forward the argument that perhaps Hamlet is wise in not rushing to murder his step father, his intelligence coming as it does from a ghost. Much is also made of the Oedipus complex and Hamlet's morbid mental struggle.
From the paper:

?William Shakespeare's play Hamlet is one of his most celebrated tragedies and the one play that most people are familiar with even today. The play itself is filled with murder, sex, love, suicide, hate, and revenge - much like a modern day soap opera. But the truly enduring part of the play is Hamlet himself, the little boy lost, who is grieving his father's death, feels isolated from his family, is in love with a confusing woman and is trying desperately to make things right and avenge his father's death. While a portion of us can identify with one or two of his plights, none of us quite know what he is facing. However, Shakespeare's use of imagery and emotion endears Hamlet to the audience and gives us insight into his tumultuous soul.?

Tags:morality, incest, revenge