Abstract
In this article, the writer discusses and compares William Shakespeare's use of disguise in his comedies with Ben Jonson's use of disguise in "Volpone". The writer first notes that, in Elizabethan comedy, characters in plays use disguises and alter identities to overturn Elizabethan society norms; particularly norms concerning power relations between parent and child, male and female, and morality and immorality. However, this turn from societal order to disorder is only temporary. The disguises cannot sustain a character for more than four acts, and their true identity must be revealed to reinstate order in society. The writer then looks at how Shakespeare's comedies follow this formula exactly, while Jonson's 'Volpone' changes the formula. The writer explains that, instead of introducing order in his play as a collection of societal norms in need of reversing, 'Volpone' overturns societal norms at the outset. The writer concludes that both playwrights challenge Elizabethan societal constraints and norms using disguise. Yet as Shakespeare's reversal of the societal norm is temporary, Jonson's reconfiguration of the classic Christo-Elizabethan theme of morality versus immorality is permanent.

From the Paper
"A societal norm overturned in Shakespearian comedy is the constraint of a patriarchal system placed upon women in Elizabethan England. In this sense, a patriarchal dominated system represents order and the disintegration of this system, when women are no longer constrained by their sex, represents disorder. Shakespeare uses disguise to overturn patriarchal domination to the female characters' favor. The societal constraints placed upon women are released as the environment of the play turns from order to disorder. With the dissolution of societal standards, the women of Shakespeare's comedies gain a power once denied to them, and in effect create their own system of domination within the play. This domination takes the form of romantic pursuit of another character. The once male dominated act of wooing is now attainable to women. However, the female characters do not replace males in this act of wooing, but rather their power exists alongside the male characters' power. This creates a tension that may only be resolved with an utter breakdown of the original dominating gender, the male gender, or with the return to order by the reinstating of the patriarchy. Shakespeare always ends his comedies with a return to order, and so disguises are lifted and, subsequently, so too is the power it provided to the female characters."

Tags:societal, norms, characters, play, domination

Abstract
This paper looks at how the play "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare and the film "Shakespeare in Love", directed by John Madden, utilize disguise as the key to romance and intrigue. It looks at how "Shakespeare in Love" displays the theme of disguise as an equal response to the trickery and guise found in "Romeo and Juliet" and how in "Romeo and Juliet" the theme of disguise through the masquerade ball is important in Romeo realizing his love for Juliet.

Tags:shakespeare, romeo, love

Abstract
The paper discusses how Viola's speech in Act II defines the gender, verbal manipulation, and patriarchal aspects of the theme of disguise in William Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night". The paper shows how by understanding the gender roles allocated to men, she then begins to realize how she can manipulate her adversary verbally in her speech and how strong the power of being a man is in a patriarchal society.

Tags:shakespeare, twelfth, violet

From the Paper
While a major character in As You Like It parades as a member of the opposite sex, the motif of disguise in the play exists mainly on less apparent, thematic levels. Simply speaking, the world of As You Like It--until Jaques de Boys appears in the last act, announcing Duke Senior's recovery of his dominions--is a world in disguise, a world confused by those motivated by jealousy and outright malevolence to usurp the natural order. The action of the play--ending in a quadruple marriage, a festival of union and order--moves to restore proper order to a topsy-turvy world. This is the direction of comedy, and As You Like It perfectly illustrates the comic mode by intruding itself into a rejuvenating pastoral world (the Forest of Arden) in order to remake an unwholesome everyday (court) world.

Abstract
The paper looks at how in both "The Merchant of Venice" and "As You Like It", women disguise themselves as men and manage to fool everyone - even the men who love them. At the same time, the paper points out that the audience watching these plays is perfectly aware of the subterfuge. The paper discusses how, as pointed out by Halio, these disguises are stage conventions that the audience is expected to accept, despite the fact that the disguises are so easy to detect.

From the Paper
"In both "The Merchant of Venice" and "As You Like It", women disguise themselves as men and manage to fool everyone - even the men who love them. At the same time, the audience watching these plays is perfectly aware of the subterfuge. As pointed out by Halio, these disguises are stage conventions that the audience is expected to accept, despite the..."

Tags:shakespeare, rosalind, portia

Abstract
In this paper, the use of disguise in Twelfth Night and King Lear are similar in their usage of various behaviors, costumes, and gender roles that are exchanged to discover the real truth through hidden identity. The paper discusses The Earl of Kent's use of disguise of Caius; contrasting with elements of disguise in Twelfth Night that offer a comedic gender role reversal for the men and women involved in love intrigue.

From the Paper
"In this drama study one can compare and contrast the various uses of disguise that arise within Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and King Lear. By realizing the depth and scope of romantic love within the comedic Twelfth Night, Shakespeare intertwines various aspects of relationships that are disguised through gender roles. In contrast to Shakespeare's comedies, King Lear offers a tragic point of view through disguise, which involves the role of power and leadership, which drives King Lear to madness. In essence, by comparing and contrasting the theme of disguise in both tragedy and comedy, one can evaluate how Shakespeare enacts these crucial factors within a textual analysis."

Tags:lear, night, comedy

Abstract
The writer explores the main thesis of the book "Gathering Storm: America's Militia Threat" and provides insight as to how the authors prove that racism is growing in the United States. The writer illustrates the authors' prediction that the country is ripe for an uprising of unsurpassed violence and strength in the promotion of racism and segregation. The writer shows how the book serves as a warning for the future if steps are not taken to protect those who do not comply with the supremacist attitudes of militia groups.

Outline:
Introduction
The Book
Critical Evaluation

From the Paper
"As America continues to evolve many people believe that racism is a thing of the past. Laws against hate crimes, affirmative action mandates and other elements of American society have worked to erase the evil that used to be a cancerous growth in the nation. While these measurements have provided positive steps toward the abolishment of racism the cancer still grows within the bowels of America as is illustrated in Gathering Storm, America's Militia Threat by Morris Dees and James Corcoran."

Tags:hate, crimes, KKK, anti-semitism, militia

Abstract
This research paper examines some of the many problems that have surfaced with the phenomenon of affirmative action and offers some more productive and, ultimately, more just solutions.

From the Paper
"A young man whistles a happy tune to himself as he arrives home from school. Out of habit, he pulls the day's mail from his mailbox. One envelope in particular catches his eye. It is from the University of Michigan (U of M), and it is the long-awaited response to his college application. It is this man's dream to attend U of M as both his parents did before him. His hands shaking, he tears open the envelope and pulls out the contents. Then the paper spirals to the floor as he stares at his feet and the blood drains from his face. Almost in slow motion, the boy crumples to the floor as his body heaves with sobs. The print of the letter swims in front of his tear-filled eyes. 'We regret to inform you that you have not been accepted'. He was a 4.0 student, on the football team, homecoming king, yet he was denied his dream, all because he happened to be white. He is yet another victim of America's latest attempt at promoting diversity - Affirmative Action. Affirmative Action should be considered an unconstitutional policy because it currently practices exactly what it is supposed to prevent discrimination; therefore, it should be replaced by less biased programs."

Tags:acceptance, admissions, african, americans, class, college, hot, percent, politics, programs, race, topics

Abstract
This paper examines how a study of the significance of Richard Burton's disguise in his "Personal Narrative of A Pilgrimage to al-Medina and Meccah" has implications for both an assessment of his success in his examination of the people he encounters and of his ability to use this disguise as a means of learning by complete immersion. It looks at how his eagerness to perfect this "cultural transvestism" which he had employed previously in his travels was partly fueled by his desire to examine and map for the Western reader. It also discusses how the objectivity which Burton's disguise affords him is undermined by his fundamental colonial superiority.

From the Paper
"Burton's disguise affords him an omnipotence which lends itself to an reaffirmation of his assumed Western superiority over the natives. Firstly, he presupposes, with no moral reservations, a right to imitate the Arabs, to deceive them in order to infiltrate their most revered pilgrimage, and to accept their help and friendship. Secondly, he takes advantage of his ingrained superiority in the very act of "going native" and receiving wisdom from his experience with the Arabs. An Arab would never be able to enjoy the same kind of teaching from a European, learning through living on a European level. Indeed, the Arab could not "go civilized" in direct opposition to the European "going native." Burton is able to gain a measure of knowledge of the Arabs which they would not be able to match in terms of knowledge of the Europeans."

Tags:africa, empire, lawrence, wisdom, arabs

Abstract
Ben Jonson's "Volpone," first performed in London in 1605, was a highly successful play centering on the theme of greed. The paper shows that "Volpone" is particularly notable for Jonson's characters' use of disguise, costume and role playing both to advance the action of the story and to visually express Jonson's ethical beliefs to educate his audience. The paper analyzes the different methods of disguise throughout the play.

From the Paper
"Beyond the clues offered by their names, the characters in Volpone engage in role playing throughout the play. None shifts personality and character more influentially than the title character. Driven by his greed and by his love for trickery, Volpone chooses to play his game not with easily-duped victims, but rather with others like himself. Thus, while pretending to be ill for several years, with the community's knowledge that he has no heir, Volpone accepts the good wishes and gifts of his colleagues, who offer these in the hope that they will gain Volpone's goodwill for the giver. Mosca's task is to convince Volpone's acquaintances that, upon his supposedly-imminent demise, the Fox will leave all of his wealth to one or another of these would-be friends. Voltore, Corbaccio and Corvino in turn are all convinced that Volpone has named each of them as his sole heir."

Tags:Elizabethan, England, Mosca, Corbaccio, Corvino