Abstract This paper discusses Ben Jonson's famousplay, "Epicoene or The Silent Woman." The paper analyzes the plot and the characters of the play. It discusses the style in which "Epicoene or The Silent Woman" is written and its structure of an overlapping array of plots that essentially subsume one another throughout the course of the play. The paper looks at Jonson's purpose in the play and its success.
From the Paper "There is also the sexual sub-plot, which is skillfully woven into the play. Truewit and Clerimont assert halfway through that the play seems to be a mere repetition of previous dramatic forms. But Dauphine, at the end of the play, reveals that he is one step further than the rest of the characters when he reveals Epicoene's true gender. Thus, Dauphine comes closest at this point to the role that the author, Jonson, has been playing throughout - as the author is always one step ahead of the audience. Again, Elizabethan conventions of dramatic form are exposed, ridiculed, and discarded in favor of a more open-ended, modern approach to the question of gender. An Elizabethan audience would not have questioned the fact that Epicoene was being played by a boy, as this was a norm during the Elizabethan period. But by exposing Epicoene as a transvestite at the end of the play, Dauphine - and Jonson, by extension - effectively disrupts this norm - the very sort of norm that would be upheld by Morose, who is the ultimate victim of this deception."
Abstract This paper looks at Shakespeare's famousplay "Hamlet" from different
perspectives, as it has been re-enacted throughout history. It pays close attention to the movie versions of "Hamlet". The paper starts out with a brief biography of Shakespeare himself and also summarizes and provides an overview of "Hamlet" as a play, its plot, major characters and main theme. The paper then goes on to look at three actors who have played the character Hamlet in movies over the last few decades: Kenneth Branagh, Mel Gibson and Ethan Hawke. The paper provides a brief biography, examines each actor's performance, and looks at other details about each film. The paper then looks at the author's personal reaction to each of the movies and actors.
Paper Outline:
Introduction
Shakespeare Biography
Overview of Hamlet
Kenneth Branagh
Mel Gibson
Ethan Hawke
Reaction to Performances
Conclusion
Works Cited
From the Paper "But "Hamlet" is not an action movie; it is a tragedy. In comparing the
1990 movie to Shakespeare's original play, we see that the director has taken some liberties to speed up the action by eliminating certain scenes, some of which seem easily disposed of. These edited out scenes include much of Shakespeare's comic relief. Other scenes seem to be missing from the movie version, mainly the important political
subplots that explain the movements of many of the characters in the play".
This paper analyzes William Shakespeare’s most famousplay, "Hamlet", in terms of detective fiction narrative. Examining Hamlet's madness, the Queen's guilt, and his relationship with Ophelia.
2,180 words (approx. 8.7 pages), 5 sources, 2002, $ 67.95
Abstract This paper analyzes William Shakespeare's most famousplay, Hamlet in terms of detective fiction narrative. Hamlet is examined against 19th and 20th century works such as the Sherlock Holmes and Philip Marlowe stories, while the text of the play is presented and backed up as evidence of an inherent detective narrative. Some of the evidence concerns the Queen's guilt, and Hamlet's confrontation of the Queen in Act III Scene IV - as well as Hamlet's madness and his relationship with Ophelia.
From the Paper ?Hamlet,? says William Hazlitt, ?is the one of Shakespeare's plays that we think of the oftenest.? (Hazlitt, 197) The story, the plot of Hamlet is almost irrelevant: it is his character, and the way we interpret that character, that gives vital, universal meaning to Shakespeare's work over three hundred years later. As Hazlitt comments, ?[Hamlet?s] reality is in the reader's mind. It is we who are Hamlet.? (196) Hazlitt's is a point of view I would like to discuss further. I would argue that Hamlet lends itself almost flawlessly to multiple interpretations, thus remaining a vital, active text that has become a cultural icon since it was first staged in 1600-1601."
Abstract An in-depth analysis of four main characters in two of Shakespeare's plays. This essay details Anthony and his inner conflict between his longing to rule the Roman Empire and his strong love for Cleopatra. It also details the very fickle and dramatic character of Cleopatra and the many versatile parts she can play. It includes a brief discussion of the overwhelming love between Romeo and Juliet as well as their families' feud. Finally, it compares the plays and their characters.
From the Paper "Antony is a man in conflict throughout this play. He struggles between his need to rule the Roman Empire, and his great love for Cleopatra. When he with Cleopatra, she is the only thing that matters. He says in the first act, "Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch / Of the ranged empire fall" (Cohen, Howard, and Greenblatt I.i.35?36). In just a few moments however, he worries that his love will cause him to "lose [him]self in dotage" (Cohen, Howard, and Greenblatt I.ii.106) and then he is afraid that his wife had died because of him, and that this is just one ill befalling because of his ?idleness.? He has a hard time deciding whether to follow his passion, and stay with Cleopatra, or follow his duty, and return to Rome."
Abstract This paper examines Ibsen's famousplay "A Doll House". The author states that the play is a depiction of 19th-century women and a struggle for the main character Nora to find her freedom as an individual. The paper depicts the journey from unknowingly assuming a role in society, to coming to understand the role.
From the Paper "A Doll's House is a play about society and the role we are given in society. Ibsen focuses on the place of women, with Nora as his central character. However, even though it is a story about Nora, there is a greater meaning for everyone. Ibsen is asking for people to consider their world and their place in it. To achieve this, Ibsen creates a memorable character in Nora, with all the components of the play meant to emphasize her."
Abstract This paper examines the life of William Shakespeare and compares and contrasts it to one of his most famousplays, "Hamlet". Shakespeare's childhood, education and early attempts at writing are all discussed and finally his adulthood - including relationships and emotional hardships. These experiences are compared to those of Hamlet.
From the Paper "William Shakespeare is considered to be the greatest playwright of all time. He was an English dramatist and poet who lived during the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. As with all writers, Shakespeare's life has probably affected many of his plays, but one which stands out most strikingly in this manner is ?Hamlet.? "
Tags: dramatist, english, literature, plays, poet, theatre, william
Abstract This paper looks at the notion of the American Dream as seen in Arthur Miller's play "Death of a Salesman". The characters in the story are analyzed in terms of how they reflect attitudes about the American Dream, and scenes and dialogue are described to demonstrate how the story questions whether the American Dream is myth or reality.
From the Paper "Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman was written in the 1940s, and it showed that Americans after the war were questioning certain values they had long held dear and were asking whether the new world in which they found themselves would be as optimistic as the old one. The play presents a sort of Everyman in Willy Loman, the salesman who has lived his whole life on the road and who has survived largely by creating an illusion of himself not unlike the wider illusion by which Americans viewed themselves as superior in the world. Now he is faced with the loss of his illusion as he is no longer needed, and this forces him to reassess his life. The play reflects many American's concerns about the Twentieth Century and their place in it, and most of these are concerns that are still cogent today. One of the issues underlying the action is the idea of the American Dream and whether that dream is real or an illusion. The concept had fueled American optimism for decades. The concept is still raised today, though just as often it is raised as a false hope given to people with little chance of succeeding. Willy Loman is a man who believed in the American Dream but who now sees it as an illusion that has given him false hope for a better future. He believes he has done everything he was supposed to do to achieve it, yet it remains elusive."
Abstract Does play a role in child development? Are some toys better than others for child development? What role does the mother play in play and child development? The paper shows that these are questions that Doris Pierce focuses on in the article, "Maternal Management of the Home as a Developmental Play Space for Infants and Toddlers". The paper shows that play is an important part in child development and mothers play a vital role in play and child development including choosing what toys and creating space for play.
Abstract In this paper the author discusses whether the "Merchant of Venice" is a fairy tale, as exemplified by the romantic comedy genre, or a problem play. The author looks at the three themes he suggests run through the play: Prejudice, Loyalty and Love. He looks closely at the character of Shylock and how he has been depicted over time, from villain to someone who should be pitied and at the hypocrisy shown by the Christian characters; he examines the relationships between Antonio, Bassanio, Portia, Gratiano, Nerissa, Lorenzo, and Jessica and the resulting marriages and love is examined with respect to the platonic loyalty between friends and in the romantic exchanges between suitors and spouses.
From the paper:
?The theme of loyalty in the play comes out through the interactions of several sets of characters. First, there is Bassanio, who is close friends with Antonio --? friendship which survives many stressful situations in the play. The loyalty between Bassanio and Antonio becomes evident I the first act of the play when Antonio loans Bassanio a large sum of money and takes him on his word that he will repay it.?
Abstract This paper discusses the importance of play in child development. Concepts examined include the definition of play, types of play, why play is important, and how gender differences are influenced and shaped at an early age. Gender schematicity is greater in boys, and some experts suggest that rigid gender roles that society holds for boys encourages inequality between the sexes.
From the Paper "The purpose of Markus Schwaninger's article entitled "Methodologies in conflict: achieving synergies between system dynamics and organizational cybernetics" (2004) is to assess existing models and methodologies for assessing structure and design of organizations, especially with regard to how change in companies can be absorbed and implemented. Because several different methodologies are in use now - and sometimes, several different methodologies or models are applied to the same situation - this leads to confusion and a situation in which there is not consistent model for looking at the situation. If it is a situation involving design, it is recognized that this affects the structure."
Abstract According to this paper, August Wilson wrote his plays in a non-sequential manner that set about depicting the lives of African Americans over the course of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries by decade. Yet, the paper shows how as Wilson wrote the plays, the ideas for the work became vivid in his imagination instead of through a planned and organized presentational manner. Like his manner of writing the ten cycles of plays, his work was often composed through a series of multiple changes that he made while the plays were in production.
Abstract This paper explores the main themes and ideas the play introduces, the language and music the play employs, the set design and backdrops featured, as well as the relative importance of the play's appeals to the emotion, to the intellect and to general society.
From the Paper "A brief synopsis of the play is as follows: Dr. Henry Jekyll is fascinated with the mysteries of the human mind and decides to perform experiments on himself upon finding no support from the medical profession. Jekyll creates the formula that turns him into the horrible Mr. Edward Hyde. As Jekyll pursues his research, he alienates himself from his fiancee, Emma, and his friend, Utterson. Even though Jekyll manages to ease Emma and Utterson's concerns for his safety, he realises that Hyde is becoming more difficult to suppress. Hyde ends up killing Lucy, a poor prostitute who Jekyll befriends. Jekyll and Hyde battle it out for ultimate control. After a violent struggle, Hyde takes over Jekyll's body just as he is about to marry Emma. Hyde threatens to kill Emma. Jekyll manages to suppress Hyde momentarily to let Emma go and rush at Utterson's sword, stabbing himself with it. Jekyll dies in Emma's arms. (Ray, 10)"
Tags: class, society, character, theme, play, theatre, literature
Abstract This paper discusses the use of play therapy when helping victims of child abuse. The paper looks at how play therapy allows children to act out suppressed emotions in a therapeutic setting, examines the issue of establishing trust and looks a the tools of play therapy.
From the Paper "Child abuse in general and sexual abuse in particular are crises that often occur within the family causing devastating effects on the child. Trust is the first psychological need developed during the first years of life and a necessity for the development of late competencies. When that trust is violated by a family member or relative, children begin to doubt themselves and mistrust others. As Griffith pointed out, abuse of a child is clearly a source of..."
This paper discusses ethnic community within a different society, making use of the plays 'Mom, Dad, I'm Living with a White Girl' by Marty Chan and 'House of Sacred Cows' by Padma Viswanathan.
675 words (approx. 2.7 pages), 2 sources, 2006, $ 26.95
Abstract In this article the writer examines two plays and looks at what they have to say about community. The plays discussed are 'Mom, Dad, I'm Living with a White Girl' by Marty Chan and 'House of Sacred Cows' by Padma Viswanathan. The writer points out that each of the plays deals with a family in an ethnic community and in both cases a family that is part of an ethnic community embedded in a majority white society in a different country. The writer shows the tensions created in the family that are caused by the culture differences.
From the Paper "Community is a central issue in many stories told in the theater, and it is a central issue in the two plays 'Mom, Dad, I'm Living with a White Girl' by Marty Chan and 'House of Sacred Cows' by Padma Viswanathan. Each deals with a family in an ethnic community, in both cases a family that is part of an ethnic community embedded in a majority white society in a different country. The younger generation is more part of the majority culture than is the older generation, which creates tensions within the family and between members of the family and the majority culture. This latter element is strong in the Chan play in which a recurring fantasy involves scenes from an imaginary movie called the Yellow Claw, a satire on racist interpretations of Chinese culture by Hollywood."
Abstract This paper studies Shakespeare's usage of evil in his plays. The essay attempts to reveal the function of this device by analyzing its usage in seven Shakespeare plays: "Macbeth", "Henry VI", "Hamlet", "Julius Caesar", "Richard III", "King Lear" and "Othello". The author includes complete character and plot summaries, and supports his theses with quotes from the texts.
From the Paper "'Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair'. Unfortunately for Steve Bartman and the 2003 Chicago Cubs, this famous phrase does not apply to baseball playoffs. William Shakespeare wrote this line to describe the relationship between good and evil in his play Macbeth. By casual definitions, good is right and evil is wrong. However, Shakespeare operated with larger concepts that go beyond passive terminology. In his works, balance, harmony, justice and righteousness represent good. Evil is represented by disorder, temptation, corruption and immorality. There is inherent tension created when these principles collide."
