Abstract This paper discusses Ann-Marie MacDonald's play, "GoodnightDesdemona (GoodMorningJuliet)" and shows how MacDonald uses gender bending and variations on sexuality to challenge and ultimately undermine gender stereotype. In particular, the paper focuses on the character of Constance and how she rises to her full human potential in this play, and in so doing, undermines the gender stereotypes which often function to deny a fully rounded personality to people.
From the Paper "In conclusion, what MacDonald seems to be saying in this play is that the choice made by Constance is open to all of us - and without alchemy. All that is needed is for us to probe into the powerful depths of our sub-conscious, and in this way choose powerful personal attributes that will enable us to rise to our full human potential. The crucial point is that women may choose supposedly male attributes such as courage, because the gender binary that says most personal attributes are gendered is culturally constituted and illusory. We can have it all, regardless of gender. Thus, MacDonald's play powerfully undermines gender stereotypes."
A comparison of the similarities and differences of the character of Iago in Shakespeare's great tragedy "Othello" and in Ann-Marie McDonald's 1988 minor comedy "GoodnightDesdemona (GoodMorningJuliet)".
1,125 words (approx. 4.5 pages), 2 sources, 2002, $ 39.95
Abstract Compares similarities & differences of the character of Iago in Shakespeare's great tragedy OTHELLO & in Ann-Marie McDonald's 1988 minor comedy GOODNIGHTDESDEMONA (GOODMORNINGJULIET). Common themes of intrigue & love. Brief description of each play. Symbols & style of each. Iago's motivations; his villainy.
From the Paper "This research paper compares the character of Iago in William Shakespeare's tragedy "Othello" and in Ann-Marie MacDonald's 1988 comedy "Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet)." To better understand the similarities and differences in both plays, a brief description of each needs to be given. There is no doubt that "Othello" is a tragedy of intrigue in spite of the fact that it contains many of the elements of Shakespearean comedies -- the central theme of love, the conflicts between men and women, and the handkerchief, of course, may be seen as a comedic prop.
During the course of Shakespeare's play, Iago commits a series of wicked and deceitful acts that culminate in violence. Iago is an ensign to the general Othello, a black Moor who is serving under the Venetian Senate. He becomes jealous when///"
Abstract This research paper compares the character of Iago in William Shakespeare's tragedy "Othello" and in Ann-Marie MacDonald's 1988 comedy "GoodnightDesdemona (GoodMorningJuliet)." To better understand the similarities and differences in both plays, a brief description of each character is given first. The writer claims that there is no doubt that "Othello" is a tragedy of intrigue in spite of the fact that it contains many of the elements of Shakespearean comedies -- the central theme of love, the conflicts between men and women, and the handkerchief, of course, may be seen as a comedic prop. In MacDonald's work, the author uses Shakespeare's work to reflect on her own relationships.
From the Paper "In MacDonald's play the central character is Constance Ledbelly, an associate professor whose research involves trying to decipher an arcane text that she believes may have been the source for Shakespeare's "Othello" and "Romeo and Juliet." Constance's passion for her literary theory is only surpassed by the crush she has on Professor Claude Night, for whom she has become a factotum, ghostwriting his speeches and papers and doing his research."
Abstract This paper discusses reasons why the heroine Sasha does not trust Rene in Jean Rhys' novel, "GoodMorning Midnight". It also examines Sasha's attitude toward life and issues of trust.
From the Paper "Jean Rhys' heroine in "Good Morning Midnight" is a woman who calls herself Sasha. She is a woman who believes that one mustn't put everything on the same plane. In other words this aging alcoholic world-weary and.."
Abstract The paper describes how Jean Rhys uses flashbacks to set both the tone and the pace of "GoodMorning Midnight". The paper portrays how the character of Sasha Jensen was more than simply depressed; she was nearly pathologically self-destructive, a woman trapped by the cruel vagaries of society, at a loss for how to escape the demons of the past.
From the Paper "Jean Rhys uses flashbacks to set both the tone and the pace of the story. Rhys, in fact, opens with a flashback to the previous night, when Sasha finds herself crying over a memory brought to the surface by a woman humming to the score of a song: "Gloomy Sunday." From this memory, Sasha blinks briefly into the present only to revisit the past again. Through these memories we learn that she envisions herself as being better than the circumstances in which she currently lives and that her life has changed despite her friend assigning her to that "atmosphere" of existence. Even her name, Sasha, does not belong to her (Rhys 12). Sasha has molded herself into her current image and finds herself trapped there, by society and by her friends."
Abstract This paper discusses Jean Rhys' novel, "GoodMorning, Midnight," which takes the reader through the psyche of a woman named Sasha Jansen. The paper describes the plot of the story and the relationship between Jansen and the other characters. The paper discusses how through a type of enigmatic style, Rhys constantly takes the reader from present events to past memories, over and over again.
From the Paper "What happens after Rene walks out of Sasha's life is a real heart-breaker. Sasha sits in bed fantasizing about Rene reading her thoughts and coming back to the hotel and making love to her, which turns out to be what she really wanted before her fears got the best of her. When the door to her room begins to open it is a mystery as to who it is. Did Rene really come back for her, or was it still part of her fantasy? Unfortunately it was not part of her fantasy. A man had come into her room with the intention of making love to her, but it wasn't at all the man she wanted in any way, shape, or form. It turns out to be the "white dressing-gown", which the man who was in the room next to her had worn all the time. The man in the white dressing-gown was an odd character who Sasha really had no good feelings towards. Sasha looks "straight into his eyes and despises another poor devil of a human being for the last time." After this thought she "pulled him down on to the bed, saying: 'Yes - yes - yes'" (190). Sasha's final actions are the ultimate example of settling for less. She had no interest in this man at any point, yet he is the one she ends up sleeping with while in Paris. We will never know if Rene could have ended up being a savior for Sasha, breaking her self-conscious ways and helping her fall in love again. What is obvious is that Sasha had the opportunity to make herself happy, but she let the past creep into her thoughts again and ruin her future."
Abstract The paper discusses how in comparing, contrasting and discussing the issue of gender and its significance in "GoodnightDesdemona (GoodMorningJuliet)," "Orlando," and "The Sun Also Rises," it is evident that gender issues were perceived and portrayed very differently by writers such as Virginia Woolf and Ernest Hemingway. The paper explains that this is because of their personal agony over gender and its psychological implications. The paper points out that differences in their fictional portrayals of rigid gender identity and values is not particularly surprising, for Virginia Woolf was not inclined to shoot wild game animals in Africa or attend bullfights and Ernest Hemingway was not a exactly a charter member of the early feminist movement in fiction and literature.
This paper discusses lost women of a lost generation, between the 1920s and the 1930s, "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway and "GoodMorning, Midnight" by Jean Rhys.
1,150 words (approx. 4.6 pages), 2 sources, 2002, $ 44.95
Abstract This paper states that both novels prominently feature women who live frivolously from day to day, desperately attempting to "buy" their happiness; or, at least, to buy the alcohol with which they may buy "forgetfulness" of their traumatic pasts. The author believes that, in many respects, the character of Sasha Jensen from "GoodMorning, Midnight" may be seen as an older version of Brett Ashley from "The Sun Also Rises". The paper states that these two female characters serve as cultural "bookends" or markers to the long intermission between the wars.
Abstract The author examines how Hughes' works reflected African-American experiences and culture, but that his personal life and political beliefs seemed to limit his writings. The writer also discusses two poems, "One More 'S' in the USA" and "GoodMorning Revolution", attempting to show how Hughes felt about social and political injustices and his sympathies with the working class.
From the Paper "Hughes has earned a place amongst the greatest poets America has ever produced, but his politics and an inaccurate reputation for being a Communist place a limit on the amount of his works that are included in many anthologies."
Abstract In this paper, Romeo provides a set of moral and ethical problems in relation to his love for both Rosaline and Juliet. By being indecisive as to his physical attractiveness to Rosaline, Romeo betrays his easily seduced mentality in regards to physical love. The paper shows that in this regard, Romeo behaves more as an immature man filled with sexual desire for women, rather than a man that would later kill himself in honor of Juliet. Through these means, Romeo loses credibility in his love for Juliet, as related through his prior and simultaneous relationship with Rosaline in the play.
From the Paper "This drama study reflects the issues of fidelity within the characters Romeo and Rosaline in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. By examining the critical aspects of the play, one cane realize Romeo's lack of romantic loyalty in relation to Juliet. Throughout the various issues that arise between Romeo's love for Rosaline, the problem of his fidelity demeans and lowers his credibility as a lover in relation to the greater tragedy of loving Juliet. Romeo is infatuated with Rosaline, and there can be no doubt as to how he presents a two-sided question as to his fidelity to Juliet. Act One of Shakespeare's play reflects Romeo's romantic heart, as it swoons for Rosaline before he has the chance to get truly involved with Juliet."
Abstract This essay discusses William Shakespeare's play, "Romeo and Juliet". The essay particularly focuses on the characters of Romeo and Juliet and their fate. It argues that Romeo and Juliet suffer as victims of fate and not their own choices. It includes examples and quotes from the play to demonstrate this point.
From the Paper "In most tragedies there is a villainous antagonist or supernatural agent that deliberately creates obstacles and difficult circumstances in an attempt to destroy or conquer the protagonist. Sometimes, as in Shakespeare's tragedies Macbeth and Hamlet, it is the protagonist's own tragic flaw that causes their demise. However, in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet there is no obvious villainous character or personal tragic flaw that leads to the untimely deaths of the two protagonists, rather fate is the opposing force in this tragedy."
Abstract "Romeo and Juliet" is about the human condition and how a developing and comprehensive view of love is important. We see this reality clearly in the personal relationships in this play. People are in love, yet parents, like in "Romeo and Juliet", don't allow them to get married. Parents try to have social control. In other words, there is no real individual freedom.
Abstract This paper explains that first love is the love, which most people remember and cherish throughout their lives. The author points out that few people are willing to die for their first love yet Romeo and Juliet foolishly died without trying to solve all of their problems. The paper relates that Shakespeare movie and play "Romeo and Juliet" are similar in words, but quite different in setting.
From the Paper "What is love? Did Romeo and Juliet's parents have the right to decide who they should marry? Love between Romeo and Juliet was forbidden and thus even more grandiose in the eyes of the two lovers. First love is one that most people remember and cherish throughout their lives. Few people are willing to die for their love, yet this couple foolishly died without trying to solve all of the problems. In the play, "Romeo and Juliet" and in the movie, Romeo and Juliet fall in love the first time they see each other and they pursue the forbidden love knowing their parents would never approve of it, which eventually leads them to commit suicide. The Shakespeare movie and play are similar in words, but quite different in setting."
Abstract This paper examines the nature of love in Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet in terms of Greek philosopher Plato's definitions of love. This paper argues that Romeo and Juliet does indeed exemplify the types of ideal love that Plato talks about and gives examples including sexual desire, willingness to risk death, madness, divinity of the lover and other.
From the Paper "The nature of love has been speculated upon by humans for thousands of years, perhaps since long before humans have been able to give it conscious thought. Some of the most wise and thought-provoking insights into the nature of love have passed down to us from the Greek writer and philosopher, Plato. Plato is responsible for our knowledge of the philosophies of Socrates, but he also wrote down many of his own thoughts and opinions, especially those on the nature of human conditions. Plato's ideal form of love is exemplified in the play The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, as we will see. Plato describes various types of love through his dialogues including the Symposium and Phaedrus, which give some of the clearest vision of his ideals on the subject."
Abstract This paper analyzes Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" to the effect that Juliet is the central figure in the play. She is multi-faceted, a more complex character, while Romeo instead is ruled by his hasty emotions. It looks at various aspects of the play to end at this position, using sources from psychological journals as well as Shakespeare criticisms.
From the Paper "Romeo and Juliet: Juliet as a Powerful Figure Romeo and Juliet is a play which surrounds itself upon the themes of boundless passion and true love--a love that triumphs over the grave. However, it is much more than a love story, but an illuminator of significant contrasts: love and hate, the feminine and the masculine, youth and age, life and death, light and dark, and joy and sorrow. It is a play which consistently illuminates new uses and shows paradoxes. In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the character of Juliet has been recently shown to be a fully developed, multi-faced character, while Romeo is a more passionate character, heavily influenced by hasty emotion. The passions of Romeo and Juliet are what is most central in this play."
