Free Essays on Shakespeare

Wicked World William Shakespeare based his plays on evil actions, which the people of the 1600’s could relate to their own lives. Today, society reads his work, and they can compare it to the twenty- first century. Shakespeare uses the theme of evil to show one person’s greed interrupting the lives of all. In King Lear, Twelfth Night, Timon of Athens, Coriolanus, Taming of the Shrew, and The Tempest different forms of evil rule the lives of the characters in the same way people act today. Shakespeare proves the appearance of evil in mankind, such as greed, violence, and hatred dictates the world. Society of the 1600’s, as today, thinks wealth will bring happiness. With this mindset, greed begins to control their lives. In King Lear, the greed of Lear’s older daughters controls Lear’s life. Goneril and Regan strive to overtake their father’s wealth and power. Shakespeare continuously shows the theme of evil for â€Å" Every cruelty in the action is re-enforced. There is not one evil daughter there are two†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Spencer 137). Goneril instigates a crime, and Regan responds with a harsher punishment. After receiving all their father had to offer, both daughters strive for more. Spencer says, â€Å"Goneril and Regan not only violate natural law by their behavior to their father, they also violate their proper functions as human beings by their lust for Edmund, a lust which ends in murder, suicide, and which makes the description of them as animals doubly appropriate† (Spencer 143). Lear realizes the deceit in his daughter when he says , â€Å"They flattered me like a dog, and told me I had the white/ hairs in my beard ere the black ones were there† (4.6.98-99). Greed continuously interferes with the lives of people today. Recently, Enron’s partnerships disguised five hundred million dollars of debt from their books to continue business. These officials of Enron Corporation have been caught with million dollar bonuses which w... Free Essays on Shakespeare Free Essays on Shakespeare No one questions the fact that William Shakespeare is a pure genius when it comes to creating immortal characters whose characteristics transcends those of the normal supernatural beings, but most students of literature agree that his uses of the supernatural aren’t merely figments of his creative imagination. Every man, woman, and child is influenced by the age into which they are born and Shakespeare was no exception. Not only does his use of supernatural elements within his works reveal the Elizabethans’ obsession with mythical beliefs, but it also reveals his attitude toward these beliefs at different points of his writing career. Because of the profound understanding of the beliefs of his time, Shakespeare was able to create masterpieces that critics and readers have respected all over the world. In Shakespeare’s time, the belief in the presence and power of the supernatural touch life at every point. Customs were formed by it and behavior was dictated by it. Not only did the poor believe in it, but all classes of people were under its spell from nobles to the poor. It governed people’s lives down to the smallest details. They carried charms and mascots, found horror in spilling salt and walking under ladders, and dreaded the thirteenth of Friday (May 35-38). They believed that all supernatural elements were at work. The Elizabethans had always been susceptible to belief in the supernatural. As May notes, these people more that other people questioned matters beyond their vision (39). Shakespeare was clearly influenced by his race. He had an inquiring mind that refused bondage by the limitations of matter (Mish 28). Listing the numberless superstitions that Shakespeare gathered from his environment would be impossible. May believes that it is because his own observations of the habits of animals and plants were explained by stories that were more myth that truth. Elizabethans also gave superstitious explanations for chang... Free Essays on Shakespeare The crux of Shakespeare’s Othello is the tragic fall from grace of ‘valiant Othello’ and the rippling destruction that occurs as a result of Othello’s psychological decay. However, among other themes, of significance to this play is the stratification and marginilisation of individuals and groups. Through the events of the plot and an examination of themes, it is evident that dominant social ideologies expressed through various characters, are the basis of the marginilisation, exploitation and disempowerment of individuals within the play. When considering the marginilisation of principal characters, it is essential to understand not only how characters are marginalised in terms of the plot, but also to what extent the marginilisation of characters acts as a conduit of expressing Shakespeare’s support or questioning of dominant Elizabethan ideologies. The character of Othello is an intriguing one, in that he is a black MA Shakespearean tragedy is one that encompasses many different elements. Shakespeare presents all of these elements spectacularly in Othello. For a tragedy to occur there are five conditions. The protagonist, Othello in this case, must experience a death or a total loss of ranking in society. oor, who the audience sees to hold a position of power, commanding respect as a result of his military position and apparent human nobility. Othello’s human nobility is evident through his: ‘language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament.’(Aristotle) Keep up your bright swords, For the dew will rust them. Othello’s rich dialogue aids in Shakespeare’s presentation of Othello as a man in a position of powerful command, deserving of much respect. It is evident through Othello’s military rank and dialogue, that an audience is positioned to see him as a man of greatness and nobility. Othello is also portrayed as a character that is intrinsically good, who loves passionately and is honest and trusting.... Free Essays on Shakespeare Shakespeare - Man or Myth? Was the man we know as Shakespeare really the author of the "Shakespearean Works"? We know little about the man called Shakespeare, Did he really write the plays, or is he just a man that got confused within history? (Sobran 44) There is not even a correct spelling of this mans name, Some of the spellings include Shakspere, Shakespeare, And Shaxpere. Shakespeare, Is it the man, Or is it another? (Hayes 1D) Shakespeare is both fact and fiction, he was no concern until nearly two hundred years after he perished, and there is still no definite or probably will there ever be a conclusion to this mystery. (Sobran 44) There is another man that can be attributed with the works of "Shakespeare", His name is Edward DeVere, the 17th Earl of Oxford. (Bethell 47) The man known as Shakespeare does not fit perfectly into the necessary criteria to determine the author of these works. Thomas Looney invented a series of criteria that had to be filled, in order to be a possible candidate for th! e authorship of the Shakespearean works. To have all the knowledge that is portrayed in the works, the author must have accomplished many things. These including a superior education, from what we know of "Shakespeare", this was not a possibility.(Bethell 46) We do not even know if Shakespeare has ever written anything in his life, Nor do we know that he was paid for writing these works. The man Shakespeare does not even make a claim that he is the author.(Bethell 50) He may not have been able to write the simplest thing of all, His own name.(Hayes 1D) Its not how little we know about Shakespeare that causes confusion and difficulty, Its the things that we do know about this man that cause the confusion and difficulty. We know Shakespears father, a glover, could not write. When he signed documents, he simply made an "X", This is why it is beleived that Shakespeare could not write also, Because he probably did not attend school th... Free Essays on Shakespeare â€Å"†¦Shakespeare examines the contrast between those who follow accepted social forms and those who challenge them†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Dash 252). Shakespeare’s works are known for portraying women in a different way than was socially acceptable during his time period. Why do Kathrina in the play The Taming of the Shrew, Beatrice in the play Much Ado About Nothing, and Cleopatra in the play Antony and Cleopatra go from being strong female characters to weak ones after they fall in love? When analyzing this question, it is important to first understand the women and their characterization. Kathrina is the eldest daughter of her family and has one younger sister. During this time period the eldest daughter had to get married before the younger one was able to. Kathrina is referred to as â€Å"Kathrina the curst! A title for a maid of all the titles the worst!† (The Taming of the Shrew Act 1 Scene 2). No one wishes to marry her and she does not wish to get married. Kathrina has a sharp tongue and does not believe that she will ever fall in love or get married. Kathrina’s father wants her to get married, so his younger daughter can also marry. He asks many men to marry Kathrina but they all reply that she is too much of a shrew to marry. Like Kathrina, Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, believes that she will never fall in love. In Act 1, Scene 1, she states â€Å"†¦I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me.â₠¬  Beatrice feels that she can not fall in love with a man who can not match her wit, and she feels that no man will ever be able to match her wit, therefore she will never marry. Unlike the other two women, Cleopatra is not married, however she does not despise men like the other two do. When first introduced to Cleopatra she is having an affair with Antony, one of the emperors of the Roman Empire. She is a very dramatic person and feels that she must have control over Antony’s emotions towards her.... Free Essays on Shakespeare Wicked World William Shakespeare based his plays on evil actions, which the people of the 1600’s could relate to their own lives. Today, society reads his work, and they can compare it to the twenty- first century. Shakespeare uses the theme of evil to show one person’s greed interrupting the lives of all. In King Lear, Twelfth Night, Timon of Athens, Coriolanus, Taming of the Shrew, and The Tempest different forms of evil rule the lives of the characters in the same way people act today. Shakespeare proves the appearance of evil in mankind, such as greed, violence, and hatred dictates the world. Society of the 1600’s, as today, thinks wealth will bring happiness. With this mindset, greed begins to control their lives. In King Lear, the greed of Lear’s older daughters controls Lear’s life. Goneril and Regan strive to overtake their father’s wealth and power. Shakespeare continuously shows the theme of evil for â€Å" Every cruelty in the action is re-enforced. There is not one evil daughter there are two†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Spencer 137). Goneril instigates a crime, and Regan responds with a harsher punishment. After receiving all their father had to offer, both daughters strive for more. Spencer says, â€Å"Goneril and Regan not only violate natural law by their behavior to their father, they also violate their proper functions as human beings by their lust for Edmund, a lust which ends in murder, suicide, and which makes the description of them as animals doubly appropriate† (Spencer 143). Lear realizes the deceit in his daughter when he says , â€Å"They flattered me like a dog, and told me I had the white/ hairs in my beard ere the black ones were there† (4.6.98-99). Greed continuously interferes with the lives of people today. Recently, Enron’s partnerships disguised five hundred million dollars of debt from their books to continue business. These officials of Enron Corporation have been caught with million dollar bonuses which w... Free Essays on Shakespeare Shakespeare’s works depict deep thoughts of every type of emotion regardless if it is lighthearted or monotonous, the emotions are always deep, and seemed weighed down by some inner depression. Even though the tone and setting may be cheerful and may be talking about an upbeat emotion, the tenor of most his sonnets are heavy and solemn. In â€Å"Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day?† and â€Å"That Time of Year Though Mayst in Me Behold,† Shakespeare sets the tones differently in each sonnet, however explains how strong his love is for his significant other continuously in each poem with different examples and imagery to express it. Shakespeare set the tone of the â€Å"Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day,† with the cheerful setting of the summer, while expressing his love for another with joyous imagery. He compares her to sweet things that involve the summer’s uniqueness. He explains how his lover is better than all the beautiful and rich things summer has to offer like its â€Å"temperate† weather, and how the love surpasses the greatness of summer because the love they share will endure, and not end like summer does. In â€Å"That Time of Year Thou Mayst in Me Behold,† Shakespeare begins to approach the subject of love in a different way, however sti ll expresses the quantity and the strength of his love, just like in â€Å"Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day.† While still talking about the strength of his love, he only compares it slightly different with the tone, however continues to illustrate how much love her carries for his significant other. He explains how strong his love is by stating that the death in winter and dismal characteristics of the winter season will never dampen his love for this person whom he speaks about. Shakespeare writes how winter will never stifle his love and that his love will shine through all dreariness, and be the light that shines in all the shadows of the world. David Kaula states in...