The Corruptible Nature of Power Shakespeare, a world-renowned author, actor and poet is known as ‘the greatest dramatist of all time’- (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2014), basing his work around the operation of power, gender and class in society. Tragedy tends to be a forefront of his work, caused by characters dishonest ambitions. Othello, one of Shakespeare’s many plays, incorporates the exploitation of power and the ‘corruptible nature of man’- (Alley, M, 2010). Human history has shown that many leaders who have manipulated their power in order to conquer are unable to handle the corruptibility of power leading to the tarnishing of their moral foundation. Iago, the perpetrator in the play, misuses his position and power to satisfy his own needs, leading to the imbalance of society and his own demise.
Often times we struggle to find the right balance between too much and two little of a certain something. Ambition is the strong desire to attain success in an individual’s life. The protagonist Macbeth, induced by ambition, finds himself on a downwards spiral towards his own self destruction. In Macbeth, William Shakespeare conveys that extreme ambition has a potent effect on leading ones fate in a harmful or advantageous way, resulting in either a rise in power or tragic downfall. Macbeth is characterized, as an exceptionally noble person being both loyal and honourable.
The theme of deception in Shakespeare’s plays The typical themes of Shakespeare’s works, especially his plays, often reflect popular moods, problematic occurrences and typical traits of human nature from his time which are relevant even today. One such theme is deception. The idea of deception in Shakespeare’s plays has many different faces. In one instance, it is accidental, as in The Comedy of Errors. In another instance, it is used as defense against greater harm, as in Othello.
For those of us who may not be aware, Australia has had a controversial past with its White Australia policy and its treatment of the lost generation of its indigenous peoples. How could Australia learn to treat immigrants equally when they were yet to break free from the shackles of tyranny under its colonial rulers Britain? Australian’s always had close links with Britain, but began to instill an identity of one people with the help of Federation. This feeling of unity defended by Anzacs on the Western Front, on the shores of Gallipoli, where the Anzac legend was born, signifies the courage and fighting spirit all Australian’s have come to know. Which leads
When a composer appropriates a text, similarities and differences are created in context and values. Composer Gil Junger, has appropriated William Shakespeare's text 'Taming of the Shrew' introducing film medium and visual techniques to create the teen film '10 things I hate about you'. The clever appropriation utilises both similarities and differences in values making the connection between the two texts noticeable whilst studying. Some of the main values shared between the original and the appropriation include gender roles, social order and importance of money. Composed and based in the Elizabethan Era, the original Taming of the Shrew holds a very patriarchal plot line, presenting an obvious male dominant society.
The film Road to Perdition shows what life is like during the Great Depression. The film stars Tom Hanks as Michael Sullivan Sr., a mafia enforcer to mafia boss John Rooney. Sullivan Sr. has unsurpassed loyalty and has done terrible things in order to provide for his family and keep a close relationship with Mr. Rooney which makes his son, Connor Rooney jealous. One night, as Sullivan Sr. is performing a task for Mr. Rooney, Sullivan Jr. hides in his car and witnesses his father and Connor Rooney murder a couple of people. In order to keep him silent, Mr. Rooney orders his son, Connor Rooney, to murder Sullivan Sr.’s family.
‘Connections enrich understanding in the pair of texts studied’. To what extent is this made evident in the pair of texts you have studied? Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of King Richard lll thought to be published in 1591 and Al Pacino’s Looking for Richard released in 1996 are a direct reflection of the contexts in which they were created, “the text is just a means of expressing what is behind the text”. The texts therefore could not be more different, although it is through the connections in the texts that the responder gains a heightened awareness of the values underpinning the text. Shakespeare’s text is a reflection of the theocratic worldview, that God sanctions all sin.
The struggle to become a king and the issue of a ruler’s proper qualities lie at the centre of Shakespeare’s chronicle history play. Lear is the character that wields the most power; however he gradually begins to lose his power which means his effectiveness as king can be questioned. This essay will therefore analyze the extent to which Shakespeare presents Lear as an effective king. From the outset, Lear's language is forceful and the line, ‘Come not between the dragon and his wrath’, portrays his power as he compares himself to a dragon. As King, Lear's servants and courtiers attend to his every need.
Schindler’s transformation essay In the movie ”Schindler’s List” the main character, Oscar Schindler undergoes an enormous transformation. The movie is set during the Second World War and Schindler is this young businessman, whom discovers that he can make a lot of profit by exploiting the Jews as workers at his factory. At first, Schindler seems like a very greedy man with no compassion what so ever, but he ends up being a “hero”. My essay will be build upon comparing Schindler to his nemesis Amon Goeth. Amon Goeth is the definition of evil, he is in charge of the concentration camp which provides workers for Schindler.
The Pursuit of Power Providing a Crowning Corruption Ambition for power is a classic driving force that creates depravity in a character and can sometimes even lead to his/her ultimate downfall. This lust for power can lead even the purist of characters to turn into a degenerate. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the desire to obtain and protect one’s power and the change it brings to a person’s character is a pivotal theme, which is especially epitomized by Macbeth. Through Macbeth, Shakespeare argues that power transforms the individual who assumes or desires it into a corrupt and manipulative being. The beginnings of Macbeth’s fall into corruption occur when Macbeth starts to consider the prophecy of the witches and envisions his rise to