There is much evidence in the play that Hamlet deliberately feigned fits of madness in order to confuse and disconcert the king and his attendants. His avowed intention to act "strange or odd" and to "put an antic disposition on" 1 (I. v. 170, 172) is not the only indication. The latter phrase, which is of doubtful interpretation, should be taken in its context and in connection with his other remarks that bear on the same question. To his old friend, Guildenstem, he intimates that "his uncle-father and aunt-mother are deceived," and that he is only "mad north-north-west." (II.
Word Count: 1493 How far do you agree that Shakespeare’s portrayal of gender relations is more sinister than comic? Shakespeare’s depiction of gender relations in ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ distinguishes the female and male stereotypes during the Elizabethan era in 1599. Shakespeare accomplishes this through the contrasting couples of Benedick and Beatrice and Hero and Claudio. The relationship within father and daughter is likewise used to demonstrate the sinister and slightly comedic relations between men and women. To a great extent, modern audiences would find the portrayal objectification of women very much ominous, especially in the case of Hero.
Othello doesn’t complete this fall alone however, he is faced with external pressure from the Machiavellian villain Iago who manipulates him allowing this fall to occur. Despite this transformation it is still possible to suggest that Othello actually remains noble throughout the entirety of the play. This has been a controversial topic on which critics seem to be divided, half suggest Othello was merely a victim to Iago and in his mind was doing the noble thing, the other half stating that his actions were entirely his own fault and thus he is not noble. Critical to this debate is what the definition of nobility actually is; nobility is described by B. Lewis as being the presence of “superior moral qualities and an exalted mind, character, or spirit that scorns the petty, base, or dishonourable”; this is therefore must be the basis by which Othello’s nobility is determined. However this nobility that is constantly present in Othello takes on various forms at distinct stages throughout the play.
Tragic Hero Essay A heroic figure that possesses a character flaw which eventually leads up to his or her defeat is know as a tragic hero. This character is known to be both good and noble, but suffers many flaws that do not bring out the best traits that he or she has. In the play “Julius Caesar” by William Shakespeare, Marcus Brutus qualifies to a high extent as the tragic hero. One of Brutus’ flaws has was that he had a lust for power. Others easily manipulated him into any situation, which resulted in him joining the conspiracy.
Macbeth – Power, Greed and Ambition In Shakespeare’s play ‘Macbeth’ the character Macbeth was once a strong, noble, brave, heroic warrior then turned to become murderous, big headed, greedy and powerful maniac. Macbeth’s ambition led him to a murderous path but if it wasn’t for his wife lady Macbeth’s greed and hunger for power Macbeth’s ambition would never have been sparked up so much. Ambition is described as the desire for someone to achieve their own goals. It is the necessary quality you need to achieve anything, but too much can ruin it for you and make you do unnecessary things in order to reach the goals. Ambition and greed is a common downfall for those who seek power.
Hamlet and Claudius contradict one another in a variety of ways making them enemies throughout the play. Prince Hamlet is perceived as the protagonist in the play for many reasons, one of them being because he displays an elegant intensity in everything he does, making him very amiable to the audience. When Hamlet is truly indecisive, brutal, revengeful, and hateful. When Hamlet speaks to others, his words are thought out to be hurtful to whomever he is speaking to. “You should not have believ'd me, for virtue cannot so inoculate our old stock but we shall relish of it.
Iago noticeably dominates this passage; his comments slip from general conversation to sharp, cynical comments with regards to women. The comments could be seen as blasé, not on closer inspection highlight an underlying emotion and drive. Iago is possibly one of Shakespeare’s most heinous villains due to his apparent lack of any motivation for his actions within the play. Perhaps it is because Iago never clearly voices his motivation that makes the character so shocking, he is willing to take revenge on anyone and he lacks any real moral judgement. Othello, Desdemona, Cassio, Roderigo and even Emilia all fall victims to his ill will, sometimes down to the slightest provocation and the character obviously enjoys bringing pain and damage to those who fall foul of him.
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.
The intolerance comes from the fact that atheism knocks religion and religion knocks atheism. Why should anyone find this to be odd? I don't believe that either side is completely wrong, but I do believe that religious groups aren't being honest with themselves when they show intolerance toward atheists. Religious prejudice is one of the most hateful groups out there. Religious intolerance is when a religious group refuses to tolerate practices, persons or beliefs on religious grounds feeling sure that its own beliefs and practices are correct.
Polonius is perhaps the most debated character in Hamlet due to his controversial lines and even more controversial personality. There have been scholars and philosophers arguing over whether or not William Shakespeare intended for Polonius to be an intelligent, scheming character or simply a comedic old man who happened to have a propensity for skulking. Like his nature, this essay will be a contrast to itself through analysis of his actions and words expressed through disputing points of view. Polonius can be viewed as either the wise old man, a fool, or perhaps as the wise old fool; regardless of which is applied, there is much evidence to support any deliberation. In every major play written by Shakespeare there is a fool, Polonius possesses the characteristics exhibited by an old fool (more specifically a court jester) as Shakespeare uses him to amuse others and show humor in Hamlet.