Niccolo Machiavelli, an illegitimate son of Pope Alexander VI, stresses an epitome of political behavior for a leader in The Prince. Cesare Borgia, the prince in the book, illustrates similar Machiavellian characteristics as Commodus in “Gladiator.” Commodus is the ruthless emperor who ignorantly challenges the life of many Romans, including gladiator Maximus Decimus Meridius. He expresses his emotions frequently and violently in the film, indirectly making evidence to support such repetitive Machiavellian behavior. Commodus is a Machiavellian hero due to his nature regarding false virtue with himself, his family, and the people of Rome. Commodus, without realizing, is active in making decisions that affect him negatively.
How does Shakespeare explore the theme of revenge in The Tempest? Revenge appears to be quite an important theme in The Tempest, as it is at the heart of the play; Prospero wanting to get revenge on Antonio, Alonso and the other men, for banishing him from Milan. Although Prospero’s revenge is the most notable case of vengeance in the play, there are other examples, coming from Caliban and Antonio, as in some ways, they both want revenge back on Prospero. Most examples of revenge in the play also contain significant links with the theme of power; to get revenge you are gaining back the power that has been taken from you. It appears through Shakespeare’s writing, that he is depicting his thoughts and attitudes towards life and ruling in the Elizabethan era.
Power In The Tempest William Shakespeare’s The Tempest revolves around a conflict between individual power and Prospero's desire for revenge(Thomas).Like wise, scenes in the play show the correlation between a powerful person and another person who is affected by that power. Many interpret this play as Prospero trying to gain his rightful place through forgiveness and reconciliation with his enemies(Mebane). Up on a second consideration,one can conclude that there is a hidden side of Prospero. Behind his forgiveness most of the scences in the play demonstarate Prospero's true character which are manipulative, selfishness and negative influence to those around him. It could be argued that Prospero uses his power to benefit all because the play seems like it has a ''happy ending''.Further more, it could be argued that Prospero, having being wronged by many, has gracefully forgiven all.
In the opening of the play, a loyal Macbeth is approached by three witches who entice him with their claim that “[he] shalt be king thereafter.” (1-3-50). This information stimulates his hidden thirst for power and willingness to keep the throne for himself. He plots to murder the king and takes the liberty of killing Banquo, and anyone else who poses a threat to his reign to aid his own insecurity. Macbeth begins to lose trust in those around him and becomes unstable. Shakespeare shows through Duncan, who carries a legitimate power, that only direct threats to the kingdom are punished accordingly.
They serve as warnings to the villain Manfred, who is the king of Otranto. However, Manfred’s lust for power and patriarchal rule supersede the many warnings from the supernatural. He is a man full of rage, intemperance, and will resort to violence should his subjects not acquiesce to his every demand. Walpole holds the reader in suspense throughout the novel, due to the threat of constant impending death of one or more of the characters. In my essay, I will explore how the supernatural upholds rightful inheritance and how when the heir is illegitimate, even to the second or third generation, retribution follows, and is executed by the supernatural world in that, “the sins of the fathers are
205). This is achieved by his ability to play every emotion. He can make others think he is on their side and sympathize with them, when in actuality he is plotting against them. A clear example of this is when he speaks with his brother Clarence as he is being arrested as a political prisoner in Act I, Scene I. Richard has spread rumors so the king would be suspicious of Clarence and is responsible for his imprisonment but as he meets him as he is being taken away, he pretends to be sad and furthermore convinces Clarence that the queen is responsible for turning the King against Clarence. He even promises to try to free Clarence, but Richard reveals to the audience that he will make sure that Clarence is executed: Go tread the path that thou shalt ne’er return.
Dorian and Henry first meet in Basil's study, and from then on, Dorian is never the same innocent child he previously was. Lord Henry Wotton creates a conflict with the naïve and innocent Dorian Gray by influencing and mentally corrupting him. Under this influence, *Dorian becomes a hedonist, constantly pursuing pleasure and everlasting beauty. This one-way conflict, where Lord Henry almost completely controls Dorian's emotions, is the cause for Dorian's downfall and death. *Lord Henry, who enjoys manipulating people to calm his hedonist feelings, imposing him by his radical, yet catchy theories of life.
In Machiavelli’s passage he writes about people who have become king through “the aid of others/ good fortune” He shows that some people’s need for power is so intense that they would be willing to do just about anything to gain that power, even if it meant killing many people. This helps support the theory of Macbeth’s actions being based on freewill. Because of Macbeth’s own actions and greed he killed king Duncan and took control of the thrown. Macbeth’s actions are what Machiavelli would “favor and fortune of those who have made them great.” For if it had not been for the witches prophecy and the never ending commands given to Macbeth by his oh so demanding wife Lady Macbeth, Macbeth would never have even thought about killing Duncan and becoming king himself. Similar to Macbeth the Duke of Valentino also had an urge to gain power.
The conflict of the play begins during a struggle for the throne, which at its end only begets a period of corruption and betrayal. The dramatic qualities of the play begin to show themselves as Titus seeks to avenge the brutal rape of his daughter and in doing so begins to rid the Roman Empire of the corruptors. While Shakespeare’s emphasis on the downfall of Rome is evident throughout the play, the audience cannot help but witness the downfall of Titus’ family as well. Shakespeare displays the breakdown of each of the characters as if to symbolize the effects of the collapse of Rome in each one of them. Beginning with Bassianus, the audience witnesses his decline as the throne is taken from him and given to his brother Saturninus due to primogeniture.
The music portrays the beauty that the island has and the respect that Caliban has for the magic that is going around the island. This shows the importance of the connection of Caliban has to the island. As Ariel keeps singing he draws Ferdinand from the shore to Miranda’ presence, by singing, “Come unto these yellow sands…” the purpose of Ariel’s song in the play is to call Ferdinand forward unto the island , which was the plan of Prospero to get Ferdinand and his daughter Miranda together. He uses Ariel’s magic to get them o fall in love when they meet, like love at first sight. Ariel later on issues an