Browning contrasts the Duke’s representation of the duchess with the factual representation emphasising the Duke’s manic state and causing the audience to strongly oppose the duke as a person. Men feel the need to retain their pride in relationships which reflects the social attitudes and patriarchal values of the Victorian Era. The Victorian Era was a time of a changing social attitudes and people felt insecure and questioned their dominance with an increased male ego. This is evident in Browning’s portrayal of the Duke in “My Last Duchess”. Browning contrasts the happiness of the duchess with by providing imagery of nature, “Bough of cherries” and “orchard” with the dark, manic mind of the duke.
Macbeth responds, in brief, as a loyal thane to the Scottish king, but the prospect unnerves him. * The audience could see Macbeth’s ambition leading him to cursed thoughts which has been greatly *enforced and twisted* by the* malicious* witches. *The caution from the first apparition causes Macbeth to start a bloody massacre across England, killing families of people who may threaten his position. After this point in the play, we see *that *Macbeth* has* turn*ed* into a ruthless tyrant* in the hope of avoiding fate*, so desensitized to humanity that even the suicide of his wife *could not arouse grief from him. * All he could muster was* “She should have died hereafter”.
Browning uses the dramatic monologue form for My Last Duchess. As it is the Duke who is 'speaking', his character is therefore created through his own words. From the very first line of the poem, the Duke unwittingly portrays himself as a selfish and rather ignorant egotist. That's my last Duchess painted on the wall He refers to the woman in the painting (who, we should remember, is dead) as if she were a possession - "my last Duchess" and this unfeeling attitude is intensified with the use of the word "last" as if the woman will be replaced by a newer model, as if replacing a car or suit. The Duke name drops the painter's name "Fra Pandolf" to see if it impresses the listener.
Both texts expose the benefits and flaws in leadership, both good and bad, through the use of metaphors, characterisation and the development of theme. The Shakespearian play "Henry V" demonstrates the effect of intelligence on a leader's capacity and choices. In the play Henry does not outright declare war on France, but rather demands the French throne from the French king through the use of clever politics. Before advancing war on the French, and he sends a stern message to the French king, "Deliver up the crown, and to take mercy On the poor souls for whom this hungry war Opens his vasty jaws ; and on your head Turning the widows' tears, the orphans' cries, The dead men's blood, the prived maidens' groans, For husbands, fathers, and betrothed lovers That shall be swallowed in this controversy." Shakespeare has used a metaphor here to describe the seriousness of the issue at heart.
Illustrating Austen's perceptions, the status of which the class system bestowed on those with wealth and title, undermines the quality of the Regency era as a whole when personal merit was absent. This concept greatly contrasts todayʼs views of achieving advancements with oneʼs own skills and capabilities, as the continuity of her ironic tone leads the reader to draw conclusions about the weaknesses in the society that Sir Walter represents. Persuasion demonstrates that good manners and etiquette can merely be a facade which conceals severe moral shortcomings. Pride is a funny thing I always say, on one hand it makes Sir Walter and Elizabeth full of their own importance, on the other hand when someone more important appears, they have a fixture of who was to bow first. They are so invested in the system of rank that it even conquers their own vanity.
This conflict within Hamlet is further expounded by the possibility that his father was murdered by his uncle, King Cladius. In an attempt to cope with the moral weakness of his mother, Prince Hamlet dispels any sympathetic feelings toward women causing him to ruin his relationship with Ophelia and leaving him lonely. In order to accurately interpret Shakespeare’s usage of a female’s role throughout his play it is imperative to consider the greater source of his ideas-his historical background. The historical period of the Elizabethan era influenced Shakespeare’s negative portrayal of women and thus, he uses the women in his play as tools in unraveling Prince Hamlet. In Hamlet, it can be noted that the patriarchal setup of society mirrors that of England during the Elizabethan era.
What is the difference between Hamlet’s madness and Ophelia’s? Is there a marked difference in their behavior and speech? The theme of madness is one of the main themes in the tragedy Hamlet. Hamlet pretends to be mad and Ophelia is driven to actual madness and even suicide. Hamlet starts to act as a madman to avenge the death of his father by his uncle.
His plan of action was almost complete if he was able to murder Cassio. Iago’s motives are told throughout the entire play such as, seeking revenge due to the fact that Othello was given the title of lieutenant, throwing out accusations of him sleeping with his wife. In the end he is handed over to the torturers where he finally is quiet and stops giving reasons. Critic Robert Heilman (1956) states “lago’s case is too good; as a hunter of motives has bagged more than the legal limit” (pg.33). Othello is susceptible to lago’s evil.
I think pride, anger and greed for power prompted Lear to make the decision of giving up the kingdom to his malicious, hateful and ungrateful daughters, Regan and Cordelia. After that, Lear banishes the earl of Kent, a faithful courtier who disapproves his punishment for Cordelia. The untimely abdication of his throne, his blindness to Cordelia’s authentic love and Kent’s faithfulness triggers and results in a chain reaction of events that send him through a tragic journey. The cruelty and ingratitude of Goneril and Regan is indubitable; and Lear himself is obsessed by the way that his
|ENGLISH 102 | |[ ESSAY # 1 , Final Copy] | |“The Cask of Amontillado” | |Victor Grigorov | |2/22/2012 | The Cask of Amontillado The Cask of Amontillado, written by Edgar Allan Poe, is a story with the theme of revenge where the narrator Montresor tries to persuade the reader that his carefully crafted murder of Fortunato is deserved. The ominous tale is told through Montresor, a witty and sinister man who plots vengeance against Fortunato for insulting his family. Montresor’s family motto is "Nemo me impune lacessit," (159) which means, "No one dare attack me with impunity” (159), and he certainly lives up to these words. Since the narration is told through the character Montresor, the audience gets a dark look inside the evil thoughts of a man scorned, and is able to get closer to the cold heart of a killer. Throughout the story, Montresor tries to convince the reader that Fortunato is a cruel drunk, and his own plans for murder are just.