The quote shows how Banquo cares about Macbeth, as he warns him about the prophecies. It is also important to note that the quote reveals Banquo's intelligence as well. Shakespeare shows Banquo taking a minute to reflect on the witches prophecies. He does not do this with Macbeth, instead he shows Macbeth jumping to conclusions and immediately thinking about killing the king. In this way, the quote helps the audience understand Banquo's character in relation to
Metaphors are used when talking about subjects without coming straight out and saying what the character means. Shakespeare uses metaphors by having Juliet say things like: “If love be blind, it best agrees with night” meaning that love-making happens during the night; Juliet wants Romeo to come back because she wants to make love to him so she will be officially married to him. She uses metaphors to describe her feelings for Romeo and her feelings about her life. Similes are used to compare people, words, and things, and Shakespeare uses them to describe Romeo in the eyes of Juliet as well as describe the world around her. Juliet says things such as “Whiter than the snow on a raven’s back” (Juliet, 49) to compare her feelings
“No, you two infinitely stupid male creatures: the problem of what is to be done with her afterwards.” (Shaw, 65) Mrs. Higgins shows she doesn’t see the girl as some experiment un like the men in the play who do not seem to view women as the same value. Having a women who respects and has morals for other women is very important for this play. “Do without, I’m afraid, Henry. The girl has a perfect right to leave is she chooses.” (Shaw, 84) This is Mrs. Higgins explaining to her son that he can’t control the young women that she has some rights of her own, and he is to blind to see this on his own. Making the role of women important to see that the young Liza Doolittle has some rights of her own.
Despite being written during patriarchal Jacobean society, the protagonist is a female, which is was highly unusual in those days. Of course this protagonist is Lady Macbeth. Throughout the play, through Lady Macbeth's actions we are forced to believe that she is evil. In contrast, the novel John Steinbeck tells a story of dreams, hopes and loneliness. We are introduced to a majorly significant and complex character, named Curley’s wife.
Secondly, when Juliet tells Capulet that she does not want to marry Paris, Capulet declares to Juliet: “’But, and you will not wed, I’ll pardon you. Graze where you will, you shall not house with me’” (3.5.215-216). Juliet’s father tells her that if she will not marry Paris, she will no longer be allowed to live in his house. By threatening Juliet, Capulet hopes to make Juliet marry Paris. Pressuring Juliet to make a choice that she does not want to make caused the tragedy at the end of the play.
Laertes tries to caution his sister to “ … Keep within the rear of your affection…” He tells her if she gives into her desire, she will only get hurt in the end. Polonius’ advice is different from Laertes, as where Laertes is looking out for his sister because he loves, when Polonius is only looking out for himself. Polonius calls Ophelia naïve, he says that Ophelia does not understand pediment that she have gotten her self-involved in. Polonius tells Ophelia that she should not believe the promises Hamlet has made for her, that he is deceiving her by swearing his love, his vows “ …they are brokers, Not of that dye which their investments shows...” they are not as wholesome as they appear. Polonius forbids Ophelia to see Hamlet
God manipulates Capulet demands Tybalt to obey his will and leave Romeo alone. “Therefore be patient, take no note of him/ It is my will, the which of thou respect.” (Act 1 sc 5 ll 70-71) God manipulates this occasion to ensure Romeo and Juliet meet and fall in love with each other. Providence manipulates Romeo to leap over the orchard wall and proclaim his love for Juliet. “It is my lady, O it is my love.” (Act 1 sc 2 ll 10) Providence manipulates circumstances to ensure the lovers meet under Juliet’s balcony, thus, quickening their proclamation of love. Romeo and Juliet are now steered towards their path of becoming scapegoats as they enter into the sacrament of marriage.
When Romeo finds out the news that he is banished, he reacts immaturely. So the friar bluntly says, “art thou a man? They form cries out thou art; thy tears are womanish.” (III.iii.109) The friar is saying that he shouldn’t be crying over something like this, and that he’s not manly. There’s always a time and place for everything. People can act completely different from how they really are.
After Hamlet had staged the play, and noticed Claudius’s reaction, Gertrude was willing to speak to Hamlet about the play, and how Claudius is furious about it. Polonius decides to hide behind the arras and spy on Gertrude and Hamlet’s conversation. As stated in the following quote “My lord, he’s going to his mother’s closet. Behind the arras I’ll convey myself to hear the process. I’ll warrant she’ll tax him home;” (3.3.29-32).
Women in Hamlet “Hamlet sees Gertrude give way to Claudius, [and] Ophelia give way to Polonius…” (David Leverenz) Examine how Shakespeare treats the female characters/ explores the role of the woman in Hamlet and what the response of a modern audience might be to this aspect of the play. • “[Ophelia] is a play within a play, or a player trying to respond to several imperious directors at once. Everyone has used her: Polonius, to gain favour; Laertes, to belittle Hamlet; Claudius, to spy on Hamlet; Hamlet to express rage at Gertrude; and Hamlet again, to express his feigned madness with her as a decoy. She is valued only for the roles that further other people’s plots.” (David Leverenz) • “For most critics of Shakespeare, Ophelia has been an insignificant minor character in the play, touching in her weakness and madness but chiefly interesting, of course, in what she tells us about Hamlet.” (Elaine Showalter) • “We can imagine Hamlet’s story without Ophelia, but Ophelia literally has no story without Hamlet.” (Lee Edwards) • “Since the 1970s… we have had a feminist discourse which has offered a new perspective on Ophelia’s madness as protest and rebellion. For many feminist theorists, the madwoman is a heroine, a powerful figure who rebels against the family and the social order…” (Elaine Showalter) • “Gertrude, in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, has traditionally been played as a sensual, deceitful woman.” (Rebecca Smith) • “…when one closely examines Gertrude’s actual speech and actions in an attempt to understand the character , one finds little that hints at hypocrisy, suppression, or uncontrolled passion and their implied complexity.” (Rebecca Smith) • “Gertrude appears in only ten of the twenty scenes that comprise the play; furthermore she speaks very little, having less dialogue than any other major character in Hamlet… she