The 1917 filmed showed a contrast between the modern day women’s changing position and the debilitated conditions in history. Another representation of Cleopatra is the 1934 adaptation. Claudette Colbert represented Cleopatra in a more flirtatious, sophisticated manner, reflecting the decadent art décor. There was more emphasis on the relationships shared with two strong male characters than other political intentions. This also indicated changes in attitudes in wider society as divorce and premarital sex were on the rise.
Although Anthony in Shakespeare’s Anthony & Cleopatra does undergo a gender role reversal, it is Cleopatra’s role reversal that make her one of the most fascinating female characters in the Shakespearean canon and Anthony & Cleopatra one of the most complex Shakespearean plays. Shakespeare’s Rome is masculine, pragmatic, martial, and a public culture that eagerly strives to fulfill its virtues of military conquest and and peaceful, ordered rule. His Alexandrian Egypt, in contrast, is feminine, domestic, decadent, and individualistic, linked with pleasure –– specifically Anthony’s dalliance with the beautiful Cleopatra (“Anthony & Cleopatra” 1). Anthony’s struggle in the play is an obvious one between his Roman side, and his Egyptian love. The reader continually sees him struggle with his duties to Rome, and his love for Cleopatra, and eventually sees him succumb the feminine ways of Egypt and Cleopatra and leave his masculinity and duties to Rome in the hands of others.
A Woman’s Portrayal in “To the Troops at Tilbury”, Shakespeare’s Sonnet 130, and The Tragedy of Mariam As the Renaissance began, we find that, much like the ancient days, women gain and then lose rights as the historical and political faces of Europe change. Even during Queen Elizabeth’s rule, as the de facto King of England, she was forced to uphold the standards given to a woman during the time. However, as we see in her speech “To the Troops at Tilbury” Queen Elizabeth also blurred the lines of masculinity and femininity as she to the role of a true king and all the masculine responsibility and strength that came with the title. As a male writer Shakespeare was able to quietly ask for change in society’s view of women in his satirical sonnet 130. Throughout the entire sonnet he mocks the ideas of women’s perfection in the Renaissance, and shows that no woman is perfect.
The origins of satire extend back to the time of the ancient Greek and Roman poets and philosophers who used satire to criticise and make fun of the military and ruling elite, as illustrated in works such as The Knights by Aristophanes (c.448 – 353 BC). Satire has been broadly divided into two main categories: Juvenalian, named after the roman poet Juvenal. This style is abrasive, bitter, and demonstrates social criticism and moral disgust. It is a direct and angrier form of satire. Horatian satire, named after the roman poet Horatio, is more of a subtle form of satire which is more light-hearted and finds human folly amusing rather than something to get riled over (Schutz, 197:, p. 50).
Boudicca, the renowned ‘warrior queen’ and her Revolt of A.D.60 is acknowledged to be a momentous event in history. Dramatized through modern film productions and passionate historians, the concept of actual historical events and legendary myths of Boudicca, have become hazy and the enigmatic nature of herself has become glorified into an infamous female heroine. Alternative interpretations of Boudicca have modified throughout time, whereas nowadays, her biography is depicted as one of “Britain’s greatest heroines…a freedom fighter who rebelled against the Roman government,” however negative representations of her figured prominently in early Modern England as a violent, vengeful character who cared as little for majority of her faithful Britons as of those invading
Throughout time Hatshepsut has been unfairly portrayed as being manipulative and power-hungry however a revision of the sources show Hatshepsut as being one of the most effective rulers Egypt had ever seen. There are many reasons as to why Hatshepsut can be remembered in two completely different ways. One view of Hatshepsut is that she was a successful ruler; whilst the other is that she was manipulative and did not fill the role of Pharaoh of Egypt well. There are two sides to the sources, some historians say that Hatshepsut was manipulative yet others say that she was indeed a good ruler. Hatshepsut is today described by most Egyptologists as one of the most successful female pharaohs, as she reigned longer than any other woman of an Egyptian dynasty.
However, there have been increasing opinions on how Nietzsche’s philosophy was abused and twisted by either his sister or the Nazi officials themselves, which leads onto the debate whether Nazi ideas are affected Nietzsche’s original views or the perverted ones. In order to understand more and discuss further, it is necessary to define the Nazi ideas of leadership first. There can be two interpretations: personal leadership, referring to Hitler’s dictatorship and racial leadership, echoing the Nazi idea that Aryan was the superior race and thus should be the race ruling the world. To some extent, it can be agreed that the ideas of Nietzsche did influence Nazi ideas of leadership. It is evident in the similarity between the most famous idea of Nietzsche, übermensch and Hitler’s image as the strong leader overcoming the harsh circumstances around him.
There were many changes that occurred during the Renaissance as a result of many things, but one prominent person contributed a lot. Machiavelli contributed to the politics, ethics, control, and warfare of all future generations especially those of western civilizations. One of the most influential creators of change was Niccolo Machiavelli. Machiavelli was a statesman in Italy and a Florentine patriot. When the republic was overthrown he was imprisoned and tortured.
Main Causes of World War I Historians generally cite four long-term causes of the First World War: militarism, the formation of a system of alliances, imperialism, and nationalism. So, throughout the 19th century, politics in the Western world were deeply influenced by the concept of nationalism—a devotion to the interests and culture of one’s nation. This often led to competitive and antagonistic rivalries among nations, leaving an atmosphere of competition amongst the world (many feared Germany’s growing power in Europe). In addition, various ethnic groups resented domination by others and longed for their nations to become independent. Furthermore, for many centuries, European nations had been building empires, slowly extending their economic and political control over various peoples of the world and practicing imperialism.
The fatale woman archetype has been used in films since the beginnings of the film industry. Mystery is the key word related to her, but we also know that she is dangerous, deadly and she brings no good. Yet she has an attractive power and men cannot stay away from her. The archetype has been interpreted and reinterpreted numerous times and it is interesting to observe how a writer or a director can play with this figure. For this analysis I have chosen Fatal Attraction and Basic Instinct and I wanted to talk about the similarities and differences of the two, focusing on the powerful female character, the male protagonist and the female gaze.