Abstract There are many similarities between The Dresser, a film from 1983, and the Shakespearean tragedy King Lear. There is an obvious, direct reference to King Lear, written into the script as a performance piece for The Coronet Players; however, the similarities between the two go far beyond the obvious. The discussion includes the similar plot structures, themes, and character types found in The Dresser and King Lear. Exploring Similarities: The Dresser and King Lear William Shakespeare is one of the most well-known figures in the history of theatre. As a playwright, actor, and manager, Shakespeare’s influences are still evident in Western theatre today.
This was the context for one of my favorite movies, Romeo + Juliet directed by Baz Luhrmann back in 1996. William Shakespeare has written poetry and play-scripts that will continue to inspire people for centuries to come. Whether it be on a stage in your local high school or in the Broadway/Hollywood spot light on the big screen. William Shakespeare is known as possibly the greatest writer of the English language and deservingly so. Unfortunately Shakespeare’s plays have been subject to change and scrutiny throughout the years.
Allusion | Literal Meaning | How it Develops Theme | Sources | I would have such a fellow whipped for o’erdoing Termagant (3,2,14) | I would whip a man for making a tyrant sounding too much like a tyrant. | Demostrates Hamlet’s insanity because Hamlet once was described as a kind and gentle person, but now Hamlet says he will whip the players if they overact this scene at all. Hamlet is becoming out of control and abusive. The word, Termagant, refers to, “an imaginary god held in Christendom to be worshipped by Muslimsand described as very violent”. (Billy and Connor 81-82) | - Billy and Connor, Allusions, Tangient LLC, Web.
Compare and Contrast: Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet is one of the most known plays in history, and everybody knows that. It has been produced and played by many people over the years, but two motion picture versions stick out. Franco Zeffirelli (1968) and Baz Luhrmann’s (1996) versions are both well known. Although these two productions are based on the same storyline, the balcony scenes are radically different. Zeffirelli’s balcony scene is just as you would imagine it if you were reading the story.
Why William Shakespeare is the greatest writer William Shakespeare’s plays are being made into box office film hits at an incredible rate. Films such as Romeo and Juliet with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes, Macbeth with John Finch and Francesca Annis, Julius Caesar with Jeremy Sisto and Richard Harris, Hamlet with Mel Gibson and Glenn Close, Othello with Laurence Fishbourne and Henry V with Kenneth Branagh have been seen by a surprising number of teenagers. Often they have not understood it at all, but they have been affected by the powerful characters and by the Shakespearean magic which has affected audiences around the world for centuries. Shakespeare, a man for his time, may have been a man "for all times". The passions and emotions which he describes find deep echoes in the hearts of the youngsters at the beginning of the 21th century.
The Power of Theatre From ancient times to this modern day, theatre is and has always been an important aspect of society. Theatre was originally invented by the Greeks in ancient times BC, then later brought back into Europe and upwards into England where it had a climax during the renaissance years. However, even in today's society, we still have a multi-million dollar industry that is perhaps debatably dying with the age of film and television, but it is still well alive and thriving. There are many reasons why theatre has been able to stay around for thousands of years, it is an exclusive and momentous event. Greek theatre was invented in what was believed to be the 5th century BC.
The balcony scene in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” has become one of the most well known scenes ever written. We see the language of love between Romeo and Juliet in a dramatic-scene when they express their affection for each other. This scene is very important and sets up the building blocks for the rest of the play. After viewing the two versions of Romeo and Juliet, one by Franco Zeffirelli from 1968, and the other by Baz Luhrmann from 1997, I believe that the 1968 version is by far a more precise and on point representation of the balcony scene. With being both made after the same play, these two movies have many differences in just one scene alone.
The next day Romeo and Juliet arrange to get married. During the wedding Juliet says, “They are beggers that can count their worth, but my true love is grown to such excess I cannot sum up sum of half my wealth (2.6.32-34).” They got married with only knowing each other for less than 24 hours and they did it
Introduction A. Significance of the study Born in Louisville, Kentucky on September 21, 1947, Marsha Norman is considered one of the most successful woman playwrights in America. Her play Night, Mother was the winner of the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the original production at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This production eventually made its way to Broadway, where it was played at the John Golden Theatre with the same cast. It received 4 Tony Award nominations.
How far do you agree that ‘The play King Lear presents us with a bleak and cruel world and offers us no comfort at the end?’ Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear’ falls under Aristotle’s definition of tragedy, with the fact that the characters are royal, and therefore have an enormous amount to lose. Moreover, the destructive downfall of not only King Lear but most of the characters in the play is due to the fatal flaw of pride in the king. The embellished language in the play is mainly in verse, and coupled with the unusual language forms of The Fool and Edgar as ‘Poor Tom’, this further links the play with the traditional definition of tragedy. ‘This fellow has banished two on’s daughters and did the third a blessing against his will.’ Untangling the meaning on The Fool’s words can be difficult, but it is clear he is the voice of reason and wisdom whispering in Lear’s ear throughout the play. Despite all this negativity, it would be a great over-simplification to assume that the overall play ‘presents us with a bleak and cruel world and offers no comfort at the end’, though this is an easy assumption to make given the obvious bleakness that infects the play throughout.