How does Shakespeare attend to the problem of knowledge in Othello? My thesis is that there is an epistemic crisis in Othello. Tragedy is an epistemological problem. It is the outcome of the problem of knowledge. Thesis underlines the notion that the play has an attitude towards the audience.
During the agentic state an individual may feel moral strain, moral strain is when a person may be aware that the order they're following is immoral or goes against their moral views but they feel unable to disobey and continue the behaviour anyway. When in the agentic state the individual is acting as an agent for others, they do not feel responsible for their own actions as they believe responsibility falls to the authority figure giving the order. As this gives a clear description of obedience, society can learn from and aim to avoid future events similar to Mai Lai massacre. There has been much researcher into obedience through many studies including Milgram & Hofling, both these studies were lab experiments so any findings from the data would be considered high in validity and therefore any changes made to society from the theory would likely be worthwhile. However agency theory is more of a description than an evaluation of obedience, therefore the theory is incomplete and other theories, such as social power theory it is an alternative explanation for obedience, as a result of this any changes society makes on the basis of agency theory may be invalid and useless as the theory itself may be incorrect/incomplete.
Andrew Davies purposely used that technique to mirror Shakespeare’s thematic technique to create similar effect. I also noticed that the positioning of the character is quite interesting, in every conversation between Jago and Othello, Jago is always the one in higher position. This aims to symbolise Jago’s power, control and manipulation over Othello. This also gives an imagery of Jago being the puppet master who controls everything behind the scene. Shakespeare’s Othello is a tragedy so it is most crucial that the adaptation keeps the important aspects which make the play what it is.
William Shakespeare’s Hamlet (1599-1601) has successfully continued to engage audiences through its dramatic treatments of soliloquies and asides. It has retained value as being worth critical study in both an Elizabethan and modern context – this may be said due to its mirroring of human nature in society, thereby depicting the thematic concepts of struggle and disillusionment. Shakespeare’s use of dramatic and language techniques, consisting of much great symbolism and metaphorical language, illustrates the dramatic irony and action of textual integrity in Hamlet. Thus these salient notions are achieved through Hamlet’s speech directed towards a society that reflects both an Elizabethan and modern contemporary context, whereby audiences reflect upon the depiction of humanity’s struggle in a disillusioned reality. In Hamlet’s third soliloquy, there are echoes of struggle and disillusionment which are illustrated as important concepts in dealing with Shakespearean language throughout the play of HAMLET.
Explore the ways in which Shakespeare creates character in the first two scenes of Othello. What are the audience’s expectations of the two major characters discussed (Othello and Desdemona) and in what ways are these expectation met or challenged by their eventual appearance on stage? In the two opening scenes of Othello the personalities and machination of the play’s key characters are revealed through a combination of dialogue, action and metaphor and it is these early insights into character that lay the foundations for the audience’s appreciation of the rest of the play as their perceptions are challenged and ingrained ideologies overturned. More importantly than how individual characters are introduced is the way they are shown to interact with one another. In the first two acts base human emotions such as anger and envy as well as crucial areas of human behaviour (deceit, for example) are used to encapsulate the interpersonal rapports and conflicts between the principal roles.
Naimah Ali Ap Literature Period 6 10/27/14 KING LEAR’S BATTLE WITH EXISTENTIALISM The novel King Lear demonstrates concepts of existentialism. Existentialism is a movement or tendency that emphasizes individual existence, freedom, and choice. Therefore, individuals must fashion their own sense of meaning in life instead of relying thoughtlessly on religious, political, and social conventions. In doing so individuals can minimize their suffering in this world. King lear by the phenomenal Shakespeare showcases how quickly a person can wither away when they are not able to come to terms with life.
"To what extent have the connections you have made between your two texts studied in this module demonstrated how shared ideas impact differently on individuals in different contexts?" "The play Richard II dares to imagine what it is to have supreme power…. And then lose it", a quote from Derek Jacobi in Shakespeare Uncovered, as he revisits the role he played nearly 30 years ago, Richard II. Comparing this documentary to Shakespeare’s work “Richard II”, has allowed us to consider how the timeless quality in the character of 'Richard II" helps us to understand more about the themes of power and self identity in our contemporary society. The connections in the mentioned themes demonstrates how shared ideas impact differently on individuals in different contexts.
Iago Although Iago is clearly the antagonist throughout the play, Shakespeare cleverly also utilizes the character as a confidante. His soliloquies to the audience lay out his intent and planning of the plot to the audience; to seek revenge on Othello. In addition to helping the audience understand Iago’s twisted thoughts, I believe that Shakespeare’s intent in writing in these brilliant soliloquies was to make the audience feel that they were part of the play and involved in the plot. We learn early on the relationship between Iago and Roderigo. Roderigo discloses his trust for Iago in the opening lines of the play.
Not only can myths be used to explain nature and our own physical existence, but they can also have contextual meaning to illustrate a theme or dilemma. William Shakespeare used mythology and lore in his plays to portray imagery, contrast characters and foreshadow various aspect of the plot in an effort to emphasized suspense and ameliorate the play. In Hamlet, Shakespeare often blended mythological and biblical references into his literary work as a means of grasping the reader’s attention to a specific theme or dilemma within the play. Mythology and lore thrive on momentous suspense and emotional attachment, but what literary techniques do authors use to achieve this? Authors often use vivid descriptions and sensory enriched words to attract one of the five major senses (hearing, touch, taste, smell and sight) to convey an action, image or event; the lure of the imagery is what keeps the reader attuned.
'Better a witty fool than a foolish wit.' Shakespeare's plays were written to be performed to an audience from different social classes and of varying levels of intellect. Thus they contain down-to-earth characters who appeal to the working classes, side-by-side with complexities of plot which would satisfy the appetites of the aristocrats among the audience. His contemporary status is different, and Shakespeare's plays have become a symbol of culture and education, being widely used as a subject for academic study and literary criticism. A close critical analysis of Twelfth Night can reveal how Shakespeare manipulates the form, structure, and language to contribute to the meaning of his plays.