... most renowned in all of Shakespeare. But because of its romantic associations it is often misunderstood. Romeo's passion for Juliet is unambiguously erotic. To Elizabethans sexual desire was not antithetical to romance; it was the essence of romance. In calling for the triumph of the sun over the moon, Romeo is hoping she ... suffer from "green-sickness," a malady which could only be cured by healthy lovemaking. Thus the entire opening to this scene is devoted to Romeo's fevered desire that she will make love with him. Despite his passion, he is shy enough, and polite enough, not to simp...

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• Approx Pages: 13
• Grade Level: High School

... by sexual appetites, he refuses to see anyone punished anymore for violating the conventional rules of sexual conduct: I pardon that man's life. What was thy cause? Adultery? "Thou shalt not die. Die for adultery? No, The wren goes to't, and the small gilded fly Does lecher in my sight." (4.6.109-13) In Lear's refusal to support conventional marriage contracts, we see what ... his surroundings; he even has to be reminded that he is in Britain (4.7.75). With Lear's "great rage" goes his "noble anger," and with that, his ability and even his desire to govern his kingdom. In short, we must...

• Word Count: 8939
• Approx Pages: 36
• Grade Level: High School

... he should take, but rather whether he will be able to make any decisions at all. Perhaps due to his excessive melancholy Hamlet became morally weakened and therefore lost his desire for revenge. As Hamlet states "my weakness and my melancholy" and his "wild and whirling words" his mood shifts from deep depression to elation, which might explain his indecisiveness throughout ... time Hamlet has the opportunity to kill Claudius and achieve his revenge is when Claudius is confessing his sins. Here, Hamlet does not kill him because if Claudius were to die right then, he would have gone to h...

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• Grade Level: High School

... to interfere with this fate and tell Macbeth and Banquo about their futures. This makes it seem as if the witches have a human like desire for power, personified in their quest to affect the outcome of time. This desire, which seems to be the root of their actions, also becomes the root of Macbeth's eventual fall from power. Macbeth's over-zealousness for ... have as much impact as the major ones; for instance, whether to be black or red in a game of checkers is not likely to have any impact on whether you die of old age or a decapitation. However, these decisions, as every action does,...

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... , and weighing his options. He is fearful of death because of the stories the ghost of his father tells about the fiery pits of hell. Thus, while Hamlet wants to die and sees no reason to live, he is fearful of what suicide will bring him in his afterlife. Hamlet is plagued with indecision. Not only can he not decide his ... only the loss of his father, but for the problems in Denmark. This only leads Hamlet farther in his misery and intensifies his hatred for Claudius. It also strengthens his desire to murder Claudius, an action he still can not follow-through with, which inevitably dee...

• Word Count: 1324
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• Grade Level: High School

... most common theme in all of Shakespeare's tragedies is death. The most popular of Shakespeare's tragic plays end with death, usually of the protagonist. In Hamlet, all the prominent characters die, whether it is by poisoned wine, or the sword, or suicide. In Romeo and Juliet, the two lovers commit suicide, and Macbeth ends with a decapitation. Aside from a depressing ending, these ... portrayed in Shakespearian tragedies only brings about more death. The death of Hamlet's father results in his goal to have revenge on Claudius, and as the plot unfolds, innocent bystanders die, such as Op...

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• Grade Level: High School

... and has the responsibility over controlling a vast army. Despite the importance of Othello to the Venetian state, Brabantio (Desdemona's father) is both horrified and dismayed at his daughter's willingness and desire to marry a dark-skinned person. He accuses Othello of being a "foul thief- and that he "Hast enchanted her!- [1.2.63-65], thus implying that for no other reasons would Desdemona have ... as "a proper man-, "A very handsome man- and "He speaks well- [4.3.34-36] despite being already married to Othello. She wished "that heaven had made her such a man,"" [1.3.164] revealing he...

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• Grade Level: High School

... to resist. By conquering the female warrior and marrying her, he fulfills his need for the exclusive love of a woman while satisfying his homoerotic desires. Close bonding fulfills this homoerotic desire with a male companion, such as Demetrius and Egeus. (Scott 373-373) Male jealousy and need for dominance ruins women's relationships with friends and also turns to brutality. Hermia and Helena ... two fathers, Capulet and Egeus, give the same orders to their daughters. Capulet: "An you be mine, I"ll give you to my friend. An you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets." Egeus: "As...

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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... same winter and summer, as a Christian is? If you poison us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian what is his ... and prejudice audience feel sorry for the brutalized Shylock, while at the same time withdrawing sympathy from Antonio. Shylock is unable to recognize the differences between his greed and his desire for revenge, because of the tormenting he endures by the Christians. Shakespeare gives Shylock numero...

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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... he statesO, that this too too solid flesh would melt, / Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew! / Or that the Everlasting had not fixed / His canongainst self-slaughter!?(135-138). This desire is so intense that nothing stands between him and suicide except religious fear. He is extremely sick of life and contemplating suicide, not because he is grieving over his father ... , it indicates that he is constantly questioning what actual course of action he should take. Hamlet also attempts to justify life or death by debating the question of suicide. To die to sleep / No more; and by a sleep t...

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... Venus, Isis and Hercules. Cleopatra and Antony mean much more than they actually say. In Act I Scene III, the nature of their complex emotional relationship is shown. Cleopatra has a strong desire for Antony to stay in Egypt, and she taunts, cajoles and torments him in a bid to keep him there. She pushes him away, then pulls him back, one minute scornfully ... -mocking, or perhaps she is just looking for compliments. Also, in Act I Scene V, Cleopatra recalls the great men who have been her lovers (lines 30-35). To "stand," "grow" and "die" all suggest sexual arousal. However, Antony is h...

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... ?- (Act II.1 lines 58-60). A contrast example is when Falstaff is hiding from Mrs. Ford's husband in the laundry basket and she replies "If you find a man there, he shall die a flea's death- (Act IV.2 lines 138-139). The irony of Falstaff being compared to a flea serves to show him a fool in the eyes of the audience, and nothing as incredulous ... "he were a brave monster indeed, if [his eyes] were set in his tail- (Act III.2 lines 10-11) implying that Caliban had a tail. Many people wonder if Shakespeare did not desire the actor who played Caliban to possess obvious proof, such as fins,...

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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... chooses gold because he feels he is worth the weight and price of the casket. The inscription on the gold casket reads, "Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire." Because he is a prince, he feels that he should get what he desires, namely, Portia. In Act II, scene vii, page 33, he continues, "Why, that's the lady; all the ... a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions/ If you prick us, do we not bleed/ if you tickle us, do we not laugh/ if you poison us, do we not die/ and if you wrong us, shall we not revenge/ If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility?...

• Word Count: 1397
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... of complications. In the story Hamlet, there is also a great deal of death occuring. The death of King Hamlet by Claudius leads to Prince Hamlet living his life with the desire to seek revenge on Claudius for murdering his father. "O, that this too too solid flesh would melt But break my heart,-for I must hold my tongue." (Act 1, Scene 2, Lines). These ... of morals, but in the case of women suicide appears to be one of the best options. This could be considered haunting that any fairly important women to the story die, generally by suicide, and it also makes the reader question Shakesp...

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... though he has never been in love. He states that the sort of love Romeo feels for Juliet can become sickly as it is so sweet and it destroys your desire to fall in love again. How can he make this assumption, as he has no knowledge to what it is like? The friar plays a linkage role in the play. He ... Romeo and Juliet even though he knew that it would probably end in disaster. He believes this as he says 'these violent delights have violent ends, and in their triumphs die, like fire and powder, which as they kiss consume'. When he says this he means that such extreme emotions like the l...

• Word Count: 366
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... " and "..let them find me here; my life were better ended by their hate, than death prorogued, wanting of thy love". Meaning walls cannot hold love out and I would rather die here than going and wanting your love. The audiences now learn that Romeo thinks of Juliet as merchandise, which shows a lack of respect. " As that vast shore washed with the ... leave me so unsatisfied?" Meaning perhaps he would like more, sexually. This tells the audience that Romeo's relationship with Rosaline and now Juliet has been and is based on sexual desire. The audience is also told that Juliet's love is t...

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... . Yet, Hamlet's delay in killing his uncle isn't evidence that he was suffering "from an acute depressive illness with some obsessional features." (Shaw, Pickering p.1) But rather, the delay demonstrates Hamlet's desire to perfect his revenge and ensure his uncle's loss in a situation "that has no relish of salvation in't." (Shakespeare p. 1467) The tragedy of the whole affair, while not only in ... ) Indeed, "this is hire and salary, not revenge." (Shakespeare p1467) Yet, in seeking that perfect revenge, he brings death not just to one but to seven individuals that need not die. These ar...

• Word Count: 470
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School