... views of evil in Shakespearean and current society "Company, villainous company, has been the spoil of me." This quote in William Shakespeare's play Henry IV (3.3.11) showcases one of the common themes in many of William Shakespeare's plays: the role of the villain. For any storyline to be ... already remarried to Hamlet's uncle, Claudius. Hamlet, upon returning, sarcastically describes his feelings toward Claudius as "A little less than kin and more than kind." (Act 1, Scene 2) referring to his awkward position of now being the stepson of his uncle. In this play, Claudius not only kills ...

• Word Count: 1501
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... 's scholarly concern that the ghost "bodes some strange eruption to our state." (I.i.69) Because of this confusion, not knowing whether Old Hamlet's ghost was "a spirit of health or goblin damn"d," (I.iv.40) the Elizabethan audience would have supported Hamlet in his choice to be sure before killing Claudius, his father's murderer. This shows how Shakespeare uses the audience's uncertainty to manipulate ... of Christmas 1). So, even though this night could have been looked at as deception and foolery, it had a Christian core. Henry V deals with the ideals of heaven and hell when the Host...

• Word Count: 1416
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School