... witches" prophecy concerning Banquo's sons, and having Banquo around him is a constant reminder of when the witches predict that Banquo's and not Macbeth's children will be kings. When Macbeth is alone in Act 3 Scene 1, he begins to describe the jealousy which he feels towards Banquo when he exclaims; "Upon my head they placed a ... this terrible sin. Another lesson shown in this play is that all things are not as they appear. Early in the play, the three witches say that "fair is foul, and foul is fair." This paradox appears to warn that whatever appears to be "fair" to Macbeth is reall...

• Word Count: 3254
• Approx Pages: 13
• Grade Level: High School

... in the traditional sense who is supposed to possess those heroic qualities or charisma which can win him the trust and support of his allies; he is an "elegant roughneck"(53), instead. This paradox indicates a sudden fall of the respect that Nick has for him just seconds ago. Gatsby exposes the absurdity of his playing in ... spite of his painstaking effort in the choice of the words and the elaborate formality of ... taking over the responsibility of the car accident costs his life. The play ends with the hero's most unworthy death and his desolate funeral. Macbeth in his perceptive fr...

• Word Count: 2711
• Approx Pages: 11
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... might have done so. Boys played the female roles in Shakespeare's theater, and they might have been more convincing as young girls than as more mature women (though audiences presumably found a boy playing Cleopatra or Lady Macbeth satisfactory). Shakespeare emphasizes the over-hastiness and premature nature ... of this love affair and probably felt he was underlining this theme at a time when marriage at fifteen was considered by no means shocking, though marriage at eighteen or twenty was in fact much ... sexual puns comparing magic conjuration with sexual intercourse. Act II: Scene 2...

• Word Count: 3150
• Approx Pages: 13
• Grade Level: High School