... his knights have been rowdy and disruptive, Goneril manages to make herself look like a victim as she throws her father to the cold. She plays the role of the schemer throughout the play, the female equivalent of a male character named Edmund. In perhaps a fitting match, she later seeks an affair with him, boldly ... herself as his mistress. Goneril's greed is a defining characteristic, and it shows until her death. Her strength in scheming is highlighted when she learns of an impending war against her youngest sister and the King of France. Overstepping her husband's role, she sends Edmu...

• Word Count: 1537
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... 's wildness". [III.i.39] It is presumed that Ophelia is a tool used by Shakespeare to reveal Hamlet's true feelings, and also as a test of the reader's attitude to, and empathy towards him. Hamlet's madness can be reviled as the provenance of Ophelia's death, or pitied as he does confess to having, "loved Ophelia"[V.i.266] at her grave. Hamlet's mad rage causes him to kill Ophelia ... plays a vital role in Hamlet's madness, but makes limited appearance, perhaps, to distance her character from the omnipresent persona of the Queen. Gertrude's appearance in the final scene is unnecessary dr...

• Word Count: 1550
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... never be expressed by mere words. Saying " Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave my heart into my mouth: I love your Majesty according to my bond; no more nor less-, she fails the test. Being honest, she is considered a former daughter by her father. Burgundy refuses to marry her claiming that losing a father has lost her a husband, but France is cleverer, he marries her ... who are around him, but it also causes the misery for itself. The awful end Goneril and Regan met, consulates the reader because the two persons who shock them throughout the play by their wickedness and their hard-hear...

• Word Count: 2724
• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: High School

... not mad, I am in no doubt that he has full control over his mind, although sometimes he takes it too far without thinking ahead of the consequences. In the play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, Hamlet is a character who has had many misfortunes. His father has recently died, and his mother was all too ... with him. His clothes are a mess, and he acts in a way that she finds disturbing. Of course Ophelia runs off and tells Polonius, who believes the cause of his madness is rejected love. "Mad for thy love." (Hamlet, pg. 87). I believe Hamlet planted this on purpose. He knew Ophelia would ...

• Word Count: 1152
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... Time When do you know a work of literature has stood the test of time? When William Shakespeare wrote it. But why are his works so respected and cherished? One of his most famous works, Hamlet, is ... relationships are taboo and not accepted as normal and healthy relationships. Not only the son of the Queen of Denmark but the people as well would be much less accepting of their Queen marrying her brother-in-law only two months after the death of her husband, the King. There would be endless rumors and problems arising from such a relationship ... , so the rest of the government would n...

• Word Count: 1494
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... stand I then, that have a father kill"d . . . and let all sleep . . . the imminent death of twenty thousand men . . for a fantasy and trick of fame . . go to their graves like beds, fight for a plot. (IV.V.55-63) The true test of Hamlet's transcendence into kingship is his arrangement over the death of Rossencrantz and Guildenstern. Hamlet, like a true politician, uses his great mind to save his life, and ... pay back what was given to him. "That on the view and knowing of these contents, without debatement further more or less ... , he should those bearers put to sudden death, not shri...

• Word Count: 2932
• Approx Pages: 12
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... should be deceitful and crafty). Wants to inherit his fathers land instead of his brother. Changes somewhat at end, guilt over the sister's death for him. Gloucester: Earl loyal to king Lear. Parallel to Lear. Gets his eyes gouged out. Blind to the truth about his sons until he is blinded. Tries to kill himself on Dover cliffs. Edgar: Gloucester's oldest, legitimate son ... , "nothing", eyes, age, Madness, betrayal, death Themes: Natural vs. Unnatural (Edmond's birth). Good vs. Evil (Cordelia vs. sisters). Spoken vs. unspoken word. Love. Nature. Appearance vs. reality. Self-knowledge. Ag...

• Word Count: 1209
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... , and whether or not he was accurately insane or was it just feigned madness. Hamlet's life had become distressful after the death of his great father, and the marriage of his mother, Gertrude to his uncle Claudius, and most disappointing situation was where his uncle snatches his passed away ... plans for revenge against his stepfather Claudius, if found guilty. After Hamlet witnessed the appearance of his dead father's ghost and heard what the spirit had to say to him, Hamlet's mission in life was to reveal the truth behind the death of passed away King Hamlet and avenge for it in a cle...

• Word Count: 833
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... of Literature one comes across different types of plays, primarily Comedy's and Tragedy's. Each of these types is marked by highly distinguishing characteristics. As a result, from a thorough analysis of the play Much Ado About Nothing," by William Shakespeare, it can be concluded that it is indeed a Comedy because of its many glaring constituents that associate it with a Comedy. These glaring ... he calls over Don Pedro and Claudio to watch, only to later on accuse Hero of lechery. As a result, another deceitful incident in concocted to bring about Hero redemption. Her death is faked ...

• Word Count: 865
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... , my heart, for I must hold my tongue." (I, ii, 156-159) He is telling us that his mother has married right away and did not mourn for his father's death. He tells us that the marriage between Gertrude and Claudius is not and will not come to any good. He wants to express his true feelings to his mother, but because he feels ... brings out Hamlet's daring character is when he arranges for the players to perform "The Murder of Gonzago" to find out whether or not the King is guilty of his father's murder. He decides to use the play to test the conscience of Claudius and see how he reacts t...

• Word Count: 983
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... boomerangs is an exceptional example of retributive justice. The death of Old Hamlet prior to the beginning of the play provides a motive for Hamlet to avenge his father. Hamlet outwitting the plot of Claudius to have him killed in England shows the intelligence of Hamlet and delights the reader at the unexpected turn of events. The play is well written and the excellent use of figurative language also adds to ... allow people to identify with them. The play is well written and the plot, along with subplots, adds to the popularity of the work. Hamlet is generally a good man who people c...

• Word Count: 994
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... what it was back in Shakespeare's time. For most people, it's the last thing that crosses their minds when they cheat on a test or lie to the people they love. Adolescents especially put little or no thought into the spiritual consequences that come with committing a sin. For example, people have ... brother out of envy. He and Abel both offered a sacrifice to God, and when God rejects Cain's sacrifice, he responds by meeting his brother in the fields and killing him. However, "despite this evil, Cain seems to receive all God's care, and his righteous brother, like Hamlet, seemed to ......

• Word Count: 993
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... the test of time? When William Shakespeare wrote it. But why are his works so respected and cherished? One of his famous works, Hamlet, is still a favorite among actors and occasional readers alike, but why? Why is Shakespeare's work still able to challenge and inspire people four hundred years after it is written? The ... been disturbed by his mother's new love. In act I, scene ii, Hamlet's disgust with his mother's incestuous relationship and pain over his father's death is no more clear then in the lines of his speech, "But two months dead - nay, not so much, not two. / So excellent a ...

• Word Count: 1178
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... see obedience as an absolute. You cannot disobey a president, or king. These attitudes were the same hundreds of years ago. Shakespeare and Machiavelli were both great writers of their times. Their works have passed the test of the years and are still viewed as valuable today. Machiavelli believed that obedience to a ruler was ... only called for when the ruler's interests were in tune with those of the people as well. Shakespeare, on the other hand, had a different view. He ... but dip a knife in it, where it draws blood no cataplasm so rare, collected from all simples that have virtue...

• Word Count: 1196
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... receiving their just rewards. Lear's good daughter Cordelia displays love and goodness. The tragic conclusion is perhaps Shakespeare's greatest tragedy. Typically tragedy shows the downfall of a hero from a happy life to death. The anguish of the hero comes from the imperfect knowledge of us and others. From human character flaws and human error even the innocent are often punished. This is often painful to accept. Human nature ... nature by our appetite for power and self-interest. There are two plots. One where two evil daughters help banishes a good daughter in a love test by King Le...

• Word Count: 555
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... receiving their just rewards. Lear's good daughter Cordelia displays love and goodness. The tragic conclusion is perhaps Shakespeare's greatest tragedy. Typically tragedy shows the downfall of a hero from a happy life to death. The anguish of the hero comes from the imperfect knowledge of ourselves and others. From human character flaws and human error even the innocent are often punished. This is often painful to accept. Human nature ... nature by our appetite for power and self-interest. There are two plots. One where two evil daughters help banish a good daughter in a love test by Ki...

• Word Count: 565
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... are more believable than others". Iago knows this theme very well - for example, when Iago states, " I am not what I am." in the beginning of the play, he already shows how he has managed to found favor among people based on lying and deceit, and not by actually being a true, ... a sense, slowly killing Desdemona. As a woman of high status, a dirty reputation is considered a disgrace to the husband, and in the Elizabethan era, these circumstances are likely to lead to a woman's death. Though the image of a dirty and unfaithful Desdemona is totally untrue, her reputation as a faithful wi...

• Word Count: 1313
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... is too great to bear. It has often been described as a triumph of dramatic lyricism. Because of this, love is the predominant theme throughout the play. Another theme that Shakespeare uses in the play is hatred. The original play revolves around the conflicts between two feuding families, the Capulet's and the Montague's. The themes of death and violence also enter into Romeo and Juliet, and are always connected to ... they first meet. It starts when the Montagues sneak into a Capulet party/ball. where Romeo first sees his true love, Juliet. Romeo has just taken some kind of hallucinoge...

• Word Count: 3331
• Approx Pages: 13
• Grade Level: High School

... of some spell cast by Othello to usurp her love. Iago spins on his web of deceit. Desdemona's love is not true. It is the result of some magic. Twisting reality Iago convinces them and the result is death. The story begins. Branbanzio confronts Othello. " .O thou foul thief, where hast thou stowed my daughter? Dammed as thou art, thou hast enchanted her, for I"ll ... lost. She gave it to Othello with the same magic. Now lost by Desdemona, the fate will be the same in the end. This story of the handkerchief could have been just a test. That he did not believe in the magic it held but inf...

• Word Count: 883
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

" Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power" (Abraham Lincoln). The graceful poetry on the pages of Shakespeare develops the character King John page by page. Shakespeare creates the play King John based on the actual merciless King John that rules England from 1199 until he dies in 1216. To King John, power conquers mercy. He dismisses compassion ... defines King John's warning. Dowden writes, " There a little in the play of King John which strengthens or gladdens the heart. In the tug of selfish power hither and thither, amidst the struggl...

• Word Count: 1269
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School