... be killed without justification in their respective plays. Ophelia's only crime was that of love for Hamlet, and Cordelia's lone wrongdoing was that of loyalty to her father. These circumstances classify Ophelia and Cordelia as not only innocent victims, but stock characters as well. The parallels continue as they ... We must understand thedevotion with which the Earl of Kent serves King Lear? (Andrew. Vol 2. Pg 63.), and also the loyalty that Horatio has for Hamlet. Loyalty is one of the most important characteristics of this specific type of stock character. Horatio and Kent are extrem...

• Word Count: 1288
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• Grade Level: High School

... Macbeth, informing her about the witches" prophecies on the possibility of Kingship. A variety of well-known topics are explored, including the revelation of the true traits of characters such as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. "Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be What thou art promised; yet do I fear ... terms such as "golden round" and "what thou art promised". This choice of using euphemisms can be interpreted to further show Lady Macbeth's true character. The fact that she is ashamed of what she is planning suggests a negligible quantity of humanity that may provide as one of the ...

• Word Count: 12917
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• Grade Level: High School

... that was written by what may be thought to be one of the world's greatest writers, today shows themes such as love, hate, betrayal, justice, and loyalty. Lear himself is the main character in this play. The story is set upon his decisions, whether or not they were for the better is determined throughout ... dignity to speak her mind, and not be tricked into buying her love from her father. Cordelia is the only one who has enough heart to speek her true thoughts: "Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave my heart into my mouth. I love you Majesty according to my bond; nor more nor less" (I,i,92 ....

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... Juliet,William Shakespeare creates convincing portraits of young people by emphazising their rashness and impulsiveness,their love of merriment, and their strong bonds of loyalty. William Shakespeare emaphazises the qualities of rashness and impulsiveness several times. He commonly uses Tybalt. Tybalt saw Sampson and other Montagues, upon ... Thus that is their love of merriment. Lastly Shakespear reveals their strong bonds of loyalt among the friends and lovers. He shows their loyalty and faithfullness to each other. An example of this is Paris.At Juliet's tomb Paris is bringing her flo...

• Word Count: 727
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• Grade Level: High School

... with reference to the play. The play "Macbeth" was written by William Shakespeare in the Jacobean era. Judging by the plays themes of Scottish monarchy, loyalty to the crown and witchcraft, and it's extensive use of real names and people James I was descended from, "Macbeth- was in part written to ... despite their wicked crimes. This does suggest that there is evil in Lady Macbeth, though not total evil, because she still strives to seem innocent. True evil would not care. As the play moves on to act 1, scene 7, Lady Macbeth again shows the audience the worse sides of her character. ....

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• Grade Level: High School

... is also a major theme in corruption. Macbeth is shown as a very noble gentleman and says a lot to gain the trust of the king, Duncan. Macbeth says: The service and the loyalty I owe/ In doing it, pays itself. Your highness' part/ Is to receive our duties; and our duties/ Are to your throne and state children and/ Servants, Which do but what ... they should, by doing every thing/ Safe toward your love and honor. (1.4.2-29) Throughout the play Macbeth becomes more independent. Consequently, Lady Macbeth begins to show her true vulnerable nature. Lady Macbeth tries to persuade herself and ...

• Word Count: 1801
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... raise Juliet's statue in gold at the very end, knowing that Romeo had preferred to die rather then live without her, makes Montague's intentions true. Furthermore the love between Romeo and his family is so strong that, on realising that her son was exiled, Lady Montague died of grief. ... Juliet is generally obedient and willing to her parents"decisions ("Than your consent gives strength to make it fly."), however after she meets Romeo and discovers true love, her attitude changes entirely. Supporting Romeo even when Tybalt, her cousin, is slain by him. She quotes, "O Tybalt, Tybalt, th...

• Word Count: 1251
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• Grade Level: High School

... preference for the natural over the conventional child is clearly as mistaken as his earlier tendency to accept conventional professions of love over his true daughter's natural feelings. Like Lear's two auditors at this moment, Edgar and Gloucester, we know how misguided the king's praise of ... Lear's jaundiced view of women as all "centaurs" is immediately contradicted by Cordelia's appearance in the next scene. Lear's reunion and reconciliation with his true daughter is one of the most beautiful and moving scenes Shakespeare ever wrote. Act 4, scene 7 provides the dreamlike answer t...

• Word Count: 8939
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• Grade Level: High School

... hard. His mother questions his grief he answers in a defensive manner "seems madam? Nay it is; I know not seems". His grief is real and true, not an act. The soliloquies reveal a lot about Hamlet they contain all the major themes, including death, suicide, suffering, action and the emptiness of existence ... It is later commented on by Ophelia that neither her father nor Hamlet's were properly mourned, "which bewept to the grave did not go with true-love showers". His revulsion is so intense he thinks of suicide. Hamlet comes across as a very emotional and unstable character. He is clear...

• Word Count: 2065
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• Grade Level: High School

... outside Athens. Fairies can be seen playing pranks on lovesick mortals, earnest youths enduring comical romantic confusion, and lovers finding understanding to the true meaning of love. Shakespeare uses the genuine admiration present between the Duke and Queen in contrast to the false attractions of the other characters ... . Serving as an example, Theseus and Hippolyta embody a relationship that remains true. Although they found love on the battlefield, the couple manages to overcome hardship, and is to be married soon. "Four happy days bring ... woman is in need of little convincing an...

• Word Count: 716
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... of a soliloquy is to outline the innermost thoughts of a certain character at a point in the play. These thoughts deal with the true feelings of a character and give insight into what a character is thinking about and how their mind works. It emphasizes the difference ... appearance in contrast to their inner thoughts and desires. There are many instances throughout the play that the external appearance of things appears to be true when in reality it is the opposite. The actions others expect to see from Hamlet are constantly postponed through questioning, while he tries to ... and cont...

• Word Count: 1397
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... , when thou shalt hear"(I.v.7). He says that if Hamlet ever loved his father, he will "Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder" (I.v.25). Hamlet "swears" his duty to prove his loyalty and love. He tells the Ghost to tell the story of the murder, and the revenge will follow: "Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift / As meditation or ... he was performing his called act. He falls into deeper agitation when his schoolmates, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, pay an unexpected visit. Here he tries to outwit them with determining their true reason of appearing. Thus creating another ob...

• Word Count: 1975
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• Grade Level: High School

... insistent that Duncan be murdered. This statement is further supported by Macbeth's actions immediately preceding Duncan's murder when Macbeth recounts the reasons why he should not murder Duncan, describing his loyalty and appreciation for the king. Lady Macbeth bluntly states that Duncan must be murdered and tells Macbeth that the murder is a test of his manhood, leaving Macbeth no choice but ... witches, or was it an inevitable fate that Macbeth could not change? The witches predictions all turned out to be factual leading Macbeth to believe that these prophecies were indeed true. Ho...

• Word Count: 979
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... . Besides, the Duncan Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been So clear in his great office-(Shakespeare, I, vii, 13-18) Macbeth was clearly a man of great honour. He had loyalty to his King, love for his family, and a good sense of morality. All these reasons in Macbeth's mind proved him to be fully conscience and righteous. He was not a mad ... chamber. After she found him, her short breathed questions showed signs of fright and tension as if something might have went wrong with their agreement. Her outlook was in fact true. The reason behind the early departure was because Macbeth'...

• Word Count: 1493
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• Grade Level: High School

... know of their future? Perhaps they were trying to plant an idea in Macbeth's head that would later lead to certain calamity. After Macbeth discovers the witches' first prediction came true, he begins to aspire to realize the next prediction of becoming king. Already, because of the women, Macbeth begins to entertain the idea of such power. Macbeth later informs his ... audience. The audience could understand the evil that the witches represented. Lady Macbeth, however, conjures up an image of royalty, loyalty and goodness. In order to help us overcome our initial opinion of Lady Macbeth...

• Word Count: 1235
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• Grade Level: High School

... , we learn that Claudius murdered Hamlet's father - and then remarried his mother far too quickly. For Hamlet, and for the audience, his mother's behavior is coldly disconcerting; she shows no loyalty to her dead husband, and far too much base desire in her decision to remarry so quickly. Even more significant to Shakespeare's overall treatment of women is Ophelia, Hamlet's love ... is metaphorically doomed - but Hamlet is unaware of the damage she will cause. When Hamlet goes to his mother's chamber and kills Polonius, Ophelia's father, by accident, Shakespeare reveals Ophelia's true ch...

• Word Count: 2278
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... that determines the fate of every single character in Othello. The audience and the readers are the only people who recognize Iago's full characteristics because Iago's soliloquys, which reveal his true image, are only shown to the audience. Due to his "good" reputation, which established him as an honest person, Iago is in a position where manipulating people is easy, since his ... 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, honest person (Shakespeare 1.1.71). Iago...

• Word Count: 1313
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• Grade Level: High School

... all the more entertaining. Othello is one such play in which the social status of the main character Othello, the confidence of his wife Desdemona, and the wisdom and fierce loyalty of her lady in waiting Emelia all contradict the stereotypes of the Jacobean era. Othello is a black man in a position of significant social status, Desdemona is a confident and assertive woman ... instruct us so. The accuracy of her statement is particularly valid as she is married to a man who is extremely dishonest. It is arguable that Emelia does not ever become a true representation of the dominant ster...

• Word Count: 1558
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... more often used to described women. Furthermore, it has advantage over the female eye in that it does not "roll", as if with madness or unfaithfulness. Temperateness and loyalty are two idyllic features in a lover, and it is in this gentle perfection as superior version of a woman that the subject finds his power-the power to "steal men ... areas of gender roles-questions which the speaker grapples with in coming to terms with homosexual feelings, as evidenced by the resignation in the poem following the volta. However, the true heart of the poem lies in the curiosity of its meter, whic...

• Word Count: 1124
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... , who employs Othello's handkerchief as the 'ocular proof' of her infidelity. The irony in 'Heaven doth truly know you are false as hell' conveys how Desdemona's 'heavenly true' innocence ultimately suffers under Othello's misplaced trust in Iago. Through examining the consequences of Iago's deception upon the innocent, Shakespeare highlights how duplicity undermines innocence. In Othello, Shakespeare demonstrates how ... in the chain. Othello's eloquent, poetic language as he claims 'my parts, my title and my perfect soul shall manifest me rightly' establishes him as...

• Word Count: 1031
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Graduate

... , where she states a wife's obligation to her husband. "Whilst thou liest warm at home, secure and safe, and craves no other tribute at thy hands but love, fair looks, and true obedience and when she is froward, peevish, sullen and sour, and not obedient to his honest will, what is she but a foul contending rebel and graceless traitor to her loving ... offers her subservience. The speech carries the message in the play's view of marital harmony, in which husbands provide peace, security and comfort to their wives, who, in return provide loyalty and obedience. Implicitly, messages regardi...

• Word Count: 1366
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... shown through action is later proven in her conquest to restore order in Britain and sacrifices the French army to put the power back into Lear's hands. This act is a true sign of how much she loves her father and it speaks louder than words. Unlike Cordelia, her sisters are unfaithful to their husbands and try to fool one another. The ... be in strong contrast to such an idea. It is believed among the majority of the western societies that a woman may solely rule a society as well as a man. In addition, loyalty must be shown to both husband and father. A woman must be subservient to th...

• Word Count: 1028
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• Grade Level: High School

... wrong. Othello tells her peremptorily "Get you to bed on th'instant" and Desdemona exclaims to Emilia "we must not now displease him." The submissive actions of Desdemona show her loyalty and obedience, which further highlights the view of women as tamed. Othello's control over Desdemona emphasizes her role as an angel in the play. Shakespeare uses Desdemona to illustrate the ... is submissive to no one in the play. Shakespeare uses Emilia to show that women cannot be classified as just good wives or strumpets. Emilia's nonconformist acts are a sign of true feminism in Shakespeare. Emil...

• Word Count: 616
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... Angelo because he makes himself the judge of public morality. Angelo gains instant power because the Duke transfers his power over to Angelo so that he could test his servants" loyalty. Angelo believes that he can purify and reform society by punishing every natural and comparatively harmless transgression as a capital crime. The play show's how a good man like Angelo will not ... . Angelo reinstates an old law that will help stop the youth of Vienna from having pre-marital sex. Claudio explains to Lucio his crime. "Thus stands it with me: upon a true contract I got possession of Juliett...

• Word Count: 1657
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School