King Lear Act II
English Lit: King Lear * Q: Discuss the presentation of Lear in Act II Scene IV. Explore the ways Lear changes in this scene commenting on his language and actions. Explore what they reveal at this stage in the play. 'I shall go mad' Act II Scene IV welcomes the theme of role reversal and reinforces the evident stripping of power encountered by Lear and the utter mistreatment of Lear which unveil a irrational and vulnerable king from the beginning to the end of the scene. Symbolism is used to impose an ominous idea from the very beginning of the scene as the fool is quick to interject Lear, and exclaims 'Winter's not gone yet, if the wild-geese fly that way'. The fool indicates and rightly so makes the prediction that despite Lear believes he has hit rock bottom and isn't receiving what is owed to him, things will only get worse. And with this, a negative and malevolent scene to come is projected by Shakespeare. Further, Lear is presented as a poor father. The fool also highlights the theme of role reversal when he announces to Lear 'Fathers that wear rags'. Role reversal is envisioned and thrown directly at Lear - how is it that Lear has nothing while his children have complete power and wealth? By 'rags', does Shakespeare suggest Lear's lack of wealth or Lear's lack of love? Lear has quickly been deprived of both as a consequence of his decisions and he is now left a
Hamlet. In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, one of the main themes is the discrepancy between appearance and reality.
In the play 'Hamlet' by William Shakespeare, one of the main themes is the discrepancy between appearance and reality. The development of this theme through the plot, soliloquy and imagery help to reinforce the player's role in the play and directs the audience to where their allegiances should lie for the climax of the play. The theme appearance versus reality is clearly evident throughout this Shakespearean play; it is introduced at the very beginning through Claudius' speech to the court. The structure and rhythm of this blank verse carries him through but the imagery that Shakespeare uses signals to the audience the corruption in Denmark - he uses phrases such as 'defeated joy', 'one auspicious and one drooping eye' and 'wisest sorrow'. These opposing images and hollow phrases reveal the hypocrisy of the diplomat's words; how can a person have 'one auspicious and one drooping eye' unless they are duplicitous? Claudius' opening speech is also eloquent, relaxed and so carefully structured that it appears rehearsed - he deals with three items of business before confronting his black-suited nephew: Old King Hamlet's death; the threat from Fortinbras' army; Laertes' impending departure to France. Shakespeare here signals to the audience that Claudius is uneasier than he appears by leaving his nephew and son-in-law to deal with last. In my opinion, the exposition of
Explore Shakespeare’s Presentation of Caliban; a product of nature or nurture?
Aaron Jackson 12ES English coursework Explore Shakespeare's Presentation of Caliban; a product of nature or nurture? In Shakespeare's "The Tempest " the character of Caliban is portrayed in a puzzling and thought-provoking manner. He is a complex character as at times he displays savage like qualities and at others he displays an appreciation for nature and expresses his love for his habitat using poetic devices. Through Caliban Shakespeare explores the themes of nature and nurture. The question raised is, whether Caliban is the product of inheritance and is innately savage or whether his characteristics are a result of his social environment and the cruelty channelled towards him by the islands newer inhabitants. Within this essay I will be exploring the two opinions, the first one being that Caliban was born bad because of his parents also being bad, and the second being whether he appears bad because he does not fit into the mould of a civilised being which was created by his islands new arrivals. The name Caliban is an anagram of "cannibal" which was often spelt with one "n" in William Shakespeare's day, or it may derive from "Cariban" since Shakespeare would have been familiar with stories regarding savage "Carib Indians". Either way the name's origin would immediately provide the audience of the time with the expectation of baseness. Caliban was born as the son of
Henry V Act 4 Scene 3.
Henry V Act 4 Scene 3 "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers-" One of the many recognisable quotes from Shakespeare, but do we know who said it, why it was said, or the effect that these words had on the listener? They are far more than simply emotive, to be spoken on stage, but part of one of the great shining examples of military patriotism to date. It stirs up honour, courage and excitement in the audience, and makes heroic, one of the most brutal inventions of mankind-War. King Henry the Fifth's speech to his army, before battle, on the fields of Agincourt shows the full extent of Shakespeare's talent for persuasive language. Henry was a man with a mission, he felt called by God to confirm the Plautagenet dynasty on the throne of England, and to unite the thrones of England and France. The speech is used by Henry to rally his troops together, to put to rest their worries, and to assure them that they will be victorious, even though they are all exhausted, cold wet and hungry. He somehow tries to justify the carnage and mass-slaughter that is about to take place and speaks of the ultimate honour of dying in battle. The scene begins when Lord Gloucester asks the other Lord's where the King is and Lord Bedford tells him that he has gone to view the enemy's army. They then talk about how terribly outnumbered they are (30,000 to 7,000) and Lord Westmorland wishes that
Show Romeo's changes throughout the play and how Shakespeare's language is used to show this.
The name Romeo, in popular culture, has become synonymous with "lover". Romeo Montague, in William Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' does indeed experience a love of such purity and passion which drives him to death, when he believes the object of his love, Juliet Capulet, has died. Emotions and changes are conveyed in Romeo's use of language and his gestured. It is the scenes in which Romeo and Juliet are together that I shall study in the following essay to show Romeo's changes and how Shakespeare's language is used to show this. At the beginning of the play, Romeo pines for Rosaline, proclaiming her to be the paragon of all women and despairing at her indifference towards him. Romeo's Rosaline-induced histronics seem rather juvenile. Romeo is a great reader of love poetry and the portrayal of his love for Rosaline suggests he is trying to re-create feelings about which he has read. He is the epitome of the Elizabethan courtly lover who wallows in self-pity. After first kissing Juliet, she tells him "You kiss by th' book" , meaning that he kisses according to the rules, and implying while proficient, his kissing lacks originality. (I.V.107). In reference to Rosaline. It seems Romeo loves by the book. It is love which causes Romeo to change his beliefs and his actions. In Romeo and Juliet, love is at first portrayed as a violent ecstatic overpowering force which
Discuss the role of the witches in Macbeth
Discuss the role of the witches in Macbeth Macbeth is a play written by William Shakespeare some time between 1603 and 1606 and is set in Scotland around 1040. The time it was written coincides with the reign of King James the First of England. King James showed a great interest in witches and powers of the supernatural and Macbeth was arguably written to impress the king in what were violent times. Shakespeare used witches as pivotal characters to create a catalyst for the action that was included in the play. Another reason for him to use witches in this way is that it is an attention grabber and will interest people, at the time Macbeth was written people believed that witches had many powers, they were thought to be able to change form into things like cats, owls and other animals, they were thought to be able to change or influence, and predict the weather and they were also thought to be able to bring disease and misery upon people. It was thought that when witches transformed they became incomplete animals and this is shown when the first witch says "and like a rat without a tail". The witches are introduced into the play immediately and this is a good attention grabber and helps to set the mood of the play. The powers of the witches are shown straight away, we are told of the powers of the witches and how they can change the weather and predict the future. These
By reference to three key scenes, show how Macbeths character changes during the course of the play.
By reference to three key scenes, show how Macbeths character changes during the course of the play: act one scene seven, act three scene four and act five scene three Macbeth is a play about good, evil and the super natural and that any one can become Evil. Macbeth is a good man who due to ambition and power becomes corrupt. He first starts on his trip to corruption when he meets three witches. Historical note king James was fascinated with the supernatural this is why Shakespeare put in witches ghosts and tricks of the mind. Even at right at the beginning they seem to know who Macbeth is and where and when they shall meet him. Right as they leave they say is piece of speech which tells you about them and their point of view. "Fair is foul, and foul is fair," This shows how they think to them justice and goodness is bad and bad things that happen like treason murder and theft to them are good. This is a linguistic inversion, which shows they are evil. The witch's scene at the beginning is fairly short but very important to set the mood. Macbeth is a man who at the beginning is a good man, with loyal friends, who fights for his king, who turns in to someone with ruthless ambition and without a conscience. We know that Macbeth is a good man because of how the captain praises him ("for brave Macbeth-well he deserve that name"). On their war back from the war against
However Macbeth tries to escape the Witch's wicked, but truthful words, he may also have brought his fate upon himself
Macbeth Essay Many issues contrive from whether or not one's fate is in the hands of some higher power, or maybe that one is the creator of his own destiny. William Shakespeare creates a world in which prophecies and predictions lay out one man's life in front of him. Although this man knows these things he however tries to fight his demise by attempting to alter the future. This man is called Macbeth and he learns that he is caught in an inescapable whirlpool drawing him to his death, and it seems he is powerless to stop it. The Witch's are super natural beings who predict the future. They meet with Macbeth and Banquo in Act 1 scene 3 of the play. It is here that Macbeth's life changes, the Witch's greet Macbeth in an odd way. "All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! "All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! "All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be King hereafter. (Quotes from 1:3 46-50, Macbeth) This seems an odd greeting to Macbeth at first however he soon realizes these are true, when he learns of the Thane of Cawdor's death. The Witch's also give Banquo a prediction telling him that his sons will be kings. At first these prophecies intrigue Macbeth, however he knows if he truly wants to become king he must kill the present one. So of course he does and the plot thickens. But what the Witch's tell him seems to come at a price, he then starts on a chain of
How does Zeffirelli portray the characters of Gertrude and Ophelia?
How does Zeffirelli portray the characters of Gertrude and Ophelia? Franco Zeffirelli's 1990 production of Hamlet has Glenn Close and Helena Bonham Carter cast as Queen Gertrude and Ophelia respectively. He has the luxury over a stage production of being able to add scenery, mood and vibrant close up of character to his film. These added advantages allow us to examine the players in a closer, more intimate way and so we can look at the figures of Queen Gertrude and Ophelia with different perspective. Right from the start the audience most definitely depicts Gertrude as the queen and the primary female of the cast, however there is no malice or grim intention portrayed. We open the film feeling sorry for her at her husband's funeral yet the speed of her re-marriage makes us question her morality and quality. The audience is made to question her character by her physical nature both with Claudius and Hamlet, particularly with Hamlet. Their relationship is portrayed as intensely Freudian, from the very beginning with Gertrude constantly touching Hamlet. Zeffirelli dresses Gertrude in a gown with a simple pale design yet trimmed with gold and subtle jewellery and her hair is worn like a regal crown, always perfect and obviously made by attendants. Herein we see her position but unlike other plays her queenly status is not overbearing. Zeffirelli quite obviously dressing
Macbeth Coursework - Act 1 Scene 5
Alice Smyth U5MLC Macbeth Coursework Act 1 Scene 5 Today was the first time I have been scared of myself. I don't know what came over me. I know I was serving the king but too split a man in half it must be wrong. Mustn't it? But enough about that it seems so irrelevant compared too what else happened today! I was walking home with my good friend Banquo when we stumbled across some evils beings. They could see the future or so they believed. (Well I did not believe what they told me until later that day). I will tell you what they said. They said: - I would be thane of Glamis (which I was already) I would be Thane of Cawdor And that I would be king. I know it is very unbelievable but a short while after Angus and Ross came and told me I was going to be Thane of Cawdor. At first I didn't understand as I thought the thane was still alive but it turns out that the thane was killed as he was a traitor. Banquo doesn't seem as bothered as me about the news. Yet the prophecies he got were not as precise. I don't quite understand them. They were: - "Lesser than me (Macbeth), and greater" "Not so happy, yet much happier" "Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none" I thought about it all day its puzzled me how can he be less then me but greater? And if he's not happy yet happier then does that mean I will be sad? He shall get kings though never be king! It puzzles me
