In Shakespeare's time women were generally thought of as inferior to men. In "Twelfth night" does the playwright suggest that he may not accept this idea and how does he show the audience this?
Twelfth Night In Shakespeare's time women were generally thought of as inferior to men. In "Twelfth night" does the playwright suggest that he may not accept this idea and how does he show the audience this? When Shakespeare wrote the play Twelfth Night in about 1602, women were generally thought of inferior to men meaning they were lower class. Shakespeare does no accept this idea. He shows this when he was asked by Queen Elizabeth 1 to write a play with love and comedy, the two main characters are very strong women and the male characters are very weak. Olivia is rich, noble and very emotional and very strong in character. In act 1 scene 2 we learn that Olivia's brother and father have recently passed away, Olivia has a very strong love for her brother because of this she made some extreme vows: she will not show her face at ample view, "but like a cloistress she will veiled walk". She will cry in her room everyday, she loved her brother so much that she was willing to keep his memory alive by mourning for seven years, this shows the very strong character she held, as this was an almost impossible task. Women were thought of as inferior at the time the play was written. Women were ruled by the men of the household, but because Olivia's father and brother have died she has no-one to rule her life, this shows her strength as she has taken advantage of this, by ruling her
I watched two versions of Romeo and Juliet, A man called Franco Zeffirelli made one of the films in 1968 and it was set in Italy. And the other film was made in 1999 this film was set in America
Romeo and Juliet Comparing and Contrasting Act 3 Scene 1 I watched two versions of Romeo and Juliet, A man called Franco Zeffirelli made one of the films in 1968 and it was set in Italy. And the other film was made in 1999 this film was set in America. The stars in the Zeffirelli version were Leonard Whiting and the stars of the Luhrmann version starred Leonardo Dicaprio and Claire Danes. In the Zeffirelli version the actors wore jerkins and pantaloons and in the Luhrmann version they wore shirts and trousers. This shows me that the Zeffirelli version was set a long time ago and the Luhrmann version was meant to be a more modern. In the Luhrmann version at the beginning they showed a newspaper called 'Ancient Goudge' It showed the Montague building and it showed the Capulet building. This shows that they were angry about each other because of each of their businesses doing better than the other. And in the Zeffirelli version they were angry at each other for no reason, probably about something they argued about a long time ago. In the Zeffirelli version the opening was set in a market square but in the Luhrmann version the opening was set in a petrol station. The reason the films have different openings is because in the olden times they did not have any petrol stations. And the Luhrmann version has a petrol station is because he is trying to use more modern scenes.
Critical Essay - Merchant of Venice
The Merchant Of Venice In the "Merchant of Venice" by William Shakespeare, Shylock the Jewish moneylender is portrayed as a villain, motivated only by revenge and is generally seen as a bitter, lonely, old man. In my essay I intend to show that, while the above may be true, Shylock had been driven to this state by years of prejudice and abuse. In the play, Bassanio needs to borrow money from his merchant friend and the title character, Antonio, in order to woo Portia, a wealthy heiress. Antonio however, does not have the money as all his funds are tied up in ships and trade goods. Antonio decides to borrow the money for Bassanio from the Jewish moneylender, Shylock, who makes no qualms of the animosity between Antonio and himself. The money is borrowed under the terms that if Antonio is unable to repay the money within three months then Shylock may take a pound of Antonio's flesh. Following the reported disappearances of all of Antonio's ships, the bond goes unpaid and Shylock takes him to court. In court Shylock is determined to have his bond as revenge for the abuse he has suffered at Antonio's hands and refuses to show mercy. Portia, who Bassanio had successfully wooed, arrives disguised as a lawyer and manages to find a series of loopholes in the bond which leaves Shylock set to lose all his possessions and his life. The Duke of Venice spares his life and lets
Othello Act 3 Scene 3
Othello Act 3 Scene 3 This Shakespearean play is a moving tragedy that should never have happened. Had Othello not been insecure in his marriage due to his colour and age and his extreme trusting in Iago, this tragedy would not have happened. Othello is a black, valiant and respected general who I would describe as a very dignified and eloquent gentleman with a beautiful description of speech. Iago on the other hand is a very bitter, jealous man who sets out for the title of lieutenant and stops at nothing to get his wish. He is a racist man who is deliberate in his malicious actions, although knows full well that it is wrong. He has many edges to his complex character, which is shown in scene 3 act 3. Iago plays on Othello's insecurities, which makes it very easy for Iago to place doubts in Othello's mind about Desdemona faithfulness with Cassio. He starts by questioning why Cassio leaves the company of Desdemona on seeing Othello approach making it look suspicious Iago asks Othello "Did Michael Cassio ....... Know of your love" (3,3,93) I felt that this was his first attack at planting doubts in Othello's mind. By answering Othello's questions with a question just irritates Othello as he doesn't get to the point of what he is thinking. The question of Cassio's honesty gets questioned with Iago's deliberate speech "men should be what they seem" which is meant to
It is believed that the Tempest reflects one of the themes of Shakespeare time: colonisation. Shakespeare uses Caliban to symbolise
"Ban' ban' Ca-Caliban, has a new master, get a new man. Freedom, high-day..." To what extent does this quote contribute to the themes of the play as a whole and what is its significance. It is believed that the Tempest reflects one of the themes of Shakespeare time: colonisation. Shakespeare uses Caliban to symbolise the earlier inhabitants of the island. Caliban is a brutish creature; this is also mirrored in its name. Caliban sounds similar to cannibal. As Prospero and his daughter are stranded on the island, they first treat Caliban kindly, and for this he offers them help and teaches them how to use the island and its characteristics of nature. Prospero also puts the spirits into slavery, like Ariel. Ariel and Caliban can be compared with one another. They both are slaves to prospero, and work for him, threatened if they do not do the work like he says, and it is possible to argue about that they are two aspects of one character. Ariel represents the air and Caliban the earth. Caliban can be seen as the evil monster, and Ariel the angel. If combined they would both make a whole personality, with its pros and cons. Prospero puts Caliban into slavery, for actually following his instinct: to reproduce. Caliban does not have the same moral understanding as Prospero, and does not have the same social aspects of life as Miranda and Prospero do. This is similar how earlier
To what extent do you share the view that "although he never appears on stage, the Wingfields' absent father is the most important character in the play?"
The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee Williams Semester 1 Examination Corrections Question: To what extent do you share the view that "although he never appears on stage, the Wingfields' absent father is the most important character in the play?" Mr. Wingfield plays a relatively prominent throughout the play. His decision to leave the Wingfield household has left lasting effects on the rest of his family. This has helped in establishing certain themes and issues in the play. The mentioning of his character in almost every scene throughout the play suggests its role in the action of the play. However, I would not agree to the view that he is the most important character in the play. Williams's stage directions explaining the details of the setting of the Wingfield apartment states 'a blown-up photograph of the father hangs on the wall of the living room'. The size of the photograph described as 'blown-up' here indicates its prominence throughout the play. Since most of the action of the play happens in the living room, it would be difficult for both the characters in the play and the audience to overlook the size of the photograph of a 'very handsome young man in a doughboy's First World War cap.' Williams gives specific details of the photograph, 'gallantly smiling, ineluctably smiling, as if to say "I will be smiling forever"', highlighting its expression as a mocking one.
Compare Antony and Brutus speech. Which is more effective and why? Give evidence to support your answer.
Compare Antony and Brutus' speech. Which is more effective and why? Give evidence to support your answer. In this essay I will show how Antony's speech in Julius Caesar is more effective than his rival Brutus. Antony's speech was more affective as he was more emotional than Brutus. Antony was able to sway the crowd to his side, by being deceitful about how he really felt of Brutus. Many times in his speech he said "Brutus is an honorable man," however, I feel that he being disingenuous. It tells me that he was being deceitful to the crowd by lying to them. This is not a strategy that Brutus employs. From this we can tell that he was more cunning and clever than Brutus. In many ways he was cleverer than Brutus, as he respected the crowd more by coming down to their level to speak to them. Unlike Brutus who spoke to the crowd in an authoritative manner by towering over them. Brutus uses four rhetorical questions in his speech, however in my opinion they don't really help him. For as long as the crowd is fickle they will continue to change their minds on who to support despite his rhetoric. Brutus uses the phrase "who is here so vile that will not love his country?" To promote feeling of patriotism in the crowd. Brutus also uses phrases like "Had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves than that Caesar were dead and live all free men." This quotation shows how Brutus
How Does Priestley Build Up Dramatic Tension in Act 1 Of An Inspector Calls?
How Does Priestley Build Up Dramatic Tension in Act 1 Of An Inspector Calls? Throughout the play, "An Inspector Calls" Priestley's main objective is to have the Inspector interrogate the Birlings and in doing this increase the tension of the play. Tension is created when two forces act against each other like an antagonistic pair and it creates a feeling of tightness or strain. To do this, Priestley uses a range of dramatic devices. In order to show the development of the tension, Priestley's key dramatic devices will be discussed. Prior to the play, Priestley heightens the tension by including stage directions in the script. Stage directions are how Priestley wanted the play to be set as it would be the best way of increasing the tension. Priestley writes: "The lighting should be pink an intimate until the Inspector arrives, and then it should be brighter and harder." This shows how the lighting will portray a comfortable and warm atmosphere and then when the Inspector arrives, the lights will change, startling the audience. This could be used to show the Inspector as a God-like figure covered in bright light or it could also be the Inspector focussing on the family, like a spotlight. Priestley's use of scenery can amplify the tension. In Priestley's stage directions he mentions how the scenery should be set in Act 1. He indicates: "The dining room of a fairly
Notes on Mercutio. Romeo and Juliet
. Mercutio is a class clown. He will mock Romeo's views on love and do anything to make people laugh. Think of him as a Benvolio without a filter for his words. If you take a look at the Queen Mab speech in act one scene four, he is mocking Romeo's dream by saying a little fairy is responsible for dreams and that they don't mean anything. He is a word master as well. He is the source of many puns in the play and is not afaid to use them. Romeo remarks to the nurse that Mercutio "A gentleman, nurse, that loves to hear himself talk; and will speak more in a minute than he will stand to in a month" (act II, scene iv, 140-42). With a personality like this, it no wonder that his friends thought he was acting as he realized the seriousness of his wound from the fight in act three scene one. As he is dying, he uses another pun. He tells the group that if they "ask for me to-morrow, and you shall find me a grave man" (act III, scene i, 96-97). He needs to have the last word to point out to us the fact that it is the feud between the Montague and Capulet that have killed him. Mercutio is often considered a comic foil. (A foil is a character who by strong contract underscores or enhances the distinctive qualities of another character.) To his friend Romeo, Mercutio commands attention when he speaks, but comes across as likable during his witty and light-hearted banter with Romeo;
Exploration of the presentation of the inspector in An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley
Exploration of the presentation of the inspector in 'An Inspector Calls' by J.B. Priestley The play of 'An Inspector Calls', written by J.B. Priestley, is set in 1912-before the two World Wars of 1914-1918 and 1939-1945, but was actually first performed in 1946 (just after the Second World War ended). This means that the audience knew what would happen in the future, but the characters didn't (more in paragraph 2). The title of the play 'An Inspector Calls' reveals that the inspector is an important character in the story, the one who starts all the drama etc. The plot revolves around the events of one evening in Spring 1912 when the Inspector calls to question the Birling family about a 'potential suicide'. Before the Inspector arrives at the Birlings' house, the mood is ............. and ................ The Birlings have just had a good dinner, and celebrating the engagement of Sheila Birling (Arthur Birling's daughter) and Gerald Croft, the son of the .................. of high ........... business corporation company Crofts Limited. The Birlings are a high-class, prosperous, family and Mr Birling (a hard-headed business man', a rich business man who thinks very highly of himself), who is the head of Birling and Company, is pleased at the business opportunity in the engagement of Sheila to Gerald. In a speech he announces at the dinner table, he speaks mainly to
