Much Ado About Nothing' revolves around male honour and male friendship and that is what Beatrice attacks 'you dare easier be friends with me, than fight with mine enemy,' challenging male solidarity and introducing ideas about sexual equality

'Much Ado About Nothing' is the most urbane and sardonic, and the least pastoral and romantic of Shakespeare's comedies. He wrote his plays to entertain the Elizabethan audience, and his characters can been seen as representatives of significant social issues of the time. Like most playwrights, Shakespeare reflected in his plays the world he knew. In 'Much Ado About Nothing' it is a patriarchal society, where rank and social status rule supreme and women are in a subordinate position to men, whether fathers or husbands, hence Beatrice's wish 'oh God that I were a man.' Leonato is able to depend on Hero's obedience 'daughter, remember what I told you: if the prince do solicit you in that kind, you know your answer.' This patriarchal world, with its strict code of honour, places repressive moral restraints on its young women, inspite of Beatrice's defiance. The men's persistent jokes about cuckolds and faithless wives make abundantly clear the fear of women's sexuality beneath ribaldry. Messina is a male-dominated society. In Elizabethan times, the idea of male honour depended on male friendship as well as family, class and reputation amongst fellow men. Unlike a woman, a man could defend his honour, and that of his family too, by fighting in a battle or duel, which was not an option open to women, a fact Beatrice describes when she says 'I cannot be a man with wishing,

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Loneliness is a big theme in Of Mice and Men, George and Lennie are set apart from Slim, Crooks and Candy. They have something unique a special bond with each other.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck By Drew Jones Relationships are essential in everybody's life. Having no real friends makes life dull, dark and lonely. Loneliness is a big theme in Of Mice and Men, George and Lennie are set apart from Slim, Crooks and Candy. They have something unique a special bond with each other. Each character influences, plays a role to the other characters. Steinbeck's portrayal of the men's relationship seems minimal, but is in fact monumental. The setting of Mice and Men takes place on a ranch where George and Lennie meet Slim, Candy, Crooks, Carlson, Curly and Curly's wife. Although the story takes place over a three-day span, all the characters make a relationship with one another. One relationship is between George, Candy and Lennie. Candy a lonely man, is pressured into having his dog shot he confides in George about his regret. In return, George tells them of their dream. Now they have a bond, and share a goal that is within grasp. Candy is a true friend he helps during a crisis in a minute you come out and tell the guys about her, and I'll come along and make like I never seen her. Will you do that? So the guys won't think I was in on it? (104). Slim is the wise rational person. He is quick thinker during trivial and difficult situations. Slim and George build a friendship of trust, George tells Slim

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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In Act One, Scene One the character of Iago is swiftly established in a number of ways, to give us the full impression of what sort of a character he is.

In Act One, Scene One the character of Iago is swiftly established in a number of ways, to give us the full impression of what sort of a character he is. In his early conversations Roderigo, Iago makes it clear to him that he only follows 'The Moor' (Othello) to suit his purposes; to the audience, it shows us that he is a selfish, scheming character. I think Shakespeare gives us a full picture of what sort of a character Iago is, so that we are aware of what he is capable of in the future. Iago uses clever tactics to provoke people, for example, when he tells Brabantio that his daughter has married Othello, he exaggerates, claiming that Othello and Desdemona are having sex, 'tupping the beast with two backs,' this suggests to us that he is impetant, and as a way to satisfy his sexual pleasures he thinks of sex images. 'I am not what I am,' these words are the central part of the play, the character of Iago proves this many times in the play through his actions, and interactions with other characters. The character of Iago can be described as a villain, because he feels no guilt, over the things he does. When he is in Othello's presence Iago is very polite and loyal to him, whilst behind his back refers to him in racist terms such as 'thick lips' and 'the devil' The character of Iago is able to manipulate people's thoughts and feelings so much as to make them hate other

  • Word count: 1636
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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How does Shakespeare build and create tension in Act 3, scene 1 to make it an interesting and important scene?

"Romeo and Juliet" GCSE Coursework How does Shakespeare build and create tension in Act 3, scene 1 to make it an interesting and important scene? "Romeo and Juliet" is a well-known romantic tragedy, written by the playwright William Shakespeare. Until Act 3 there is no real sign of tragedy, it appears simply to be a pleasant story of the romance between Romeo and Juliet, with family feuds going on in the background. There are other characters, though, for the fighting, such as Mercutio, the Prince's cousin and Romeo's best friend, and Juliet's cousin Tybalt. Act 2 finishes with a marriage, one which should have ended the hatred between the houses of Montague and Capulet. The story could have ended here, and all would have ended happily. Yet, in Act 3 the story has a terrible twist. Within minutes both Mercutio and Tybalt are slain, the former by the latter, and Tybalt by Romeo's own hand. On the same day that he marries Juliet, he murders her cousin and is exiled from Verona. Act 3 begins with Mercutio and Benvolio talking. Benvolio, with his foresight and desire to keep the peace, asks to "retire", for "the day is hot" and there are "Capels" about. This setting itself conveys the unease in the air, an almost pathetic fallacy whereby we see the heat of the day reflecting the boiling temperament of Mercutio. Benvolio can see that "the mad blood" of his fellows, especially

  • Word count: 2125
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Malcolm refers to Macbeth as ‘The Butcher.’ To what extent do you agree with this description of him?

Jodie Booth 10P Malcolm refers to Macbeth as 'The Butcher.' To what extent do you agree with this description of him? In the play 'Macbeth' we are told that Macbeth is a 'butcher'. There is numerous references which agree with this throughout the play. There are, however, references proving that Macbeth is not all as butcher like as we are first led to believe. Many people may agree fully with this description, whereas others may have a different view on Macbeth's character. Here we will explore two different images of Macbeth to build a conclusion based on references from the play. From looking at 'Macbeth' we know that Macbeth kills without thinking. We can relate this to a butcher slaughtering his animals. Neither man thinks about the killing, as it is a way of their life. We have evidence that he kills without thinking; "The very firstlings of my heart shall be the firstlings of my hand" From this we are told that Macbeth also regrets not killing Macduff an is making a decision for his future after learning from the past. This evidence proves that Macbeth is a tyrant. He says that next time he will do whatever he feels and not think. We are also told that there are to be more killings. As a result of Macbeth's killings, many people are becoming wary of him. At the opening of 'Macbeth' we think of Macbeth as brave and victorious after he defeated the rebellion of the

  • Word count: 930
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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The Scottish Play ‘Macbeth’

THE SCOTTISH PLAY 'MACBETH' Many people in Shakespeare's time believed in witches. People thought witches were evil and many feared them dreadfully. During that period people were incredibly superstitious. They thought witches worked with the devil. People thought witches could do things such as fly and make themselves invisible. They also thought that witches did wicked things such as curse people, give them nightmares and cause storms that destroyed crops. A witch in Shakespeare's time was described as old, crooked and ugly. They had a lot of odd pets and most occasionally they had a black cat which they used for disguises. The play shows how witches always seemed to appear in thunder and lightening, this is associated with evil and spooky things that take place, which suggest that the witches in the play are evil. Witches were always liable for accidents, misfortunes and disasters of all kinds. This play was first performed to James I when he was king of England. He was terrified of witches, he believed that some witches had raised a storm to try to drown him when he was at sea. The witches also made a wax image of him to make him frail and die. James I then got the parliament to pass a law that would kill all witches. Hundred and thousands of women were tortured and executed because they were accused of witchcraft. The Gunpowder Plot The gunpowder plot of 1605

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Both the Speckled Band and lamb to the slaughter are identified as murder mysteries compare the two stories and say how each one works as a murder mystery. Which one do you find more effective and why?

Speckled Band Both the Speckled Band and lamb to the slaughter are identified as murder mysteries compare the two stories and say how each one works as a murder mystery. Which one you find it more effective and why? Sir Arthur Connon Doyle is the author of ' the Speckled Band' it is one of the books from the Sherlock Holmes series and the one I'm going to investigate. The story is read in a second person point of view it is read by Dr Watson who is also Holmes sidekick. Both Holmes and Watson a very clever. Holmes is younger than Watson but Holmes plays the lead role of two men. Holmes doesn't solve cases for the money; he will only do cases that intrigue him. It's a bit like a hobby to him. The 'Speckled Band' is written in speech of the time the Speckled Band was written. They use phrases and words like been knocked up by Watson in the morning, 'and in admiring the rapid deductions' and 'what did you gather from this allusion to the band a Speckled Band'. The language of that time seemed to be much more formal and much less slang was used. Holmes and Watson speaks very typically English and posh. Using a language like this gives the book the atmosphere of that time. In lamb to the slaughter the use present-day modern language so automatically get the impression that is written in present day modern and now. At first you think of a couple as an average normal family but

  • Word count: 1045
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Discuss the Dramatic Significanceof Act 3, Scene 1.

'Romeo and Juliet' is one of the most famous love stories ever written. This scene is the turning point, as it affects many things later on in the play. I will be, in my essay explaining the dramatic effects of language, themes, characters and their actions, historical and social context, dramatic devices and finally audience response in Act 3 Scene 1. This play isn't an original idea, Shakespeare actually took this from Arthur Brook's poem, it was originally called 'Romeus and Juliet' written in 1562. Shakespeare cleverly rewrote the poem and made it much more of a success than Brooke's poem, because Brooks poem was extremely dull. Shakespeare was a genius, and made it powerfully vivid. The Elizabethans used descriptive language instead of technology, as they did not have sufficient technology to do this. Fate was used in everyday life, and most Elizabethans, believed in it. To start Act 3 Scene 1, Mercutio and Benvolio are walking in the middle of the day. The mood is tense, and it draws the audience in, as they want to know what is going to happen. Benvolio tells Mercutio that they should go back to the Montague house, to avoid meeting any Capulet's, as it is the time of the day most Italians have a rest due to it being the hottest time of the day, and if the were to meet anyone, they would be aggravated. This is where repetition comes into play. Repetition is where

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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How love is presented in Romeo and Juliet

How love is presented in "Romeo and Juliet" Ingredients: Mother x2 hate Father x2 Jealousy Child x2 intrigue Nurse deceit Cousin x2 unrequited love Best friend Passion and lust Prince "husband" Take the two families and add the two cousins Stir in the Nurse and a Best friend. Add the Prince and the soon to be hopeful husband. Mix in some hate and jealousy, and a dash of intrigue and deceit Add a large quantity of unrequited love. Mix all together adding passion and lust. Allow this to simmer until it resembles a romantic love story that ends in tragedy. There you have the recipe of love that is William Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'. Their tale will take you through a Roller coaster of emotions and it all started with a kiss. 'Romeo and Juliet' is famous for being a play about love. The love in the play is not just about the love between 'Romeo and Juliet' nor is it all about romance. Just about everyone in the play has a view on love and this comes across very strongly. Mercutio jokes about love a lot, this may be because he is scared to be in love. Mercutio treats love as a game; he thinks that if you are hurt by love you should hurt somebody else. Mercutio also relates love to sex and he thinks of it as a dirty sexual game. "If love be rough with you, be rough with

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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What 30 years have done to Mercutio & Tybalt?

What 30 years have done to Mercutio & Tybalt In Baz Luhrmann's 'Romeo and Juliet' the opening fight scene starts off with a shot of some yob like people listening to heavy music. You can tell that think they are above the rest by the way they are all messing around in the car. These are the Montagues They pull up at a petrol station nearly running over one of the garage workers and Benvolio Goes inside the building. As he walks into the building you see the Capulet car pull up very smoothly. You can tell which car is which because it says on the number plate. Now the camera angle is from the bottom of the car door. When it opens you see a leg come out of the door with smart black trousers on and black leather boots with a metal heal. A cigar drops to the floor and he treads it out, all of this is introducing you to the smart smooth style of the Capulets. Still only looking at the lower part of this mans leg he goes into the garage, as he does some nuns exit the garage. The punk like Montagues are rude to the nuns as they drive off by licking their nipples etc. As they are so involved in this they do not notice that some Capulets have pulled up and as they see them there facial expressions change dramatically to one of fear and they become very panicky. The Montague in the car shows his holstered gun and says "quarrel I will back thee". The Capulet smoothly shows his gun and

  • Word count: 2418
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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