Conflict in Romeo and Juliet Opening Scenes
The opening scenes of Romeo & Juliet show a lot of conflict both between the opposing families and within each one. Perhaps Shakespeare was influenced for the tragedy by all of the conflict he had personally experienced, such as the death of his son and allegations of having an affair. This play is similar to other Shakespeare classics such as Macbeth; they both contain treachery and death. Shakespeare presents the theme of conflict when servants of the two house holds are eager to fight each other, but do not want to throw the first punch: Abraham: Do you bite your thumb at us, sir? Sampson: No sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but I bite my thumb sir. Here the use of the word sir is ambiguous; while it is potentially a polite greeting, it is more likely to be a sarcastic comment. One might conclude that Sampson biting his thumb, but not at Abraham, is an attempt to provoke the Capulets into starting a "civil brawl" In contrast, Shakespeare shows internal friction within the Capulet household between Juliet and Lady Capulet: Lady Capulet: Marry that marry is the very theme I came to talk of. Tell me daughter Juliet, How stands your disposition to be married? Juliet: It is an honour that I dream not of. Here Lady Capulet is questioning Juliet, asking her if she wants to get married. Lady Capulet would like to marry Juliet off to someone like
The Taming of the Shrew, By William Shakespeare, provides contemplation to various themes described as acceptable at the time in which the play is set.
The Taming of the Shrew, By William Shakespeare, provides contemplation to various themes described as acceptable at the time in which the play is set. Themes such as, the role of a wife in a household and the influence of male/father figures on women, are issues that are raised prominently in the play and are often compared to contemporary values and beliefs today. The motif of domestication and a role of a wife in a household can be portrayed simply by just the title of the play. The word 'taming' refers to that of subduing one's dissatisfying characteristics. Petruchio describes Katherina as an animal such as a 'wild-cat' that must be cultivated. The role of a wife was clearly spoken for Katherina by Petruchio as he deprived her of sleep and food until she was willing to agree with everything he said. She was expected to agree that the sun was the moon or vice versa, whenever he pleased to change his mind, and even convinced her to agree that an old haggard man was a beautiful young lady. PETRUCHIO: I say it is the moon. KATHERINA: I know it is the moon. PETRUCHIO: Nay, you lie. It is the blessèd sun. KATHERINA: Then, God be blessed, it is the blessèd sun. But sun it not, when you say it is not, And the moon changes even as your mind. One of the most important components of the play was the speech made by Katherina about the importance of the roles of a wife to their
A letter from Lady Macbeth to her husband.
My beloved Macbeth, I can barely write as unrighteous tears cloud my eyes and blur my vision. Oh, my love, how I have battledwith my conscience and how my words 'our deeds must not be thought of ' come back to haunt me. Screams in my head paralyse my sleep and torture my wake. I can no longer live for fear of the truth being shared. Ever since I received that fateful letter I began plotting how we could speed our path to power. I should have let fate take its course instead of trying to take fate into my own hands. If I had done that then maybe the smell of Duncan's blood would disappear and perhaps I would not be writing this, my final letter. I remember the time when we were a young happy couple, so much in love, so much to live for. How long ago this all seems now. I wish we could return tothat happiness, but it is all too late. I have ruined everything you worked so hard for. You were a role model to everyone who knew you. Well respected, brave and loyal, you served your country and gained the trust of our king. He rewarded you well and would have rewarded you further, but now I' ve destroyed everything. I am filled with pain and anguish and hopeless despair and all I can offer you is that when I am gone it may relieve some of the guilt I have put upon your soul. I recall being overcome with emotion when you returned to me after the battle and you were given
"Romeo and Juliet are victims of fate", How far do you agree with this statement?
"Romeo and Juliet are victims of fate", How far do you agree with this statement? In Shakespeare there are two types of tragedy, there is the tragedy of fate and forces beyond Romeo and Juliet's control, and there is Greek tragedy, which is that there is a tragic flaw in a character. In Romeo and Juliet there is both, fate brings Romeo and Juliet together but they continue there love at their own free will. Romeo was deeply in love with Rosaline, a beautiful woman. To try and help Romeo, Benvolio takes him to a Capulet party. When Romeo is going to the party he speaks of fate and how he dreamt that there would be bad consequences from this night, "I fear it is too early, for my mind misgivesstf some consequence, yet hanging in the stars", however he still proceeded to the party, believing it will lead to "untimely death". Upon arriving he sees Juliet across a crowded room, they instantly fall in love and upon finding out they are enemies they are too late to stop. After the banquet Romeo breaks into the Capulet mansion to see Juliet again, there meetings are very impulsive and rushed, they are head over heels, star-crossed lovers. They cannot stop what they feel, even though they could as there are many chances for Romeo and Juliet to stop, but they continue regardless of the odds being against them. In he balcony scene, there is a rushed agreement for next day
Discuss how the following stories from the gothic tradition create suspense and which is the more successful?
The short story is an ideal form for writers who want to create a sense of terror or horror. Discuss how the following stories from the gothic tradition create suspense and which is the more successful? The first gothic Novel was written by Horace Walpole and was called 'The Castle of Otrando.' It was written in 1764 and after this gothic literacy exploded and became very popular. The imaginative stories often lacked any real worth but were published world wide to satisfy the public. They were bought by a lot of young women. The excitement and fantasy of the stories added interest to the otherwise boring lives of these Victorian women. The main features of Gothic stories are ruined buildings and graveyards, a foreign setting, a solitary character, a persecuted heroine, mysterious disappearances and supernatural occurrences, insanity, sexuality, pathetic fallacy, exaggerating language, multiple narrators and a use of horror or horror. Stories usually contain quite a few of these but not all of them. These ideas were wild and exotic to the Victorian people. Many had never travelled abroad and insanity was a major fear during these times. Gothic short stories use horror or horror to frighten the audience and keep them reading. Horror and horror are both related to fright but they are different things. Horror is more a build up of fear and usually only hints at alarming things
The story 'Romeo and Juliet' presents' true love in the form of 'Star-crossed lovers' and just as their love is depicted as eternal, the play itself has endured for years.
Romeo and Juliet The story 'Romeo and Juliet' presents' true love in the form of 'Star-crossed lovers' and just as their love is depicted as eternal, the play itself has endured for years. There have been many adaptations of the play in the form of books, films, ballets and plays. Several books have been loosely based on the story, involving young lovers of a different religion or race who are not allowed to be together. These stories are always popular because readers want to find true love. The words 'Romeo and Juliet' automatically conjure up images of true love; also the play gives us many more attitudes to love. Each character has a different personality and viewing of life, so there perceptions of love will be different from everyone else's. When we first meet Romeo in act 1 scene 1 he is talking to his cousin Benvolio. Benvolio asks him why he is feeling so sad. Romeo answers that he is in love but out of favour because Roseline doesn't love him. He then uses oxymoron's such as 'as cold as fire' to show his confusion, depression and sadness towards his love. This shows us that at this time he is wallowing in self-pity because of his loss. When at the party Romeo seems very depressed and doesn't feel up to doing anything because he is still in love with Roseline. But then he sees Juliet dancing in the middle of the room. At this point he forgets all about Roseline and
Why does Iago hate Othello and Cassio?
Why does Iago hate Othello and Cassio? Shakespeare portrays hatred, revenge, jealousy and mutiny in this very first scene by his clever use of vocabulary and imagery. It also has a dramatic impact with the introduction focusing on the character of Iago, and sowing the audience how Iago's character really is. We are made aware of how much Iago hates Othello because of Shakespeare's illustration of Animal Imagery and Racism. All these examples form a picture of loath and antagonism. Iago's hatred towards Othello is apparent when he helps Roderigo attempt to foil Othello's marriage to Desdemona. He goes about this by announcing it to her father, Brabantio, using animal imagery: - "Even now, now, very now, an old black ram Is tupping your white ewe" (Act 1, Scene 1, line 85-86) Roderigo and Iago succeed in bringing it to Brabantio's attention and they decide to set out to destroy the marriage. However Iago does not join them. This is because Iago still wants to pretend his loyalty towards Othello: - "Farewell, for I must leave you. It seems not meet, nor wholesome to my place, To be produced - as, if I stay, I shall - Against the Moor." (Act 1, Scene 1, Line 142-145) Even though Iago shows loyalty to Othello he still plots against him: - "I follow him to serve my turn upon him." (Act 1, Scene 1, Line 40) Shakespeare continues to sow the seeds of hate and jealousy
How is the theme of evil dramatized in Macbeth and what do you think Shakespeare's message to his audience was?
How is the theme of evil dramatized in Macbeth and what do you think Shakespeare's message to his audience was? In Elizabethan times everyone believed in the Natural Order which can also be referred to as The Chain of Being. The Chain of Being is a hierarchy, where God is at the top and the King is second, last are the elements; fire, air, water and earth. If something happened to the king everything under the king's rank would be affected. This stopped people overthrowing the king because they were told bad things would happen to them. We can tell that the Chain of Being was affected in Macbeth because of what some of the characters say in Act 2 Scene 4 after King Duncan has been murdered. "A falcon tow'ring in her pride of her place, Was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed" This shows an image of a mouse hunting an owl and killing it which is the reverse of what happens under normal circumstances. Animals are under the king's rank. The horses also turn to cannibalism, "And Duncan's horses"... "'tis said they eat each other." Treason is the illegal act of overthrowing the government or king. Macbeth manages to overthrow King Duncan, which is treason, and at the end of the play Macbeth gets overthrown by Macduff. Just a few years before Shakespeare wrote Macbeth, Guy Fawkes attempted to overthrow King James I. Treason involves people at lower ranks of the Chain of Being
Why is Act 3 scene 5 lines 64- end of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' so important and what is its dramatic impact on an audience? How should this scene be performed to heighten its dramatic impact?
Ommar Younis 0th June Why is Act 3 scene 5 lines 64- end of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' so important and what is its dramatic impact on an audience? How should this scene be performed to heighten its dramatic impact? 'Romeo and Juliet' was written by William Shakespeare between 1596 and 1598. The play is about the story of two lovers; Romeo and Juliet who fell in love and had to marry in secret because their parents and family were at war with each other; Also, Juliet's father had arranged another marriage with an older man called Paris. The end of the story involves the two lovers killing themselves; Romeo kills himself because he thinks Juliet is dead when she is actually using a potion to make it look that way. And Juliet dies because she kills herself after waking up to see Romeo dead. The death of the two lovers unites the families. Shakespeare explores many themes in the play such as: Love and hate/ friendship, loyalty- Love and hate is one of the main themes in Romeo and Juliet because the play is all about two lovers who are forced to marry in secret because of all the hatred between the families around them. Love is very strong throughout the play, "But be sworn my love and I'll no longer be a Capulet" She would give up her name and identity for her love; this conveys the depth of her love. Hate is also as
Assessing the contribution of the supernatural in
Assessing the contribution of the supernatural in "Macbeth" Macbeth is a play in which moral themes are divided into good and evil. The narrative of the play is simple.There is clearly distinction the images of good and bad. 'Fair is Foul' is both a statement about the weird sisters' moral preferences. Brooding evil is a the major theme in Macbeth and is present throughout the play in both the characters and the events as they present different types of morality. The play maps Macbeth's loss of confidence in the faith in humans as he becomes tempted by the witches evil and he turns towards the supernatural. The play focuses on Macbeth, a tragic hero of noble descent whose gradual descent and downfall is the result of the supernatural. I shall assess this later in the play. In Act One Scene One, the "three wierd sisters" are planning to meet Macbeth. By beginning the play with this scene Shakespeare indicates the importance of the witches in the play and of the supernatural evil that they represent. Generally speaking most plays introduce the main characters first, to set the stage.However in this case the hero Macbeth would normally be introduced but it is the three weird sisters, thereby assigning more importance to them, as is obvious in the play. The reccuring chant "fair is foul, and foul is fair" is used to show us that the three witches can conjure up spells and
