The Outsider (Of Mice and Men)
The Outsider Of Mice and Men is a classic novel written by one of the world's most illustrious writers, John Steinbeck. John Steinbeck wrote a naturalistic novel which dealt with many powerful and universal themes including the value of dreams and goals, friendship and also "outsiders", which means individuals who do not fit into the mainstream of society. The novel also illustrates the significance of moral responsibility, the veracity of social injustice and also solitude. His novel "Of Mice and Men" is a story taking place around the 1930s during the Great Depression in California where the New York Wall Street stock market collapsed, and the rate of unemployment was very high. The great depression affected everyone, including both the rich and poor, industrial workers, farmers and so on. This novel however, portrays the life of two farmers, George Milton and Lennie Small. The themes of the novel are important because they depict human life in a remarkable and comprehensible way relating to the dreams and constant struggles faced in life. All the characters played in the novel "Of Mice and Men" are lonesome, living an empty life everyday consisting of mainly hard labor. The characters all live a very disheartening life, with the lack of happiness, love and affection in their lives. This can be seen also when George mentions that 'ranch workers are the loneliest people
How does Shakespeare create tension in Act 3 scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet
Shakespeare: How does Shakespeare create tension in Act 3 scene 1 of 'Romeo and Juliet' Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' is a love story about a boy (Romeo) and a girl (Juliet), that fall in love even though they are forbidden because of their two families years of hatred to one another, and their journey through the highs and lows, which unfortunately ends in their deaths because they cannot be together. There are three main themes that run throughout the whole play, one of them is fate, which was strongly believed in at Shakespeare's time and is shown by Romeo when he kills Tybalt which then means he has changed the paths of his life. Another is violence vs. peace and is shown by how the conflict between the two families is set against the life of Romeo and Juliet. Love vs. hate is another theme which is shown by the two children of enemy households fall in love, but are forced to keep is a secret. In Elizabethan times, the ideas of fate, family honour -which is shown by the two families fighting for the family name- and love at first sight were strongly believed in and put into the play for the reason that the audience can then relate to the characters, however for a modern day audience this would seem far-fetched and unlikely. Shakespeare and the Elizabethan's also were strong believers of superstitions, curses and the idea that the natural world can influence your
Shylock - villian or victim?
Shylock has been very badly treated by certain Christians and he yearns for revenge. He goes too far when he seeks the life of his main persecutor, but he is essentially, an intelligent, dignified man who can no longer bear to be humiliated. Long before Shylock plotted against him, Antonio seemed to take a pride in spurning Shylock, treating him in public with rudeness and contempt. This type of behaviour appears to contradict with the rest of his character. You would imagine that such a man would instinctively shrink from insulting anybody so grossly, but Antonio seems proud of it and tells Shylock that he will probably abuse him again, 'spit on him again and spurn him, too'. In 'The Merchant of Venice', Shakespeare does not treat Shylock as simply evil for evil's sake. He makes him human. Shylock has good reason to resent Antonio. He says: 'You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog, and spit upon my Jewish gabardine, and all for use of that which is mine own,' When Shylock shows a seeming kindness to Antonio he takes it as a sign that 'The Hebrew will turn Christian: he grows kind'. Kindness in a Jew is beyond Antonio's conception. Christians alienate Shylock simply because he is a Jew. In ancient, medieval, and Renaissance times, Jews almost always encountered prejudice from non-Jews around them. Scholars are divided on whether Shakespeare, in The Merchant of
Iago and Cassio
Comparison of Cassio and Iago In Shakespeare's Othello, the characters Iago (Othello's ensign) and Cassio (Othello's friend and lieutenant) are contrasted in many different ways. The most crucial and significant difference between Iago and Cassio is their attitudes. This contrast is shown mainly in the language that they use. Cassio is a good-natured gentleman, and he uses gracious and refined language. The audience gets this impression immediately in Act 2 Scene 1. Cassio states, "Tempests themselves, high seas, and howling winds, as having sense of beauty, do omit their mortal natures, letting safe go by the divine Desdemona". In this quotation, Cassio is talking about Desdemona as if she is a goddess, or saintly, because of the use of the word "divine", which suggests perfection. He then, later on in the scene states, "O, behold, the riches of the shop come on shore!" When he says "the riches of the ship", he is referring to Desdemona. This shows that he is a gentleman because he is complimenting Desdemona, and saying that she is the most important person the ship (the treasure of the ship). Iago, on the contrary, is the absolute opposite of Michael Cassio. He is a misogynist who uses a lot of crude and vulgar language. Every word which Iago speaks about women devours their value. In Act 2 Scene 1, he states, "Come on, come on; you are pictures out of doors, bells in
Why Act 3, Scene 3 is a significant turning point in Othello
Act Three, Scene Three - Othello Choose a scene which you consider to be a turning point and explain in detail and with some reference to the rest of the play why it is dramatic and significant. Refer to language, themes and characterisation. A turning point is a time in a plot where actions cause a character to develop from their prior persona. A classic example of this is Act Three, Scene Three of Shakespeare's 'Othello'. This scene is crucial to the play, as it conveys the change in the moor, Othello's personality as a result of Iago's manipulation. In this essay I will describe this scene's dramatic nature and significance with reference to language, themes and characterisation. I will begin by describing Othello before Iago had interfered with his relationship. I will then give an overview of the structure and state why it is effective. I shall explore the key moments in manipulation and discuss how a climax is created. In conclusion, I shall relate the scene to the rest of the play, whilst discussing why it is dramatic with reference to the main themes portrayed, and its overall significance. Othello is a man of many complexities. Having being cast into a world of civilised Venetians, he is seen as an outsider; a 'black ram', 'The Moor'. His ethnicity is foreign to the people, and so it can be seen in his simple dialect. Yet, referred to as "noble Othello",
The final hour. There was rampant and piercing gunfire opened by the enemy; there was a forceful flow of lethal bullets.
The final hour The night was dark; I could barely see shadows moving through the trees. I chose a thick thorny bush, to entwine, in the pursuit to escape. It was a tryst between faith and me, who would survive. The thorny bush, the dried leaves and the entire battlefield was in the clutches of fire. This was a scene from hell. The relentless flames had ended not only peace and tranquility, but also the lives of many. It had changed the destiny of the generations to come. They would have had to live with the history of the time, where mankind had committed the most heinous crime. I shut my eyes, to detach myself from the massacre. I could not reach out to them, neither could they to me. Animals, we all were, savage and without ethics. Yet a tear rolled down, for my friends, but in joy, for they were free now, free from this hell. There was rampant and piercing gunfire opened by the enemy; there was a forceful flow of lethal bullets. The gunpowder smelt fresh out of a factory, and reeked of danger. The bullets were ripping through the air and were difficult to dodge. One bullet brushed past my shoulder sending a shiver down my spine, blood rushing down to my toes. Death was nearer than ever; I knew I would breathe my last. My palms were sweaty despite the cold; I could feel numbness all over. I bit my lip to awaken my senses. Was it just a few hours back that I was in my
Explain how important Juliet's isolation is in the development of the plot in Romeo and Juliet
Explain how important Juliet's isolation is in the development of the plot in Romeo and Juliet I feel that Juliet's isolation in Romeo and Juliet is one of the most important things that leads the play to end in tragedy. Throughout Romeo and Juliet, Juliet always seems to be alone and in her own world, "she'll not come down tonight". Juliet is quite young, with no one of her own age around. We also find out she is an only child, "my child, my only life," hence she would not have any siblings to talk to. If Juliet had some friends then she would have been able to compare situations with them and share her feelings instead of keeping them cooped up inside of her. I f she was able to talk to someone about her feelings she may not have fallen in love with Romeo so easily as she would not have been alone, so the play may not have ended so disastrously and Juliet could have met another man while out with her friends and someone who is a Capulet and not the her family's greatest enemy! As a result of Juliet's isolation she is blissfully ignorant of the ways of the world making her quite vulnerable to all she is put through during the play. However, as Romeo and Juliet develops and Juliet becomes the wife of Romeo, she quickly matures into a new person who can think for herself and survive alone. She openly defies the Nurse and her parents. She screams at the Nurse, "[g]o
Write about the role and character of Portia in the play.
Write about the role and character of Portia in the play. Beautiful, wealthy and quick-witted, Portia embodies the virtues that are classic of Shakespeare's heroines-it is not a surprise that she emerges to be the antidote to Shylock's malice. However, in Act I Scene 2, when we first see Portia, we do not see her potential for resourcefulness and initiative, as she is portrayed as a victim, bound helplessly by the will of her dead father to marry the man who correctly chooses between a gold, silver and lead casket. This opening appearance, however, proves to be quite a revealing introduction to Portia, who appears to be that rarest of combinations-a free spirit who abides rigidly by rules. Rather than ignoring the stipulations of her father's will, she watches a stream of suitors pass her by, happy to see some particular suitors go, but sad that she has no choice in the matter. 'I may neither choose who I would, nor refuse who I dislike' (Act 1 scene 2) However, like all interesting characters, Portia does have a dark side. She goes on to give a witty account of each of these suitors to Nerissa, showing the bigoted Elizabethan attitude towards foreigners. This can be shown in Act 1 scene 2 when Portia first talks of the Prince of Morocco, describing him as having 'the complexion of a devil'. Her descriptions of her suitors show Portia to be witty and quick-thinking, but
What dramatic techniques are used in Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’.
What dramatic techniques are used in Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' uses a variety of techniques and devices to convey aspects of the play to its readers. These being the setting, conversations, the use of characters as vehicles and entrances and exits. Setting the scene may give the reader a certain 'feel' for the play, by putting them in the right mood in order for them to have the best perception of the play as possible. Conversations between characters can supply the readers with information about certain other characters or future events that come in the plot, they may even give away some of the story. Conversations between characters can also supply readers with information about other characters before they even come across them in the play. Vehicles are characters that move the plot or story forward by providing information. Entrances and exits work similarly with setting the scene; they bring, or leave behind a particular ambience to the scene. Examples of setting the scene within Act 1 are where Scene 1 starts with "A desolate place". This conveys to readers that at that moment in the play, the characters are in a gloomy and foul place. This can indicate that something unpleasant is going to happen. The conversation between the witches in Scene 1 mentions Macbeth, but they say nothing else about him. They conversation connotes to readers that
How far can the audience sympathise with Lady Macbeth?
Macbeth Coursework In the play we see that Lady Macbeth is a multifaceted character - at times she behaves in a way which would make us see her as a "fiend-like monster"; however later in the play we begin to see her as a "Lady of remorse." Lady Macbeth first appears in the play in Act 1 Scene 5 when she has just received Macbeth's letter and is reading it. She does not doubt the veracity of the witches' prophecies. Immediately we begin to see her own scheming ambition, "Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be what thou art promised" - her only concern was that her husband would not be able to act in such a way so as to fulfil the prophecy "Yet I do fear thy nature; It is too full of the milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way." She understands Macbeth's nature very well, and knows that she will have to use her own influence and power over him to compel him to act, "Hie thee hither, that I may pour my spirits in thine ear and chastise with the valour of my tongue all that impedes thee." She is hopes that she will be able to bring him to her point of view "pour my spirits in thine ear" and that she will be able to convince him that murdering Duncan is the right course of action to take, and overcome his good, kind nature, "and chastise with the valour of my tongue all that impedes thee." At that time, the 16th century, it was widely accepted and believed that
