Exploring the reasons behind the enduring popularity of Sherlock Holmes.
Exploring the reasons behind the enduring popularity of Sherlock Holmes At the time the Sherlock Holmes stories were written there was a large influx of crime, which was becoming uncontrollable, as the small police force did not have enough resources or men to cope with the sudden increase in crime. This started a new popularity in detective crime stories throughout London and Britain. The stories often involve a sense of the weaknesses of the police. In different stories, we see many police all working on the same crime as Holmes and yet none seem to get anywhere near as close to an answer as Sherlock does. In "The Man with the Twisted Lip" we see instances of Holmes showing greater intelligence than the police. Inspector Bradstreet says to Holmes, "I wish I knew how to reach your results". This shows us that even the police, the people that the public are meant to have faith in are astounded at Holmes' intelligence. His mind is one of incredible thinking and he impresses everyone who has heard of his crime solving feats. We often see certain stereotypes being used, as in The Twisted Lip the villain has a scarred lip. This is stereotypical as villains usually do have some sort of distinctive feature. In The Man With The Twisted Lip Watson uses two important words when describing Sherlock: "definite" and "mastery". These give an insight into his character and
Discuss the impact Shakespeare is trying to achieve in Act 2 scene 3 of ‘Macbeth’, and explain how you would present this scene on stage.
Discuss the impact Shakespeare is trying to achieve in Act 2 scene 3 of 'Macbeth', and explain how you would present this scene on stage. I intend to set the play inside Macbeth's home. I think Shakespeare is trying to create the impact of how Macbeth is feeling to the people, to show his emotions and how he is trying to cover up the fact that he did the murder, but not doing it very well. I think I will do a modern version of this scene, having dramatic music from the time of the murder right throughout the scene, to show the intensity of the scene to the audience. Also from watching the newest version of Macbeth, I liked the way they had made the scene and I think I would follow along those lines in some way. The scene begins early in the morning, where there is a knocking at the door. The porter has a long speech, which is meant to be funny and give a break to the audience from all the action and misery. Often these sorts of people tell jokes, the porter, especially 'knock knock' jokes as they have done in this scene. Once the porter has opened the door Macduff and Lennox enters the scene; they are here to wake the king. Macbeth enters shortly after, and the tension begins here. While Macbeth is talking to Macduff and Lennox he keeps to short sentences but that changes soon after they find the King dead. When Macduff goes into the Kings chambers Lennox and Macbeth talk
Analyse the importance of Mercutio's role in 'Romeo and Juliet'. Comment on: his character, his actions and the language used.
Samantha Brown Analyse the importance of Mercutio's role in 'Romeo and Juliet'. Comment on: his character, his actions and the language used. In Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', each character plays a specific role. Mercutio, is essential to the play he is the 'Prince's kinsman', but more importantly, he is Romeo's best friend and confidant .Although Mercutio is Romeo's closest friend he is very jealous of Romeo when Romeo is with other people. Mercutio brings humour and wit to the play which engages the audience. Mercutio is a typical young man of that period in the way that he is an honourable aristocrat, very independent and is free but on the other hand he isn't because he speaks badly about women and often refers to them as being fruit 'poperin pear'. The audience love the character Mercutio because he is humorous and often uses wordplay which interests the audience. Another reason is because Mercutio's character stands out from the rest and he is always living his life on the edge and always looking for something new and exciting to do and he is constantly playing on words, using two or more meanings. There are two main reasons Mercutio's character is important to 'Romeo and Juliet'. First of all, Mercutio convinces Romeo to attend the feast at the Capulet's house, where he met Juliet. Romeo was very reluctant to go to the feast and even expressed a feeling that he
The different aspects of love in Romeo and Juliet
. Romeo and Juliet The different aspects of Love Romeo and Juliet was written for an Elizabethan audience in the late 16th century. Romeo and Juliet is a play about the different kinds of love yet there was a lot of cruelty and violence in the play with the problems and pleasures of friends and family. It is a tragedy play and only through their deaths can the conflict and enmity of the families be resolved. This shows how destiny and fate can change even the best of intentions within a short amount of time (five days). However, a critic of the play on the internet stated that Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare was not a love story as he felt a love story happened over a long period of time unlike five days in Romeo and Juliet and he also believed that the play was based more on violence. He said "You do not fall in love with someone and get married in a few days, it was not love it was lust." He also stated that "over half of the play is based on killing and was related to violence in some way or another." But there is no doubt that in the play different aspects of love namely courtly/petrachan, sexual, dutiful and true love are displayed. There is a element of sexual love at the start of the play as Sampson and Gregory banter regarding women and how they are only made to give pleasure to males like themselves. Sampson states " I will push Montague's men from the
Malachi Constant/Unk raped a young woman and murdered his best friend. Why does the reader feel sympathy for him instead of anger?
Malachi Constant/Unk raped a young woman and murdered his best friend. Why does the reader feel sympathy for him instead of anger? In 'The Sirens of Titan' there are many places where the reader would feel anger towards Malachi Constant/Unk if it is read out of context. However there are also many occasions where the reader feels sympathy and forgives Malachi/Unk. This is helped by Winston Niles Rumfoord who knows everything and Winston's wife, Beatrice, who is another main character. Malachi Constant was born rich and had everything he wanted but the reader finds out after few chapters that he had not had a happy family life. His mother was a whore and he only ever met his father once in his life. "You said you had a very unhappy childhood and made everyone listen to how unhappy it was." In this quote the language is simple and repetitive. This is perhaps to show the annoyance this character has for Constant. It also makes the reader feel less sympathetic here though because he was moaning and complaining which is not a good attribute in people. This might be so that later on the reader can see how they judged him unfairly so that when there is less proof of something bad happening to him they are more easily forgiving of him. This brings out the readers sympathy because the reader realises this is what leads to his financial ruin and bankruptcy because he gets drunk
Whether Shylock is seen as the villain or the victim of 'The Merchant of Venice' depends on point of view.
Whether Shylock is seen as the villain or the victim of 'The Merchant of Venice' depends on point of view. I think that there is scope for his character being interpreted either way, varying with viewpoint, sympathies, and personal translation of the character. A major difference in viewpoint is between two relevant audiences - Shakespeare's contemporary audience, and the modern-day audience. Shakespearean audiences would be more likely to take the play at its face value, and judge Shylock accordingly. At that time, plays had a relatively simple set out and construction. Most plays had an obvious 'villain' and this is the role that Shylock would fulfil for them, and nothing more. Modern audiences read more into plays, and deeper into characters, and Shylock can no longer be looked on as a straightforward villain. The modern audience is more sympathetic to Shylock, and there is quite a lot to sympathise with. Shakespearean audiences were more than likely extremely anti-Semitic and so from the very beginning of the play Shylock is hated because of his religion. Anti-Semitism was very common at the time, with plays such as 'The Jew of Malta' being very popular, so 'villainous Jew' was the common opinion. Nowadays, religion is not such a narrow-minded issue, and audiences are more able to judge Shylock free from racial prejudice, considering Shylock as a possible victim in the
To what extent are Shakespeares plays a product of the Elizabethan theatrical context in which they were first performed?
English language and literature coursework: "To what extent are Shakespeare's plays a product of the Elizabethan theatrical context in which they were first performed?" Little is known about the personal life of one of, if not the greatest playwrights of all time, William Shakespeare. What we do know is that his works were and still are very popular. The popularity and success of Shakespeare's plays to this day has been due to his jaw dropping story lines, realistic raunchiness and tremendous tragedy. Throughout his plays, the themes of love, jealousy, romance and revenge are put across. In plays such as Othello and Hamlet, the main themes are jealousy and love, which contributes to why audiences are still so intrigued and involved in the story lines to this day. Shakespeare's theatres differ a great deal from those of today, for example they had very little money for props and scenery and short running times. Nowadays, millions can be spent on scenery and props and plays can last up to 30 years. Theatres such as the Globe would have had many trials to conquer, for example: the noise, the hustle and bustle and distractions from the audience. In Shakespeare's time, all sorts of people would have gone to the theatre, from prostitutes to thieves and drunks to homeless people. Because of the cramped conditions, lack of seating in the yard and types of people that were
How successful is Stevenson in appealing to his Target Audience in the first 6 chapters of Treasure Island?
Mitchel Follett How successful is Stevenson in appealing to his Target Audience in the first 6 chapters of Treasure Island? Stevenson originally wrote the book for his stepson Samuel Lloyd Osbourne on a holiday in Braemar in 1881. This means the book was intended to be read by teenage boys, although there are many characters so age does not matter too much. However he made the map of Treasure Island before he even began to write the book. In part 1 there is only one female character though (Jims' mum) which means the target audience of the book is males. Whilst writing the book Stevenson realised he could market it and eventually the book was published in the 'Young folks' magazine, this supports the theory that the book was intended for teens. The subject of the book is pirates and treasure which will interest and appeal to teenage boys. Stevenson uses a Pseudonym to subliminally suggest that he himself was a seafaring man - Captain George North and was familiar with the Sea this would appeal to children as they may believe the book is more authentic. Another way of appealing to
Lady Macbeth is the real driving force behind the murder of Duncan. Do you agree?"
Macbeth Assignment "Lady Macbeth is the real driving force behind the murder of Duncan. Do you agree?" Although in this play it is true that Macbeth murders Duncan and he willingly states, "I have done the deed" to his wife after the murder I believe that he is not completely to blame for this act. I believe that the witches are originally to blame. Without the witches casting the spell to influence the murder or even just giving Macbeth the idea of becoming King through these means, the murder plot would not have been thought up and the actual murder would not have been carried out. Macbeth could also be to blame by believing and trusting the witches' prophecy. When the prophecy is told, Banquo does not believe what is said, he says to Macbeth "Why do you start and seem to fear things that do sound so fair..." Also the fact that Macbeth wrote the letter to his wife telling her of the encounter with the witches and what they told him could make him partially to blame. By reading the play we realise that Macbeth would not actually murder someone by choice but he would kill as many people as he felt like on the battlefield. We find him first as a brave and respected soldier, but as the play progresses, he becomes a treacherous villain. Lady Macbeth is brought into the play in act 1, scene 5 reading the letter Macbeth has sent her. When she reads this, her evil is
Essay on the role fate in the deaths of Romeo & Juliet.
Essay on the role fate in the deaths of Romeo & Juliet. Fate has a big role in Romeo and Juliet. "Romeo and Juliet" was written in 1596 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. It is considered to be one of the world's greatest love stories. At the time of Shakespeare most people strongly believed in fate and thought it controlled one's life. In the beginning of the play, Shakespeare tells us of the tragic end of Romeo and Juliet. This is the most obvious use of fate. Romeo and Juliet are" star-crossed lovers" and "death-marked lovers" the sense of fate fits into the play, not only for the audience. Romeo and Juliet are also very much aware of it and they have no control over it. Before Romeo enters the party at the Capulet's house he speaks about an unknown danger "Some consequence yet hanging in the stars shall bitterly begin this fearful date." Friar warns Romeo of, what kind of person he is. He tells Romeo that if people who act impulsively often have some negative and destructive consequences, which follow their way of acting. Juliet also tells Romeo of her vision. "As one dead in the bottom of the tomb. Either my eyesight fails or thou look'st
