Patriarchy or Matriarchy: Who Has the Real Power in Shakespeare's King Lear?
Patriarchy or Matriarchy: Who Has the Real Power in Shakespeare's King Lear? Robert Di Lorenzo Mr. Naccarato ENG 3U1-02 5 November 2004 Robert Di Lorenzo Mr. Naccarato ENG 3U1-02 5 November 2004 Patriarchy or Matriarchy: Who Has the Real Power in Shakespeare's King Lear? Throughout recorded history, men are seen as the ones with fundamental power; they are the ones that possess leadership qualities and management capabilities. Men are ruthless, barbaric, cold-blooded and merciless, thus making them the individuals sitting a top the executive chain, the figures making the influential decisions, and the people in the important world leading roles. The world has yet to see a system of government dominated by women. On the contrary, it is said that a loyal husband will not purchase a vehicle without consent from his wife, though the wife may not know a thing about cars. On the familial level, the women are the individuals with the power, influencing the husband and children's decisions. The women are those who control the conventional lives of society. So who has the real power: men who control the organization, or women who control mainstream, everyday life? In King Lear, through the representation of Cordelia, Regan, and Goneril, Shakespeare expresses that the females are the ones with the ultimate power and it is matriarchy that runs the world; gender roles
'El medico de su honra is best considered as a play to be read, rather than performed.' Discuss.
'El medico de su honra is best considered as a play to be read, rather than performed.' Discuss. With the recent revival of Golden Age plays as performance texts, there has been much debate about whether these plays are richer as reading texts or performance texts. The two different mediums through which to show the author's art give the audience or reader completely different experiences. Calderón's El médico de su honra is no exception. As a play to be read it has clear advantages and disadvantages. The complexity of the plot and inherent contradictions of Calderón's play allow the reader a depth of analysis that the audience cannot access. These contradictions occur chiefly in the portrayal of the play's protagonist, el médico de su honra, Gutierre. Gutierre could be seen as a tragic hero, much like Othello. The tragic hero, built on Greek and Roman epic models has a fatal flaw which inevitably fashions the chain of events leading to final tragedy. Calderón gives Gutierre the flaw of his pride in terms of honour, displayed in the way that society traps and silences him. Gutierre cannot say what he wants to in the play; when he mentions 'celos' in a moment of emotional weakness he immediately wants the words back 'celos, celos dije'. Gutierre's way is 'sentir y callar', in one way showing noble control over his emotions. He is also a victim of higher powers in
As I tell about genocide, I have the opportunity to redeem myself. What role does guilt play in the survivors lives.
As I tell about genocide, I have the opportunity to redeem myself. What role does guilt play in the survivors lives. The Khmer Rouge oppressed the people physically and politically, but it was the colonization of their minds, that was their greatest evil triumph. In times of civil war, Loung shows us that even the youngest and most innocent internalise the guilt for the wrongs done by those much older and much more powerful. Those who should own the guilt successfully transfer it to their victims through the imposition of such dire need that conventional morality in rendered impotent. Loung has previously internalised her parents conventional values and she continues to assess behaviours by these outdated mores. Throughout this memoir, Loung conveys to us the layers of guilt that emerge from surviving a traumatic event and their eternal effect on the survivors lives. The lengths which Loung take to survive parallel the principles extolled by the Angkar, emanating an intense guilt. The food shortage in Cambodia and the fluctuating rations results in an intense hunger. This hunger dictates Loung's actions to such an extent that she steals rice from her family and later, from an old lady at the infirmary. Through Loungs' childish perspective, these actions implicate herself as a factor in other peoples sufferings. As she steals rice from the old woman Loung believes she has
Examine the ways in which Shakespeare presents different ideas relating to the Elizabethan/ Jacobean world picture in King Lear.
Examine the ways in which Shakespeare presents different ideas relating to the Elizabethan/ Jacobean world picture in King Lear. During the Elizabethan/Jacobean period, ideas such as the Divine Right of Kings, the nature of order and hierarchy and the idea of the microcosm and the macrocosm were all seen as "common sense". This ideology can be directly translated within King Lear because it is clear that these Elizabethan/Jacobean themes and beliefs run throughout the play in a number of different ways. One motif that is particularly prevalent in King Lear is the notion of kingship and the theory of the Divine Right of Kings. The Divine Right of Kings was a theory that argued that certain kings ruled because they were chosen to do so by God and that these kings were accountable to no person other than God. Shakespeare shows these beliefs in King Lear because, despite the fact that Lear has disturbed the 'natural order' of things by giving up all of his land and in effect renounced his status as King, he still expects to be treated like a King by his daughters and subjects alike. Lear shows this belief when Oswald responds to his question of "Who am I, sir" with "'My lady's father', my lord's knave". Lear is so outraged by this seemingly disrespectful answer that he strikes Oswald, thus illustrating the fact that despite giving up his kingdom, Lear remains proud and believes
Examine the similarities and differences in the ways Shakespeare presents Juliet and Romeo.
Engl 111, Past Masters, 2007 Assignment 2: Essay Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet Question One: Examine the similarities and differences in the ways Shakespeare presents Juliet and Romeo. Due Date: 21/05/07 Extension Granted by Tatjana to 25/05/07 Charlotte French 300075543 Word Count: 1423 Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is a tragedy about love. But, more specifically it is a tragedy about young love. Shakespeare presents both he characters of Juliet and Romeo as being particularly young and youthful. But he gives each of them different characteristics that form this picture. These characteristics are often contrasting, but all build up the picture that emphasises the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet: that the love they experience is so short-lived, and they die so early in their lives. Juliet has an undoubtable youthful innocence about her. She is only just coming towards the verge of woman-hood. In many ways she is still a child at the outset of the play. At the beginning of the play her father, Capulet, asserts this to Paris her potential suitor, saying: "My child is yet a stranger in the world, / She hath not yet seen the change of fourteen years;" (1.2.8-9). When Lady Capulet enters with the intention of expressing her desire to see Juliet marry Paris, Nurse reminisces of some sweet thing Juliet did as a small three-year-old child, emphasising that not much
Othello's curse of distrust (Act I & II).
Gabriela Martinez English 1B/ Mr. Dave Borror Othello's curse of distrust (Act I & II) This is a story about a love between a black man (Othello) and a white woman ( Desdemona). These two lovers marry and try to maintain their love for each other at all costs. This includes loving each other albeit without the father's (Brabantio) approval. This love turns sour because of the carefully choreographed vengeance that Iago had in store for Othello. This disdain comes into play when Othello chooses Cassio as the 2nd in chain of command over Iago. Othello is a strong and skilled warrior in the art of war. He is admired for his courage yet he is so naive when it comes to matters of the heart. Othello is so easily manipulated by Iago's conniving ways. Iago manipulates everyone he must, in order to get whatever he wants. He's deceitful, cunning and thinks only of himself. Iago is a two-faced individual that pretends to be loyal to Othello while his treacherous actions prove otherwise. As this drama unfolds, Iago uses Roderigo for his money and in the attack on Cassio. Later we find that Roderigo does not come through that ordeal alive. Either the characters in this story can be seen as being on a borderline of naivety or Iago is the worst monster imaginable. I think that it is a mixture of both. Othello, Cassio, Roderigo and Brabantio unknowingly and unwillingly
What is the importance of Friar Lawrence in this novel? -- Romeo and Juliet
"What is the importance of Friar Lawrence in this novel?" Friar Lawrence was one of the most important characters in the novel. Even though he was not on the stage for most of the play he greatly contributed to the tragedy that would soon happen at the end of the play. There was basically three major parts that lead to the death of Romeo and Juliet, which Friar Lawrence was involved in all of them. Friar Lawrence played a vital role in the marriage, planning and death of Romeo and Juliet. His attempts to do the right thing were noble, but because of poor planning they would soon lead to the inevitable tragedy. Friar Laurance marries Romeo and Juliet even though he believes that the marriage will end up in tragedy. However he marries them in hope that it will end the continuous feuding between the two families. When Romeo asks Friar Laurance to marry him with Juliet the Friar doesn't think that his love is true. "O, she knew well/Thy love did read by rote and could not spell." (Act 2, Scene 3, 87-88). As was his love for Rosaline, the Friar believes that his love for Juliet will not last. Even though he thinks that the marriage is flawed he agrees to marry them in his own self interest of ending the feuding. "Come, come with me, and we will make/short work;/For, by you leaves, you shall not stay alone/Till Holy Church incorporate two in one." (Act 2, scene 6, 34-27). This is
To What Extent Is El Médico de su Honra principally a Play about Honour?
To What Extent Is El Médico de su Honra principally a Play about Honour? The Code of Honour was an unwritten set of rules referring to social behaviour, which was the regulator in all social groups. The King, as the head of society, governed the code of honour. Wilson claims that due to the social basis of the code, the thought one had to keep in mind was that it was 'not so much to be, as to be seen to be' that mattered. This is supported by Menéndez Pidal who exclaimed 'Mas aunque la honra se gana con actos propios, depende de actos ajenos, de la estimación y fama que otorgan los demás.' Honour is a principal theme in El Médico de su Honra and to demonstrate this, one need only look at the many examples featured in the play. The first breach of the honour code occurs before the start of the play, when Don Arias visits his wife to be at Leonor's house. Although it was a completely innocent act, on seeing Arias leaving Leonor's house at night, Gutierre felt that his honour had been damaged and so broke off the engagement. There is doubt as to Leonor's honour after this incident, and she spends the play fighting to regain her honour; 'ya que es imposible que yo cobre, / pues se casó, mi honor' (667-8). The King, Leonor and Gutierre are all very honest characters, guided by moral principles, which follow the code of honour. The integrity of them would be total, if they
What effects do the woods and the city have on love in A Midsummer Night's Dream?
"Love and reason keep little company nowadays" Bottom. What effects do the woods and the city have on love in A Midsummer Night's Dream? A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of the wonderful works of playwright William Shakespeare. In its extraordinary flow of events many facts and concepts become apparent. The play can be said to be based on a romantic love theme with a drop of comedy as to give extra pleasure to the audience. However, there are many more to the play and more critically, there are smaller steps taken to form the actual object of the plot. To examine that is what I intend to do in this essay. The play is set in two completely different places which sometimes, through compromise, do appear to be similar, they are; The city (Athens) and the Woods. It is in these two places I shall base my essay on, comparing how they affect the four lovers in their affairs, with its un-evolved law and its contaminated opinion or supernatural being meddling with the activities of human life. Love can be a complicated thing as quoted from the speech of Lysander (one whom was beloved of Hermia and loved her back) "Never did the course of true love run smooth", but in absolute contrast love can be as easy as ABC, "Love and reason keep little company nowadays" Bottom. And as we all know, humans are not beings of super intellect, so in the presence of events occurring with such
Shakespeare's "Othello", the third scene of Act Three is the most suspenseful. Through elements such as pace of action, dialogue and stage directions, Shakespeare manages to create a scene laced with tension and conflict.
In order for a play to progress at a steady rate, yet still be capable of maintaining an audience's attention, it must have at least one climactic scene or episode. In William Shakespeare's "Othello", the third scene of Act Three is the most suspenseful. Through elements such as pace of action, dialogue and stage directions, Shakespeare manages to create a scene laced with tension and conflict. All of Shakespeare's plays divide into three sections: an introduction, crisis point and a tragic conclusion, therefore, "Othello", too, follows this method. During the first Act, we learn about the various personalities possessed by the characters, in particular, Othello and Iago; the Third Act is where Iago manipulates the other characters to such an extent that they seem to be acting of their own free will, which leads to the calamitous consequences in the final Act. The positioning of the play's climax is vital to create dramatic tension and obtain an efficient level of anticipation from the audience. Shakespeare successfully accomplishes this idea by providing aspects of characters' personalities, their motives, and the overall themes of the play early on in order to give the audience an insight into who is most likely to be deceitful and perform the evil deed in the central Act. The third scene of Act Three begins with Desdemona talking to Cassio about interceding with