The treatment of Women in the History of the United States as portrayed American Drama

Jennifer CHUNG Hiu Kei 2005654208 ENGL3032 Advanced Topics in English Studies Title: The treatment of Women in the History of the United States as portrayed American Drama Due Date: 26 May 2008 Professor: Otto Heim Contents . Introduction and Background Page 30 2. Role of Women in American Society Page 13 3. Assimilating as a Woman Page 33 4. Conclusion Page 42 5. Bibliography Page 43 Chapter 1: Introduction and Background Drama is one of the quintessential attributes of English literature and to a certain extent, perhaps one of the more powerful categories as drama has the advantage of extra visuals to connect with the viewers than poetry or novels. With the influential element of props and actions performed with dialogue in scenes and acts, the ending segment of the texts often create a much more personal response among viewers in the form of 'catharsis'. Defined by Aristotle in Poetics at around 350 B.C, he structured tragic plays into four stages: hamartia, hubris, anagnorisis, and lastly catharsis. The first three stages illustrate the tragic hero, who is often the protagonist in the plays, with a flawed personality of some sort which is responsible for their downfall from a high status in their society. Catharsis on the other hand has more to do with the purging of emotions which cause the viewer to experience two particular feelings, pity

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Do we have the ability to control our destiny - Death of Salesman.

Do we have the ability to control our destiny? The truth is this, one can set their goals and try to attain them and one can dreams their dreams and try to live them but the difference must be known. The character Willy Loman, in the play Death of A Salesman, seems to be a person who is not aware of the difference in reality and dreams. Willy's choices throughout his life undeniably lead to his own demise. Willy Loman is a tragic hero. His fear is that he wants to be viewed as a good, decent human being. He wants to believe that he's a well-liked, decent person who doesn't make mistakes. The truth is that he makes mistakes, many that haunt him, and that he is human. Willy does not consider this normal and severely regrets such failures such as raising his children poorly, as he sees it, not doing well in business, though he wishes he were, and cheating on his wife Linda, showing her to be a commodity of which he takes advantage. Linda has a true, pure love for her husband. Linda stands behind him through it all, through his dreams and broken promises, she still believes in him. The quality in such plays that does shake us... derives from the underlying fear of being displaced, the disaster inherent in being torn away from our chosen image of what and who we are in the world (Miller, Tragedy...). Willy's underlying fear of being displaced is the real tragedy. He wants to do

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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The Significance of a Line From Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

The Significance of a Line From Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman Neelum Raza, Junior "Isn't that remarkable." This single, brief statement may appear to be a trite cliché, yet in Death of a Salesman this favorite exclamation of Willy Loman takes on a much broader meaning. In the early part of the play, however, when Willy makes this remark, the reason is not particularly remarkable, or, if so, only in Willy's terms. Yet, during the course of the action the line develops into a comment on Willy's prosaic and confused mind. To start with, the remarkable aspect of the quote is that Willy Loman utters it when he is faced with an epiphany, a sudden realization. To demonstrate, this line takes on significance in the scene where Willy goes to borrow money from Charley. Willy always thought of Charley as the epitome of what Willie thought he detested. Yet, when Willy realizes that this man whom he had disparaged over the years was, indeed, his only friend, he says in utter amazement, "Isn't that a remarkable thing." As with other utterances, the realization is not remarkable, except that Willy had never been able to see reality long enough to recognize Charley's importance. This single line, then, demonstrates how Willy may finally begin to realize, too late, just how much he is liked. Another realization occurs between Willy and his son, Biff. After an emotional scene in

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  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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During this project our focus was on the inclusion and exclusion of people on the basis of a criminal record.

INTRODUCTION AIMS AND OBJECTIVES During this project our focus was on the inclusion and exclusion of people on the basis of a criminal record. We dealt with a minority of prisoners; specifically on the experience of a male ex-prisoner. Following an interview to be held with one such individual, we aspired to: . Acquire information about the experience of life in prison and what it means to spend time there. 2. Get a clearer picture of what goes on within a correctional facility. 3. Gather information on the way one feels regarding inclusion and exclusion during the time spent in prison. 4. Become familiar with how an ex-prisoner feels on returning to the community. 5. Explore the views of an ex-prisoner with regards to how he feels society can integrate these individuals better; not making them feel unwanted. QUALITY OF LIFE Correctional facilities are institutions there to exclude individuals; as a form of punishment for acting in opposition to the laws, rules and regulations of a particular society. As a result, inclusion doesn't form part of such a facility. Consequently, the prisoners' quality of life suffers, together with their psychological health and personal identity. In terms of relationships; while completing the prison term, the prisoner may feel that he/she is lacking the past connection with family and friends, as visiting hours are restricted.

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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The Portrayal of Shakespeare's Hamlet in Cinema

Chapter One Introduction This dissertation is an exploration of William Shakespeare's play, Hamlet, on film, looking into the beginnings and history of Shakespeare on film and studying three famous and very different films of Hamlet; Laurence Olivier's Hamlet made in 1948, Franco Zeffirelli's Hamlet made in 1990 starring Mel Gibson in the title role and Kenneth Branagh's full text Hamlet made in 1996. I have decided to look at Hamlet on film because I believe film is relatively new medium and is interesting to see Shakespeare that was originally written for the stage to be brought to a mass audience in different and innovative ways. It is also important to discuss the different interpretations of Hamlet by different directors. I have chosen my three focus films because Olivier's was the first big cinematic work of Hamlet, Zeffirelli's was the first all-star Hollywood Hamlet and Branagh's was the first full text Hamlet. This therefore shows the various original ways in which Hamlet has been exposed to the film world. I also intend to illustrate why film is an appropriate medium for modern day Shakespeare fans and critics. My first chapter will outline and explore the dawn of cinema, the transition from theatre to cinema and the role of Shakespeare's plays in early cinema referring specifically to Hamlet. I will look at the earliest films of Hamlet and how they were

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Based on your study of the first two Acts, how well does Shakespeare present us with characters we can dislike?

Based on your study of the first two Acts, how well does Shakespeare present us with characters we can dislike? Lyndsay Scott From the initial study of the first two acts, it is evident to see that Shakespeare is presenting his audience with a variety of personalities, many of which we, as an audience are actively encouraged to dislike. A Major theme within "King Lear" is the force of Good opposing Evil, so therefore it makes sense to suggest the presence of those perhaps stereotypical "Evil" characters causing trouble, whilst disrupting and shaping the course of the play. Throughout this essay, I hope to show and account for the reasons behind how some characters are portrayed very differently from other characters, and how this effects an audiences' interpretation of them. Whilst studying the play, we should be aware that Shakespeare manipulates events and prose, using various techniques in order to fulfil a certain purpose. Shakespeare moulds his plays in order to have a certain and very predictable effect upon an audience. His use of language that is used by individual characters and the sequence of events that take place throughout the play is by no means coincidental. Shakespeare in actual fact had a very clear purpose when writing his plays. The way in which the play is written serves to guarantee that his audience, ultimately, in light of the evidence shown

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Review and interpretation of King Lear

BACKGROUND OF THE IDEA In creating the tragedy play King Lear, William Shakespeare used many sources in getting the base-line story, but it required his genius and intellect to place them together to create the true tragedy with its multiple plot lines that his play turned out to be in the end. The story of King Lear (or as it started, King Leir) is first seen in literature in the year 1135, contained in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae. Other authors placed King Leir into their stories including; John Higgins in A Mirror for Magistrates (1574), by Warner in Albion's England (1586), by Holinshed in The Second Book of the Historie of England (1577), and by Spencer in The Faerie Queen (1590). The most influential of all was probably The True Chronicle History of King Leir, which was anonymous. This play was performed as early as 1594, which is when it showed up in the "Stationers' Register." Kenneth Muir even suggested that Shakespeare "may have acted in it". Shakespeare took the best of all the sources of King Leir, added his touches and personality, and created the masterpiece we enjoy today. Geoffrey of Monmouth in Historia Regum Britanniae, gave the description of King Lear and his three daughters, and also the basis for the love test. One major difference is that unlike Shakespeare's Lear, Geoffrey's Leir does not appear to be insane and has not lost

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Arthur Miller’s Death Of A Salesman

Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman At the beginning of the play, Arthur Miller establishes Willy Loman as a troubled and misguided man, at heart a salesman and a dreamer with a preoccupation with success. However, Miller makes equally apparent that Willy Loman is no successful man. Although in his sixties, he is still a travelling salesman bereft of any stable location or occupation, and clings only to his dreams and ideals. There is a strong core of resentment within Willy Loman, whose actions assumes a more glorious and idealised past. Willy sentimentalises the neighbourhood as it was years ago, and mourns the days working for Frank Wagner, while his son Howard Wagner fails to appreciate him. Miller presents Willy as a strong and boisterous man with great audacity but little energy to support that impression of vitality. He is perpetually weary and exhibits signs of dementia, contradicting himself within his conversations and showing some memory loss. Linda, in contrast, displays little of the boisterous intensity of Willy. Rather, she is dependable and kind, perpetually attempting to smooth out conflicts that Willy might encounter. Linda has a similar longing for an idealised past, but has learned to suppress her dreams and her dissatisfaction with her husband and sons. Miller indicates that she is a woman with deep regrets about her life; she must continually reconcile

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Henry V - History of a Hero?

Henry V - History of a Hero? In act one, scene one of Henry VI Part 1 some of the remaining characters from Henry V stand, following the death of King Henry V, and discuss the nature of their former monarch. King Henry the Fifth, too famous to live long! England ne'er lost a king of so much worth. England ne'er had a king until his time. Virtue he had, deserving to command.1 Their memories of the young king seem to sit well with some of the opinions of characters in Henry V, "I love the lovely bully", and indeed with history itself, "a military leader with a clear idea of virtue and leadership"2. However other characters in Henry V offer us less favourable opinions, "I'll never trust his word after", "Aye he said so, to make us fight more cheerfully. But when our throats are cut he may be ransomed, and we ne'er the wiser." Audience members are showing executions, foul language and scant regard for human life, promting Gerald Gould to ask Is it seriously maintained that Shakespeare means us to admire Henry here?3 So what is it about both the play and the character which makes him so open to debate? Why can some people see him as "the mirror of all Christian kings", whilst others accuse him of being a "brutal opportunist", and "subtle protagonist"? Henry has himself always occupied a special place in the annals of English history. Literature, including, though not

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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HOW DOES DRAMATIC IRONY AFFECT THE AUDIEDIENCE IN ROMEO AND JULIET?

HOW DOES DRAMATIC IRONY AFFECT THE AUDIEDIENCE IN ROMEO AND JULIET? The tragedy, 'Romeo and Juliet' was written in the year of 1593. The play includes a number of universal themes such as love, hate, death and loyalty so as to capture the imagination of a range of audiences. In this essay I am going to start by including a very brief history of the Globe Theatre. Then I am not only going to go through the play act by act to highlight the main examples of dramatic irony in each act. But also I am going to say how it affected the audience at all times. Finally, I am going to end with a conclusion, which sums up the main points that will be included in the essay. The Globe Theatre was built in 1598-99 by the Chamberlain's Company, it stood on the Southern shore of the Thames River in London. At this time Shakespeare was a member of the Chamberlain's Company. The first recorded performance was of Julius Caesar in September 1599. Many of Shakespeare's plays were written for and performed at the Globe, which burnt down in 1613. It was rebuilt in 1614, only to be destroyed by Oliver Cromwell's Puritan troops thirty years later. But if you want to get an idea of what the original Globe Theatre was like, the best thing to do is to visit the new Globe Theatre which was opened in 1997 about two hundred yards from the original site. It has lime plastered walls and a thatched roof,

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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