The audience is further introduced to Hal once Poins and Falstaff leave the room. He allows the audience to see what is going on in his head with the events of the past and future. ... I'll so offend, to make offense a skill, Redeeming time when men think least I will. (2.2, lines 208-217) In this monologue, Hal gives the audience a taste of what is to come once he becomes King. ... I also think that Hal goes through this period because he knows that once his father dies he will become king and will no longer be able to do these things. ... Right now, I may not be as focused on the futur...

• Word Count: 1747
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

The opening two acts of William Shakespeare's play, King Lear, contain numerous displays of true duty as well as false duty. ... The attainment of power by Goneril and Regan makes them forget about all of the gifts and treasures bestowed on them by Lear and they feel as if he has no future use to them now. ... Once he accomplished that feat he wrote a slanderous and horribly bad letter pretending to be from Edgar. ... Kent is truly a friend to the king and he only wishes to perform his duties to the best of his ability. Due to the fact that he is utterly compelled to serve the King, Kent ...

• Word Count: 882
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

King Lear's blindness is introduced early on in the play. ... Lear's inability to determine his servant's identity proved once again how blind Lear actually was. ... The fool serves as a comedian for the king and in some ways, as the king's conscience. ... He realized that Edmund planned to take over his throne and that the power he once held has now fallen into corrupt hands. ... If people become understand those around them, seek advice, and think with a clear mind, they can avoid being blinded, and carry their power with great responsibility in life and for future genera...

• Word Count: 1503
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

And yet, it is difficult to see why we should regard "King Lear" as a tragedy for the King is basically a pathetic old man, vain and foolish, rash in his judgment and incapable of controlling his emotions. ... In another essay on "King Lear," I have tried to extend Jaffa's analysis, analyzing the process of education the king undergoes when he loses power. ... When Lear is in command as king, he is tragically cut off from the wisdom he needs to rule justly. ... In this essay, I will examine largely the second half of King Lear, and trace what happens to Lear when he learns the truths to w...

• Word Count: 8939
• Approx Pages: 36
• Grade Level: High School

Shortly after we hear the king's private praises of Hotspur, we hear Hotspur's fiery stance in reaction to the King's prompt. ... But alas, he surprises us all with a assertive soliloquy in which he sets the stage for his future growth. ... He sees the obstacles that confront him in the future, a facet of character that is vital for any successful leader. ... This being said, King Henry finally grants his son his trust. Then Hal goes on to do what many leaders and politicians fail to do once they gain power: he follows through on his word. ...

• Word Count: 1335
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

The tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare is basically about a man named Macbeth, who three witches predict will become king. Indeed Macbeth does become king but at the cost of killing to get what he wanted. He killed Duncan, who was the king at the time and he also hired murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance. ... The future is already set for Macbeth once the witches have made their prediction. ... As you can see from the moment Hecate had made her prediction for Macbeth, his future was set. ...

• Word Count: 398
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

Throughout William Shakespeare's play "Macbeth," the title character goes against his moralities and betrays his country, his king, and his loyal friend Banquo. ... In the beginning of Macbeth, three witches portray Macbeth's future by telling him he will become Thane of Cawdor, and then King of Scotland. ... Macbeth is a trusted soldier, trusted by his army and by his king but Lady Macbeth, as well as the need for power that Macbeth as a human strives for, come together to kill King Duncan, being his first act of betrayal. ... But the temptation to be king is so great that it overri...

• Word Count: 523
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

Once he has made the decision, it is irreversible and produces his downfall. ... Once the witches give him the prophecy of becoming king, he immediately thinks about how he can accomplish this. ... He believes the prophecy to be good news, and cannot think of a reason why he should not be king. ... He shows great faith in the witches" words, not once considering that they may be apparitions of evil. ... By deciding to murder Duncan, he determines his future. ...

• Word Count: 633
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter." Macbeth did not question the accuracy of the prophecies, which he believed were preordained because in Elizabethan times, it was believed that witches could see into the future, kill their enemies and make themselves invisible. Everyone believed that the witches could see the future, and this led Macbeth to the idea of killing Duncan once he had listened to the prophecy that he would become King of Scotland. Macbeth thought, "If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me without my stir." An interpretation of this quote according to Mac...

• Word Count: 663
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Hal is portrayed as being a cowardly drunkard and a disgrace to his father, King Henry. ... King Henry's disappointment will soon change as Hal reveals his true self. ... Hal is just using his friends to make him look better in the future: "And like bright metal on a sullen ground,/ My reformation, glitt"ring o"er my fault,/ Shall show more goodly and attract more eyes" (1.3.190-192). ... Hal redeemed himself as a great warrior to his father and once again, Hal's true "self" emerged as a noble character. ... Hal is just using his friends to make him look better in the future: "...

• Word Count: 2163
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School

Macbeth in real life was actually a great king, but Shakespeare knew that a play about a thane killing his king to get into Scottish royalty would not sit well with the recently crowned King James. ... The witches even though are considered evil and supernatural, warns Macbeth numerous times that he needs to stop and think about the future ahead. ... Everyone at Macbeth's castle is confused on why King Duncan is the one who is murdered because he is such an admirable king. ... Once again Macbeth chooses to please his wife, who antagonizes Macbeth, and judges his masculinity. ... Macbeth&#...

• Word Count: 1978
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

In comparing Goneril and Reagan to Edmund, we find that Edmund is once again the more crafty and intelligent. ... These same upper-level managers will determine his future advancement within the company. ... Just as the corporate Edgar had no set goal from the outset to be Chief Executive Officer, the King Lear Edgar had not originally intended A Look at Shakespeare's Edmund to be King of England. ... He sees what kind of king he has been. ... With the set of characters that are doing the decision-making in the play, it is no wonder that Edmund did not wish to trust his fate to Lea...

• Word Count: 1702
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

when Kent tries to defend Cordelia, once again demonstrating Lear's inability to see those who really care about him. ... Now it is the future he cannot see. ... And with this final knowledge and final opening of his eyes, King Lear dies. Clearly the images of sight and blindness are central to the story of King Lear and to the character development of Gloucester and King Lear himself. ... All quotes taken from King Lear: A Conflated Text, The Complete Pelican Shakespeare, ed. ...

• Word Count: 1839
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

One of the main themes of this play builds up when Macbeth becomes king and his character begins to transform. ... When Macbeth hears that he will be king, he is not concerned about anything else. ... That shalt be King hereafter" (1.3.50), he only sees the good positive side and impenitently comprehends that he will be king now and not later. When Macbeth sees the witches for the second time, he receives four apparitions, which once again he interprets literally. ... All prophesies and apparitions are true and if Macbeth would have understood the figurative meaning behind them, he would have ...

• Word Count: 1597
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

More than once during William Shakespeare's Hamlet, the title character reflects upon his own character and ponders the problem that he, of all people, is a coward. ... However, Hamlet backs away from revenge until he is able to pinpoint the king's guilt, trapping the king in the "Play Within the Play," in which Hamlet exclaims, "I'll have grounds/ More relative than this: the play's the thing/ Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king." (2.2.608-610) Hamlet does not respond decisively to his father's orders, as Fortinbras would, and in Act IV Hamlet e...

• Word Count: 1022
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

These three witches proceed in the third scene of Act I to tell Macbeth of three prophecies: He will become the Thane of Cawdor, the King, and already is the Thane of Glamis.   ... When Macbeth firsts hears the prophecies he believes he will become the Thane of Glamis and King by chance since this is how he became the Thane of Cawdor. But once Lady Macbeth toys at the idea of Macbeth's manliness and bravery, Macbeth comes up with a plan to achieve the other prophecies the witches told him.   The Thane of Glamis, Macbeth, consistently contemplates on these three prophecies since he want...

• Word Count: 1350
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School