Astrology, mythology, nature and science all find their way into William Shakespeare's plays. ... Shakespeare knew a lot about astrology, as did most of his contemporaries. ... Edgar: Do you busy yourself with that? ... He also invokes deities of the underworld, like Hecate, the patroness of magic and witchcraft, which portend to the helplessness he feels to change this. ... Shakespeare truly knew what he was doing on all levels and utilized this knowledge well. ...

• Word Count: 1633
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

That's like a slap on the hand. ... When Edmund presented himself, they took his bait and he played them like fools. ... Part of being a good villain, is knowing when to stop, but then again, there is no such thing as a good villain in Shakespeare's plays. ... As an audience member, you just felt helpless as this guy orchestrated one of the coldest revenge attempts in Shakespeare. ... Also, if it were really happening, it would be hard for you to say when to stop unless you had common sense. ...

• Word Count: 1756
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Shakespeare uses onomatopoeia with words such as crack and strike to obtain a poetic effect that displays the storm-like and turbulent nature of Lear's mind. ... Shakespeare has transformed Lear from a rash and egotistical old king into a more kindly and sympathetic character. ... This now cleared vision even forced him to ask Cordelia for forgiveness, " You must bear with me / Pray you now, forget, and forgive. ... Gloucester, like Lear, also suffered from a lack of vision, even before he lost his eyes. ... Shakespeare sets the play in such a savage, dark, and barbaric time for a re...

• Word Count: 1402
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

Arguably one of Shakespeare's greatest works, this familial play takes us on the journey of a ruler who must painfully divide his kingdom amongst three daughters. ... On the pretense that his knights have been rowdy and disruptive, Goneril manages to make herself look like a victim as she throws her father to the cold. ... Regan, the King's middle daughter, proves to be the most fierce and brutish of all Shakespeare's female characters. ... Regan grabs a sword and slaughters the servant, a gruesome brutality not shown in many of Shakespeare's females. ... I know you what yo...

• Word Count: 1537
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Discuss Shakespeare's handling of the concepts of blindness and insight in King Lear The concepts of blindness and sight are not explored by Shakespeare as physical qualities, but rather mental attributes. ... Refusing to be dishonest like them, she attempts to explain the truth in her words to Lear; "Why have my sisters husbands, if they say They love you all?" ... At the beginning of the play Cordelia refuses to give an elaborate speech of her love for her father like her sisters, but proves her genuine love to him by showing him compassion and forgiveness even after the misju...

• Word Count: 1361
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Shakespeare has developed a tragedy that allows us to see man's decent into chaos. ... Therefore he does not question the will of the gods in letting him suffer from his daughter's unkindness, but prays If it be you that stirs these daughters' hearts Against their father, fool me not with so much To bear it tamely; touch me with noble anger (p.50). Greer (1986) reminds us that Shakespeare uses the word "nature" often, but rarely with the same meaning. ... Like Lear, Gloucester makes reference to Nature. ... In the eyes of the characters, Shakesp...

• Word Count: 1734
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

Physical sight as opposed to the metaphorical sight of truth is a pivotal theme in King Lear by William Shakespeare. ... He actually becomes so angry that he cries, and he curses Goneril and his own eyes, saying (speaking to his eyes) he will "pluck ye out And cast you, with the waters that you loose, To temper clay " (1583). ... At first Lear does not realize he is actually looking at Cordelia but thinks she is a spirit who simply appears like Cordelia, come to mock him. ... His last lines are actually about sight, though they are fairly ambiguous: "Do you see this? ... All quotes taken ...

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