William Shakespeare is quite possibly one of the most famous playwrights in theatrical history. ... In many, if not all of Shakespeare's tragedies, fate is a common theme. ... Finally, the most common theme in all of Shakespeare's tragedies is death. ... Gender issues and mistaken identities are raised in Shakespeare's comedies. ... Not all ends well in the tragedies, but the comedies end as you like it. ...

• Word Count: 1601
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

Shakespeare's play also has subplots involving the lovers, and the city of Belmont. ... We cannot be sure that Shakespeare had the Roderigo Lopez case in mind. ... The greatest flaw of Shylock is the fact that he does accept the conversion penalty; what he should do, if he had courage and commitment to his faith, is to admit religious martyrdom and say "Kill me if you will; I will never become a Christian!" ... Like Shylock, Barabas has an only daughter who is in love with a Christian. ... Harold Bloom is fond of conveying that Shakespeare sought to come out from under the shadow of the g...

• Word Count: 1366
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography

Within Shakespeare's era madness was perceived as a lack of faith, or even the work of Satan. ... Arguably Shakespeare makes madness relevant to expose the true nature of revenge, which like madness, he depicts through plot and action that it is unpredictable and often without morals. Shakespeare presents madness in many forms, in pretence, rage and true insanity. ... It could be perceived that Shakespeare intended for the audience to see the true negative nature of madness through these aspects, to show that it cannot be controlled, but it manipulates you. ... Through these charact...

• Word Count: 1550
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Oliver appears cold and distant when he speaks with Orlando: "Now, sir, what make you here?" ... Shakespeare uses an artful device to portray information to the audience by using the two quarrelling brothers. ... Let me see what think you of falling in love?" ... Scene 3 contrasts greatly with scene 2 as it is more like a tragedy, than the lighthearted humour as before. ... Shakespeare establishes the dramatic device of disguise in this scene, as the women pretend to be Ganymead and Aliena. ...

• Word Count: 1259
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

William Shakespeare presents an excellent leader but a poor reasoner in Othello. ... For the first time, it appears that Othello is at a loss with what to do with his power: "Do you go back dismayed? ... It is a noble speech, and a dubiously noble ending, but still, like Othello, flawed. ... He holds back the company of men who seek to take him to prison or worse with a hand and "Soft, you." ... Shakespeare sets up Othello as his perfect leader: no one ever questions his ability to conduct an army (because he does not engage in combat during the play, this opinion must be drawn from the la...

• Word Count: 1266
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Antony struggles with the weakening of his masculinity, how Cleopatra has emasculated him, he refers to his sword as an image to represent his masculinity, he admits to Cleopatra, 'how much you were my conqueror and that my sword, made weak by my affection.' ... At this point we can relate to Caesar and feel Antony could be a bit more like Caesar and uphold his military obligations. ... Shakespeare depicts strong imagery of clouds shifting, like Antony's decisions, he's trying live up to his Roman values of honour, nobility, self-control and courage, in order to do this...

• Word Count: 1678
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography

William Shakespeare's tragic play King Lear, composed around 1603, was first performed in 1605. ... Just like King Lear, Glouster also is being misleaded by one of his children, except Glouster is later on physically blinded by King Lear's two enemies. ... In the passage, Kent is leading King Lear into his place, just like someone would do to a blind person. ... Kent, like Cordelia, has always spoken "frank" to King Lear, and in the passage we see him leading King Lear to a good place, just how you would lead a blind person, out of his madness. ... ", here Shakespe...

• Word Count: 1964
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

(8 mins) Critics tend to be divided on their responses to and opinions of Shakespeare's King Lear. ... You have some cause; they have not." ... Pray you now, forget and forgive. ... They identify Cordelia as a symbol of Christian redemption, almost Christ-like. ... Thank you and enjoy studying King Lear. ...

• Word Count: 1659
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

Shakespeare uses hands and action towards the beginning of the play. ... In the beginning Titus' actions were not very fatherly like. ... You especially see this when Titus kills her in Act 5, Scene 3, so that her shame from being raped can die with her. ... It is like something told him to let it all out because nothing worse can happen. ... It almost sounds like there is a little guilt feeling inside. ...

• Word Count: 1360
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

A Great Tragedy: The good misunderstood and the evil accepted Shakespeare's King Lear and Marlowe's Doctor Faustus is a detailed description of the consequences of one mans decisions that ends in a tragedy. ... In the opening of Shakespeare's King Lear the first error in judgement is introduced in scene 1.1 lines 95-98, where Cordelia confesses her love for her father. Good my lord, You have begot me, bred me, loved me; I return those duties back as are right fit, Obey you, love you, and most honor you. ... Faustus much like Lear has made an error in judgement ...

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

In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, we are introduced to the character, Hamlet who is by far one of the most intriguing and yet elusive characters ever presented in history. ... Many people would agree that there a numerous features that make him such a complex and fascinating character like; his procrastination, role playing, youth, sexual identity, his social status, the tragic hero and the context in which he is part of. ... If you compare it to the opening line, the tone is very unlike, showing that within a short space of time or lines, Hamlet can quickly change his mood and feelings. ...

• Word Count: 1574
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Temptation is an urge everybody has no matter whom, where, or what you are. ... Shakespeare explores the temptations of many characters and the choices they make through the plays of Antony and Cleopatra, Macbeth, and Othello. ... This proves to exclaim that Macbeth was not emotionally strong enough to resist the witches' temptations jsut like as in many cases today.   ... Shakespeare again questions society by putting in the play what lots of people have done and will do. ...

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

Apparent is his dislike for his uncle, especially when he says, "A little more than kin, and less than kind (Shakespeare, I ii 67)"! ... How strange or odd some'er I bear myself (/As I perchance hereafter shall think meet / To put an antic disposition on), /That you, at such times seeing me, never shall, /With arms encumbered thus, or this headshake, /Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase, As "Well, well, we know," or "There be, and if they might," /Or such ambiguous giving-out, to note That you know aught of me -- this do swear, /So grace and mercy at your most need he...

• Word Count: 1315
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Whoever has become thoughtful and melancholy through his own mishaps or those of others; whoever has borne about with him the clouded brow of reflection, and thought himself "too much i' th' sun;" whoever has seen the golden lamp of day dimmed by envious mists rising in his own breast, and could find in the world before him only a dull blank with nothing left remarkable in it; whoever has known "the pangs of despised love, the insolence of office, or the spurns which patient merit of the unworthy takes;" he who has felt his mind sink within him, and sadness cling to his heart like a ...

• Word Count: 1299
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School