The opening scene, in which there is nothing light - hearted or humorous, is completely expository and contrived but fulfilling its function of revealing the plot line to the audience. The fact that Shakespeare uses this kind of dramatic technique in the first scene twice shows that he wants to make the wickedness of Oliver perfectly clear. The action starts when Orlando, the younger brother decides to rebel against the oppression of his older brother, who is treating him like a common pheasant. He tells Oliver: .
"The spirit of my father, which I think is within me, begins to mutiny against this servitude. I will no longer endure it, yet I know no wise remedy how to avoid it." .
Orlando's complaints are completely justified, as Oliver is mean spirited and malicious in the treatment of Orlando, which the audience can clearly see from this opening scene. Oliver appears cold and distant when he speaks with Orlando: .
"Now, sir, what make you here?" .
-And this contrasts greatly with the "sisterly bond" between Rosalind and Celia. Orlando approaches Oliver with defiance and a confrontational attitude, arousing the audiences interest at this quarrel, and establishing his character: assertive, honest and bold, a character that every audience will like and take an interest in. Oliver also shows that he is adept in the wordplay matches the play holds. Orlando and Oliver exchange much verbal sparring in the first scene, including when Orlando seizes his brother by the throat, Oliver exclaims, .
"Wilt thou lay hands on me, villain?" .
Orlando picks up the root meaning of these words, that he is a person of ignorable birth and replies, .
"I am no villain: I am the younger son of Sir Rowland de Boys; he was my father, and is thrice a villain that says such a father begot villains." .
Shakespeare uses an artful device to portray information to the audience by using the two quarrelling brothers. In Oliver's soliloquy we can almost anticipate that he is planning something against Orlando: .
Well when I hear this quote, I think of Shakespeare. ... Shakespeare's share in the acting company made him wealthy. ... The cause of his death is unknown. ... Shakespeare's wife. ... Soon after her death, Susanna and her husband moved into New Palace and they lived there until they died. ...
Animal Analogies of Shakespeare Shakespeare is the master of transformation. ... Shakespeare was a devoted fan of Ovid's Metamorphoses and evidence of this work can be found throughout most of Shakespeare's plays. ... Pythagoras believed in reincarnation as "over souls "be sure "death has no sway: each soul, once it has left one body, takes another body as its home, the place where it lives on- (Ovid p 519). ... When at the end of the play Falstaff feigns death Hal pronounces the epitaph of "Death hath not struck so fat a deer today, Though many dearer, in this bloody...
On April 26, 1564 in the prosperous English town of Stratford-upon-Avon, the first son of John Shakespeare and Mary Arden was baptized and christened William Shakespeare. ... Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway. ... The first of Shakespeare's plays was performed later that year. ... Shakespeare's own life came to an end on April 23, 1616. ... Shakespeare's reputation did not seriously exceed that of such competitors until 150 years after his death. ...
Shakespeare was clearly influenced by his race. ... Elizabethans also gave superstitious explanations for changing weather and season, phase of life, and sickness and death (59-63). ... However, Shakespeare's happy enthusiasm didn't last. ... Shakespeare reveals his mental state in the lines of Macbeth when the character is approaching defeat: To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,Creeps in this petty place from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. ... William Shakespeare was a genius. ...
These persons know that death is just another part of life and not to over-grieve the dead. Thus, Shakespeare utilizes alliteration to call attention to images throughout the sonnet that present his desire not to be mourned after his death. ... Shakespeare is not unlike everyone else - he too will die. However, he wants his friend and loved one not to be filled with unhappiness because of his death will be part of his life. ... Simply put, Shakespeare wishes not to be mourned and bewailed after his death. ...
William Shakespeare was born in Stratford upon Avon, England. ... Tragically Hamnet, Shakespeares only son died two months later due to natural causes. ... Shakespeare was fortunate to get them both as teachers. ... Shakespeare's plays soon became known by everyone in London. ... Since his death on April twenty sixth 1616, till this day, Shakespeare remains to be one of the most influencial people in literature....
The Less Famous Personal Life of William Shakespeare William Shakespeare was a well-known playwright of the Elizabethan era. ... This could be because the majority of his works were published after his death at which time he accomplished the fame he holds today. ... In 1592, Shakespeare was known to be in London. ... There is no accurate proof of his death, but in a diary found half a century after his death, it was said that he died of an alcohol overdose. It is also expected that Shakespeare might have known his death was near because days before he had his will revised. ...
Shakespeare's was a family of eight children. William Shakespeare's parents, John Shakespeare and Mary Arden raised their children in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon. ... In August 1596 Shakespeare's life was disturbed by family tragedy. ... He continued to write at the Great House of New Place in Statford until his death in 1616 on the day of his 52nd birthday. ... In conclusion, William Shakespeare is a famous figure in literature. ...
Will the real Shakespeare stand up, please! ... There is record of Shakespeare's birth to his mother, Mary Arden, and his father, John Shakespeare. ... Soon after the sudden death of his only son, Hamnet, Shakespeare took off and was not heard from for about eight years. ... With the wealth he had acquired during his acting career and through the death of his own father, Shakespeare purchased a new home in Stratford for his family. ... The man called Shakespeare was a brilliant mind and although not credited until after his death, it is still unreasonable to doubt his intelligence or ...
The people of this time were constantly in fear of plague, so they were intensely aware of death. Death and violence fascinated them. ... Elizabethan literature mirrored the violence and death that played a major part of everyday life. ... The Anti-Strafordians', those who deny Shakespeare being the true author, have many canidates for the title of Shakespeare. ... Oxford's father died when he was a young man and his mother also remarried quickly after his father's death. ...
