William Shakespeare Essays (Examples)

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illiam Shakespeare
Should Shakespeare's ork Be Translated?

Shakespeare has been the lord of writing for centuries. His work, full of wit and puns has not been replaced by any other writer so far. However, the language used in Shakespeare's work has been the reflection of the then literary language which was full of flavor and richness and suited the culture of estern world then. The question is whether Shakespeare retains its meaning when translated into other languages. There are two different schools of thought on this subject. ith research, it has been proved that Shakespeare loses its essence when translated in any other language and turns into a mere story with no melody attached to it.

There are two aspects of translating Shakespeare's work; one is converting it into simple English which is the main weapon of the modernizers and the second one is converting it into other regional languages like Urdu, Persian,….

She declares that a man who snatches what he desires is actually a true man. Lady Macbeth burdens herself by seducing his husband into committing the murder afterall. Although, initially she has the strength and potential to deal with the task of abetting in a murder and thinks she will be able to forget all about it once she becomes the Scottish Queen but eventually conscience overpowers her vices. She dies of guilt and anguish.
(iii) Banquo

Like Macbeth, Banquo, is also a nobleman of Scotland and a general in rank.To some extent through Banquo and Macbeth, the writer has offered a comparison of choices made by men in similar circumstances. When Macbeth was foretold of his rule on Scotland, so was Banquo made aware that his descendants would one day be wearing the crown. Like Macbeth, Banquo is a man of high rank and status and hence of an ambitious nature.….

William Shakespeare's play Hamlet puts across a series of concepts related to treachery, honor, and impulsiveness. In spite of the fact that they initially appear to be very different in nature, Hamlet (the central character), and Laertes are more similar than one might be inclined to think. The two are principally concerned about avenging their fathers and believe that nothing can stop them from reaching their goal. In spite of their determination they are both imprudent and this reflects in a series of mistakes that they make in their attempt to accomplish their goals. Anger is one of the principal concepts that influence them in losing control and it is the eventual reason for their death.
Although anger is enough to influence both characters in losing their minds, Hamlet is somewhat different from Laertes because of his tendency to over think each step that he makes. Laertes is prepared to abandon….

" Again, the poet employs repetition (of the word "fair") to emphasize his point. Moreover, "chance" and "changing" provide some alliteration, which is otherwise rare in this particular Shakespeare sonnet.
Line nine begins with the word "But," to herald a shift in tone: the speaker went from listing summer's deficiencies to pointing out the particular qualities of his lover that make her superior. The speaker focuses almost exclusively on her "eternal summer" that "shall not fade," (line 9). She will never lose possession of "that fair," or her beauty, and even Death cannot claim her (lines 10, 11). In line 12 the speaker takes partial responsibility for her immortality, for "in eternal lines" she "growest" in stature.

True to the sonnet form, lines 13 and 14 end with rhyming words; in this case, "see," and "thee." The rest of the poem has an alternating rhyme scheme: ABABCDCDEFEF. Moreover, in Sonnet 18 the….

The ironic twist is the play of what is to be expected to be said and what is actually said (or, going back to the argument, what is expected from love and what actually occurs): It begins: "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; / Coral is far more red than her lips' red"
From here the sonnet continues with a much less pleasing list of the qualities about this mistress, who is definitely very far from the ideal perfection noted in the Petrarchan sonnets. The distinction between the two sonnet approaches increases in the last of the couplets when Shakespeare makes his final argument and explains why he has been using such lesser quality comparisons all along: "And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare/as any she, belied with false compare."

In other words, is it not better to have the best of what is real beauty….


The friar puts on an act pretending he does not know what is actually happening. Therefore we have make believe within the play. The irony can be found once again, this time in the fact that Juliet will go to church just like she was supposed to only in a different hypostasis.

Not as a bride but as a corpse. Thinking that she will actually kill herself ultimately and that the solution provided by the friar is only a pale sign of what will follow makes the scene stronger in terms of psychological tension. The church and its representative are key elements in the act. As the place suited for a marriage ceremony, the church is the location where a new beginning ought to take place. Juliet however despises this potential new beginning and she prefers to annul it, first through a s symbolical gesture and than through a real one.….

William Shakespeare's 1597 history play Henry IV, Part 1 involves Henry Bolingbroke (King Henry the fourth) and his struggle to maintain his throne, like the rebellions throughout the land. Although the rebellion initially appears to show the progress and conditions change of the king's son, Hal, and his peculiar friend, Sir John Falstaff, who gets actively involved in assisting Henry. Falstaff's character is especially intriguing when he prefers to use logics rather than morality with the purpose of being successful. Harry Percy (Hotspur) contrasts Falstaff and eventually comes to be defeated due to his employing an honorable attitude in combat. Comment by Nathaniel Hodes: successful in what sense? surviving the war? anything else? Comment by Nathaniel Hodes: Good. Now follow up these two points with a thesis statement that unites them. What is the play telling us about honor or morality?
The play rotates around the character of Hal, but the….

Shakespeare allows us to see Macbeth's good nature, which also illustrates how easily man can fall once he allows his passions to have free reign.
In Hamlet, Claudius is also driven by ambition and he ranks a close second to Iago as men whose hearts are tainted with evil. His ultimate desire is to be king and then to remain king and he will stop at nothing to achieve that goal. Of course, the wicked deed of killing his own brother becomes more grotesque than that of Iago or Macbeth because of the sheer lack of soul a man must have to commit such an act. Claudius admits that he will do what it takes to retain the throne and he resorts to all sorts of dubious behavior to accomplish this. He also asks Rozencrantz and Guildenstern to use their:

Companies

To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather

So much as….

Shakespeare's Characters:
The commencement of illiam Shakespeare's work can be traced to the latter quarter of the fifteen hundreds when he started writing and performing plays. In his work, Shakespeare basically considered the current issues, which contribute to debates among scholars on whether his works should be regarded as contemporary writing or universal philosophical statements. His focus on current issues was mainly geared towards reconstructing the existing political and social concerns and universal concepts and issues. Notably, one of the major issues raised by scholars regarding his work is the significance of historical depiction. Some scholars argue that Shakespeare's historical depiction of his characters should not be overlooked. This depiction plays an important role in understanding the characters themselves as well as gaining important insights from his works. In this case, Shakespeare's characters fall into two major categories i.e. heroes and heroines and villain characters.

Analysis of Shakespeare's Characters:

Shakespeare's works provide….

illiam Shakespeare's Othello that support the view that Iago, the chief antagonist and primary arch-villain of the play, has been imbued with and personifies a supernatural malevolence to fuel his hatred of the protagonist, Othello. This interpretation of Iago's characterization, however, is tempered by his all too human reasons for being possessed of such a fury towards his enemy: the former believes Othello has slighted him for a military promotion and eventually comes to suspect that the latter may have had a sexual relationship with his wife. Despite such seemingly concrete, logical reasons for despising another, Shakespeare takes great pains to employ devices of description, actions, and dialogue, which support the interpretation that Iago is an infernal creature whose verbal and physical manifestations seem to be aligned with evil incarnate, or at least directly juxtaposed with those of providence. Closer examinations of passages involving Iago and his methods of….

Shot-by-Shot Analysis of Mercutios Death in Romeo + Juliet (1996)The scene begins with a low angled shot as Tybalt leaps into frame from a balcony to beat Romeo lying off screen out of frame below him. Shot two is over the shoulder of Tybalt, or rather over the hip, and shows Romeo in the sand being kicked by Tybalt. Shot three is a cut to Mercutios face full in frame as he looks on in disbelief. He is a friend to both housesMontagues and Capuletsbut Romeo is his best friend and he cannot understand why Romeo will not fight back. He does not know yet that Romeo is married to a Capulet. The camera pans down quickly to show Mercutio reaching for his gun and holding it up to his face as he considers intervening. Shot four shows Tybalt continuing to savagely beat Romeo and is again over the shoulder….

Shakespeare's Othello: Is it a tragedy according to Aristotle?
Aristotle and tragedy

Aristotle defines tragedy as imitation of an action that is serious and has a certain dramatic and complete magnitude. Tragedy to Aristotle is something that is:

"A form of drama exciting the emotions of pity and fear. Its action should be single and complete, presenting a reversal of fortune, involving persons renowned and of superior attainments, and it should be written in poetry embellished with every kind of artistic expression. (Poetics, Part IX)

Aristotle saw tragedy as a simulation of an event that aroused pity and fear in the individual and, by doing so, served as a form of catharsis in the individual could identify with the plot and feel a certain sort of purging or relief (VI.2).

In fact, it is this sense of purging that most distinguishes the tragedy from the comedy or epic (for instance) in that it is the….

"
Here, though ordsworth has once again assumed his place apart from the natural world, he denotes that it is of value to return to this beautiful space in his memory when he is in need of emotional or psychological respite. And ultimately, this reinforces the romantic imperative of distilling the human experience within its context. For ordsworth, the context of modernity invokes a greater appreciation for man's inextricable bond to the natural world.

For Shakespeare, a pre-romantic prerogative toward leaving one's own stamp on the world seems to drive the perspective of Sonnet 116. So is this evidenced by his closing remarks, which states rather definitively, "If this be error and upon me proved, I never writ, nor no man ever loved." Both with regard to the way that Shakespeare characterizes the everlasting nature of true love and the way that he references his own role in the world as a….


ork Cited

Antony and Cleopatra. Retrieved September 30, 2005 from:

http://www-tech.mit.edu/Shakespeare/cleopatra/full.html

Brown, Lenora Inez. "Enter the Body: omen and Representation on Shakespeare's Stage." American Theatre. May 01, 2001. Retrieved September 30, 2005 from HighBeam Research Library eb site.

Desmet, Christy. "omen's Matters: Politics, Gender, and Nation in Shakespeare's Early History Plays." Comparative Drama. September 22, 2000. Retrieved September 30, 2005 from HighBeam Research Library eb site.

Hunt, Maurice. "Shakespeare's Venetian paradigm: stereotyping and Sadism in The Merchant of Venice and Othello." Papers on Language & Literature. March 22, 2003. Retrieved September 30, 2005 from HighBeam Research Library eb site.

Julius Caesar, The Life and Death of. Retrieved September 30, 2005 from:

http://www-tech.mit.edu/Shakespeare/julius_caesar/full.html

Othello, The Moore of Venice. Retrieved September 30, 2005 from:

http://www-tech.mit.edu/Shakespeare/othello/full.html

Starks, Lisa S. "Like the lover's pinch, which hurts and is desired: The Narrative

of Male Masochism and Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra." Literature and Psychology. December 22, 1999. Retrieved September 30, 2005 from HighBeam Research Library eb site.

Steen,….

Antony offered Caesar a diadem, but Caesar refused it, saying Jupiter alone is king of the Romans, "possibly because he saw the people did not want him to accept the diadem, or possibly because he wanted to end once and for all the speculation that he was trying to become a king" (Julius1 pp). In Shakespeare's account, Antony says at the funeral, "I thrice presented him a kingly crown, hich he did thrice refuse. as this ambition? Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, And sure he is an honourable man" (Julius III.ii)
orks Cited

Julius Caesar. orld of Education. Retrieved August 30, 2005 at http://library.educationworld.net/s26/index.html

illiam Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. Retrieved August 30, 2005 at http://www.entrenet.com/~groedmed/jc.html

Julius1 Caesar: Historical Background. Retrieved August 30, 2005 at http://www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/caesar.html.

Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare is, like many of his comedies, a surprisingly complex play.  Dealing with the topics of love and people not being what they seem to be on the surface, the play challenges people to look deeper. In fact, while many of Shakespeare’s tragedies really focus on the negative things that people do in the name of love, his comedies tend to take a more lighthearted approach to the topic.  Twelfth Night is an exception, as it definitely looks at how love can drive people to some really undesirable behaviors.

There are a....

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

Literary Analysis

Compare and contrast the themes and motifs in two works of literature.
Analyze the use of symbolism and imagery in two different poems.
Explore the development of a character in two different novels.
Examine the differences in narrative structure between two short stories.
Compare the perspectives of two narrators in a novel.

Historical Events

Compare and contrast the causes and consequences of two major historical events.
Analyze the similarities and differences in the strategies used by two different leaders during wartime.
Explore the impact of two different technological advancements on society.
Examine the ways in....

Thesis Statement:

William Shakespeare's "Macbeth" is a timeless tragedy that explores the corrosive effects of unbridled ambition and the destructive consequences of surrendering to darkness, ultimately leading to a state of ruin and downfall for both the protagonist and the realm he reigns over.

Elaboration:

"Macbeth" is a profound examination of the human psyche and the devastating impact of unchecked ambition. The titular character, driven by a burning desire for power, allows his morals to erode, leading him down a path of violence and treachery. Through its exploration of the themes of ambition, guilt, and the corrupting influence of power, the play serves....

Thesis Statement:

William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is an enduring literary masterpiece that transcends time and culture due to its universal themes of love, conflict, and the enduring consequences of impulsive actions.

Paragraph 1: Love as a Transformative Force

Romeo and Juliet's love is an intense, passionate force that transforms them and those around them.
Their love overcomes obstacles such as societal norms, family feuds, and death.
The transformative power of love is explored through the characters' intense emotions, sacrifices, and ultimate deaths.

Paragraph 2: The Destructive Nature of Conflict

The ongoing feud between the Montagues and Capulets creates a hostile environment that....

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8 Pages
Essay

Communication - Language

William Shakespeare Should Shakespeare's Work Be Translated

Words: 2548
Length: 8 Pages
Type: Essay

illiam Shakespeare Should Shakespeare's ork Be Translated? Shakespeare has been the lord of writing for centuries. His work, full of wit and puns has not been replaced by any other writer…

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12 Pages
Term Paper

Mythology

William Shakespeare's Macbeth Introduction to

Words: 4155
Length: 12 Pages
Type: Term Paper

She declares that a man who snatches what he desires is actually a true man. Lady Macbeth burdens herself by seducing his husband into committing the murder afterall. Although,…

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3 Pages
Thesis

Literature

William Shakespeare's Play Hamlet Puts Across a

Words: 870
Length: 3 Pages
Type: Thesis

William Shakespeare's play Hamlet puts across a series of concepts related to treachery, honor, and impulsiveness. In spite of the fact that they initially appear to be very different…

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1 Pages
Term Paper

Literature

Shakespeare's Sonnet 18 William Shakespeare's

Words: 440
Length: 1 Pages
Type: Term Paper

" Again, the poet employs repetition (of the word "fair") to emphasize his point. Moreover, "chance" and "changing" provide some alliteration, which is otherwise rare in this particular Shakespeare…

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2 Pages
Term Paper

Literature

Shakespeare Sonnet William Shakespeare Registered

Words: 622
Length: 2 Pages
Type: Term Paper

The ironic twist is the play of what is to be expected to be said and what is actually said (or, going back to the argument, what is…

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9 Pages
Research Proposal

Literature

Shakespeare William Shakespeare Is Perhaps

Words: 2697
Length: 9 Pages
Type: Research Proposal

The friar puts on an act pretending he does not know what is actually happening. Therefore we have make believe within the play. The irony can be found once…

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2 Pages
Essay

Literature

William Shakespeare's 1597 History Play Henry IV

Words: 580
Length: 2 Pages
Type: Essay

William Shakespeare's 1597 history play Henry IV, Part 1 involves Henry Bolingbroke (King Henry the fourth) and his struggle to maintain his throne, like the rebellions throughout the land.…

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4 Pages
Thesis

Literature

Shakespeare's Notorious Villians William Shakespeare

Words: 1197
Length: 4 Pages
Type: Thesis

Shakespeare allows us to see Macbeth's good nature, which also illustrates how easily man can fall once he allows his passions to have free reign. In Hamlet, Claudius is…

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5 Pages
Essay

Sociology

Shakespeare's Characters The Commencement of William Shakespeare's

Words: 1674
Length: 5 Pages
Type: Essay

Shakespeare's Characters: The commencement of illiam Shakespeare's work can be traced to the latter quarter of the fifteen hundreds when he started writing and performing plays. In his work,…

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4 Pages
Essay

Mythology

William Shakespeare's Othello That Support the View

Words: 1275
Length: 4 Pages
Type: Essay

illiam Shakespeare's Othello that support the view that Iago, the chief antagonist and primary arch-villain of the play, has been imbued with and personifies a supernatural malevolence to…

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2 Pages
Creative Writing

Film

Style in Baz Lurhmann's Romeo Juliet 1996

Words: 730
Length: 2 Pages
Type: Creative Writing

Shot-by-Shot Analysis of Mercutios Death in Romeo + Juliet (1996)The scene begins with a low angled shot as Tybalt leaps into frame from a balcony to beat Romeo lying…

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6 Pages
Essay

Black Studies - Philosophy

Shakespeare's Othello Is it a Tragedy According

Words: 1987
Length: 6 Pages
Type: Essay

Shakespeare's Othello: Is it a tragedy according to Aristotle? Aristotle and tragedy Aristotle defines tragedy as imitation of an action that is serious and has a certain dramatic and complete magnitude.…

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5 Pages
Term Paper

Literature

Shakespeare Wordsworth Shakespeare and Wordsworth

Words: 1532
Length: 5 Pages
Type: Term Paper

" Here, though ordsworth has once again assumed his place apart from the natural world, he denotes that it is of value to return to this beautiful space in his…

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5 Pages
Term Paper

Literature

Shakespeare's Women There Is a

Words: 1536
Length: 5 Pages
Type: Term Paper

ork Cited Antony and Cleopatra. Retrieved September 30, 2005 from: http://www-tech.mit.edu/Shakespeare/cleopatra/full.html Brown, Lenora Inez. "Enter the Body: omen and Representation on Shakespeare's Stage." American Theatre. May 01, 2001. Retrieved September 30, 2005…

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1 Pages
Term Paper

Literature

Shakespeare it Seems That William

Words: 308
Length: 1 Pages
Type: Term Paper

Antony offered Caesar a diadem, but Caesar refused it, saying Jupiter alone is king of the Romans, "possibly because he saw the people did not want him to…

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