The research question would be something like: does the presence in drama of implicit incestuous desire influence the structure of plot? How and to what extent? Recently, I came across an article that discusses the use of incest in Elizabethan drama (Bueler, Lois E.. “The Structural Uses of Incest in English Renaissance Drama”. Renaissance Drama 15 (1984)). In particular, Bueler claims that incest in drama is used as a tool for “complicating and unrevealing plots” (116), and as a dramatic effect of the conflict between individuals and society. Bueler presents several variations of incest to classify the plays: actual-fictional, nuclear-extranuclear, consummated-unconsummated, reciprocal-unreciprocal. However, the most important distinction that Bueler does is between witting and unwitting incest, since it seems to have a significant influence in the structure of plots. According to Bueler, unwitting drama is about giving and receiving, and witting drama is about evil and the failure of exchange. Thus, Bueler …show more content…
However, I have notice that only examples of explicit incestuous desire have been analyzed, and this made me wonder about implicit incestuous desire and its influence in the structure and dramatic effect of the play. The problem that appears when analyzing implicit desire is that it could be unknown by the audience, or even unknown by the author, and maybe just an affective fallacy of the reader. But, if it is there, then to what extent does it influence the play? Also I was thinking that I could try to do a comparative analysis between implicit and explicit incest in drama. The primary texts that would be analyzed should be several, at least 3 to 4 examples of implicit incestuous desire in drama. So far I do not know which plays would be, since I need a deeper reading of the passages to decide if they are actually implicit or not. However, this would be a possible chart of
not only a family but a society. In a play riddled with greed, manipulation and dishonesty,
When Hamlet’s mother remarries to Claudius, her husband’s murderer, Hamlet is disgusted that she could move on so quickly. He’s also disturbed over the fact that his Uncle could kill his own brother, and then marry his brother’s widow. This “incestu...
Paster, Gail Kern, and Skiles Howard. "Female Attachments and Family Ties." A Midsummer Night's Dream: Texts and Contexts. Ed. Gail Kern Paster, and Skiles Howard. Boston and New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 1999. 192-264.
Williamson, Edwin. "Magical Realism and the Theme of Incest in One Hundred Years of Solitude." In McGuirk and Cardwell. 45-63.
In many popular television shows, themes of scheming, feuding and backstabbing are common because this type of drama attracts audiences and good ratings. The use of malicious dramatic themes in entertainment was common in Shakespeare 's time as well. An aging or sick patriarch with three offspring holds a contest to see which of his children will inherit his “kingdom” does not sound unfamiliar to us. This kind of dramatic plot is featured in both Shakespeare’s King Lear, as well as Fox’s more modern hit television show, Empire.
Incest in A Thousand Acres invades all the other items: it is there, and is crucial for everything that happens, but it is hidden beneath the surface of appearances.
The Conflict Between Two Families in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet The play ‘Romeo And Juliet’ is a very dramatic one. The conflict between the two families is key to the play as a whole. If they’re where no. conflict. They would just be allowed to be together.
Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet has impacted modern civilisation’s perception of love for centuries. It solidified the idea of love at first sight and references or similarities to the play can be found throughout literature and popular culture, today. While many people concern themselves with finding an all-consuming, infatuating love, like that of the two star-crossed lovers, others ask the question: is it worth it? The love that Romeo and Juliet have wreaks havoc on the the dynamics of their respective families and tests the patience and goodwill of the Prince and his controlling powers within Verona. Maybe Romeo and Juliet had an all-consuming love, but their over zealousness allowed
The prosperous and vibrant Elizabethan Age made England the heart of all commerce, culture, and most importantly, theatre. Romeo and Juliet, the masterpiece tragedy by William Shakespeare, takes place in this time period and relays the story of two young lovers whose ill-fated deaths eventually end an ancient family feud. The two, Romeo and Juliet, come from quarreling families who adamantly disapprove of their union. Thus, after knowing each other for only a few days, the star-crossed pair marries in secrecy and continues their furtive relationship. The situation complicates as the story progresses, with a previous love, arranged marriages, a perilous plan, and several deaths. Ultimately, Romeo and Juliet both fall to the consequences of their actions and have a pain-filled and sorrowful demise. Shakespeare’s use of various tactics in developing Romeo’s character in the play Romeo and Juliet shows that Romeo has an impulsive and emotional disposition. Romeo’s inner feelings, his actions and responses, and others’ opinions about him all help shape his character. William Shakespeare’s methods all combine to draw Romeo’s disposition.
In Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet, the lovers establish a relationship based on infatuation. Instances throughout the play prove that Romeo and Juliet’s relationship encompasses two hormonal teenagers’ desire for one another, rooted in their attraction to one another. This vanity proves that the relationship relies upon their outward appearances, not who they are inside. Their ages, the timing of the relationship, and the reprehensible actions they take while involved with one another are culminating events which authenticate that the pair 's relationship is based on infatuation. Romeo and Juliet are two teenagers brimming with hormones that drive their ersatz relationship. The timing of the relationship proves that Romeo and Juliet
The path one takes to seek a personal reward may result in the treacherous acts that causes devastation for others. In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the moral corruption that occurs between family members causes animosity that results in their downfall, and eventually their ultimate demise. More specifically, the tainted view of an individual in a family may result in the downfall of the other family members involved. Evidence of the tainted view of a family member causing undue harm can be found in the relationship between Hamlet and Claudius, Hamlet and Old King Hamlet, and Hamlet and Gertrude
Though not the first relationship that is brought to light in Othello, familial relationships - the relationship shared between family members - are the ones that people are first exposed to in their own personal lives. In Shakespeare’s tragedy, there is only one depiction of a familial relationship: the one between Desdemona and her father, Brabantio. Most of the interaction the audience sees from the two is during the time when the legitimacy of Desdemona and Othello’s marriage is called into question. Similar to what is expressed in other families, it is suggested that, prior to the start of the play, Desdemona and Brabantio shared a companionate love, one characterized by intimacy and commitment (Sternberg). This explains his shock when
The presence of the maternal figure, in Shakespeare’s play King Lear, though rather absent, is often presented in a negative light and portrayed as being completely powerless whenever mentioned, which compared to the male power and authority present in the play. The unfavourable portrayal of women reveals the distrust men may feel towards women due to the uncertainty they may feel towards their children’s parentage.
It is present from the beginning of William Shakespeare's play As You Like It, that the qualities within male and female relationships are vastly different. Some of the most vital elements within the play are these bonds between the same-sex relationships and the strength of them to endure hardships. Oliver and Orlando’s strained fraternal relationship is consumed by brotherly resentment, disloyalty and blunt abusive behaviour evident from the outbreak of disagreements that occur between the two men. In distinct contrast, the relationship between Celia and Rosalind is portrayed by Shakespeare to be filled with undeniable devotion, concern and respect between the two women throughout the duration of the play. It is from these relations that we can infer that Shakespeare is intentionally portraying relations between female as the healthier, more productive relationship when compared to the male ones in the play. The polarity between gender relationships is a stark contrast; one that is emphasized and enforced by the decisions and actions undertaken by characters in the play, especially within scenes found in Act One.
In Shakespeare's King Lear, the main plot, which is focused around the error of King Lear, is mirrored by the subplot, which is based on the Earl of Gloucester's mistake. The main plot parallels the subplot in order to reiterate one of the main themes of the play, filial ingratitude. At first, both Gloucester & Lear are unaware that their disloyal offspring are taking advantage of them, and they have wrongfully accused their virtuous heirs. When they discover their mistakes however, it is too late to correct them.