If one were to examine any two different high schools in the United States, there will surely be innumerable differences between them. Everything from the core curriculum, to the diversity of the student body, even to the food served during lunch will surely be distinctive to the individual school. However, there is one similarity that one can be sure exists between the two schools: the study of Shakespeare. It is nearly impossible to find a school that does have its students read and analyze a myriad of texts written by the prophetic author: from his thoughtful sonnets to his lively comedies to his renowned tragedies. Shakespeare is so widely studied in schools because he is a literary genius - coining much of the modern English language and …show more content…
The theme of royal stupidity and privilege is ever-present in Shakespeare’s works. In Romeo and Juliet, the star crossed lovers die in a blaze of passion, preventable through simple patience. Othello, although noble and intelligent, it is the green eyed monster, jealousy, that is his downfall. Macbeth falls grows increasingly corrupt upon becoming king in his story. In the conversation in Hamlet, the actor does nothing but accept prince Hamlet’s directions politely, even though Hamlet has no business giving him instructions: “[Responding to Hamlet] I warrant Your Honor” (3.2.15). Thus, it can be concluded that the irony that Shakespeare utilizes in this scene not only makes a statement regarding acting and performances, but also that the ruling class is conceited, believing that they can have anyone do whatever they desire - even when they do not know best - simply because they are privileged and respected. Although outside of the context of the scene, Hamlet does know best in regards to an actor’s performance, in the context of the play, it would be unreasonable for a prince with no prior experience in acting to know better than a true thespian who has spent his life learning and practicing the craft. This satirizes not just Hamlet, but also other members of upper class society, as few of them are rich or powerful because they earned it, but only because they were born into their position. Therefore, even though they have authority over almost all of their peers, they have no right to chastise or criticise the skills of others because they themselves likely have no experience
roughout Hamlet's soliloquy in Act II scene ii, he expresses his true inner conflict. Since he found out the truth about his father's death, Hamlets only goal has been to get revenge on Claudius, but he feels that he has done nothing. Hamlet judges himself harshly which we see in the first line when he says, “O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!” (II, ii. I 520). In self-conflict, Hamlet degrades himself for being too hesitant in pursuing his plot of revenge. He feels he isn't the man that he or his father would want him to be, and thus is useless. Shakespeare's primary goal of Hamlet's speech is to reveal Hamlet's true feelings. To show this, Shakespeare creates a foil, the actor, of Hamlet that embodies everything that Hamlet is not. “Could force his soul so to his own conceit / That from her working all his visage wann'd, / Tears in his eyes, distraction in's aspect, / A broken voice, and his whole function suiting / With forms to his conceit?
Hamlet makes use of the idea of theatrical performance through characters presenting themselves falsely to others – from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern spying on Hamlet to gain favor with the King, to Hamlet himself playing the part of a madman – and through the play within the play, The Mousetrap. This essay will discuss the ways in which Hamlet explores the idea of theatrical performance, ‘acting’, through analysis of the characters and the ‘roles’ they adopt, specifically that of Hamlet and Claudius. The idea, or the theme of theatrical performance is not an uncommon literary element of Shakespearean works, the most famous of which to encompass this idea being As You Like It. This essay will also briefly explore the ways in which Hamlet reminds its audience of the stark difference between daily life and dramatization of life in the theatre.
“Have more than you show, speak more than you know”, a quote from King Lear, written by the great man himself William Shakespeare, explaining how you may have lots but show little and you may not know a lot of things, but put forth that you do. Such as in Hamlet, the entire play is themed around dramatic irony and how you show more but the characters know less. This affects everyone in the play, and directly coincides with the madness of Hamlet. From Act 5 Scene 2 the quote “Let four captains/Bear Hamlet like a soldier to the stage,/For he was likely, had he been put on,/To have prov’d most royal; and for his passage,/The soldiers music and the rite of war/ Speak loudly for him./Take up the bodies. Such a sight at this/Becomes the field, but here shows much amiss. /Go, bid the soldiers shoot” has a direct impact on the context
In today’s world the quality of the art form called writing is said to be somewhat diminishing, it is important for English literature to keep some studies of classic literature, such as Shakespeare. I think well rounded education must have a strong foundation in both modern and classical literature, for the foundation in classical literature, an in-depth study of Shakespeare’s works would be more than sufficient. Not only was Shakespeare so skilled in his writing that he has become a significant point in the history of literature, but a majority of his works were written on such basic human themes that they will last for all time and must not be forgotten.
Shakespeare is Important William Shakespeare’s plays are being made into box office film hits at an incredible rate. Films such as Much Ado About Nothing with Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson, Hamlet with Mel Gibson and Glenn Close, Othello with Laurence Fishbourne and Henry V with Kenneth Branagh have been seen by a surprising number of teenagers. Often they have not understood it all, or even half of it, but they have been affected by the powerful characters and by the Shakespearean magic which has affected audiences around the world for centuries. They want to know more, they want to understand, and what better motivation can any teacher ask for than that students WANT? That alone is sufficient reason for any English teacher to start a course in Shakespeare.
In King Lear, Shakespeare portrays a society whose emphasis on social class results in a strict social hierarchy fueled by the unceasing desire to improve one’s social status. It is this desire for improved social status that led to the unintentional deterioration of the social hierarchy in King Lear. This desire becomes so great that Edmund, Goneril, Reagan and Cornwall were willing to act contrary to the authority of the social hierarchy for the betterment of their own position within it. As the plot unfolds, the actions of the aforementioned characters get progressively more desperate and destructive as they realize their lack of success in attaining their personal goals. The goals vary, however the selfish motivation does not. With Edmund, Goneril, Reagan and Cornwall as examples, Shakespeare portrays the social hierarchy as a self-defeating system because it fosters desires in its members that motivate them to act against the authority of the hierarchy to benefit themselves. A consideration of each characters actions in chronological order and the reasons behind such actions reveals a common theme among the goals for which morality is abandoned.
The hierarchy portrayed in Macbeth’s society functions as a demonstration of the manliness virtues applauded in the 11th century; an attribute such as one’s loyalty to his king. “The medieval world-imbued with distinct and fixed ranks, the subordination and obedience of the lower to the higher, and a strong sense of plentitude ,purpose ,wholeness , and order in both the temporal and spiritual realms” (Blits 38). A man must be subservient to his king in order to gain a high respect and trust and to be honored a title. Once a thane has achieved his benefits and the king’s trust, the impression of an allegiance of his duty as a protector is then generalized alongside with the people’s praise.
In Hamlet's speech to the players he tells them, "Suit the action to the word, the word to the action, with this special observance, that you o'erstep not the modesty of nature; for anything so o'erdone is from the purpose of playing, whose end both at the first, and now, was and is, to hold as 'twere the mirror up to nature, to show virtue her own feature, scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time his form and pressure." What Hamlet wants is for the actors to be moderate and natural in their depiction of life, not exaggerated, and not dull. The speech shows us the significance of how the fictional reality of art, can bring out the reality that Hamlet seeks in his uncle. He also believes that the theater exists to "hold the mirror up to nature" and hopes that Claudius will see his evil nature reflected in the performance.
In the words of Harvey Fierstein, “What looks absolutely fabulous in rehearsal can fall flat in front of an audience. The audience dictates what you do or don't change”. Clearly, the success or failure of any work of art depends, almost entirely, on its ability to engage and connect with its audience. Shakespeare, one of the greatest playwrights in history, certainly understood this concept. He targeted his Elizabethan audience skillfully, drawing them in and manipulating the way they interpreted his works. This is evident in one of his renowned plays, Hamlet. Attempts to target the audience are evident throughout the play, but focusing on one speech can provide a greater appreciation for Shakespeare’s deliberate efforts. In act four, scene two, while explaining that Polonius is dead, Hamlet says:
Shakespeare thus leaves his audience to fabricate their own perception with serving only minor stage directions. They are then left with Hamlet’s lingering words, actions, and the reactions to predisposed whether Hamlet’s madness is actually feigned or legitimate. Nevertheless, The evidence does not actually define Shakespeare’s character, Hamlet. To relate, modern audiences must do their research to become accustomed to the way of thinking done by people of the Renaissance. All in all, Hamlet’s true soundness is left up to the people of today’s
Act III, scene ii, when Hamlet is telling the actors how they should perform in front of Claudius can also have another meaning in which Shakespeare is telling the actors who will act out “Hamlet” how they should act it. Shakespeare is describing in detail how he wants the actors act, thus that they should all act natural and do not use too many gestures, speaking this through Hamlets words. Shakespeare could also be saying that he doesn’t want them to add anything of their own to the play, he want the play to be exactly the way he wrote it. Shakespeare sets up a standard for actors in his day so that they know how his plays should be acted out in theaters.
The possession of a higher power and authority is the foundation of an individual’s excessive pride, which ultimately restricts their rationality and leads to their downfall. In fact, through studying Lear in the love scene, Shakespeare has indefinitely characterised Lear as a hubristic monarch due to his initial power and authority, conveyed through the sennet and majestic plural used in Lear’s entrance and dialogue respectively. For example, Lear’s decision to ‘[divide] in three [his] kingdom’ so that ‘future strife may
Shakespeare’s plays were written in the 14th and 15th century in England, yet until this day it still has a huge influence on American English class. Why? Well because Shakespeare has a universal appeal with a rich language, complex characters with a theme that is timeless. Shakespeare should be taught more, one play per semester because it is part of American literature culture, it challenges students reading levels and as it expands students vocabulary and enriches their speaking. Shakespeare plays are relevant today as the themes of the plays involved what teenagers like and experience such as love, betrayal, courage,politics and corruption.The themes can be set in such basic forms that the plays are universal and timeless, it can set in
Hamlet tells the actors to “suit the action to the word, the word to the action… that [they] o’erstep not the modesty of nature.” The methods of balancing words and actions in performance finally leads Hamlet to “the purpose of playing… to hold, as ‘twere, the mirror up to nature, to show virtue her own feature, scorn her own image…” Ideally, the performers should act in a way that appears the least like a performance, and instead resembles the real world. The whole purpose of acting is to reflect nature, revealing its flaws and virtues in a unique and powerful way that can only be accomplished on the stage, so logically the acting must be as close to reality as possible. The more genuine the actor’s actions, words, and emotions are, the clearer the reflection of reality will be, and consequently the greater the play will
Throughout the United States and the entire world people are aware of Shakespeare; however, many people wonder why society wants their citizens to continue to read William Shakespeare’s plays and poems. Shakespeare continues to influence today’s environment and brings people together by speaking of a common author that most people know. All across the world, students must read at least one of Shakespeare’s works; which often develop those children who read his works into better writers. During the Elizabethan Era, William Shakespeare experienced an uneventful childhood and had a basic education; however, his life still seems to be shrouded with mystery and raises the argument that he was not only the most successful, but also the most mysterious playwright, actor, and poet from that time period.