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King lear and macbeth comparison
King lear and macbeth comparison
King lear and macbeth comparison
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The Irony Depicted in Shakespeare's Henry V
As Norman Rabkin has observed, Henry V is a play which organizes critics into "rival camps" of interpretation (35). It can be seen as a play that is ambiguous; a play that exposes the playwright's own indecision; a play that aggressively takes sides in favour of nationalistic fervour which Shakespeare himself didn't believe in (35). All of these views, writes Rabkin, are wrong since according to him the play's "ultimate power" lies in its ability to "point in two opposite directions, virtually daring us to choose one of the two opposed interpretations" (36). In fact, it is Rabkin that is wrong: not in his supposition that the play "dares" the audience to choose, but rather, that a reading of Henry V cannot simultaneously contain all of the above. Another view would be that the ambiguity, the indecision, the disbelief and the forced choice, are all part and parcel of an urgently ironic reading. This can be justified through the ultimate irony of the play: that as "character driven," it lacks a real character to drive. "The King," after all, is an abstract concept bounded by prescribed rules of conduct in contradiction to subjective agency. This reading borrows from post-colonial critiques such as Spivak, since it leads to authority as being responsible for generating its own excesses by virtue of what it is; it winds up parodying itself. It is a devastating critique of governance and for those that seek to govern; in this reading, Henry V may go beyond Machiavellian orchestrations to undermining the entire project of governance.
Many literary critics have argued that Henry can be interpreted as Machiavellian in some respects, and this can be related to recurring themes of interio...
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...polemic-- does not diminish but rather provokes and sustains a dialogic discourse. Admittedly, there is little danger of this not happening without an ironic reading; Henry V, after all, continues to be performed hundreds of years after it was written. But certainly an ironic reading brings us closer to unexplored theatrical potentials, not to mention the dismantling --if only temporarily--of societal assumptions of governance.
Bibliography:
Brennan, Anthony. Henry V. NY: Twayne Publishers, 1992.
Rabkin, Norman. "Either/Or: Responding to Henry V," William Shakespeare's Henry V.
NY: Chelsea House Publishers, 1988.
Siemon, James R. "The 'Image Bound': Icon and Iconoclasm in Henry V," William Shakespeare's Henry V.
Shakespeare, William. Henry V. The Norton Shakespeare Histories. Stephen Greenblat, General Editor.
NY: W.W. Norton & Company, 1997.
For hundreds of years, those who have read Henry V, or have seen the play performed, have admired Henry V's skills and decisions as a leader. Some assert that Henry V should be glorified and seen as an "ideal Christian king". Rejecting that idea completely, I would like to argue that Henry V should not be seen as the "ideal Christian king", but rather as a classic example of a Machiavellian ruler. If looking at the play superficially, Henry V may seem to be a religious, moral, and merciful ruler; however it was Niccolo Machiavelli himself that stated in his book, The Prince, that a ruler must "appear all mercy, all faith, all honesty, all humanity, [and] all religion" in order to keep control over his subjects (70). In the second act of the play, Henry V very convincingly acts as if he has no clue as to what the conspirators are planning behind his back, only to seconds later reveal he knew about their treacherous plans all along. If he can act as though he knows nothing of the conspirators' plans, what is to say that he acting elsewhere in the play, and only appearing to be a certain way? By delving deeper into the characteristics and behaviors of Henry V, I hope to reveal him to be a true Machiavellian ruler, rather than an "ideal king".
...remained constant regardless of environment. Evidently, the play itself manipulates the audience’s perception of reality as it presents a historical recount designed to solidify the ruling monarch, and condemn Richard. This one-sided portrayal is achieved through animal imagery of a “usurping boar”, as Shakespeare’s pro-monarch propaganda highlights how duplicitous representations of reality may influence a society, regardless of context.
As it becomes a successful market in Brazil, the supply is increasing as new companies join the market. The shifts have caused the market equilibrium of both the price and quantity to increase; between 2000 and 2009 the price increased up to 6000% (task sheet figure). The market has grown drastically, the supply increasing from 104 874 tonne in 2005 to 115 947 tonne in 2009 (IBGE, 2008, 2010). This market is efficient and is generating a gross net income without any intervention from the Government. However as the acai berry is exported, the local consumers have to compete with higher prices.
Machiavelli, Niccolo. "From The Prince." The Bedford Companion to Shakespeare. Russ McDonald. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's. 2001. 334-336.
...and became a famous American writer. A kid who never had full academic about poem or any kind of literature became a famous kid by never giving up his dream. Besides the lessons, the author described really deeply about Mark Twain characteristics, which show us a deeply understanding about Mark Twain. The story shows us how diligence Sammy was. Even when he was twenty years old. He still learning. His steamboat experience taught him how to remember and keep careful notes. His reading gave him a great knowledge of history and poetry. Working on different wallpaper taught him to report what’s happenings. The book also show use about what Mark Twain interested in when he was young, but some of them didn’t have any clue to prove it. The book was really useful for biography. Moreover, by using simple words, it’s useful for children to learn more about history and poetry.
Emerson, Everett. Mark Twain: A Literary Life. Philadelphia, Pa: Univ. of Pennsylvania Press, 1999. Print.
Shakespeare, William. "Henry V." The Norton Shakespeare: Histories. Eds. Stephen Greenblatt, Walter Cohen, Jean E. Howard, and Katherine Eisaman Maus. London: Norton, 1997. 726-795.
There are many famous authors such as, Shakespeare, Dante, and Dickens that stands out in American Literature history. However, there is one particular author that will catch your eye for his inimitable style of writing. Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, is one of the greatest authors that we learn about in school. His most famous works include, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, along with its sequel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Lyttle 123). He was not just known for his unique writing style, but also his sense of humor. The writing style that Twain wrote in, would not be tolerated today, considering there are numerous punctuation errors that show up in his work. He spoke with such big vocabulary that many people did not understand at the time. His writing style and the type of stories he wrote is what made Mark Twain stand out to the world.
Dramatic irony is when the audience or reader knows the words and actions of the characters in a work of literature, but certain characters in the story do not know them. The reader or audience has a greater knowledge of many of the characters themselves. Shakespeare employs dramatic irony in many of his tragedies; so that the audience is engaged, and so they are able to witness characters errors in their action, predict the fate of the characters, and experience feelings of tragedy and grief. As a tragedy, Hamlet deals with the problems that arise as a result of Hamlet's attempt to avenge his father's death. Throughout the play Hamlet is on the search of his self, while his actions are shaping who he really is. As he is attempting to find himself his actions go too far and cause many deaths even his own, and he never gets the opportunity of finding his true self. According to the Whit Cream team, “your choices, values and perspectives that shape your soul” define your self.
Shakespeare constructs King Richard III to perform his contextual agenda, or to perpetrate political propaganda in the light of a historical power struggle, mirroring the political concerns of his era through his adaptation and selection of source material. Shakespeare’s influences include Thomas More’s The History of King Richard the Third, both constructing a certain historical perspective of the play. The negative perspective of Richard III’s character is a perpetuation of established Tudor history, where Vergil constructed a history intermixed with Tudor history, and More’s connection to John Morton affected the villainous image of the tyrannous king. This negative image is accentuated through the antithesis of Richards treachery in juxtaposition of Richmond’s devotion, exemplified in the parallelism of ‘God and Saint George! Richmond and victory.’ The need to legitimize Elizabeth’s reign influenced Shakespeare’s portra...
Shakespeare’s ‘King Henry IV Part I’ centres on a core theme of the conflict between order and disorder. Such conflict is brought to light by the use of many vehicles, including Hal’s inner conflict, the country’s political and social conflict, the conflict between the court world and the tavern world, and the conflicting moral values of characters from each of these worlds. This juxtaposition of certain values exists on many levels, and so is both a strikingly present and an underlying theme throughout the play. Through characterization Shakespeare explores moral conflict, and passage three is a prime example of Falstaff’s enduring moral disorder. By this stage in the play Hal has ‘reformed’, moved away from his former mentor Falstaff and become a good and honourable prince.
“I am not an American, I am the American” (Duncan and Ward). Quoting his friend Frank Fuller, Twain boldly declares himself the embodiment of American living, and in all honesty, with some right to do so. Twain was born in 1835 to parents John and Jane Clemens under Halley’s Comet in Florida, Missouri and later moved to Hannibal. He would later die under the same comet 75 years later in 1910. He traveled along the American South and Midwest writing as he went, originally moving west with his brother, Orion, in 1861 hoping to strike it rich in Nevada’s silver rush (Ramussen). Twain’s real name was Samuel Longhorne Clemens but took on the name Mark Twain as a reference to a measurement in his job as steamboat captain, a job that would inspire many of his most famous books, including The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Due to his largely popular books that were told from the point of views of a young children, he is frequently referred to as a “chronicler of childhood” meaning he portrayed adolescence in a way that was both relatable to kids and adults, and was almost a record keeper of the American child’s imagination in his time. He was not like the cookie-cutter authors of his time who mimicked the writing style of English writers, and used his own style and flow of writing. Mark Twain catalyzed a change in American literature by finding his voice through his individuality and consequently encouraging other writers to follow suit.
Mark Twain is a one of the famous American author who set a milestone in American literature history. He used a humor and ironic elements in his book to portray the lesson to his readers. Also, he liked to satirize the social system and morality to educate the people. Therefore, in his three famous works, The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn, The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg, The Mysterious Stranger, he satirized the human’s selfishness, evilness, and greediness.
Mark Twain, the famous American author, known as the “Father of American Literature” and best known for The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer was born on the 30th of November in 1835. Born with the name Samuel Langhorne Clemens, he chose to be called under the pen name of Mark Twain. Clemens worked along the Mississippi River early in his life. “Mark Twain” was a measuring term used to describe how deep the water was along the river. After years of work at the Mississippi River, he turned to working as a journalist. He became known nationally when his humorous tall tale, “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”, was published in November of 1865, in a New York Weekly, The Saturday Press. Later he became famous for more works such as Innocents Abroad, Roughing IT, The Prince and the Pauper, Life on the Mississippi, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, Pudd’nhead Wilson,
There are many quotes to describe a classical American author, but Ulysses S. Grant describes one particular true American author as “. . . the simple soldier, who, all untaught of the silken phrase markers, linked words together with an art surpassing the art of schools and into them put a something which will bring American ears, as long as America shall last, the roll of his vanished drums and the thread of his marching hosts.” (American Experience, Grant’s Memoirs) Mark Twain is this simple soldier who is a true American author who expressed America with his writings. He fought for America in his writings as he did when he fought in the Civil War; the realistic literary time period. And his travels around the nation and life-changing experiences influenced him to write for the American readers to imagine what he viewed. Twain is a true American author due to his life events that influenced him to share with his beloved readers.