Essay on William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare Ask anyone who Shakespeare was, and he or she will immediately rattle off at least three different plays that were required readings in English, not to mention a few blockbuster movies bearing his name. Many revere the works of Shakespeare as paramount in the world of literature, dedicating entire books, classes and festivals to the study and celebration of his work. Although the ancient language is a common stumbling block for even the most seasoned readers, his varied tales

Never looking beyond what eyes see, humans often trust those who may seem honest and trustworthy. In the play Othello by William Shakespeare, the theme of appearance and reality is central. The relationship between Othello, the protagonist, and Iago, the antagonist, is deceitful, malicious, and troublesome. Iago’s envy of others drives him to destroy the lives of multiple characters by pretending to be their ally. By trusting Iago, Othello 's confidence is broken because he realizes he could no longer

William Shakespeare's usage of symbols and metaphors throughout his literature opens an eye to the reader. In William Shakespeare's, "Hamlet" metaphors are used and spoken by Hamlet. Hamlet uses these metaphors to show his emotions of anger and to depict false identity. Hamlet himself speaks, "Nor customary suits of solemn black, Nor windy suspiration of forced breath, No, nor the fruitful river in the eye, Nor the dejected 'havior of the visage" (1.2.79-89). This passage appears when Hamlet responds

In the play Othello by William Shakespeare, you see how language features are used throughout, to portray important messages. Shakespeare uses imagery to display that hate is the key to jealousy’s destruction and dramatic irony to show us to be careful of who we trust, as trusting someone too much can cause us to be manipulated. Hell and devil imagery is a language feature used in the play to focus the reader’s attention on the important message that hate is the root of jealousy. Hell and devil

refuted, as good and evil provide contrast to each other, and yet it is often impossible to tell them apart. Good and evil are often blurred by manipulation, leading them to be nearly indistinguishable from each other. In the play Othello by William Shakespeare, Iago plots to betray his General; Othello, after he promotes a man named Cassio rather than himself. Iago commits many immoral acts to keep his betrayal hidden, such as killing his best friend, and even his own wife. All the while, Iago is

The work of William Shakespeare is, to many, the purest representation of theatricality there is. He is the most instantly and internationally recognizable playwright, and so works like Hamlet and Macbeth have come to be seen as staples of the dramatic genre, expected to be studied and performed, with critical acclaim, on a massive scale. However, as with so many forms of art, Shakespeare 's work was not necessarily appreciated as such in his own time, specifically by certain critics of the theatre

Topics involving cross-dressing, homosexuality, and marginalized positions of gender have been in circulation for years, and William Shakespeare is no novice when expanding on these particular subjects within Twelfth Night. A play most popular for its ambiguous characters unruly romance, and slapstick comedy, Twelfth Night displays the ultimate love triangle that pans out when Viola washes ashore the city of Illyria and takes on the appearance of a man. Viola, now known as Cesario, finds work with

Measure for Measure is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603 or 1604. Originally published in the First Folio of 1623, where it was listed as a comedy. The play's first recorded performance occurred in 1604. The play's main themes include justice, "mortality and mercy in Vienna," and the dichotomy between corruption and purity: "some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall." Mercy and virtue prevail, as the play does not end tragically, with virtues such as compassion

When interpreting literature, especially that of William Shakespeare, it can be very difficult to decipher the true meaning behind the words. Symbolism, similes, metaphors and the likes are common in many poems and plays where the meaning or meanings of the piece may be clear, vague, and or open for reader interpretation. Another important consideration when analyzing play or drama lies within the classification of the piece of work in terms of comedy or tragedy. As with poems and other forms of

There is no questioning that William Shakespeare’s plays are influential. They were written centuries ago, yet are still enjoyed by people to this day, and hold a place in modern high school and university curricula. However, as with many other literary works, some of Shakespeare’s plays are received better by audiences and readers than others. Romeo and Juliet, the tragic story of two “star-cross’d lovers” (Shakespeare, 5) who pursue their love for each other despite the feud between their families