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Hamlet and his State of Madness, 2006.
A look at Hamlet's apparent madness in the play 'Hamlet' by William Shakespeare.
1,650 words (approx. 6.6 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 53.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses the uncertainty surrounding Hamlet's apparent state of melancholy and madness. The paper describes his madness, reviewing how it develops, why it develops, and what purpose it serves for Hamlet.
From the Paper
"Yet, in marrying his mother so quickly, Claudius has done something that Hamlet's conscious cannot forgive. This leaves Hamlet at a point of inaction, where his desire to seek revenge is not great enough to overcome his cowardice. The ghost of his father and the message that he brings is then a way for Hamlet to force himself to take action. In short, Hamlet cannot choose to take revenge on Claudius willingly. Instead, he has to create a scenario for himself where he believes that he has no choice. When he imagines he sees his father's ghost and is told to take revenge, he has given himself such a scenario. Another important point that reveals Hamlet's madness is the actions he takes after he is told to take revenge. After speaking with the ghost, Hamlet swears that he will take revenge. However, he does not immediately choose to take revenge. Instead, he considers his actions and falls into a state of melancholy and madness."
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'A Raisin in the Sun', 2006.
A review of Lorraine Hansberry's 'A Raisin in the Sun'.
992 words (approx. 4.0 pages), 2 sources, MLA, $ 35.95
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Abstract
This paper reviews the play 'A Raisin in the Sun', by Lorraine Hansberry. According to the paper, 'A Raisin in the Sun' is about the dreams that people have. More specifically, it is about the dreams of people who do not have the opportunity to pursue those dreams. The paper reports how the main theme of the play is deciding what to do with a large sum of money that is won by one of the characters.
From the Paper
"He then describes the life his son will have. This description is partly about material possessions like their house with a gardener and a black Chrysler. However, Walter also describes how his son will be able to go to any school that he wants to and that his son will be able to be anything that he wants to be. As Walter says, "Just tell me, what it is you want to be--and you'll be it" (Hansberry 94). This shows that Walter's dream is linked to his desire for his son to be proud of him and for his son to have opportunities in life. Mama's dream is not to change as much as the others. Instead, she just wants her family to live in a safe neighborhood and have a home they can be proud of. The interesting thing about all of these dreams is that they are all worthwhile. All three of the characters have valuable uses for the money and want to use it to better their own futures. "
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The Supernatural in Shakespeare's Plays, 2007.
Examines how the supernatural is presented in plays by William Shakespeare.
1,375 words (approx. 5.5 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 45.95
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Abstract
William Shakespeare was in many ways a man of his time regarding his own beliefs in regards to religion, magic, and the supernatural. This paper examines how Shakespeare's family and historical environment clearly influenced the way that the supernatural was deployed in his later plays.
From the Paper
"All of these conflicting ideas about the supernatural and religion Shakespeare infused into his plays. For example, in Shakespeare's plays, the supernatural often appears during times of great national torment. In "Hamlet," after the murder of the king, the ghost of Hamlet's father comes back from purgatory to demand that his son avenge his death. Even before anything evil happens in "Macbeth," the witches prophesize doom for Scotland. In Julius Caesar, supernatural occurrences occur before Caesar's assassination."
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Faith in 'Oedipus Rex', 2006.
A discussion regarding the theme of faith in the play 'Oedipus Rex' by Sophocles.
1,824 words (approx. 7.3 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 58.95
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Abstract
This paper takes a look at the play 'Oedipus Rex' by Sophocles. According to the paper, 'Oedipus Rex' is based on a famous Greek myth about the king of Thebes, Oedipus, who fulfilled a prophecy that he would marry his mother and kill his father, despite a lifetime of trying to avoid it. This paper reviews the idea of faith and fate, both which are prevalent throughout this play.
From the Paper
"Jocasta, Oedipus' biological mother, and Laius, his biological father, both had faith in the gods' prophecy that their son was going to destroy them both, and therefore they took action to remove that possibility by attempting to kill him. However, this act of faith cannot be undone later, when it turns out that Oedipus actually survived, and despite their belief that they were safe from the prophecy's predicted doom. After Oedipus has been revealed by Tiresias to be the killer, he goes to Jocasta and tells her that the blind prophet had accused him. Jocasta attempts to comfort him by telling him that all prophets are false, using her own experience with the oracle that prophesied that her husband would be killed by his own son as an example of this. However, Jocasta does not realize that this part of the prophesy has already come to pass. Although she is denouncing her belief in prophesies, she has already acted out of faith in them, or else she would not have attempted to kill her son in the first place, and when she realized the fault of her choice, she will again have faith in prophesies. Jocasta tells Oedipus, "Fear? What should a man fear? It's all chance, chance rules our lives. Not a man on earth can see a day ahead, groping through the dark. Better to live at random, best we can. And as for this marriage with your mother--have no fear. Many a man before you, in his dreams, has shared his mother's bed. Take such things for shadows, nothing at all-- Live, Oedipus, as if there's no tomorrow!" (Sophocles) The audience knows that her faith that Oedipus would not kill his father and marry his mother will be overcome by a tragic return to faith in the gods."
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The Evil of Lady Macbeth, 2007.
This paper examines the wicked character of Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare's "Macbeth."
1,355 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 45.95
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Abstract
The paper analyzes Lady Macbeth and discusses how we see her evil throughout the play. The paper shows how she manipulates her husband and how she decides to murder Duncan and then plans the murder. The paper discusses how she is not willing to commit murder herself so that she does not need to take any responsibility and also examines how she responds to the murder. The paper highlights how she is more evil than her husband; while Macbeth completes an evil action, Lady Macbeth shows that she is evil in her actions and in her character. The paper discusses how this evil stems from her lack of regard for other people and her focus on what she wants at the expense of others.
From the Paper
"The first way that Lady Macbeth's evil is seen is in the way that she is willing to manipulate her husband. This occurs in Act 1, Scene 7, where she convinces Macbeth to commit the murder. At the start of the scene, Macbeth is applying reason to the situation and talking himself out of committing the murder. When Lady Macbeth enters he states his decision not to continue saying "We will proceed no further in this business" (I, vii). His reasons include that Duncan has been good to him. At this point, Macbeth seems like a good and reasonable man. Lady Macbeth then replies. Rather than acknowledge Macbeth's goodness, she chides him and calls him a coward."
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Shakespeare's "A Midsummer's Night Dream", 2007.
This paper compares and contrasts Shakespear's original version of "A Midsummer's Night Dream" with the film version.
990 words (approx. 4.0 pages), 2 sources, MLA, $ 35.95
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Abstract
The paper discusses how both the film and the original version of William Shakespeare's romantic comedy "A Midsummer's Night Dream" use the same words to tell a tale of temporarily thwarted young love. Yet, there are many differences the paper illustrates. The paper explains that because the film uses visual images to illustrate the words of the Shakespearean play and makes use of selective cutting to emphasize certain scenes over others, the film offers a more selective view of dreams and dreaming as opposed to the play that is viewed in its complete and uncut form.
From the Paper
"The nature of cinema allows the director of "A Midsummer's Night Dream" to make the fairies, such as Titania, Oberon, and Puck seem much more fantastical in contrast to the earth-bound mortals. The fairies float; strange, beautiful lights surround them. Yet in this rendition, they lose some of the earthier, humorous, and more interesting mortal qualities in contrast to the warring fairy characters in the play."
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William Shakespeare's "Othello", 2006.
This paper discusses the theme of jealousy in William Shakespeare's "Othello".
1,865 words (approx. 7.5 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 59.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that "Othello", like Shakespeare's other "big" plays, abounds in spectacular examples of theatrical effect, such as the brawls and the big pageantry;however, the theatrical effect of the rest of the play represents communication by gesture and look, the eloquent silences and whispered, spoken and shouted language. The author points out that jealousy in Shakespeare's "Othello" is a mask for the fear of death because what the jealous lover fears is that there will not be time or space enough for him. The paper relates that one of the peculiar splendors of "Othello" is that Othello's belated jealousy cannot be understood without first understanding Iago's primal envy of Othello, which is at the hidden center of the drama.
From the Paper
"Shakespeare's Iago appears in two aspects: his external appearance, as he reacts with others and his inner life as revealed by the soliloquies. Forget the soliloquies for a moment, and examine the face that Iago turns to the world. Here is a clever, ambitious man coolly manipulating others for his own ends. The current theories of will and reason he voices belong to his character both "psychologically" and dramatically. He denies the reality of loving feelings, they are only a lust of the blood, a permission of the will; he asserts the supremacy of the will and intelligence, ..."
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Theater Genres, 2007.
This paper discusses genres of the theater, both past and present.
1,509 words (approx. 6.0 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 49.95
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Abstract
In this article, the writer discusses that, as noted by Alvin Goldfarb and Edwin Wilson in the text 'Theater: The Lively Art', quite often it is difficult to identify a play as either tragic or comic, simply based upon its plot. The writer points out that the way that the author of a play chooses to depict certain events determines the audience's reaction, whether viewers will gasp in horror or roar with laughter. Further, the writer notes that the difficulty in determining the genre of the play based upon plot alone, however, is best illustrated, perhaps in comparing some of Shakespeare's plays with exactly the same plots. The writer concludes that when classifying the genre of a play, one must consider the overall texture of the work, as the playwright usually cannot, nor wants, to create a seamless effect of laughter or sadness.
From the Paper
"Goldfarb and Wilson point out that the genres of tragedy and comedy themselves have undergone substantial reconfiguration over the course of the history of drama. Classical tragedy used to only involve august personages, like kings and great heroes, along the lines of Oedipus Rex or Jason. Later, in modern tragedy, ordinary men and women's lives were given epic scope and drama, like Arthur Miller's tragic figure of the salesman Willy Loman in "Death of a Salesman," or the Iceman Hickey, the man who murders his wife in Eugene O'Neill's "The Iceman Cometh." These modern characters were not heroes or gods. Their actions were deemed worthy by the modern playwright of the audience's interest, and the main character's tragic fall is viewed with great sadness, even though the men are quite ordinary."
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"Steel Magnolias", 2007.
An examination Robert Harling's play "Steel Magnolias".
881 words (approx. 3.5 pages), 0 sources, $ 31.95
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Abstract
The paper discusses Robert Harling's play, "Steel Magnolias", about six Southern women and how their lives interact. The paper explores how the events center around the marriage and early married life of Shelby, M'lynn's daughter. The paper further explores the subplots, which revolve around people and events related to Truvy's hair salon. The paper includes a detailed character analysis of Oiser, one of the main characters.
From the Paper
"The sound system made sure the audience realized that things are not always what they seem by the occasional sound of shotgun blasts, as someone tried to drive a large flock of birds out of a tree so they wouldn't spoil Shelby's outdoor wedding. The sound was harsh, unexpected, and even with a character's explanation, unsettling. It prepared the audience for the fact that this play, which at first appears to be a superficial and humorous look at small town Southern life, would include a terrible tragedy."
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Richard Addinsell, 2007.
This paper discusses the life and achievements of composer Richard Addinsell.
1,770 words (approx. 7.1 pages), 7 sources, MLA, $ 57.95
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Abstract
The paper relates that in the past few centuries, there have been countless classical composers whose music has inspired and encouraged populations around the globe. One such composer is Richard Addinsell, whose legendary works have provided entertainment for moviegoers and theater-attendants for generations. The paper reveals that he is credited for over 40 film scores and he successfully wrote music for nearly every genre in film, from historical documentaries to light hearted comedies. The paper details his personal history and his rise to fame. The paper concludes that his level of skill as well as his ability to orchestrate music flawlessly and seamlessly has made Richard Addinsell a composer to be remembered and revered for generations.
From the Paper
"Addinsell's music was primarily written for piano, either in solo or duet, as well as for orchestras or ensembles. Varying from passionate, somber pieces of tragedy to light-hearted pieces for comedy to slow moving waltzes, Addinsell's musical style is varied and versatile, which are the qualities that allowed his career to thrive in the film industry. Paid by the film studios for specific works, the funding from such endeavors allowed him to write music for less lucrative genres such as theater and radio. As a modern classical composer, Addinsell was able to combine the richness of piano with full orchestra accompaniment to provide thundering war marches, when required, or to use a simple single piano to show a softer, more subtle element of a film."
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"Pygmalion" and "Major Barbara", 2007.
An analysis of love in "Pygmalion" and "Major Barbara" written by George Bernard Shaw .
866 words (approx. 3.5 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 30.95
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Abstract
This paper compares the love depicted in the plays "Pygmalion" and "Major Barbara" written by George Bernard Shaw. The paper suggests that the final outcome of the analysis is an intermingling of the two perspectives on love and it notes that in both situations, the heroes attract each other in spite of the paradoxical opposition.
From the Paper
"In opposition, their projections in the real world, Lisa and Cusins, trapped in reality, are only capable of projecting human love limited to the sole adulation of man, as the main actor of the reality they live in. Although Lisa loves her master, her passion, being deeply anchored in the every day life, she proves herself more powerful, succeeding in tearing down the wall her master had created around himself, by projecting her newly tailored personality upon her master. Thus, the creation becomes more powerful than its creator "But [with sudden humility] I shall miss you, Eliza"(Shaw, 1916, act V). On a similar note, Cusins represents the source of physical love whose subject becomes Barbara, as her own mother admits: "I have a very strong suspicion that you went to the Salvation Army to worship Barbara and nothing else" Shaw, 2000, act I). He loves her earthly existence, and the person her ideals embody."
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"The Cherry Orchard", 2007.
An analysis of the characters' achievements of happiness in the play "The Cherry Orchard" by Anton Chekhov.
1,293 words (approx. 5.2 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 43.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses the pursuit of happiness in Anton Chekhov's play "The Cherry Orchard." The paper analyzes the characters within the play and looks at the actions they take in order to attempt to achieve happiness. It then discusses which of the characters did, in fact, manage to achieve the happiness they were pursuing. The paper suggests that real happiness comes from personal satisfaction and a willingness to take action and improve one's life.
From the Paper
"For many of the characters in the play, happiness is more like the absence of misery. This is seen by the way that the characters spend their time escaping into the past to hide from their problems. Lyobov Andreyevna is the main example of this. This is specific to her memories of the death of her son. This is the reason that she leaves her home and travels overseas. She then spends her time on frivolous things that do not really achieve true happiness. One good example of this is seen where she hires an orchestra for a party, despite not having any money to pay them. This shows that she views happiness as being based on short-term pleasure. In effect, her life is about escaping from misery by constantly seeking pleasure. This does not allow her to achieve any true happiness."
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