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?Hedda Gabler?, 2002.
A character study of "Hedda" in Henrik Isben?s play, "Hedda Gabler".
1,352 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 45.95
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Abstract
This paper examines how the power of human sadness is illustrated in Henrik Isben?s play, "Hedda Gabler", and how ,by employing dramatic techniques, Isben is able to create a complex character inHedda. It analyzes how Isben supplies us with many insights into Hedda?s character and how, through powerful devices such as circular conclusion, symbolism and imagery, we are able to piece together aspects of Hedda?s personality that might have led her to commit suicide. It looks at how her pain and loss of control push her to believe that the only solution is removing herself from the situation.
From the Paper
"Another aspect of the play that the casual observer might miss is Hedda?s true character. Many might simply pass her off as a spoiled snob, but upon closer inspection, Hedda is a woman that was suffering. In fact, Mary Kay Norseng notes that the ?evil? aspects of Hedda?s behavior are more provocative than her pain, but that her pain provides the key to her ?inner logic of her character? (Norseng). Norseng even goes as far to say that Hedda?s suicide ?is not inextricably intertwined in the roots of her past. It is a whim of the present? (Norseng). Norseng also adds that a common misunderstanding about suicide is that it is a selfish act."
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Ancient and Modern Theater, 2002.
A comparison between ancient Greek plays and their modern day adaptations in theater.
2,614 words (approx. 10.5 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 78.95
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Abstract
This paper shows that there are clear connections between the classical and modern theater in Greece just as there are clear connections between the theater of classical Greece and the modern theater of the West in general. The writer explains that much of what we believe to be proper theater-making comes from classical works, including the same ideas about character, motif and plot.
From the Paper
"The works of the ancient Greek playwrights are difficult for us to read within the context of the 21st century because most people today believe in the validity of the idea of free will. This inclination towards believing in the importance of free will is especially important for Americans, since we have all been (more or less) raised by the national philosophy that dictates to us from childhood onward that anyone can grow up to be president, that we can ? and indeed are responsible ? for making of our lives what we will."
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Tennessee Williams' "The Glass Menagerie", 2002.
Summarizes "The Glass Menagerie" by Tennessee Williams and explains the symbolism he used throughout the play.
3,420 words (approx. 13.7 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 96.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses the story behind the play, "The Glass Menagerie". The focus is on explaining the symbols used in the play. Some of the symbols explained are the fire escape, the use of irony, the glass menagerie, the search for a man by both Laura and Amanda. The paper concludes by suggesting that the family in this play is dysfunctional and explains the reasons for this suggestion.
From the Paper
"Amanda is obsessed with her past as she constantly reminds her children of ?one Sunday afternoon in Blue Mountain? when she received seventeen gentlemen callers (Williams 32). Amanda refuses to acknowledge that her daughter is handicapped and refers to her disability as ?a little defect (that is) hardly noticeable? (Williams 45). Only for brief moments does Amanda ever admit that her daughter is ?crippled? but then quickly reverts back into her state of denial. Amanda doesn't see anything in realistic terms. She believes that the gentleman caller, Jim, is going to be the one man who will rescue Laura, even though she has never seen or spoken to him at this point. Again, she is wrapped up in her own fantasies and delusions about men, who must act as saviors to all young women."
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?King Lear?, 2002.
Discusses the character of Edmund in William Shakespeare's play.
847 words (approx. 3.4 pages), 4 sources, APA, $ 30.95
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Abstract
Edmund, the illegitimate son of the Earl of Gloucester, is at the center of many of the horrific events in "King Lear" by William Shakespeare. The paper shows that his actions are motivated by the circumstances of his birth, as both illegitimate and younger than his brother Edgar, Edmund is unlikely to ever have the power and influence his father enjoys. The paper shows that he is the ?unholy? son, the one that will never be fully accepted by society. The paper explores how the economic and social consequences of Edmund?s birth shape his personality and behavior.
From the Paper
"Edmund?s knowledge of and exposure to circles of power and influence has only whetted his appetite for the title, wealth and power that legally must go to Edgar. Edmund plots to usurp his brother?s birthright for himself. He goes about this logically and calmly. Quoting Edmund, William J. Bennett (1998) points out that although in this age of science and research we have many explanations for why people act as they do, Edmund scorned making excuses for his behavior (Bennett, 1998). Edmund is remarkably frank and honest about himself. He says he does not mind being a bastard, because it allows him to maneuver outside society?s rules."
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"A Doll's House", 2002.
An examination of the significance of the title in Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House".
4,125 words (approx. 16.5 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 110.95
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Abstract
This paper provides a brief outline of the play and the significance of the title and how it contributes to the theme of the play. The theme is then discussed, followed by a discussion of how the title succeeds and how it fails. Finally, three alternative titles are provided, including an illustration of why these three titles would be better options.
From the Paper
""A Doll's House" revolves around the character of Nora Helmer. Nora is a character who is defined by the role that she is placed in as a woman. She has gone from her father's home directly to the home of her husband. Nora has never been an independent woman but has always seen herself based on how the male figure in her life sees her. First, she has been a daughter. Then she has been a wife. She has never been just Nora. The story begins on Christmas Eve as Nora and her husband Torvald look forward to the Christmas they will spend together. The events of the play begin to unfold as Kristine Linde visits and Nora admits to her that she borrowed money without telling her husband and has been trying to repay it. The plot thickens as Nils Krogstad arrives, an employee of Torvald's who is being fired."
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?Mrs. Warren?s Profession?, 2002.
Examines the theme of the role of women in society in George Bernard Shaw's Victorian play.
2,350 words (approx. 9.4 pages), 5 sources, APA, $ 72.95
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Abstract
"Mrs. Warren's Profession" by George Bernard Shaw is a play written in 1894. The roles that women play in this masterpiece show that Shaw was far ahead of his time in his thoughts about what women should do and be. The paper shows that in this work, Shaw presented a new vision of an intellectual, entrepreneurial woman and challenged the conventional roles imposed by society. He also included accounts of women victimized by a capitalist society and defended their rights to take whatever actions they had to in order to changer their circumstances even if that meant prostitution. The paper shows that in fact, Shaw?s beliefs are consistent with modern-day feminism with only one exception. Shaw seemed to fear that a woman?s independence and choice of a career had to come at the expense of something else, namely love and family. Nonetheless, ?Mrs. Warren?s Profession? is still revolutionary in comparison to the idealized Victorian version of what a woman should be.
From the Paper
"Shaw?s view that women must sacrifice love and relations with family members is the most disappointing aspect of his play. While the majority of his work represents a dramatic leap forward for women in the Victorian time, he hasn?t allowed for women to progress in their intellectual growth and entrepreneurship without a consequence. He seems to support their advancement, but is at the same time, afraid of it. This is apparent in Praed?s questions to Vivie, ?What happens to the world of chivalry, feeling, and beauty in the modern business world? Does practicality not appear more viable than romance in a world where sentiment has been reduced to sentimentality?? Regrettably, these concerns are still present in today?s society where it?s argued that a woman going to work will negatively impact the unity of the family and the nurturing of their children."
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Blanche Dubois and Daisy Buchanan, 2002.
A comparison of these two female protagonists from "A Streetcar Named Desire" (Tennessee Williams) and "The Great Gatsy" (F. Scott Fitzgerald), respectively.
1,487 words (approx. 5.9 pages), 2 sources, MLA, $ 49.95
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Abstract
Blanche Dubois and Daisy Buchanan are two main characters in literature. Blanche is the main character in Tennessee Williams' play "A Streetcar Named Desire" and Daisy is the main character in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby". An analysis of these two characters in this paper shows that while they are similar based on their upbringing and their need to hide from reality, they are opposites on all other fronts, including how their upbringing has influenced them, what they are concerned with, how they experience love, whether they are willing to make sacrifices, whether they are able to let go of the past and how their problems are resolved.
From the Paper
"Another difference in the two characters is how they experience love. Daisy appears to be incapable of love. While she does claim to have loved Gatsby in their past, she quickly forgets him when he goes to war and she begins seeing other men. She also claims to love him in the present but when it comes the time to make a decision, she chooses Tom because he has wealth. In addition, she allows Gatsby to take the blame when she runs over Myrtle Wilson and does not even attend Gatsby's funeral. These are all signs that Daisy does not feel love, but only experiences love based on how it benefits her. Blanche is almost the complete opposite. She feels love deeply, to the point where she cannot let go of the love she feels for her husband Stanley."
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Stanislavsky, 2002.
Explores how Russian history influenced the theories of Constantin Stanislavsky and Russian theater in general.
1,754 words (approx. 7.0 pages), 10 sources, MLA, $ 56.95
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Abstract
Constantin Stanislavsky is the father of modern acting theory. His theories which he extols in his four books, "My Life in Art" (1924), "An Actor Prepares" (1936), "Building a Character" (1941) and "Creating a Role" (1961) have had an unparalleled effect on actors and acting instructors throughout the world. Acting theorists such as Vsevelod Meyerhold, Uta Hagen and Bertold Brecht have all taken his theories into account while developing their own. Indeed, entire movements in world drama have been in part inspired by the work of Stanislavsky.
This paper focuses on Stanislavsky's influence on Russia. During his life and his career, Russia went through many changes. Two major events in Russian history would determine the fate of theatre and as a result Stanislavsky. The first was the failed revolution in 1905, or ?The Great Rehearsal,? as Lenin called it. The second major event which affected Stanislavsky (which in turn affected Russian theater) was the 1917 revolution.
From the Paper
"Konstantin Stanislavsky developed the Moscow Art Theatre in 1898. The creation of this particular theatre was important in that it differed from many of the other theatres of the time. It was a fully professional theatre organization and it emphasized new plays as opposed to older work. Stanislavsky believed that new plays would bring the theatre to life. His theatrical philosophy was that the actor was an educator and that plays were tools of education. As a result the initial work produced at the theatre was not successful. It wasn?t until Stanislavsky partnered with a young playwright named Anton Chekhov that the theatre attained any commercial success."
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?Othello?, 2002.
Discusses observations and interpretation in the plot of William Shakespeare's play.
1,450 words (approx. 5.8 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 48.95
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Abstract
The plot of Shakespeare's "Othello" relies on interpretation rather than observation. Iago is able to shift the way that Othello interprets what should be meaningless observations. The paper shows that by doing so, Iago is successful in making Othello believe that his wife is cheating on him when she is not. This illustrates that what is observed is given meaning by how it is interpreted. It also illustrates how one can be fooled into interpreting things incorrectly, especially when another person has the ability to deceive effectively.
From the Paper
"It is worthwhile to consider exactly how Iago manages to convince Othello that an affair is happening. The first important aspect is that Iago uses Othello's own nature against him. From the beginning, Iago recognizes that Othello is prone to jealousy. He specifically chooses to make Othello believe that his wife is having an affair because he knows that Othello's nature will compel him to experience jealousy. As Iago says, "The Moor is of a free and open nature, / That thinks men honest that but seem to be so, / And will as tenderly be led by the nose / As asses are? (I,iii). This is exactly what Iago does, using Othello's nature to make him believe what he wants him to believe. One of the most important aspects is that the more jealous and angry Othello becomes, the less rational he becomes."
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Arts-Based Learning, 2002.
A brief literature review of teaching children through art and music.
713 words (approx. 2.9 pages), 10 sources, APA, $ 25.95
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Abstract
Children are natural artists, often using arts as a means to express themselves through color, form, sound and movement. Arts based learning is a vehicle in which students can learn subjects such as language, history and mathematics through poetry and song, narratives and drawings, dance and drama. The paper shows that arts-based learning supports a stronger model for engaging individual learning styles and preferences and tapping into children?s ?multiple intelligences.? Arts based learning also has the ability to increase student self-esteem by encouraging many different forms of self-expression of knowledge. The paper reviews literature on the subject.
From the Paper
"Elliot Eisner supports the concept of arts based learning and suggests that by teaching reading and writing through the use of alternative mediums in the arts, such as stories, paintings and song, learners become more actively engaged from an experiential standpoint (Eisner, 1994). ?To neglect the contribution of the arts in education, either through inadequate time, resources, or poorly trained teachers is to deny children access to one of the most stunning aspects of their culture and one of the most potent means for developing their minds? (Eisner, 1987, Music Educators Journal). Eisner believes that arts based education provides an outlet for students to express their knowledge and creativity by engaging all of the senses, thus allowing student?s to tap into their intrinsic learning styles."
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?Hamlet?, 2002.
An analysis of the main character in William Shakespeare's play.
1,169 words (approx. 4.7 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 40.95
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Abstract
William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" (1600-01) is regarded by many scholars and critics as his finest play. The main protagonist, being Hamlet, the so-called "Dark Prince" of Shakespearean tragedy, is an extremely complex man with a great depth of personality who "suffers from insecurity and a sense of the absurd. . . and as a man and a revenger, shifts from an external struggle for vengeance to an internal one". This paper analyzes Hamlet's character and discusses whether his madness was real or feigned.
From the Paper
"Another incident closely related to a form of mental torture occurs when Hamlet finds himself alone with Claudius and slyly decides against instituting his revenge towards the new king until he is in a position of utter debauchery. "When he is drunk asleep, or in his rage, or in the incestuous bed" (III.iii. 92), Hamlet will then kill him and send his soul to eternal damnation. This may seem like an act of pure brutality, but in fact it is quite fair, due to Hamlet's father being murdered before given the chance to confess his sins to God."
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?The Night of the Iguana?, 2002.
A review of ?The Night of the Iguana? by Tennessee Williams.
1,447 words (approx. 5.8 pages), 4 sources, APA, $ 48.95
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Abstract
This paper examines how "Night of the Iguana" is a tale about real characters with quirks and mental problems, such as Maxine, the brash hotel owner and Shannon, the partly deranged tour director. Specifically, it analyzes the underlying themes that are brought out by Tennessee Williams such as the playwright's beliefs about humanity, morality, cruelty and evil in the world and what the drama says about redemption and healing. It discusses how "The Night of the Iguana" is more than a play about sex and healing, it is a play about a man who cannot find himself and so allows others to run rampant over his life.
From the Paper
"Maxine may be the sanest character in the play, but again, she is not the most moral person. She does not miss her late husband mostly because they had not had sex in years. She wants Shannon to stay with her, and she will even give up her Mexican consorts who have been keeping her busy at night. However, she is the character who really understands everyone around her, and she is the character that can rope in Shannon, while the others cannot. She tells Shannon quite sagely, "MAXINE: "We've both reached a point where we've got to settle for something that works for us in our lives ? even if it isn't on the highest kind of level." She understands herself, which is more than most of the other characters do, and so she is a leader, not a follower. She may be immoral, but she is humane, which also sets her apart from the other characters. She may indeed want to get Shannon in that "tied-up situation," but she does it so well that he knows he is tied up, but simply has no other options."
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