| Papers [11-20] of 1862 :: [Page 2 of 187] | | Go to page : <— 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 —> | |
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Hiding the Evidence in "Trifles", 2008.
This paper analyzes why the women in susan Glaspell's play "Trifles" hide the evidence that would incriminate Mrs. Wright in the murder of her husband..
888 words (approx. 3.6 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 31.95
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Abstract
The paper explains that the women in "Trifles" hide the evidence of Mr. Wright's murder as a way to show solidarity and understanding to Mrs. Wright, as well as to get even with the men who are always belittling and criticizing them. The paper relates that the men are none the wiser, while the women stand together in support of their fallen sister.
From the Paper
"It is not surprising the women decide to hide the evidence from the men in this story. It would have been far more surprising if they had handed it over to the men, especially after the way they talked down to them and belittled them. The women are much smarter and more attuned to the residents of the house, and they understand why Mrs. Wright killed her husband - in effect, to quote from the popular musical "Chicago," "He Had it Coming." Thus, the women hid the evidence because of solidarity, understanding, and most of all, because of how men treat women - it was their attempt at getting even for all the "trifles" heaped on them throughout life."
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Victims of Social Mores or Victims of Character?, 2008.
An analysis of the main characters in Anton Chekhov's "The Lady with the Dog," Leo Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilyich" and Henrik Ibsen "Hedda Gabler".
1,232 words (approx. 4.9 pages), 6 sources, MLA, $ 41.95
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Abstract
The paper questions whether society makes the man or whether the character of the individual determines his or her fate. The paper studies the protagonists of the 19th century stories "The Death of Ivan Ilyich," "The Lady with the Dog" and "Hedda Gabler" and shows how, although all of the protagonists are subject to social shaping, none of them are innocent. The paper explains that all characters show some free will in their actions, to the extent to which they allow their love of creature comforts or fear of what people will say to prevent them doing from what they morally know is right.
From the Paper
"Anton Chekhov's "The Lady with the Dog" has a female protagonist named Anna who is married to a man she does respect, a man very similar to Tolstoy's unattractive central character, a man she calls a flunky. She unexpectedly falls in love with a man while she is on a seaside vacation in Yalta who is not her husband, a man who is also trapped in a loveless marriage named Gurov. Anna and Gurov married before they knew what love truly could feel like, but the live in a society where divorce is a kind of social death."
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The Supernatural in the Works of Shakespeare, 2008.
A discussion on the role of the supernatural in "Hamlet" and "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare.
1,320 words (approx. 5.3 pages), 2 sources, APA, $ 44.95
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Abstract
The paper states that the role of the supernatural in Elizabethan drama cannot be underestimated or overlooked. It was a critical part of the plot as we see in Shakespeare's work, as in those days the supernatural was an acceptable phenomenon. The paper comments that for this reason, it would be wrong to assume that Shakespeare made an effort to incorporate supernatural forces in his plays. They just had to be part of his writings because they were so widely believed in. The paper highlights that the role of supernatural forces in "Hamlet" and "Macbeth" is to exploit the weaknesses of the main characters. They serve as catalysts to the plot and carry the story forward but on the whole they are neither immensely powerful nor dangerous. The paper concludes that their impact is evil as their presence spells doom and destruction. They simply play with character's weaknesses and that leads to destruction by default.
From the Paper
"Macbeth's supernatural friends have an equally devastating effect on the main character's life. The three witches, though limited in their powers, caused major crisis when they foretell Macbeth's future. Here it must be made clear that just like Hamlet's father, the three witches did not want anything evil. They foretold the future because they saw something good for Macbeth. It was Macbeth who destroyed everything in his haste to see the future sooner than it was meant to unfold. Everything has a time at which it unfolds and Macbeth failed to exhibit the required amount of patience. Instead he simply allowed himself to be led astray in his ambition to become the next king."
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"The Crucible" and "I, Tituba", 2008.
A comparison of the portrayal of the character of Tituba in Arthur Miller's play, "The Crucible" with Maryse Conde's novel, "I, Tituba."
1,518 words (approx. 6.1 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 50.95
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Abstract
This paper compares and contrasts Arthur Miller's play, "The Crucible" with Maryse Conde's novel, "I, Tituba." The paper discusses the plot of the stories that centers around the witch hunts in Salem. It then discusses the character of Tituba and her role in the story and compares the different ways that the character is portrayed in the novel and the play.
From the Paper
"The past is never rendered 'perfectly' to a contemporary viewer or reader, particularly an era as far removed from our own as the Puritan era of America. Arthur Miller's tale of "The Crucible" is ostensibly set in Salem, Massachusetts during the 1600s but it is a thinly disguised allegory of the McCarthy anti-communist witch-hunt that had taken hold in America when Miller wrote his play, which was later made into a 1996 film. Miller uses the trials to discuss important concerns of the present day in his play, not to recount history. The play immediately illustrates its lack of concern with the facts of the actual events by converting the historical ages of the girls who accused the women of the town from young children to teenagers. This makes the motives of the young women such as Abigail, the instigator of the trials, far more suspect than the strange, apparently innocent and hysterical accusations of girls who seem too young to be calculating."
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"Oedipus Rex", 2008.
An analysis of the character of Oedipus in Sophocles Greek tragedy, "Oedipus Rex."
1,008 words (approx. 4.0 pages), 0 sources, MLA, $ 35.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses the Greek tragedy, written by Sophocles, "Oedipus Rex." The paper questions whether Oedipus is the puppet of fate or the creator of his own fate or if he can be a combination of the two. The paper then contrasts the characters, Oedipus with Teiresias. It discusses how Oedipus at the beginning of the play contrasts with the Oedipus at the end. It also looks at the theme of seeing and blindness.
Table of Contents:
The Puppet of Fate or the Creator of His Own Fate
Oedipus Contrasted with Teiresias. Seeing and Blindness in the Play.
From the Paper
"Oedipus chooses to flee his fate by leaving his parental home. This is an act of free will. However, it is dramatically ironic that by this very attempt to flee, he fulfills the prophesy. Therefore, while he chooses freely to leave his home, he does so without knowing that the people who raised him are not in fact his parents. They however have chosen not to tell him the story of his abandonment and survival as an infant. If they had, they might have averted the disaster. What his adoptive parents choose to do is beyond Oedipus' control, and can therefore be viewed as fate from his point of view - there was nothing that he could do that would change this. Furthermore, it appears that Oedipus' very free will moves him closer to the fate dictated by the prophesy."
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Humanities, 2008.
A discussion on transposing the environment of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" to the atmosphere and setting to the 1930s depression-era of "Bonnie and Clyde."
997 words (approx. 4.0 pages), 6 sources, APA, $ 35.95
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Abstract
The paper compares the era of "Romeo and Juliet" with the times of "Bonnie and Clyde". The paper, by comparing the two works, speaks of the bloody environment in the times of Romeo and Juliet and the desperate economic circumstances during the 'Bonnie and Clyde' era in American history. The paper continues with a discussion on the similarities between these two time periods, noting the similar themes of "romantic outlaws", "passionate lovers", an emphasis on youth, and the anger at society. The paper concludes that the tales of both lovers show how, in a society that seems to have no future, desperate young people seeking validation and autonomy, resort to desperate measures.
From the Paper
"Although Shakespearean love may be beautiful, especially love forged out of passion and the laws of a society that denies the freedoms of the young, it is not the society of Renaissance Italy that is beautiful and romantic. The fact that love can exist even in an atmosphere that a modern audience can identify as hopeless, crime-ridden, and decadent like Depression-era America will underline the most important aspect of Shakespeare's play, elements that might remain hidden in a production set in the Renaissance. Adult society and the laws of the land are corrupt in "Romeo and Juliet," likewise America ignores the suffering and despair of Americans living in the dustbowl during the Depression. Bonnie and Clyde rob banks, but during that era before banking reform many Americans lost their money in the stock market, or in bank runs, thus showing a lack of regard for the laws was something that was endemic to society and government, not just the outlaws."
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Dramatherapy, 2008.
Reviews Sue Jennings' book "Introduction to Dramatherapy: Theatre and Healing: Ariadne's Ball of Thread".
825 words (approx. 3.3 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 29.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that Sue Jennings explores the potential and the practicality of dramatherapy in her 1998 British publication, "Introduction to Dramatherapy: Theatre and Healing: Ariadne's Ball of Thread". The paper further explains that the book is directed at a general audience and to counseling professionals and covers a range of theories that support dramatherapy. The paper points out that Jennings draws heavily from Jungian psychology and similar uses of symbolism as guiding forces in human consciousness and relates that her book illustrates the methodology of dramatherapy as a healing tool.
From the Paper
"In Chapter 5, Jennings notes how we can use dramatherapy to stop playing reruns. Whenever we find ourselves dealing with the same relationship problems again and again, we are likely reenacting some key moment of the past. Instead of seeing that situation as an actor would view a new script, we rely on the reruns for what to say or do. Similarly, if we act compulsively or with addiction, we are acting unconsciously. Our life can become a series of reruns when it could be an exciting new stage production."
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Gender in "Twelfth Night", 2008.
This paper explores Shakespeare's gender constructions and cross-dressing in the play "Twelfth Night".
2,016 words (approx. 8.1 pages), 8 sources, MLA, $ 63.95
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Abstract
The paper explores Shakespeare's gender disguise that distorted female identity and investigates early modern constructions of gender as distinct from sexual difference. The paper examines the play "Twelfth Night" in order to show how it was Shakespeare's intention to challenge gender taboos of the Elizabethan age.
From the Paper
"Considered by critics as Shakespeare's best achievement in the comic genre, the play Twelfth Night or, What You Will affords an elaborate exploration of love and power relationships, gender roles and taboos. Identity poses highly confounding problems, as there are numerous layers to the characters' gender roles and their maze-like relationships and (homo) erotic affinities. Through a range of female characters and the implications of (wo)man disguises, Shakespeare exposes gender issues. Several heroines of the comedies appear in disguise on the Renaissance stage, which represents the cultural context of the play."
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Free Will and Fate, 2008.
An analysis and comparison of Sophocles "Oedipus the King" and Rita Dove's "The Darker Face of the Earth".
1,416 words (approx. 5.7 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 47.95
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Abstract
The paper examines how the plays "Oedipus the King" and "The Darker Face of the Earth" both explore the theme of pain and suffering as inherent to the human condition and pose questions regarding the relationship between fate and free will, consciousness and self-control. The paper shows how in both cases, although the protagonists are faced with challenges by the powerful forces of destiny, their fate is a direct consequence of their choice regarding the exercise of free will. The paper illustrates how both protagonists exercise their free will poorly and must therefore accept the consequences of their actions and suffer the painful fate that they themselves created.
From the Paper
"Due to of a prophecy that said King Laios of Thebes would be killed by his own son who would then marry his own mother, the king and queen decide to give their son to a shepherd who was to kill him. However, the shepherd takes him to Corinth where he is adopted by King Polybus and his childless queen. Upon learning about the prophecy, Oedipus decides not to return to Corinth. He comes upon a man at a crossroads with four attendants who try to force him from his path. The man prodded him with his stick and Oedipus slew him and three of the attendants. The gods demand vengeance for the death of Laios as the price of lifting the city's punishment. Oedipus is determined to seek justice. Through his efforts, he discovers that he is the murderer of Laios. Jocasta discovers the secret and kills herself."
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"The Merchant of Venice", 2008.
A study of the message conveyed in William Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice", through the portrayal of the characters.
2,300 words (approx. 9.2 pages), 1 source, APA, $ 70.95
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Abstract
The paper discusses the play "The Merchant of Venice" by William Shakespeare which depicts characters who are not as obviously evil or heroic as originally thought. The paper illustrates that the play simply raises the question of stereotypes and of the audience's prejudices toward a race of people, in order to examine it in their own minds. There is no answer to the question of whether Shylock was good or evil. Critics who have placed the blame either squarely on Shylock for being evil or who have taken the opposite tact, have missed the point. The paper concludes that the point of the play is not to display Jewish villainy, but to show humanity, to examine pity, to find the meaning of mercy and to dread the consequences of revenge.
From the Paper
"It is here, in The Merchant of Venice, the Jewish Shylock makes a case against slave ownership. He reaches the trial, an opportune time in the play where one might be able to make a point and make a point Shylock certainly does. Even though it has been argued that Shakespeare was anti-Semitic, in actuality, The Merchant of Venice shows that he is not insensitive to the Jewish plight and in fact is more anti-slavery than anything else. Even though the hero, Antonio, his friend, Bassanio and the duke triy to save the day, all are against him, Shylock does not waver, but continues with his request for a pound of flesh, as he says, concerning slaves, "Let them be free, marry them to your heirs /Why sweat they under burdens?.. . . You will answer 'The slaves are ours.' So do I answer you." A young judge is sent, when Bellario cannot come to be judge because he is ill. Balthasar decides in Antonio's favor, speaking through Portia, who in this play is shown not only to be assertive, but wise."
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