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William Shakespeare Not To Read Analysis

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William Shakespeare: To Read or not to Read Neelam Aggarwal An anniversary is a good time to review and reevaluate the worth of past achievements. This April 23 is Shakespeare’s 400th death anniversary (and also what is commonly accepted as his 452nd birthday). Ben Jonson, Shakespeare’s contemporary and friend, foretold his perennial appeal when he declared in his eulogy: "He (Shakespeare) was not of an age, but for all time!" Even as tributes are paid to him, the question arises once again: is Shakespeare relevant today? Although we know Shakespeare by his reputation and recognize that his plays continue to be performed widely, critically examined and quoted extensively from, the issue still remains: is there any real reason for us to read …show more content…

He depicts his characters to illustrate points on power, action, communication, and decision-making. King Lear, Richard II, and Mark Antony failed because they believed their authority alone gave them the right to lead and they should be obeyed by virtue of their position. Macbeth portrays a leader who has no integrity and one whose ambition propels him to destruction. Macbeth starts out as a loyal subject to a good king but following the witches’ prediction that he will be king, his latent ambition is kindled and he proceeds to kill the king. His “vaulting ambition” which “o’erleaps itself” leads to his downfall. The lesson is that ambition can have positive value if it helps to drive change and innovation but if it “o’erleaps itself”, it can be destructive. Then there is King Lear which demonstrates the problems and the disastrous results of a divided leadership and the confusion arising from not recognizing and adapting to one's changing responsibilities. Lear decides to divide his kingdom among his three daughters but this divestiture is based on responses which cater to his ego (and which demonstrate his failure to recognize hypocrisy: whoever says she loved him the most would get the biggest share) rather than on sensible planning. The play may well be read as a cautionary tale about bad management and how 'not' to devolve power and the dangers arising from an ill-planned retirement. Lear foolishly assumes that he will continue to wield authority even after he has given away his kingdom. The play further highlights the need for one leader and the unity of command. While Goneril, the eldest daughter, cribs about King Lear’s retaining the trappings of power after divesting himself of the kingdom, and the chaos created by Lear's knights, her sister Regan complains about the impossibility of managing people “in one house under two

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William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a testimony to the difference between greed and ambition, good and evil, and right and wrong. The story shows that when one becomes obsessed with power, they will often resort to methods of manipulation and retaliation to achieve their desired outcome. In the case of Macbeth, he is approached by the Three Witches who inform him that he will one day become Thane of Cawdor and the King of Scotland. Additionally, they inform Macbeth’s comrade Banquo that his sons will one day be kings.

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I am working towards being a real estate agent. I would enjoy this career path, because I like working with houses and interacting with people. My parents both own their own businesses so I always have interacted with the public throughout my whole life. My dad is my inspiration because he owns and rents houses. So, I not only want to sell houses

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Gloucester says, “It did always see so to us; but now in the division of the kingdom it appears not which of the dukes he values most…” (1.1. 3-5). Their conversation, though only the first seven lines in the play, gives the audience the tone of the play as they rush to arrive at the palace. With urgency, they wonder what King Lear will do before he retires as king. In addition, Gloucester and Kent also talk about Edmund. Kent asks Gloucester, “Is not this your son?”

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Through Macbeth's descent into tyranny and ultimate downfall, Shakespeare is warning against the dangers of giving in to ambition and the cost of losing one's moral compass. As White suggests, Shakespeare is using his role as a writer to "sound the alarm" and bring attention to the importance of morality and the dangers of giving in to ambition. In the play, Macbeth says, "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition" (1.7.25-26). Which is proof that the play is about the dangers of unchecked ambition. Furthermore, Shakespeare uses Macbeth's downfall to show how power corrupts, and how it is important to be cautious of the influence of power on one's actions.

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The two more prominent characters of the play, Lear and Gloucester, shows us the importance of humility. Lear is finally able to understand his circumstances when he finally detaches himself from his title and status. This allows him to reunite happily with Cordelia despite their past. Similarly, Gloucester’s arrogance can be observed when he boasts about how his bastard son came to be, blinding him from the treachery of Edmund. It is arrogance that can often impair our judgement and one may suffer greatly because of

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The play is widely considered one of Shakespeare's greatest comedies and is known for its witty dialogue, complex characters, and themes of love, jealousy, and deception. Here is a detailed analysis of the

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It is said that with great power comes great responsibility, because power has the tendency to be abused and affect people negatively if not acquired and used in moderation. In Macbeth, Shakespeare explores the delicate balances of ambition and power, and how they relate to each other. These elements of society are contrasted as being corrupting, unquenchable forces of evil, or fundamental mechanisms for peace and order. Macbeth’s ravenous greed and its repercussions are vividly enhanced through the use of various expressive literary techniques.

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Gloucester’s overdue understanding of everything that has occurred in play thus far (and the repercussions that come along with them) is addressed in the next act when, alone, he reflects on his life and actions, which fills him with so much despair that he feels as though all he can do to ease the pain is commit suicide. Gloucester, now completely blind and powerless, realizes the consequences of his actions and recognizes that there is no realistic way to mediate them; his delusion, caused by his overwhelming amount of power, caused him to be so misguided that he has destroyed every connection that he once had. Overall, The Tragedy of King Lear tells the story of a man who is figuratively blind to the true nature of his son and his actions which, as a result, leads to him becoming literally blind. This cautionary tale helps illustrate the overall message that too much power has the ability to corrupt people-- ruining their relationships and their

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This scene is vital for understanding the play’s exploration of the politics of the nobility and the interpersonal relationships of men. Our group considered Act 3 Scene 2 essential to the comprehension of the development of Prince Hal in relation to his father, King Henry IV. However, more context is needed to understand the pair’s progression throughout the play. In the opening scenes, both Henry and Hal establish their views of the

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William Shakespeare was one of the best play writers of all time. Shakespeare modified one of the most tragic plays of Romeo and Juliet. He was born on April 23, 1564. William was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom. Shakespeare died on his birthday April 23, 1616; he was 52 years of age when he passed away.

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Also, it was customary in the early seventeenth century to draw up your will on your deathbed, so Shakespeare must have been acutely aware that his life was coming to an end. Once he died he then got really recognized for his works of art and his outstanding theater. Historians often refer to Shakespeare as “one of history’s most dramatic poets.” In the same breathe many scholars would refer to Shakespeare as also being the greatest English playwright in all of history by being “simple and sentimental and communicating fine moral shades throughout his work”(Fowler 72).

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Four centuries after he wrote them, the works of William Shakespeare continue to entertain and intrigue audiences around the world. Shakespeare’s genius permanently shaped the English language, while his knowledge of the human mind and heart speaks to us across the years. In the words of his friend and rival playwright Ben Jonson, “He was not of an age, but for all time.” He had already spent some years in London, to which he came from his native town of Stratford - on – Avon ; and during the intervals of acting he wrote for his own company, reshaping the plays in its repertory. None of his own manuscripts of his works survive, so we have only those of his play and poems that were printed.

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787 Words | 4 Pages

William Shakespeare died at age 52 of unknown causes, he lived a somewhat long and good life. Shakespeare was known for the literary masterpieces he made in what was believed to be his early thirties and late twenties. Shakespeare’s date of birth is not recorded but it is recorded that he was baptized on April 26, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon which is a small town 100 miles away from London. He was born to John and Mary Shakespeare. Mary and John had eight children including Shakespeare.

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“How, at age thirty-five, Shakespeare went from being an exceptionally talented writer to one of the greatest who ever lived.” (Shapiro, XVII). In Shakespeare’s time it was common to only live until your mid-forties, Shakespeare was lucky to make it to fifty-two. At this time, Shakespeare was 35 and knew he was closing in on the end of his life, this could have helped bring the morbid tragedy into his once more simple comedies. “The years 1599-1600 seem roughly the time at which Shakespeare, already the author of several masterpieces, moved up to a new level of achievement and difficulty.

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William Shakespeare was considered to be the greatest poet and playwright in the English literature. His contribution to the theatre world, language and literature are so prominent and even used till this day. Shakespeare remains a historical figure in today's society because of the positive change he made with the English language, and the modern day sonnets and plays he wrote during his lifetime. Shakespeare displayed various elements of wisdom, imagination, experience, and creativity during his profession as a playwright, and these are the primary reasons used to point out the powerful influence Shakespeare had on the English-speaking world. It is said that William Shakespeare was born in April 1564 Stratford-upon-Avon, but his real birthdate

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