The Elizabethan Eras Effect on Shakespeares Works

The Elizabethan Eras Effect on Shakespeares Works If every playwright in Shakespeares time aspired, as he did, to paint a portrait of an age in their works, his would have been the Mona Lisa, leaving the most lasting impression on generations to come and at the same time, one of the worlds most baffling mysteries. Surely it is no coincidence that the worlds most celebrated dramatist wouldve lived during the time when one of the worlds most powerful rulers in history reigned. Or was it? How much influence from the Elizabethan era was infused into Shakespeares plays? Especially since it was a time of religious reformation and fluctuating political relations, in which England was very much in the thick of. The events and†¦show more content†¦An English student from Calvin College writes that, Several themes that are only Catholic also can be incurred throughout his works. For example, Shakespeare, at times, used the word holy in the sacramental sense that Catholics used it. Characters in his plays showed devotion to various saints. They also blessed themselves with the sign of the cross. Shakespeare incorporated references to Purgatory into some of his plots†¦ [His] upbringing certainly came into play in his familiarity of these subject. (Brydon). It is true that Shakespeare did have all of those references and signs of Catholicism in his plays, it should also be remembered that what a playwright instills in his characters does not necessarily reflect wh at he himself believes. In any case, because the values and beliefs of the Protestant and Catholic religions were not extremely different, it would have been easy for Shakespeare to cater to both without showing any specific preference towards one or the other. Theologically speaking, they do have different doctrines and leaders, but in the context of Shakespeares plays, both religions have a God, Bible, and other foundational values. His play, Measure for Measure, is based on the themes of morals and justice. He sets his characters into contemplating some tough ethical issues, which could be applied to both Protestantism and Catholicism. Another studentShow MoreRelatedGender Roles Of Female Characters1479 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout the eras, literature has mirrored the social changes taking place in English society specifically in regards to gender roles of female characters. The Elizabethan era, which lasted from 1558 to 1603, is often referred to as the golden age by historians where many transitions in English society regarding marriage and gender took place (Ivic 110). It was a time in which wives were viewed as the property of their husbands (Ivic 110). However, every woman was expected to marry and be dependentRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s The Elizabethan Era3177 Words   |  13 Pagesdisagreed with the Elizabethan society he lived in and with the concept of time. He found his society’s views unproductive and incorrect and he believed that time should not be a part of life, since it causes too much harm. His work showed how he viewed the concept of love and friendship and how someone cannot live his or her life properly without loving someone and being loved in return. Shakespeare’s worldview and the society he resided in become illuminated throughout his work, especially in his

Othello as an outsider Essay - 768 Words

Set in 16th century Venice, Othello, by William Shakespeare, explores the idea of an outsider from the very beginning of the play. Shakespeare uses Othello, a black army general, to explore the relationship of an outsider in high Venetian society using a variety of approaches. The reader sees characters consistently referring to Othello in derogatory and demeaning terms, as well as frequent implications that Othello is scarcely human. Further exploration of an outsider in society comes from Othello himself, as he outlines a few of the major differences that set him and the community apart. Throughout the first act, a host of disparaging and select terms are used to describe Othello by a number of different characters. Referred to as†¦show more content†¦Another suggestion that Othello is not a normal being comes when Brabantio accuses him of bewitching his daughter: (to Othello) ‘That thou hast practised on her with foul charms/ Abused her delicate youth with drugs and minerals.† Indicating that Othello dabbles in supernatural forces, the implication appears again that he belongs to a very different race to which he lives among. The relationship of an outsider to society is also explored through Othello himself, as he recognises the differences between him and those around him. While describing his and Desdemona’s love, Othello tells (about himself): â€Å"Rude am I in speech/ And little blessed with the soft phrase of peace.† In these words, Othello is able convey that he is a little awkward in speech, and not a smooth talker, with the unspoken understanding that others in the room are. Othello goes on, â€Å"For since these arms of mine had seven years pith/ Till now some nine moons wasted/ †¦in the tented field/ †¦ little of this great world can I speak.† Here the reader learns that Othello, unlike the assortment of senators and the Duke, has spent most of his life in battle, and therefore has not had a lot of lifeShow MoreRelated Othello the Outsider Essay1233 Words   |  5 PagesOthello the Outsider   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Shakespeares tragic hero, Othello, was a man whose gifts far outnumbered his weaknesses. On the battlefield, he was accomplished; in his profession, he was highly ranked; and, in his life, he was blissfully married. Despite these great advantages, however, Othellos destiny was ruin. Everything he had so carefully made for himself would be destroyed by one flaw: his fear of remaining an outsider. He feared this fate, yet he harped on it continuously, tearing himselfRead MoreOthello the Outsider1570 Words   |  7 PagesShakespeare portrays Venice as incredibly advanced for its time. This is seen especially though its democratic justice system, as we are shown that in Act One everybody has a voice regardless of their colour or sex. The fact that Othello has obtained the high position of â€Å"general† within the army suggests that his chances have by no means been restricted by the colour of his skin. Also the fact that he is treated with the utmost respect from the Duke, the highest authority in Venice, shows that theRead MoreOthello: Iago the Outsider1794 Words   |  8 PagesIn any story with a recurring dark theme there always must be an outsider from humanity who somehow stands out from the seemingly equal community. In the case of Shakespeares Othello the outsider from humanity would be Iago for he truly stands out from the rest of society. Although Othello may be physically put out of the community, it seems that on an emotional and egotistical level Iago puts himself out of society further then Othellos blackness does. He is not merely manipulative, as other villainsRead More Iago, the Outsider of Shakespeare’s Othello1744 Words   |  7 Pages In any story with a recurring dark theme there always must be an outsider from humanity who somehow stands out from the seemingly equal community. In the case of Shakespeare’s Othello the outsider from humanity would be Iago for he truly stands out from the rest of soci ety. Although Othello may be physically put out of the community, it seems that on an emotional and egotistical level Iago puts himself out of society further then Othello’s blackness does. He is not merely manipulative, as otherRead MoreComparison between Othello and Skin1414 Words   |  6 PagesCompare and contrast the portrayal of the predicament of the outsider in the texts Othello and Skin. To what extent are the differences between the two texts treatment of this theme due to their different historical and cultural contexts? Othello and Skin are both excellent examples of how the outsider is topic in which society is intrigued by. Both Sandra and Othello are both victims of their time and geographical setting, as well as being considered different due to their race and achievementsRead MoreEssay on Comparing Othello and The Great Gatsby987 Words   |  4 PagesAll tragedies eventually end in chaos; however, Othello and The Great Gatsby both begin with innocent characters thinking little about the possibility of disarray. During the climax of both works it becomes evident that the idea of order is doomed, inevitably leading to a bounding spiral of problems. The Great Gatsby and Othello both end in chaos because the protagonists, Othello and Gatsby are outsiders entering an ordered society. The actions of many characters cause confusion in the storylineRead MoreKahron Fyffe. . World Literature . . Dr. Fiore. . 28 April1036 Words   |  5 PagesLiterature Dr. Fiore 28 April 2017 Othello: Hero or Stranger Othello is a hero due to being a hardened and vicious warrior on the battlefield but he is also a tragic hero in this play. A tragic hero by definition is a literary character who makes a judgment error that inevitably leads to his/her own destruction. For example Othello is the husband of Desdemona whom he murders because he has been misled by the villainous IagoRead MoreOthello By William Shakespeare s Othello1576 Words   |  7 PagesShakespeare’s Othello peels back the layers of society’s underlying feelings regarding people who lie outside of the perceived standard norm. It digs into the heart of society and reveals the damage that is placed upon individuals who are considered outsiders, even if they manage to achieve success. In this particular play, the audience is able to see how the subtleties of racial bias slowly destroy a person’s psyche. Throughout the play, the audience examines Othello cast in both negative and positiveRead MoreOthello Is Ess entially an Noble Character, Flawed by Insecurity and a Nature That Is Naive and Unsophisticated1070 Words   |  5 PagesOthello is essentially an noble character, flawed by insecurity and a nature that is naive and unsophisticated. Looking at William Shakespeares Othello The Moor Of Venice, the central character, Othello is revered as the tragic hero. He is a character of high stature that is destroyed by his surroundings, his own actions, and his fate. His destruction is essentially precipitated by his own actions, as well as by the actions of the characters surrounding him. The tragedy of Othello is not aRead MoreThe Weaknesses Of Othello By William Shakespeare933 Words   |  4 PagesThe Weaknesses of Othello Throughout the beginning of Shakespeare s play, Othello, the protagonist, Othello himself, is portrayed as a powerful and courageous man. The audience is led to believe that he is a sympathetic character and a brave war hero. As the story progresses, this view seems to shift. Iago begins to play with Othello’s emotions and Othello starts to make rash decisions. In his Othello’s final great speech, he exposes his thoughts on the situation as well as his selfish motives

Emerging Adults free essay sample

Being an adult means that one person must go through stage of different kinds of relationships. It is not how or when that makes a person become an adult, but what they learn. Each relationship is going to be different for every person. In the book, Emerging Adulthood, Arnett talks about some of the main qualities the relationships are part of. The five main qualities are identity explorations, instability, self-focused age, feeling in-between, and possibilities. In the time when a person is considered an emerging adult, they will have had some very different experiences than others. Identity exploration is the time in which a young emerging adult can try new things. Just as when a person was old enough to drive, or drink it adds excitement in someone’s life. It was a new obstacle to overcome. Back in the 1970’s people had no choice on what they did. Women could not have any real job because after they got married it was time for kids. We will write a custom essay sample on Emerging Adults or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page So they had to stay home and clean and take care of the children. The men had to get jobs right away to support the family. But now people get to have choices. They get to decide on if they want to stay at home after high school, get a job, or even stay in school to reach a degree. At the end of senior year the main question floating around everyone’s head is, what am I going to do now? This will be the being of the relationship stage of self-focus. With every emerging adult now is the time of the main choice for themselves. Either they will just get a job and work for the rest of their lives; or they will go to college. No other person can make that decision for them; they are going to do what they want to do for themselves. For the emerging adults that are going to go to college and received their degree they are already a step ahead. They get to start off with more money and more jobs are available to them. Some of the emerging adults get to save more money by living at home and pay only the bills that they need to. And for the rest they have to pay for rent, food, insurance, and whatever other bills they may have. Now they might get lucky and get help from their parents every month. On the road of becoming an adult an emerging adult must be able to pay their own bills without relying on friends, parents, or family. Making new choices about love, work, and school can make an emerging adulthood’s life more intense and instable. While an emerging adult is in college they get to meet a wide variety of new people. Now while they are attending school they might have a few little relationships, long term relationships, and even the one night stand. With all of these relationships emerging adults need to worry about only one major thing, STD’s. In college many people may get around so they need to be safe always. And when it comes to who they are dating their parents still might have an input, or would like to have one. Most parents want their child dating someone who is in the same ethnic group, as well as marring within the same ethnic group. Depending on how their parents are they might even go as far as telling their child a lie about a different ethnic group so that they would not trust them. What happens when the parents are not around and you become best friends with people in different ethnic groups; your dating range just got larger. You know the truth and have the chance to date whomever you want, and even marry whomever you want. Emerging adults today will marry out of their own ethnic group to their college sweetheart. Being able to make up your own mind about who you want to date makes emerging adults another step closer to becoming an adult. There are a lot of times when a person feels like they should have done something else. They are not sure of what they really want to do; this is the feeling in-between time. There is no age at which a person reaches that means they are an adult. It is the things that have been decided to do that will make them an adult. About 60% of emerging adult aged 18-25 said that they have â€Å"yes and no† feelings about whether they are an adult or not; but they are confident and have a better idea of what they want to do with their life. There are so many different possibilities available to every single person in this world. After high school is over with the door is opened. Emerging adults get to make their own decisions on whom they date, who they are friends with, and what they want to be. No matter of family background all emerging adults get their chance at new possibilities. If they decide to go to college they will have more possibilities than someone who has gotten a job. But that does not mean that the emerging adults who just go into the world and get a job right away have no possibilities. It is how they take on the world and take on the responsibilities of that road. The main event in an emerging adult’s life is marriage. For most it is a meaning that they are ready to be an adult. They are ready to accept the responsibility of what they do, make independent decisions, and be financially able to live on their own. They are now more considerate of others. For some emerging adults they have an in-between feeling about where they are in life. They know that they are ready for the next step, but still think they can learn more. Before an emerging adult becomes an adult they will look back on their life; they will mostly think about high school. They will think about high school because it was the easiest time of their life; being able to hang out with friends, no bills, no job, no real responsibilities. It is very normal for anyone to think about that because they are now taking on all of the responsibilities. No one to help them but the person they will marry. And not everyone has the same experience as others. But this is what makes every person unique.