The Tempest as Shakespeares Resignation Speech -- Tempest essays

The Tempest as Shakespeare's Resignation Speech      Ã‚  Ã‚   In Shakespeare's, The Tempest, the character Prospero is in many ways similar to Shakespeare himself at the time he wrote the play.   Prospero, having entertained himself with his magic for most of his life, now gives up his powers as he seems to understand that his magic is no more and no less than life itself :   it is just as transitory and hollow.   This seems to reflect on Shakespeare's attitude toward play writing.   Having spent his life writing plays and being entertained by his own employment, Shakespeare finds that his plays, while they explore the themes of life and relationship, are finally no more meaningful than life itself seems to a man who must have been feeling his mortality.   The Tempest is Shakespeare's resignation speech.   Having found that his 'magic' has failed him, Shakespeare is retiring to the real world, for if nothing of meaning is to be gained in play writing, then all that is left is to be human.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   First, look at Prospero's final decision in the play.   He is capable of returning to Milan and ruling it while keeping his magical power - he does not have to choose between the two - and he abandons his power.   Just as Shakespeare was not forced to quit writing, Prospero is not forced to abandon his magic.   In addition, Shakespeare specifically has Prospero tell us : "My charms crack not, my spirits obey, ..." ( V.i 2 ).   Shakespeare means to tell the audience he is not quitting because his ability as a writer is lessening at all, but specifically tells us through Prospero that he is at his peak and is completely in command of his art.   There is no other obvious thematic or plot-development reason why Prospero should specifically ... ...total lack of morality, or Hotspur's view of absolute honor, had some doubt to it, or could be thought of differently.   Prospero's argument here is irrefutable.   Nothing he presents is in any way 'iffy' or doubtable.   This is Shakespeare's final conclusion : plays, like life, fade into nothing, and nothing is left worth doing but to be what we are: human, and mortal.    Works Cited and Consulted:    Bloom, Harold. Modern Critical Interpretations: William Shakespeare's The Tempest. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1997.    Davidson, Frank. "The Tempest: An Interpretation." In The Tempest: A Casebook. Ed. D.J. Palmer. London: Macmillan & Co. Ltd., 1968. 225.    Shakespeare, William, 1998.   The Tempest.   Oxford: Oxford University Press. 1998    Webster, Margaret. Shakespeare Without Tears. Greenwich: Fawcett Publications, Inc., 1996.

Fantasy and Reality in D.H. Hwang’s, M. Butterfly Essay example -- D.H

Fantasy and Reality in D.H. Hwang’s, M. Butterfly A person may search their whole life for love. Some are lucky enough to find the perfect someone, and some are not. The one’s who are not as lucky can sometimes create their own idea of their ideal partner, but never actually find them. In D.H. Hwang’s play M. Butterfly, a man by the name of Gallimard creates his own idea of the perfect partner. He falls in love with a woman by the name of Song, who turns out to be not what he expected. Song is actuality a Chinese spy disguised as a woman. Hwang illustrates in the play M. Butterfly, people are not always who they perceive to be. Through Gallimards love for song, his portrayal for the East and West, and Gallimards obsession with power, M. Butterfly, demonstrates the different views of power and weakness that symbolized masculinity and femininity. Gallimard does not find out that Song is indeed a man until the end of the play. By this time, Gallimard is already completely in love with Song, yet he knows that his love is too good to be true. In Gallimards mind, he creates this image of what he believes to be his â€Å"perfect woman.† Song portrays this image in Gallimards’ mind. He declares that he was â€Å"once loved, and was loved by very simply, the Perfect Woman† (77). In spite of knowing that Song is actually a man, Gallimard continues to fantasize about his once â€Å"perfect woman.† After learning that Song is a man, â€Å"Song covers Gallimard’s eyes with one hand. With th...

Abraham Lincoln Essay -- essays research papers

Abraham Lincoln, from the backwoods of Hodgenville Kentucky, rose to become one of the greatest presidents of the United States. During his attempt to keep the Union in the Civil War, he gained more power and authority than any president before him. A excellent politician, Lincoln was always looked upon for leadership for he put reason and thoughtful decisions behind his word.Abraham Lincoln, born to Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hawks on February 12, 1809, was conceived in a log cabin built by his father. Abe had one older sister, and a younger brother that died as an infant. The Lincoln family moved a lot, from Kentucky to Indiana, and back to Kentucky. Abe read a book titled Mason Locke Weems's Life and Memorable Actions of George Washington, this book mad a lasting impression on him that persuaded him throughout his life. By the time he was nineteen Abe reached his full grown height of six feet four inches. He held small jobs such as a clerk, postmaster and a few others through his early twenties. Then in 1832 he ran for county candidate against 13 others. Only four were to be elected and Lincoln finished eighth. In '834 he ran for a representative to the Illinois legislature, by this time Lincoln was well known and he got the election.Abe began to study law, and in 1836 became a licensed attorney. In 1837 he made his first public stand against slavery, Lincoln avoided extreme abolitionist groups though he was greatly against slavery.On November 4, 1842 Lincoln married Ma...

Ethics Essay Essay

Ethics is a study that deals with whether behavior is morally right or wrong in human life. Ethics further relates to human obligations in society, measurements of fairness and individual virtues. Ethical development is an important societal tool that is based on the basis of understanding and defining cultural morality. There is more than one type of ethics. In this paper, I will briefly describe the differences between three types of ethics: utilitarianism, virtue theory, and deontological ethics. By comparing the similarities and differences among the three types one can begin to develop an overall understanding of the role ethics plays on social responsibility. Also, I will give one of my personal experiences and attempt to explain the relationship between virtue, values, and moral concepts and how they relate to the deontology theory. Utilitarianism ethics are ethics of consequences. They are based on the principle that any action is good as long as it results in providing the greatest good for a majority. This means that the consequences of an action must benefit the greatest number of people involved. â€Å"The best consequences are those in which happiness is maximized†, (Brown, C., 2001). Virtue theory is also known as an ethics of duty or obligation and is sometimes referred to as ethics based on character. By definition, virtues are â€Å"character traits that make up a moral life†, (Manias, Monroe, & Till, 2013). This theory stands on the belief that one should strive to be excellent in everything they do while cultivating desirable moral qualities. Deontology is slightly different from virtue theory. It places an emphasis on duties that follow a set of rules. For this theory, â€Å"an action is right if it is in accordance with a moral rule or principle†, (Brown, C., 2001). Like virtue theory, deontology focuses on what is best for everyone involved. However, deontology leans more upon the reason or principles behind the  course of right action taken. The deontological ethical theory was founded by philosopher Immanuel Kant. Deontology often refers to Kantian ethics. According to Immanual Kant, â€Å"an action is right if it is in accordance with a moral rule of principle†, Brown, C., 2001). There are tangible similarities among all of these three ethical theories. The first similarity would be consequence of action. Consequence is usually not the main focus of an action, yet all three theories expect the outcome of the action to result beneficially. Although the basis of the action varies by principles or virtu es, the action should be condoned by the outcome. Perhaps the best way to explain the differences between deontology, virtue ethics, and utilitarianism is to imagine the following scenario from the perspective of all three theories. Suppose you notice a female driver having car trouble and she is stranded on the side of the freeway. As you get closer you notice she is standing in front of her car with the hood open. She is in tears as she waves the smoke coming from her engine away from her eyes. The woman is obviously in need of assistance. By pulling over to assist her, you would be acting on your moral duty. In virtue theory, this act of kindness would be described as a charitable act of admirable character. In utilitarianism the act of kindness would be beneficial to both parties. The example that I provided was actually from my own experience. I was the driver in need of assistance. Thankfully, what I would call a virtuous man happened to stop and assist me that day. The alternator in my car had gone out and my battery was nearly drained by the time the other driver pulled over to help me. I referred to him as a virtuous man because he did not plan on receiving anything in return and did not particularly benefit from helping me. In summary, virtue theory concentrates on one’s moral ethics without the expectation of a specific consequence or rule. Utilitarianism focuses on beneficial results for all persons involved while emphasizing the greater good. Lastly, deontology focuses on moral duty in adherence to a specific set of rules or moral code. In conclusion, the quality of life in our culture and society depend greatly on ethical development. There are slight differences and similarities between virtue ethics, deontology and utilitarianism. Through life experiences, one can develop their own personal ethical style which will likely fall in line with one of these theories. For one to develop morally ethical behavior they need to have a basic  understanding of right and wrong. References Brown, C. (2001). Trinity.Edu. Retrieved from http://www.trinity.edu/cbrown/intro/ethical_theories.html Manias, N., Monroe, D., & Till, J. E. (2013). Ethics Applied (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Odysseus Is a Strong Leader

Odysseus is a strong leader. Odysseus is a strong leader shown by many characteristics. To prove he is a strong leader I will be using determined, intelligent and loyal characteristics. In the myth Scylla and Charybdis it proves Odysseus is determined. It shows he is determined because all though it was difficult to get through he still had faith that they could make it passed Scylla and Charybdis and get home. â€Å"Odysseus knew that they would all be dragged down if they got too close to Charybdis.So he sipped around her, always keeping her in view† gives evidence how determined he was to get passed them while knowing he could be risking not only his life but his men life. Determination makes him a strong leader because if he would’ve given up he would be a weak leader, and to be a strong leader you have to have faith and keep trying. The Sirens shows how Odysseus is an intelligent. This myth proves he is intelligent because he thinks of a plan for himself and his me n to get passed The Sirens without dying. Odysseus told his men about them and that the only way to pass them safely was for each man to stop his ears with wax† shows the plan Odysseus thought about before passing through. Intelligent makes him a strong leader because if he didn’t have plans he wouldn’t be able to come up with the plan to survive or to get home. In the myth Aiolos and the Bag of Wind proves how Odysseus is loyal to his men. It shows how though his men didn’t trust him he still stood with them and wanted to get home.The myth says â€Å"Aiolos helps by putting all the stormy winds into a bag so they will not harm Odysseus and his men or blow them off course. During the voyage, suspicious and curious sailors open the bag thinking it is treasure† clarifies the men did not trust Odysseus. Loyalty makes him a strong leader because people follow him and leaders don’t give up on their men when they know they don’t trust him. T hese three myths prove how Odysseus is a Strong leader throughout his adventures with his men. .

Presentation of Sex and Sexuality in Brave New World

presentation of sex and sexuality in Brave New World brave new world is a dystopian novel about an authoritarian regime and how they control people, in it there are characters that resist the leadership. Huxley’s Brave New World is a darkly satirical novel that uncovers and shows the weaknesses of society (mainly American) in 1932 with ‘pneumatic flappers’ and jazz clubs which, in Huxley’s mind, lack meaning and are too casual. The society uses sex and sexuality as a force to control the masses by removing all ‘love' in the act, by making it commonplace losing all meaning so they ‘can’t see the forest for the trees’.Science In Huxley’s novel plays a key role in how the sex and sexuality is portrayed in the book, it seems that science removes all emotions in everything. In Brave New World children are put through an extensive conditioning process where they are subject to ‘erotic play’ and hypnopaedia. In the 189 0’s the psychologist Sigmund Freud said that if you repress your sexual desires it builds up inside of you and can divert itself into damaging channels.I think that in this novel Huxley is satirising him saying that if everyone had sex like he is saying then this is what it would be like:- On page 26 a little boy and girl of seven and eight respectively, ‘were playing gravely and with all the focussed attention of scientists’ Huxley describes the children as playing ‘gravely’ or without emotion, I think that this is him trying to show us what this society has become: one where children are forced to have erotic play, as seen when the little boy is crying because he doesn’t want to play; and secondly that these constant sexual encounters have dimmed the excitement, passion and love in the act of sex to a point where it has become mundane and un-magical.Another thing that Huxley satirises Freud about is his theory about how the family is the pri me source of this inner conflict. In Brave New World there are no families and loose living is encouraged, men and women are made in factories. I think ‘the week’s supply of ova’ and ‘standard men and women in uniform batches’ describes perfectly how Huxley thinks the world would be without families. Without them it would dehumanise so much so that we lose our identities and become ‘standard men and women’ Men and women have a complicated relationship in brave new world. Men are usually Alpha plus’s and women are usually beta minus’s, I think that that in itself shows Huxley’s entirely chauvinistic attitude. Her smile flashed readily at him’ (pg13) ‘flashed readily’ portrays an image of automation, she does it without thinking showing an instant submission to him and that with that submission she is readily available. Again, ‘and giving her two or three little pats, received in exchange a ra ther deferential smile for himself’ the director pats her on the bottom because in this society ‘everyone belongs to everyone’ and he fancies her. This is another example of Huxley’s inbuilt and unconscious chauvinism, he has made it so the female characters all respectfully submit to the men. In 1932 when Huxley wrote this hitting a girl on the bottom was shunned and offensive but in Brave New World it is accepted by everyone including Lenina because they are conditioned to have sex with everyone.When Huxley went to America he encountered what he described as ‘the city of dreadful joy’ in Los Angeles where everyone had a hedonistic lifestyle and went to jazz clubs and there were ‘pneumatic flappers’ I think that Huxley is satirising them and giving a warning to us because that is what might happen in the future and Huxley believe that promiscuity like this is morally wrong and take all meaning out of sex. The Act of Sex in Brave New World is encouraged as much as possible because it is a particular, ‘for particulars, as everyone knows, make for virtue and happiness’ On page 58 some girls invite Helmholtz to a ‘picnic’. The ‘picnic’ replaces the word ‘sex’ which shows how amalgamated sex has become in society. Sex has been integrated into everything: thought, religious ceremonies, music, cinema, picnics etc. the society is very much so recreational and the people have become hedonistic.Huxley points this out because this kind of society – American society – has very loose morals too and is perhaps no the best way to go about progressing. The girls invite only him and not anyone else; it’s quite a suggestive thing to say, even desperate and they only invite him because he is ‘hot’. The society in this sense is very shallow and childlike. Sex is also practiced in mass orgies. Huxley uses metaphors to represent sex a lot like on page 66. The orgy is described using music which rises and climaxes with their climax. Huxley also employs a clever use of sibilance, in which the ‘du’ sound is repeated to give a sense of heartbeats and increasing rhythm to show excitement. I think that Huxley writes about it in this way rather than being explicit is ecause when this book was published the content would have been shunned, but also to show again how sex has been integrated into everything It may seem odd that the government in Brave New World encourages sex, I think that the reason that they do is because the world motto, ‘COMMUNITY, IDENTIY, STABILITY’ with its main point being stability believes that happiness = stability and then sex = happiness. It is used as a measure to keep the people in line because whilst having sex and being happy they ‘can’t see the wood for the trees’ which is more subtly put with the slogan, ‘for particulars, as everyone knows, make s for happiness and virtue’ which basically means that they shouldn’t be able to see the bigger picture and stop being happy.To ensure that they only really focus on sex they have installed it into every aspect of their life. On page 66-67 Bernard goes to Westminster Abby in London where they sit around in circles of twelve and then start dancing and then having sex. I think that it is quite a disturbing scene, and is definitely something that most people back in 1932 and now would find disgusting. Huxley seems to be satirising everything now including religion with the twelve disciples and it being in Westminster. The whole book I think is satirising the Roman Catholic Church with the ‘conditioning’ of people to believe something without question and how it leads to false happiness or happiness that is fabricated by someone else and not of your own making.

An Education and History Boys Comparative Film Essay Essay

Through the analysis of where an education originates, The History Boys and An Education have two vastly contradictory viewpoints. The History Boys demonstrates both academic education and an education on life gained within school grounds. An Education, however, illustrates a young Jenny Mellor (Carey Mulligan) as she gains her education far from her school environment – despite much attempted intervention. In both The History Boys and An Education the teachers play an integral role in shaping the educational path for our protagonists. Hector (Richard Griffiths) bases his teachings on the principle of educating the boys in regard to life and not purely academic learning. When the viewers are first introduced to Hector, they are made aware of the high regard with which the boys view him. During the scene when the boys celebrate their final marks, they bow down to Hector as if they are not worthy. If the manner in which Hector teaches the boys is considered, it becomes evident that he understands the idea of literature perhaps having an impact on his students later in life – â€Å"all knowledge is precious whether or not it serves the slightest human purpose†. He seems to be concerned with how the boys utilise their learning within everyday life; how they apply ideas and philosophies concealed in knowledge at a standard worthy of Oxford and Cambridge. Within Hector’s classroom, there are many literary references present on the walls – more than once the viewer’s eyes are drawn to a photograph of W H Auden – who can be considered similar to Hector in that both had homosexual inclinations. During the boys’ outing to an old monastery, Hector advises the boys on knowledge, and the transfer thereof, with the words, â€Å"pass it on†. In this, he is able to teach the boys a lesson more important than any taught in the classroom. In An Education, Miss Stubbs as well as the Headmistress (Emma Thompson) allude to an education coming from within a school and being purely academically centred. The Headmistress reminds Jenny that neither herself nor Miss Stubbs would be where they are if it were not for their decent school and university education. Miss Stubbs admits to Jenny that she attended Cambridge – only to be offended by Jenny, who could no longer see the benefit of an academic education. Within Miss Stubbs’s classroom, we are  able to see that the walls are fairly empty and her desk uncluttered. This stands in contrast with the Hector’s vibrant classroom. In the opening scene of An Education the camera tracks the movement of the overlays into Miss Stubbs’s classroom and to a group of girls who look stricken with boredom and later on read with that same unenthusiastic demeanour. Continually throughout the movie, we are reminded of the popular 1960s belief that education meant almost everything if one was to attend a prestigious university and find a job that provided a salary, but that was not necessarily fulfilling. The History Boys proves to the viewers that life lessons can be and are taught within school parameters. Although much of the focus is centred on the Ox-Bridge examinations, Hector and Irwin, specifically, are able to teach the boys life lessons over and above the syllabus. Hector teaches the boys the importance of knowledge, even if it has no obvious use. To Hector, language, literature and music are to be considered in high regard with the intent of creating a cultured being rather than one only able to regurgitate useless ‘gobbets’, as referred to by Irwin. The question, â€Å"how does History happen?† is asked more than once throughout the film’s duration. As the film progresses, the answer emerges – history is merely one thing after another. When the boys are confronted with Hector’s death, they are able to realise how fleeting life is. Death calls for introspection and a deeper consideration of what it is in life that is truly important. Hector is able to teach the boys that education is indispensable in whichever form and from whichever source it comes, which, as well as the idea that one must pass knowledge along, is a most crucial aspect to the film. In An Education, it is clear that Jenny receives her education outside of school parameters – despite the objections posed by Miss Stubbs and the Headmistress. Although Jenny is a dedicated student, who in the beginning tries to gain her education within school and from her teachers, she inevitably gains it from her relationship with David (Peter Sarsgaard). During the opening scene, the students dancing with books on their head appeals to the formal environment they attended school in. David was able to show Jenny the other side of this spectrum – he introduced her to art,  music, wine and lavish restaurants. David travelled to Oxford and Paris with Jenny, where everything was tinted with a blue haze and made to seem flawless. He provided her with a life where she could speak French and surround herself with art and culture; the life she had so longed for. However, when Jenny discovered that David was a married man, she was also able to learn that a lifestyle such as the one David and his friends led often hid many secrets. He was a dishonest man – and it taught Jenny that trust should not just be given, but rather earned. When she visits Miss Stubbs, her words, â€Å"I feel old, but not so wise† prove that when one is young, they can so easily be deceived by materialism and the idea of love – a lesson no school would be able to teach. Both The History Boys and An Education demonstrate how education has no set definition. It can be defined as learning fact, or as learning about life. Both also prove to us that education does not have to come from an educational institute and its employees. Life can sometimes prove more educational than the classroom.