‘What writers tend to demonstrate in texts which explore relationships between men and women‚ is that women have always been relatively powerless and the victims of society’s double standards’ Compare and contrast the extent to which this interpretation applies to your chosen three texts. Throughout Literature the role and position of women has been constantly one of debate and controversy. For centuries women have struggled to exert any power or individual identity through times of male dominance
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Oliver Parker’s 1995 interpretation of Shakespeare’s 1600’s timeless classic Othello presents a differing construction of Othello from the original play‚ achieved through uses of a plethora of film devices. Both the play and the film masterfully spin a tale of romance‚ tragedy and death telling the fall of glory of Othello due to the acts of his ensign Iago‚ albeit with several differences in the presentation. Both Shakespeare and Parker explore themes of jealousy‚ power‚ and racism through the key
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attacks its victims suddenly and disruptively. Various characters claim to suffer painfully from being in love‚ or‚ rather‚ from the pangs of unrequited love. At one point‚ Orsino depicts love dolefully as an “appetite” that he wants to satisfy and cannot‚ at another point; he calls his desires “fell and cruel hounds”. Olivia more bluntly describes love as a “plague” from which she suffers terribly. These metaphors contain an element of violence‚ further painting the love-struck as victims of some random
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within humanity. In the case of Malvolio‚ we are quick to act‚ but not to investigate. We also learn that love can fix many things‚ but it can also tear them apart‚ as we see with Olivia‚ Orsino‚ Sebastian and Viola. Also‚ as seen through the character of Antonio‚ bad things can be forgotten if a good enough deed replaces it. As many of us know‚ humanity is infamous for their willingness to judge and act against a person before they fully investigate the situation; Malvolio is just one example of this
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stock characters‚ are the true source of the madness and love in Illyria; for example‚ Malvolio would be one of the funniest characters to the audience‚ however this humour is rooted in the madness of Malvolio’s misfortune. A sense of dark humour is portrayed when Malvolio is tricked into thinking that Olivia loves him and is then imprisoned. The heightening sense of dark humour is portrayed when Malvolio miserably questions why he had to suffer and be “imprisoned‚ kept in a dark house‚ visited
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How does Shakespeare present the character Malvolio in Twelfth Night? William Shakespeare’s play‚ ‘Twelfth Night or What You Will‚’ is an Elizabethan style of play written in 1601. It is a romantic comedy and the main themes depicted throughout the play include love‚ disguise‚ deception and comedy. ‘Twelfth Night’ was the name given to the last day of the Christmas celebrations‚ in England during the Elizabethan era. This celebration marked the two weeks of festivities. In other words‚ the Elizabethan
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All characters are presented as victims of a need to hide from their true selves. Choose four characters and summarise briefly how this comment relates to them. We are first introduced to Viola‚ one of the twins and central characters in this play. Going by the name of Cesario‚ she seeks to disguise herself in a man’s attire to assume the position of the Duke’s comrade‚ immediately conveying the notion of deception. In this manner‚ she illustrates that she does not deem herself fit to court the
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Despite the comical premise of Twelfth Night (TN) there is an underlying vein of cruelty and suffering that runs throughout the play. This is often a direct consequence of the humour conveyed through the narrative. Sir Toby Belch’s trick on Malvolio is an example where the letter orders him to wear yellow stockings ‘ever cross-gartered’. A question is raised as to whether Shakespeare intended the play to be solely received as a comedy or whether he intended the tone of cruelty to overpower
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loves her‚ whereas Feste deceives Malvolio for more sinister reasons such as revenge. An element of the theme of mockery that is presented similarly in both plays is the concept that mockery is used to gain status and power over others. In the scene from Twelfth Night‚ as Feste torments Malvolio‚ we begin to wonder if he is employing his talents to a good end. Malvolio‚ whose earlier humiliation is perhaps well deserved‚ now seems a helpless victim. Perhaps Malvolio touches a nerve in his bitter scrutiny
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Twelfth Night: Analysis of Major Characters Joe Boyce: Grade11 Viola Like most of Shakespeare’s heroines‚ Viola is a tremendously likable figure. She has no serious faults‚ and we can easily discount the peculiarity of her decision to dress as a man‚ since it sets the entire plot in motion. She is the character whose love seems the purest. The other characters’ passions are fickle: Orsino jumps from Olivia to Viola‚ Olivia jumps from
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