Renowned Literary Giant Sir William Shakespeare - Term Paper Example

SHAKESPEARE’S COMEDIES Renowned literary giant Sir William Shakespeare is the greatest poet, and playwright the world has ever produced. His works are not confined to one specific region or era at all; rather, he belongs to all ages and all parts of the globe. His astounding popularity extends with a global perspective by dint of his universal thoughtfulness, exceptional innate talent and command over depicting and portraying the series of ideas that could float in human mind in one way or the other. It is therefore his comedies too won great applause from all corners and the critics declared his comedy as the most refined pieces of art and literature, even Aristotle has stated comedy as a mean form of the imitation of real life. But it is not applied to Shakespearean comedies, which serve as the guiding star for the future generations to come. Shakespeare does not take comedy as the ridiculous or ugly form of literature. On the contrary, he introduced new and novel elements in comedy that maintain theme, meanings and objectives within their fold. His plays under study also concentrate upon highlighting the follies and shortcomings human nature contains, and Shakespeare looks for addressing those follies and weaknesses in a sophisticated manner. Answer A: Though Shakespeare appears to be influenced by classical literature in his early comedies, yet he outgrows this impression in his future works. The same is applied by going through his “Taming of the Shrew” and Measure for Measure”, where he exercises his intellect while creating the city comedy in an innovative way without seeking inspiration from classicism. It has been the tradition of the playwrights to either classical or romantic genre while producing comedy and Shakespeare’s can be attributed as romantic in composition and decorum. He presents vivacious city life in both his comedies under study, where there is energy, light, vigor, thrill and passion where dancing, feasting, love-making, engagements, drinks and dinners and merry-seeking decorate the entire atmosphere, and the reader finds himself in an extremely pageant environment where there is peace, harmony, jubilance, excitement and pleasure all around. The same can be detected in the streets of Padua, where the characters offer, stipulate and exchange ecstasy, joys and delight, as Christopher Sly states while conversing with the hostess at the bar: “Ye are a baggage: the Slys are no rogues; look in the chronicles; we came in with Richard Conqueror. Therefore paucas pallabris; let the world slide: sessa!” (Act I, Sc. I) The cities depicted by Shakespeare include Illyria, Venice, Rome, London, Thebes, Arden, Ephesus and Vienna—all of which has been the center of cultural, social, commercial and romantic activities since ever. In Taming of the Shrew, the lord displays his pranks with the poor Sly by putting him in delusion lest he is the lord; while in Measure for Measure, the Duke hands over the helm of affairs to Angelo in order to examine and regulate the activities of the Vienna city. “Of government the properties to unfold, Would seem in me to affect speech and discourse; Since I am put to know that your own science Exceeds, in that, the lists of all advice My strength can give you: then no more remains, But that to your sufficiency as your Worth is able, And let them work.” (Duke in Act I, Sc. 1: Lines 3-9) The protagonist Claudio in Measure for Measure appears as a pleasure-seeking man, who is involved in the sexual intercourse with his beloved Juliet. Though he is not very much guilty of the fault, yet he is liable to be tried at the court of law according to the provisions of law. It clearly reveals the very reality that the atmosphere of Vienna is filled with sexual pleasures, enjoyments, balls and dancing, and courting and sexual gratifications are at their peek. In addition, Angelo’s attempts for seducing Isabella and the Duke’s consequent plan of trapping Angelo through his former beloved Mariana also throws light on the Viennese life full of lustrous activities, revelries and merry-making. The return of the Duke and his catching Angelo red-handed on getting indulged with the sexual intercourse creates most humorous situation in the drama, where Angelo is forced to seek pardon from Claudio for his offence. The same thrill can be witnessed by examining the situation in the streets of Padua, where Lucentio has, though arrived for acquiring further education, he immediately falls in love with Bianca and tries to win her heart by guising himself as her tutor. He expresses his deep love for Bianca before his servant Tranio: “Tranio, I burn, I pine, I perish, Tranio, If I achieve not this young modest girl. Counsel me, Tranio, for I know thou canst; Assist me, Tranio, for I know thou wilt.” (Act 1, Sc. 1) Here the romantic comedy takes a gorgeous turn when the protagonist Lucentio finds his rival in the person of Hortensio, who also appears in guise of Bianca’s music teacher, but later surrenders in favor of Lucentio and looks for some other girl in order to share his feelings and love-making with her. The aggression, displayed by Katherine while entering into social interaction with others, indicates towards the disposition of the girls belonging to the elite stratum of society in Elizabethan era. Petruccio’s insult at her hands while proposing her and Petruccio’s announcement regarding Katherine’s complying with the proposal in the presence of her father Baptisia creates lots of humor and fun in the play. In addition, Petruccio’s keeping Katherine hungry and her extreme obedience towards Petruccio also is also very comical and proves Shakespeare’s command over creating fun and amusement in a romantic atmosphere. By closely examining the thrill and gaiety in Padua and Vienna, it becomes evident that the dramatist i.e. Shakespeare has created the plays on the basis of his minute observation regarding the city life of London of the Elizabethan era, where dancing, social contacts, proposals, courting, love affairs, conspiracies and early marriages had been in vogue. In addition, he also seeks help from his imagination of classical era literature to decorate his writings with gorgeous adventures and elegant decorum. Though both his plays represent the norms and values of Elizabethan period in their fold, yet Measure for Measure looks more close to Shakespeare’s society to some extent. The main reason behind it is this that Measure for Measure discusses all institutions including political, social, economic and domestic activities prevailing in his society. Isabella’s concerns regarding Claudio’s arrest and her agreeing on surrendering before Angelo for his sexual lust shows her sacrifice and unflinching love for her brother. In addition, conspiracies and deficiencies of the courtiers and sexual attractions between boys and girls represent the London of his own times. On the contrary, Taming of the Shrew resembles with Marlowe’s Jew of Malta and other classical works, which sought their roots in ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. ANSWER B: Almost all the Shakespearean comedies and tragedies revolve around royal families, governors, lords, princes and elite stratum of society. It was perhaps due to the fact that the spectators of plays belonged to the high gentry of society during Elizabethan era. The same stories can be witnessed in his comedies Much Ado about Nothing and As You like It. Beatrice is the protagonist character of Shakespearean comedy ‘Much Ado about Nothing”, which looks the strongest character of the play and all other characters look drab and dull in comparison with her. Being the niece of the Governor Leonato, she is attended by maids. Though her cousin Hero is also among the central characters, yet she does not look as dominant and nagging as Beatrice appears. She maintains arrogance, decency and pride in her personality and refutes her uncle’s admiration regarding Benedick’s outstanding wit by stating that he did not display his exceptional wit in past and had to bear the brunt of her own quick-witted talent. In her words: “Alas! he gets nothing by that. In our last conflict four of his five wits went halting off, and now is the whole man governed with one: so that if he have wit enough to keep himself warm, let him bear it for a difference between himself and his horse; for it is all the wealth that he hath left, to be known a reasonable creature.” (Act 1, Sc. 1: 57-63) Not only this, but also she always strives to let down Benedick by her witty satires and irony, and refuses to acknowledge his talent as a soldier even. She also complains Claudio’s company with Benedick and scares lest Benedick’s association may leave dreadful impact upon Claudio’s personality too. Again, she expresses her superiority while taking to Benedick and Don Pedro by stating that she would prefer a dog barking at a crow to a man asking for her hand. Her arrogance and shrew is at its climax at the moment when she denies that she is in love with Benedick. She also pretends to be reluctant while complying with the commands of her uncle regarding getting married, and takes it an untoward matter to be discussed. But it does not mean she is haughty and mean only. She expresses her utmost grief at the eve when her cousin Hero is inflicted with false allegations of being involved in sexual relationship with some other. She wholeheartedly defends her cousin and leaves no stone unturned to prove her innocence. Beatrice is aptly compared and contrasted with Rosalind, another protagonist of the Shakespearean comedy. Rosalind is the central figure in his “As You like It”, which aims to overthrow his cruel uncle Duke Frederick in order to take the position of lordship back for her innocent father Duke Senior, who has been deprived of all his belongings, wealth and possessions by his real brother Frederick through deceit, ruthlessness and tricks. Since Rosalind is already determined to support her father regain his position, Frederick’s instructions regarding her banishment from the court serve as blessings in disguise. The brave girl selects to guise herself as male with the name Ganymede and set out to the Ardenne forest to hide herself from the king’ s men. Though she is also very supercilious and confident, she is not an obstinate or haughty character as Beatrice in Much Ado about Nothing is. On the contrary, she is complying, sympathetic and sacrificing and is ready offer more sacrifices for the sake of his father. She is somewhat dictatorial, commanding and autocratic and leads her family, friends, lover and servants while devising, revising and implementing strategies, plans and policies in order to reach her destination and gain for which she has been living in a jungle putting aside all her comforts and luxuries she can enjoy while staying at the royal palace. Rosalind has the dynamic personality not only to lead her associates and keep them united, but also advises them what to do next, including conveying messages and guising themselves. She informs Celia regarding taking the decisions on time, as every second is important in life. She says almost the same words to Orlando in Act III in these words: “Time travels in divers paces with divers persons. Ill tell you who Time ambles withal, who Time trots withal, who Time gallops withal and who he stands still withal.” Though she is a shrew and nagging young girl, yet she does not afflict her instructions on others; rather, she treats them like close friends. It is therefore Frederick’s daughter stands by her at such a precarious state of affairs. While making comparison between Beatrice and Rosalind, it becomes evident that though Rosalind’s character is more sublime in nature and social behavior, Beatrice appears to be more intelligent, ready-witted, arrogant and shrew. It is therefore it takes time to take decision regarding her marriage with Benedick. ANSWER C: Shakespeare maintains great skill and talent while depicting the objects of nature in his tragedies and comedies. His plays reveal his dexterity over describing the splendor and mysteries hidden behind, thick trees, high mountains, deep oceans and running brooks. These mysterious objects can be compared and contrasted as drawn out by William Shakespeare in many of his works, plays and poetry. In his comedy under the title “Twelfth Night”, the story revolves round the sea. The main characters including Olivia, Orsino, Viola, Sebastian and others have relationship with the sea in one way or the other. The play starts from the sea and also ends with Sebastian’s safe arrival from the same place. Sea serves as the symbol of the continuity of the life’s journey, where there is adventure, hope, fear, risk, danger and death during travel through ocean---all of these feelings go hand in hand throughout human life in the play as well as in real life. The play Twelfth Night serves as the mixture of romance and comedy, where Shakespeare’s most famous and favorite adventure i.e. disguising appears to be at its full swing. Viola’s disguise creates lots of fun and humor throughout the play, and is extremely significant for the future developments being made in the play. Her disguise creates unabated amusement particularly on the return of her twin brother Sebastian, which is taken as Cesario i.e. Viola in guise. Viola’s adventure also takes place from her journey through the sea, where she mistakenly considers her brother Sebastian to be drowned into deep waters. It is ocean from where she gets acquaintance with Olivia and her suitor Orsino, and consequently obtains job at Orsino’s house. Olivia falls in love with Cesario (Viola in male guise), which is sure to end sooner or later, and it is impossible that the love can bear any fruit in future. Almost same is the situation during sea-journey, where passengers are quite unaware of their fate, and do not know whether they will reach their destination or will drown in the ocean along with so many hopes and unfulfilled wishes in hearts and minds. Sea serves as the turning point from the beginning till the end. There is fear, tyranny and uncertainty as negative symbols, and energy, passion, adventure and thrill as the positive ones. But the ocean in the play gives message of hope, reality and accomplishment, as return of Sebastian alive from the ocean turns the tables and adjusts all characters at their exact places. The symbol of ocean can be compared to the sonorous mountains of Mid-Summer Night Dream. The story of Midsummer Night Dream develops in the thick forest, where Hermia, Lysander, Helena and Demetrius arrive in the form of pair. Hermia and Lysander have eloped because of the fear of opposition of their marriage by Hermia’s father. Demetrius follows the couple and Helena follows her lover secretly. They hide themselves into the woods in order to observe the activities of Hermia and Lysander. Hence, the forest turns out to be their shelter, protector and place of adventure. Forest also serves, in the play, as the source of making mysterious plans and secret strategies. Midsummer Night Dream is the embodiment of love, romance, adventure and mystery, and tall trees and clustered woods personify depth of human nature and fears and dreadfulness man comes across in life. Trees are the symbol of both shelter and conspiracies, where nature offers both positive and negative opportunities to be opted according to one’s own choice and requirement. Produced with the spirit of dream, the play looks as the drama of dreamland in which gorgeous imagination finds a safe and sound shelter and love can prevail without any hurdle or obstacle on its way. By making a comparison between ocean and forest, both these objects of nature contain different traits and characteristics in nature. Ocean is the representative of depth of the mysteries of life, while forest depicts the darkness, confinement and shelter in its fold. Both ocean and forest portray uncertain situation of circumstances, where nothing can be predicted with surety. Ocean in Twelfth Night encourages humans go on towards their destination with strong belief in supernatural, though there may be hurdles and problems on their way. On the contrary, thickness of forest narrates the story of possible attacks and fears in a mysterious situation. The forest in Midsummer Night Dream is a source of protection, and secures the individuals from upcoming dangers. Both ocean and forest represent perpetuity of human journey, which will never end for the future centuries to come. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Shakespeare, Sir William: Twelfth Night Shakespeare, Sir William: Midsummer Night’s Dream Shakespeare, Sir William: As You Like It Shakespeare, Sir William: Much Ado about Nothing Shakespeare, Sir William: Taming of the Shrew Shakespeare, Sir William: Measure for Measure Read More