William Shakespeare

Macbeth, the tragedy by William Shakespeare, tells of the trials and eventual demise of the Scottish noble, Macbeth, who inevitably falls due to his vaulting ambition and greed. Shakespeare’s plays weave together powerful motifs that stay within the mind of the reader and are important to the overall meaning of the play. One of the most important motifs in establishing the meaning of the play is sleep and the disorder that is caused when one lacks sufficient sleep. In his play, Macbeth, William Shakespeare stresses the importance of sleep by using sleep deprivation as a sign of guilt, punishment, and even death. Throughout this play of dark nights, Macbeth faces many nights without sleep due to his vaulting ambition and greed that will inevitably lead to his demise.

At the beginning of the play, we encounter three witches. The witches prophesize the ascension of Macbeth, a Scottish nobleman, to the throne of Scotland. However, before the prophecy is fulfilled, the sisters come together after a strange incident involving a sailor’s wife. The sailor’s wife refuses to give one of the witches a chestnut. The witches comfort her and promise to punish the sailor. “I’ll drain him dry as hay. Sleep shall neither night nor day hang upon his penthouse lid. He shall live a man forbid. Weary sev’nnights nine times nine Shall he dwindle, peak and pine,” (Act 1 scene 3).

The witches use sleep deprivation as a punishment for the sailor and his wife due to the wife’s unkind actions towards the witch. As a result of the wife’s greedy and selfish actions she will later be punished by not being able to sleep. This scene foreshadows Macbeth’s consequences for his greedy actions and vaulting ambition. This scene is the first time in the play we see Shakespeare use sleep deprivation as a punishment for a character due to greed. Sleep symbolizes order and a natural resting period; without sleep it one would inevitably die. By taking away one’s sleep, one is in essence killing them due to lack of natural rest and order. This relates back to the meaning of the play in that due to Macbeth’s vaulting ambition he was unable to sleep. This lack of sleep and order would inevitably lead to Macbeth’s demise.

As Macbeth progresses, the witches reveal their prophesy to Macbeth and Banquo; Macbeth shall become Thane of Cawdor and then king, but the son of Banquo shall also become king. The witches disappear and Macbeth writes to his wife about the prophecy. They come up with a plan to kill the king and pin the blame on his guards. Following dinner, Macbeth kills King Duncan. After the murder, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth meet and discuss the crime that was just committed. Macbeth speaks of how his guilt has murdered innocent sleep: “Methought I heard a voice cry, “Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep”-the innocent sleep,” (Act 2 Scene 2).

By killing the king, Macbeth killed natural order and law. Lady Macbeth tells him that sleep can’t hurt him anymore than a picture can, and she questions his manliness: “The sleeping and the dead are but as pictures. ‘Tis the eye of childhood that fears a painted devil. If he do bleed, I’ll gild the faces of the grooms withal, For it must seem their guilt.” (Act 2 Scene 2). Lady Macbeth ignores her husband’s guilt and continues to plot the final steps of their murderous plan. Here, sleep is being used in a positive, restorative sense. It’s what rejuvenates men and women, yet Macbeth has “murdered sleep” and cannot rest because he is guilty of a heinous crime that weighs heavy on his head. Macbeth is truly worried that he will not be able to reach a state of peace again because King Duncan’s murder, an act of vaulting ambition, is haunting him to his grave. In both cases, sleep is referred to as an important rest that is necessary for one’s wellbeing. Lack of sleep seems to be a fitting punishment for a guilty, greedy mind.

Macbeth’s guilt over the murder of Duncan plagues him throughout the play. In Act 3 Macbeth expresses that he is having trouble sleeping; he says “In the affliction of these terrible dreams that shake us nightly. Better be with the dead, whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace, than on the torture of the mind to lie in restless ecstasy. Duncan is in his grave. After life’s fitful fever he sleeps well. “(Act 3 Scene 2) Macbeth’s nightmares and lack of sleep are derived from his guilt and greed over the murder of King Duncan. He feels remorse, which is depriving him of sleep. He calls sleep a rest and when dead you are asleep or at rest. Death was said to be a sleep in which nothing can hurt to you any further. Killing Duncan was due to Macbeth’s vaulting ambition, which is leading to long nights without sleep and order.

The play continues and Macbeth’s remorse due to his ambition grows. He has Banquo murdered, as well as the family of Macduff, and everything begins to go downhill from there. At he the beginning of Act 5 we meet a physician and a gentle woman. The gentlewoman has observed Lady Macbeth sleepwalking and has called the physician. In her trance Lady Macbeth talks of the crime she and her husband have committed: “!-Fie, my lord, fie! A soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account?—Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him.” (Act 5, Scene 1)The Lady expresses her guilt in her sleepwalking/trance. Shakespeare’s use of sleep deprivation or unfruitful sleep is seen executed in this scene. Lady Macbeth is feeling guilty for the crimes she helped to plan and commit and it is shown in her babbling while sleepwalking. The witches are able to create situations that are conducive to preventing sleep. This phenomenon can be witnessed throughout the play in characters thoughts.

William Shakespeare’s use of the motif of sleep and sleep deprivation in his play Macbeth is very important to the overall meaning of the play. Macbeth experiences unfruitful nights of nightmares and sleepwalking because of their deep-rooted guilt due to his vaulting ambition. Macbeth feels remorse for his actions and Shakespeare punishes him by not allowing them to rest, or to sleep. Shakespeare’s clever use of graphic images brings the reader into the story and allows the gruesome tale, Macbeth, to come alive.

The standard takeaway of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is the tragic story of two helpless pawns playing a game they want no part of. Star-crossed lovers fated to meet, and doomed to die. Romeo and Juliet’s love embodies a tale that has been retold countless times in literature. Our lives are ruled, ultimately, by our fates; it’s a captivating cliche. The romantic concepts of love and fate in the story distract the reader from a veiled reality: life is guided by the decisions we make. Our protagonists chose to push the boundaries of their circumstances with no regard for the consequences. It’s not destiny in the driver’s seat, but a series of bad choices spurred by youth and the lack of someone keeping them in check.

Destiny is a looming influence on all of our lives; one cannot dictate where to be born, into what social class, or to whom. Nonetheless, while it’s grip on our lives can be stifling, it is but a fraction of the infinite factors that designate our life’s direction. Romeo and Juliet weren’t allowed the privilege of electing most aspects of their life: their alignments were forced upon them by a conflict borne generations before their own conception. What they were able to decide actually affected much more than their destinies ever could. Fate did not compel Romeo to court Juliet upon their meeting with “O then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do.” (line 114) nor did it implore him to kiss her at all. The stars did not forge the two lover’s marriage, but, in Romeo’s own words, love did: “Do thou but close our hands with holy words, then love-devouring death do what he dare, it is enough I may but call her mine.” (lines 6-8) These decisions were entirely of his own free will. Irresponsible or youthfully foolish as they may be, destiny had not a single hand in them. The positions of their birth, although wretched, are the only instances in which Romeo and Juliet are “star-crossed.” Their autonomy as people grants them the power to spin their lives into much more than the enemies destiny would have them be.

It’s easy to think that fate or crossed stars were the architects of Romeo and Juliet’s demise, but they were more victims of their foolish youth than circumstance. While the polarity of their lives made the notion of love a recipe for disaster, their tragedy could have easily been diverted if not for some witless decisions. In a more modern context, one might only carry out a quick YouTube search to find countless 21st century Romeos and Juliets: immature, impulsive, and lacking the ability to temper their emotions or behavior. Exhibit A, the lovers betroth each other after less than a day of infatuation: “If that thy bent of love be honorable, thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow […] And all my fortunes at thy foot I’ll lay, and follow thee my lord throughout the world.” (lines 150-151 + 154-155) Romeo and Juliet were almost complete strangers when they pledged themselves to each other. In their haste, they didn’t see value in weighing the consequences of their actions. If they hadn’t plunged head first into the deep end of the ‘marital pool’ so early in their relationship, they might have avoided drowning in their own stupidity. Moreover, in marrying Romeo, Juliet decided to turn her back on the traditional doctrine of arranged marriage, which was requisite for a girl of her station in society. Lady Capulet and the Nurse took great care in choosing a suitable man for Juliet to marry: Paris, in their opinion, was considered “ a man of wax,” (line 82) and an honor to be betrothed to. Juliet, in her significantly inexperienced perspective, didn’t possess the optics to see that one rebellious act could lead to a string of others, finally culminating in her ultimate demise. Destiny is what “happens” to people. Decisions, on the other hand, are an individual’s expression of free will. Romeo and Juliet didn’t die because it was their “destiny”, they died because their choices had consequences.

We must also consider the role adults played in this tragic tale. Romeo and Juliet were the equivalent of a runaway train, surrounded by adults who had the ability to pull the brakes, but didn’t. The nurse, a motherly figure to Juliet, did not warn her against the dangers of an ill planned affair; In fact, she assisted in perpetuating it, acting as a messenger between the lovers: “The clock struck nine when I did send the Nurse. In half an hour she promised to return.” (lines 1-2) As an adult, she should have known better than to allow Juliet to marry a man who was almost a complete stranger to her. Then, there’s the Friar, with delusions that marrying two ill-matched teenagers could somehow unite a deeply divided community: “For this alliance may so happy prove to turn your households’ rancor to pure love.” (lines 99-100) He put his own agenda before the safety and welfare of a couple hapless kids. In a sense, the senseless death of Romeo and Juliet weren’t the only tragedy of this story. The adults tasked to help these impressionable youths navigate the pitfalls of adolescence tragically failed them, too.

Romeo and Juliet is a textbook example of youth being wasted on the young. Two vibrant individuals unaware or unconcerned of their misguided, self-possessed nature. They met, and fell into what they thought was love, choosing to ignore all conventional wisdom in the process. The only role destiny played in their story was creating the backdrop for their foolish choices. Romeo and Juliet’s actions went beyond the typical rebellious teen pathology. During the course of the play, you’re experiencing a tragedy unfolding, and feel a profound sense of helplessness to alter the outcome. Decisions have consequences that all the characters must own, regardless of their true intentions. Essentially, we are captain of our own ship, and that has nothing to do with destiny- and everything to do with the choices we make.

Fate is a reoccurring theme and motif in the drama of Romeo and Juliet. It plays an important role in the play as during the Elizabethan era fate was believed to be a factor than could not be controlled and was written in the stars. Romeo and Juliet, is a drama written in the Elizabethan Era, where “A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life” (Shakespear, 2000, p. 142). It is believed that the stars are seen as a metaphor for fate and Romeo and Juliet were destined to die. This is shown throughout the play through the prologue, use of Shakespeare’s foreshadowing effects, and Romeos constant relationship with fate as the stars, “is it e’en so? Then I defy you, stars” (Shakespear, 2000, p. 331). Romeo and Juliet never did have a chance at life because their deaths are pre-determined by fate. (Jamieson, 2018)

Firstly, the prologue shows that Romeo and Juliet are destined to die and cannot control their fate. The quote, “A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life” (Shakespear, 2000, p. 142) indicates that already, we know as the audience that Romeo and Juliet are destined to die. The phrase “star-crossed” can be used to create the idea of the stars being the supernatural being that determines their fate as they are lovers who are “crossed” over the stars, therefore writing their fate to die. Another quote is used in the prologue to create the idea that Romeo and Juliet are destined to die, “The fearful passage of their death-marked love” (Shakespear, 2000, p. 142). The phrase “death-marked love” creates a powerful image that death has been engraved into their story furthermore, creating the motif of the tragic fate of Romeo and Juliet death.

Throughout the play it seen that Romeo makes references towards the lovers destiny to die showing the audience that fate controls their lives. Romeos quote, “I fear too early, for my mind misgives/Some consequence yet hanging in the stars” (Shakespear, 2000, p. 188) shows his relationship with fate as he feels anxious that something will go wrong after he falls in love with Juliet at the Capulet ball, as if he has a bad instinct feeling, foreshadowing his death. The phrase “hanging in the stars” once again connects the stars metaphorically to fate itself, further creating the image of fate being a supernatural being of the stars that will control the fate of Romeo and Juliet.

Later, when Romeo kills Tybalt, he says “O, I am fortune’s fool!” (Shakespear, 2000, p. 259). Here, Romeo is saying that “fortune” is the reason he killed Tybalt. In this case fortune is another image of the power of fate, in this, saying that it was Romeos fate to kill Tybalt further showing his strong belief for the supernatural existence of fate controlling his actions and life. However, this phrase also foreshadows Romeos death as he, himself becomes “fortunes fool” as he was destined too, to die.

Romeo also used the phrase, referenced in the question, in scene 5 when he is informed about Juliet’s apparent death “Is it e’en so? Then I defy you, stars!” (Shakespear, 2000, p. 331). Which furthermore creates the image of the stars being the beholder of Juliet’s fate to die. In this phrase he is disagreeing with the fate the stars have chosen for Juliet as he refuses to accept her destiny to die as shown be the use of the word “defy”. Here, his own death is foreshadowed as he is saying that even though fate has taken Juliet away from him, he will make sure to be with her again, unfortunately through his own death.

Romeo and Juliet’s fate is further shown in the quote by Juliet, “My grave is like to be my wedding-bed.” (Shakespear, 2000, p. 200) In this quote, Juliet is basically saying that she would rather die than not be able to marry Romeo. The irony in this quite foreshadows Juliet’s death as her grave actually does become her wedding bed. (Shmoop, 2008) Thus, showing the motif of fate as Juliet never married Romeo due to the misconceptions of their plan resulting in her death.

Juliet also predicts their death in the phrase, “O God, I have and ill-divining soul.” (Shakespear, 2000, p. 289)This means that she predicted terrible things, things such as Romeos death as she continues in the phrase “Methinks I see thee now/thou art so low/As one dead in the bottom of a tomb” (Shakespear, 2000, p. 289). The imagery created by Juliet’s quote foreshadows the last time she will see Romeo later in the play, dead in her tomb (Shmoop, 2008). Thus further expressing the theme of fate.

Fate may also plays a role in that Romeo does not receive the letter from Juliet due to the plague therefore resulting in his own suicide as he thinks Juliet is dead. This is shown in the quote by Friar Laurence, “Unhappy fortune!” (Shakespear, 2000, p. 336) The word “fortune” is used again as an image of fate. This further shows how the characters of this era believed in fate, showing that Romeo and Juliet had no control over their lives and destiny played a role in their story resulting in their death, meaning that they were meant to die and there was no way for the lovers to avoid their deaths because of the strong force of fate.

However, it can also be argued that it was not by fault of fate that Romeo and Juliet committed suicide but by the fault of Friar Laurence himself. (Shmoop, 2008) It can be seen that Friar Laurence tries to blame fate instead of taking responsibility for not getting Juliet’s letter to Romeo which would have prevented the misconceptions between the lovers and possibly resulted in a different ending, that doesn’t involve suicide. Friar Laurence can be seen blaming fate in the quote, “A greater power than we can contradict/Hath thwarted our intents.” (Shakespear, 2000, p. 347) This quote shows Friar Laurence expressing that a “greater power” was present over the time of this tragedy. The phrase “greater power” further personifies fate as a supernatural being that controls their destiny, therefore, avoiding the fact that if he has of gotten Juliet’s letter to Romeo things would be different. In addition to this, I further argue that fate still played a role in this event through the occurrence of the plague which prevented Friar Laurence from getting the letter to Romeo, determining their fate.

As a conclusion, the motif of fate played a huge role in the drama, preventing Romeo and Juliet from living on to get married resulting in their destined deaths. This is shown through characters references to the stars as an image of supernatural power that controlled their fate as well as general implications in their quotes towards fate itself. Shakespeare also uses many ironic and foreshadowing phrases that point the audience in the direction of thought that Romeo and Juliet are destined to die. Thus showing that Romeo and Juliet do not have control over their lives and are at the mercy of the stars.

Every human being has to constantly deal with their emotions’ on a day to day basis. This applies to everyone, fictional or non-fictional. Various characters throughout the story obviously make unwise decisions due to love. Three characters who make these absent-minded decisions are Romeo, Mercutio, and Tybalt. While each character deals with their form of love, the main character starts it all off with love for a girl.

Romeo’s love for Juliet causes him make a boneheaded decision early into the Tragedy. When Romeo goes to the Capulet party he spots a beautiful girl. Even though Romeo has been heartbroken by Rosaline he falls in love with her at first sight. After talking to her for small portion of time he decides to marry her. Romeo also comes to learn that Juliet is a Capulet. Rome, a Montague, decides that the risk is worth and decides to go straight ahead with their matrimony. Romeo’s unwise decision sets up the entire plotline of the story. His decision leads to the deaths of many different characters, including his own. The entire story bases itself on his idiocrasy. His love for her is their entire undoing.

Rome says to Friar, (“I have been feasting with mine enemy, We met we wooed, and made exchange of vow I’ll tell thee as we pass, but this I pray, That thou consent to marry us today.” (II.iii. 53, 66-68) Romeo knows that Juliet is of the enemy’s house when he asks for Friars consent. He directly says he has been “feasting with mine enemy.” After stating so he goes onto asking for the marriage to be instant. He takes no real thought into his marriage. He only cares about Juliet and himself. He knows all the repercussions that comes from marrying a Capulet, but does not care in the slightest. His love blinds him one- hundred percent. No man with a clear mind would take the same course of actions. As an effect of Romeo’s actions, Mercutio has to suffer.

Mercutio’s friendly love for Romeo causes his unfortunate demise. After the Capulet’s party, Tybalt sends a dueling challenge to Romeo. Romeo is unaware of this invitation and carelessly walks around Verona. Tybalt finally spots Romeo during his wandering and challenges to the duel. Romeo is now family with Tybalt so he does not want to fight him. Mercutio becomes angry at his effeminate anger and decides to take his place in the battle. Romeo tries to interrupt battle during its course. While Romeo blocks Mercutio’s vision, Tybalt stabs him. Mercutio dies quickly after the battle. Mercutio is aware of all the negatives going into this fight. He knows that Tybalt is a very skilled swordsman.

Mercutio fully knew that he had a very good chance of losing the duel. Mercutio also knew that any fighting going on in Verona would result in an execution. Romeo mentions the rule right before they start their duel. Mercutio was going into the fight with no chance of survival. If he loses he dies and if he wins Prince executes him. It’s a lose-lose situation for him. He only choses to fight because Romeo is his friend. Mercutio loses it all for his best friend Romeo. He pays the price of death for his own and his friend’s pride. Mercutio says, “O calm, dishonorable, vile submission! Good king of cats, nothing but one of your nine lives.” (III. i. 74. 78-79) Mercutio calls Romeo a “dishonorable, vile submission”, clearly showing his anger towards Romeo’s declination. He feels the need to do what Romeo does not want to.

The brotherly love towards Romeo clouds his decision towards Tybalt. The feelings he has for Romeo is the main cause of his verdict, and his death. While Mercutio’s love causes him to fight for his friends, Tybalt fights for his family. Tybalt’s love for the Capulet’s causes his rash actions towards Romeo and Mercutio.

While at the Capulet feast, Tybalt spots Romeo, who is a Montague. His anger soars through the roof at the sight of him and tries to attack him on the spot. Lord Capulet scolds him, saying that he did not come there for trouble. Tybalt decides not to fight him, but vows for revenge. He later sends a challenge to Romeo. After seeing Romeo in the streets of Verona he decides to duel him. After Romeo declines Mercutio takes his place. Tybalt quickly injures Mercutio, which results in his death. Romeo comes back later in a fit of rage and kills Tybalt. Tybalt challenges Romeo because of all the love he has for the Capulets’. Romeo’s presence at the feast triggers him so much that he feels like he must murder him. Keeping his family’s honor is the only thing he cares about. He gives no mind to the ultimatum he obviously knows about.

All he wants to do is protect his family’s name. The punishment at the time means nothing to him. Tybalt tells Lord Montague, “Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe, A villain that is hither come in spite To scorn at our solemnity this night.” (I. v. 69-71) Tybalt believes the only reason Romeo could show up is to try and shame the Capulets’. He calls Romeo a villain that comes to ruin the night. Everything he knows tells him that the Montagues’ are the enemy at all times. His love for his family forces him to act aggressively to the Montagues’ at any given moment. The thoughts of protecting the family name causes his murder of Mercutio. He later comes to suffer the exact same fate as Mercutio.

The feelings of love affect various characters throughout the story that makes them to solve conflicts in an incorrect manner. Romeo’s heavy emotions for Juliet causes him to completely disregard their family tension and marry her. Mercutio’s brotherly love towards Romeo forces him to fight in place of Romeo and lose his life. Tybalt’s strong love for his family causes him to kill Mercutio and later perish at the hands of Romeo. The characters in Romeo And Juliet how all humans succumb to their emotions and react incorrectly.

The context in which William Shakespeare wrote the Merchant of Venice in 1597 was racist and prejudiced against different religions in the society that existed then. At that time England was a protestant country that had recently been under threat from catholic Spain and before that the Jews had been exiled from the country. Therefore Jews, coloured people and Catholics were generally hated and very rarely seen except in ports around the coast, nevertheless, Shakespeare makes fun of other races and religions in the play. It can be argued that the Merchant of Venice is a racist play by modern standards but this is because nowadays England is populated by many different religions and races so prejudice is not only frowned upon, but also is against the law because all human beings are seen as equal whereas in the 16th century there were no different races or religions unless they were practiced in secret, and also against the law. While in view of the condemnation of racism against the play, I will study three scenes in detail. Beginning with Act one Scene three. In this scene Bassanio, Antonio and shylock enter into the bond of which so much of the play is based. This scene I feel has a highly controversial content. It commences with Bassanio (the merchant Antonio’s destitute friend) asking Shylock (the Jewish money-lender) for money to go see the woman he wants to marry (Portia). Bassanio requires 3000 ducats (Venetian money) for three months. After these three months on the due date Antonio’s (the rich Venetian merchant) ships will have returned and so Antonio shall pay back the money, Bassanio needs to borrow money as Antonio’s ship carry all of his money and they are at sea. Shylock has been pestered and assaulted by Antonio and he makes a heart-felt plea to be considered as a human and not an animal or a lower being just because of his religion.

fThe problems a modern production faces when they set out upon this task is that the lay is so unorthodox and not politically correct and could be criticised for its use of language and the content of racism that has caused so much controversy over the years. This can lead to people not appreciating the full content of the play as much may have to be cut in order for the play to be performed to a modern audience without any of them taking offence. The channel four production, for example is that as it tries to bfe politically correct, it looses much of its anti-Antonio/ pro-Shylock content in act 1 scene three, such as Antonio: ” The devil can cite scripture for his own purpose”. The devil it refers to is an anti-Semitic name for a Jew, this has been edited from the channel four production because of the nature of prejudice in the line that implies that the Jewish scriptures are enabled to be adapted to the use of the Jew under question, this could be offensive as it implies that the scriptures (torah) support the money lending frowned upon by many even though it was the only way a Jew in the state of Venice and many other places could earn any living at all. Also edited out was again Antonio: “A goodly Apple rotten at heart” the “apple” is the Torah (Jewish holy scriptures), which again is fairly insulting to the Jewish faith to hear that Antonio finds their way of life evil. At the same time as both of these comments are made as well as other types during the scene you find that it could be interpreted that Bassanio and Antonio were obviously scrutinising Shylock for a sign of embarrassment or slip-up in some way, overtly discussing him right in front of him, even in his own office which is very disrespectful toward Shylock. The lines that are hazardous in this play that were left in the channel four production such as: Shylock: ” I hate him for he is a Christian”, this is blatantly obvious that it is a racist comment however it was left in the play, yet I feel that this unbalances the hatred and sorrow you feel for b9oth Shylock and Antonio that upon reading the full script you feel fairly equally, tipping the balance toward hatred of Shylock. Shylock: “You, that did void your rheum upon my beard And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur”, these lines mean that Antonio has spat upon Shyl9ocks beard and kicked him as you would a stray dog purely because he is a Jew, further on in the speech he mentions all the bad things Antonio has ever done to him, and now Antonio is asking for forgiveness purely so he can borrow money of Shylock without apology. This may not be particularly offensive to one culture but for anyone to spit on anyone else because of his or her beliefs is disgusting and odious.

Then Shylock agrees that Bassanio can have his 3000 ducats as long as Antonio is bound without interest, by a deal that is legally made at a notary for if Antonio does not payback the loan by the final date, Shylock may cut a pound of flesh from anywhere in his body that Shylock chooses, but when you realise the hurtful things Antonio has done towards Shylock and fellow Jews you can begin to appreciate why Shylock wants to kill Antonio which is inevitable if Shylock cuts a pound of flesh from Antonio’s body with the medicinal standards and technology being what it was compared to what it is today in modern hospitals. The next scene I am going to study is Act two Scene one. In this scene Portia is meeting the Prince of Morocco who has come to try his luck for Portia’s hand in marriage, however Portia herself cannot choose, each of her suitors must pick a casket either gold, silver or lead, only one contains Portia’s picture and therefore herself in marriage. The Prince begins with the line “Mislike me not for my complexion” this implies that he is often disliked because of the colour of his skin, similar to the life of Shylock, he then goes on to say, that if you should find the whitest of white people and see who’s blood is more red with love, his would be more red and therefore he would be a better husband. Then Portia says ” Yourself, renowned prince, then stood as fair As any comer I have look’d on yet For my affection”, however as much as this seems like a complement it is in fact an insult because she has disliked all of her suitors that have come to her that are of a different culture to her own for example she disliked and commented on her hatred and disgust of them to her maid-in-waiting such as the Scotsman, Englishman, German, Frenchman and Spaniard that has come to propose marriage. This scene does not have a highly racist content on its own, however when studied along with the other scenes involving Portia and her suitors you can discover many remarks that avoid confrontation with discourteous insults, which is helpful to a modern production as very little would have to be cut. The next scene I will analyse for racist or prejudiced content is Act four Scene 1. This scene takes place in the court in which Portia (By now Bassanio’s wife) as she is playing a man to fight the case against Shylock, who still intends to kill Antonio because he believes it is now his right. After many pleas of mercy to Shylock from Portia (in this scene called Balthazar) and the Duke of Venice he still refuses thus showing all the determined nature of his quest almost to bring to justice the person to whom he owes so much malicious behaviour by way of insults and generally discourteous acts of racism.

At this point after reading much of the play, you begin to feel sorry for Shylock, his daughter has ran away with a Christian to get married, after taking what was left of his money and everyone is teasing him and pushing him over the edge with anger which he feels he needs to vent on a Christian for after all, they have caused so much of his suffering. Then you realise how unkind and patient he has become, although Bassanio has offered far too much money to Shylock, Shylock refuses still craving his pound of human flesh which is useless to all, except for those wishing to kill someone. All the way through this scene the Christians involved plainly call him “Jew” behind his back and to his face as well as though he didn’t deserve a name at all, because of his race and religion. At the end of the scene after he is deprived of his pound of flesh because the bond doesn’t mention blood, as it is illegal for a Jew to spill one drop of Christian blood, because it was believed that Christian blood was more valuable than Jewish blood. He is also deprived of the extra money he was offered earlier by Bassanio, and then he is cheated out of even the money he was owed. The court then decide that the bond was in fact illegal, because it would prove that Shylock was guilty of plotting to kill a Christian (a crime punishable by death although I doubt Jews would have had the same law applied if a Christian killed a Jew) and so all of his worldly goods and assets were absorbed away from him, half to the state of Venice and half to Antonio, who promises that after he (Antonio) is dead, the money shall go to Jessica and Lorenzo (by now Shylocks daughter and son-in-law) which is purely teasing him, that the child who disowned him and her faith should receive all the money he has worked to build up. After all of that he wants to leave, but he is not allowed, there is another clause, that puts his life at the hands of the Duke, who then says, “thou shalt see the difference of our spirit, I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it:” The Duke, thinking he is being generous, forgiving and merciful, when in fact Shylock would rather die, Antonio is forcing him to give up his faith and give his disowned daughter money, whereas all the Christians believe this to be incredibly merciful, Shylock sees it to be a more bitter punishment that death. He tries to argue a tearful speech “Nay, take my life and all, pardon not that. You take my house when you do take the prop That doth sustain my house: you take my life When you do take the means by which I live.”

This speech, heartfelt, makes you wonder whether killing him would be better, almost more Christian, to kill him seems more merciful than to leave him as a Christian, with no money, no business and no daughter. In conclusion I would say that in fact, the racism upon which you first encounter is a vital piece of a play, which on many levels could seem entirely different. I’ve found that at first, if you take away the racist comments, could be a story to read, however with the racism and underlying messages I believe that you experience a new side of human nature, that you may already know exists. It shows us the morality behind human nature as in an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth et cetera. The principle behind this and the play is the same, if someone treats you badly, for instance in racism, then of course you want revenge, which is what Shylock wants, but in the end it can and should be denied, however if it was an eye for an eye the world would be blind and there is no point in beginning the process in the first place. During Shakespeare’s time there was a lot of racism, purely because of the fact that there were few if any different cultures in England, and what is new is always strange, and although it seems difficult for a modern production to face the difficulties involved with this production, I feel it would take to much away from English literature and psychology even to edit anything really out of this play because it seems that it gives an insight into the wrongs of human nature then and now, and how much destruction it can cause. I also feel that the audience of a production should be aware of the content of this play, before seeing it as I don’t feel any of the content could be edited.

Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, son to Queen Gertrude and to the late King Hamlet, and nephew/step-son to the new King Claudius. Hamlet is depressed, bitter and full of hate for his uncle and disgusted at his mother for marrying his uncle so quickly after his father died. And in the play he uses his “madness” to confuse, scare and to express some of his true feelings.

In Act II, scene ii, Polonius attempts to strike up a conversation with Hamlet, who appears insane; insults Polonius without him ever really realizing. He calls Polonius a “fishmonger” (II.ii.174), like he didn’t recognize him and then a couple seconds later Hamlet asks “Have you a daughter” (II.ii.182), thus confusing Polonius, because two seconds ago Hamlet didn’t know who Polonius was. Polonius comments that while Hamlet is clearly mad, his replies are sometimes “pregnant” with meaning (II.ii.206).

In Act III, scene ii, Hamlet asks Polonius if he sees the “cloud that’s almost in shape of a camel?” (III.ii.370-371) and he replies that it does looks “like a camel” (III.ii.372). Next Hamlet says that it looks more “like a weasel” (III.ii.373) and stupidly Polonius replies that “it is back’d like a weasel” (III.ii.374). Hamlet is deliberately playing the fool with Polonius, just to make him look stupid. But Polonius is too scared to say anything back because he probably believes it is dangerous to cross a madman.

Many of Hamlet’s seemingly insane statements have truth and are a way for Hamlet to express some of his true feelings. Hamlet doesn’t like Polonius and he uses his madness to insult him without Polonius realizing that he’s doing it; he figures it’s just the insanity talking. He makes fun of Polonius’s appearance, he says “old men have grey beards”, “their faces are wrinkled” and they have “lack of wit” (II.ii.98-200). Hamlet reads these lines from a book, so it escapes from being a direct insult. Hamlet is angry with Ophelia and just before the play he bugs her with erotic puns. Hamlet asks Ophelia if he should “lie in [her] lap” (III.ii.113) then she says ‘no, my lord” (III.ii.114). It’s easy to tell that the way Hamlet is acting is bugging her and she is wishing he would stop.

Hamlet uses his insaneness to tell people how he really feels, to scare people into agreeing to anything because he knows they are scared to disagree and to confuse people, by misleading them away from what he really means. Everybody can understand what Hamlet say’s, it just that what he says is brutally true and people think he’s mad because of that, but he’s simply just telling it like it is. Hey may not be mad, but at times in the play it seems that he is very close to the edge of sanity.

Shakespeare is perhaps most famous for his use of imagery and metaphors. Who can’t recognize the quote “Hark! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the Sun” as being uniquely Shakespeare? In uses all sorts of imagery including avian and animal. However the most predominant imagery in Macbeth involves blood. Blood is used as a symbol to represent different attributes of the characters in the play. It is used to represent honor, guilt, and strength. Blood shows the bravery of Macbeth in the first scene, but also shows his human side. King Duncan is the first in the play to refer to blood.

Scotland at this time is fighting Norway; Macbeth and his friend, Banquo, lead the Scottish forces to victory. In mentioning blood, Duncan shows the honor and the heroic deeds done by Macbeth. “What bloody man is that?” Duncan asked to which Malcolm tells him it is the sergeant who had fought honorably. The sergeant shares the battle story of how Macbeth fought so honorably even when outnumbered, and “cary’d out his passage.” This valiant story with the bloody sergeant being weak from his war injuries enhances Macbeth’s heroic appearance. Duncan’s response to the story shows his respect for Macbeth and his realization of Macbeth’s honor, “O valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman!”

At this point, being bloody is a sign of valor and courage. Contrasting this heroic portrayal of blood, Lady Macbeth displays the evil that blood represents. She hears from a messenger that the king shall arrive at the castle tonight, and decides that she will help Macbeth live up to his prophecy by wishing evil upon herself. She wishes that her weak female body would change, “unsex me her, I and fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full/ of direst cruelty!” With this change she wants her blood to become thick, which would help her become strong, allowing her to kill without regret, “make thick my blood, / stop up th’ access and passage to remorse.” Shakespeare uses the image of thick blood to make Lady Macbeth seem strong, cruel, and remorseless. After he has killed Duncan, Macbeth is in shock. His world of good has been shaken and the blood within him is scared. The blood sets up in his mind a paranoid scene.

Macbeth thinks about the terrible thing he has done when he looks at his hands, “This is a sorry sight.” His wife tells him to go back and “smear the sleepy grooms with blood.” Macbeth refuses to go because he is so shook up that he only can stare at his hands. He wants the blood that is on his hands which is full of his sickness and his nervousness off, “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood / clean from my hand?” Macbeth answers his own question saying that the sickness and nervousness on his hands will not go away but it will make the ocean red with this blood, “No; this my hand will rather / the multitudinous seas incarnadine, / making the green one red.”

Lady Macbeth returns to find her husband obsessed with the blood. The blood on his hands is merely a symbol. He is not so upset that his hands will not come clean, but that his conscience never will. Imagery is a tool used successfully by many authors. Shakespeare’s imagery was so powerful that it has lasted all he way through to today. In Macbeth he uses the image of blood throughout the play to represent the emotions and actions of characters as well as the mood in various scenes of the play. This imagery is created to enhance the development of characters and setting. It is through the strengths of his imagery that Shakespeare’s characters have withstood time.