Explore the Depraved Character of Aaron the Moor in Shakespeare’s 'Titus Andronicus’: Uncovering the Complexity of Prejudice and Power

In the Renaissance period, the Moor was considered a very particular race of people possessing visibly African features and dark skin, associated with depravity, and a lack of emotional intelligence due to their stereotyped uncontrollable sexual lust and overdrives. They were considered ‘other’ and essentially ‘other’ is all that the self was not. These notions … Read more

Explore Shakespeare’s “Othello” – Symbolic Power of the Handkerchief and Jealousy Effect

William Shakespeare, author of Othello, “was a well- known playwright author in the 1590s and is still popular today” (William). Shakespeare’s renowned works of tragic literature are no stranger to violence and death, and his play Othello is no exception. Instead of representing love, the handkerchief becomes the definitive test of love. In this story, … Read more

Investigate Hamlet’s Complexity & Ambiguity: Early Masterpiece of Shakespeare.

Two things that hook an audience and make them interested in a character are the character’s complexity and ambiguity. Complexity because the audience likes finding layers to a character and ambiguity because it is intriguing in a way where it keeps the audience from foreshadowing due to the unpredictability of a character. Protagonist to Shakespeare’s … Read more

The Paradox of Honesty & Falsehood in Shakespeare’s Sonnet 138

Intro Shakespeare’s Sonnet 138 is a poem that depicts two lovers who lie to each other to keep each other happy. Shakespeare’s sonnet has the form of Iambic Pentameter. Shakespeare presents the narrator of the poem to have issues with his age. It can be suggested that these difficulties cause problems within his relationship. Shakespeare … Read more

Explore Love in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream

In A Midsummer Night dream, Shake-speare incorporates the powerful theme of love; whilst, portraying that love is blind, irrational and although it is a sensational feeling, it can be both punishing and com-passionate. Ultimately, love and the sinister underside of the amorous themes constructs the performances plot. It is evident that most people of this … Read more

Morality, Femininity, and Bloodshed in Shakespeare’s Richard III

The storyline of William Shakespeare’s Richard III is steered and dominated by the presence of male figures. As a result, women have taken a seemingly more inferior role in providing plot development and acting as necessary tools for Richard’s rise to power. Although female characters in Shakespeare’s Richard III are depicted as disempowered and lacking … Read more

Macbeth: A Gunpowder Play Reflecting Humanity’s Weaknesses

Macbeth written by William Shakespeare in 1606 is a tragic tale set in 11th century Scotland centered around a former noble hero named Macbeth whose ambitious desire to garner the throne upon receiving prophecies from three witches turns him into a crazed murderer (Shakespeare). The play’s narrative is thought to be a reflection and political … Read more

Ophelia: Strong Femininity from Shakespeare to Modernity

The name Ophelia is derived from the Greek ophelos, meaning help. In popular culture, calling someone an Ophelia means to call them infantile and submissive, a byword for troubled teens. Ophelia, of Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Lumineers song fame, is written as all of these characteristics and definitely would like some ophelos. However, though she reads … Read more