Gentlewoman

Shakespeare’s plays have been around for hundreds of years, and with them there is a fascination with his characters and troubling plots. Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies and explores the choices and eventual demise of Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth. Within Macbeth, Shakespeare explores the characterization of a hero-turned-villain and how the supernatural and unnatural influences affect the natural order of things. Shakespeare employs blood and eye/hand imagery to…

People should, depending on situation and their motivation, get involved in relationships, whether for better or worse. Benedick constantly quarrelled with Beatrice, swearing that “until all graces be in one woman, one woman shall not come in my grace” (Shakespeare, 2.3.29). But when Benedick overheard Don Pedro and Leonato discussing Beatrice’s love for him, he began to soften up to Beatrice. Likewise, Beatrice fell in love with Benedick when she eavesdropped on a conversation explaining…

deceived the Akhaians” (Pg. 22). Penelope once again fools the suitors by convincing them she is going to marry, and that any suitor who wants to be considered must shower her with gifts. Penelope calls to the suitors, “Others who go to court a gentlewoman, / daughter of a rich house, if they are rivals, / bring their own bees and sheep along; her friends / ought to be feasted, gifts are due to her; / would any dare to live at her expense?” (pg345). In this way, Penelope convinces the suitors to…

tapestry depicts the victory of William the Conqueror. Specific to literature, a new era began after the Battle, the Romance Literature. This erupted because “chivalry was a system of ideals and social codes governing the behavior of knights and gentlewoman” (Leeming, “Middle Ages”). The knight still had to keep his oath to the “overlord” which in turn meant he kept his oath to the king. This idea lead to the fact that acting in the name of a lady would make a knight “braver” and more worthy of…

Lady Macbeth is fueled by her desire for power and status. She is the prospect of being married to a King and possessing all of the wealth that is sure to follow it which leads her to start planning the downfall of their journey. The feature of Lady Macbeth’s first appearance is her immediate determination and ambition. Lady Macbeth is ready to do whatever is necessary to collect the throne. The theme of ambition is constantly recurring in the play; it starts off as Lady Macbeth being the more…

Shakespeare’s Attitude to Puritanism in his Plays The term “Puritan” appeared in England around 1565 as a reference to the abuse of religious propaganda in the period. German refugees brought into England the notion of pure primitive church and purity of reform. One of the first printed uses of the term originated in a Catholic attack on an Anglican policy statement and later as an argument of Protestant leaders against Elizabeth’s keeping of the crucifix on her chapel altar. Puritanism can be…

Banquo is killed, and the torch goes out, which causes darkness as evil triumphs over Banquo. Light and darkness remain prevalent and influential toward the end of Macbeth. In the first scene of Act Five, Lady Macbeth deteriorates. The Gentlewoman says, “She has light by her continually; ’tis her command.” She elaborates on Lady Macbeth’s desire to have light by her side. Before the final events leading to the closing of the play, Lady Macbeth wished for evil and darkness to assist her…

roaring fireplaces, drinking tea incessantly from silver trays full of scones and crumpets” (Angelou 95). Mrs. Flowers wasn’t like any black woman young Angelou had ever seen, she was the direct opposite of Angelou’s personality and acted like a gentlewoman. For the first time, Angelou had stated, “It would be safe to say that she made me proud to be Negro, just by being herself” (Angelou 95). This set the turnaround in Angelou’s life as she caught a glimpse of what it means to be herself. With…

Prophecies Run Wild One night last week, three old women, who are apparent witches, were seen upon the heath conspiring to meet with Macbeth. The next day, King Duncan was seen conversing with a captain for news about the battle between the Scots’ and Irish invaders. While at the palace, Duncan was informed that Macbeth and Banquo fought with great courage and Macbeth slew the traitorous Macdonwald. King Duncan spoke to Ross and said “ Go pronounce his present death, and with his former title…

In seventeenth century England, it was extremely taboo for women to act any form of theatre, even when scripts call for a female role. Consequently, all performances, including all of Shakespeare 's works, during this era were of all male cast. Since it is no longer out of the norm for females to take part in theatre, Lisa Wolpe has directed multiple plays, in which were originally all male performances, with full female casts. One such play was her twist on Williams Shakespeare’s Twelfth…