The Self Defeat of Heroes in Shakespeares Tragedies A...

The Self-Defeat of Heroes in Shakespeares Tragedies: A Character Analysis of Hamlet and Othello Introduction Aristotle asserted that all tragic heroes had fundamental flaws that were the source of their undoing, and that were typically the source of their initial success, as well. Oedipus thinks he acts with justice, wisdom, and the assurance of success, and these things also cause him to completely destroy himself when he discovers the truth of his situation, as one prominent example. The idea, then, that tragic heroes are in some way the source of their own undoing is not new, but rather is a foundational feature of the Western dramatic and literary traditions. From the time of the earliest recorded Western plays and some of the earliest recorded pieces of Western literature, a specific fascination the heros character in relation to his or her eventual crumbling has been a strong recurrent theme in literature and in criticism. This does not mean, of course, that the concepts of tragic heroes, tragic flaws, and an inspection of the protagonist have remained unchanged over the millennia. Tales grew somewhat less grand in scope as the centuries progressed, and this has led to an increased subtlety and complexity in the construction of tragic heroes and the bringing about of their downfall. An examination of two of Shakespeares most well known and critically examined tragedies, Hamlet and Othello, demonstrates the changes in heroic traits and identities that haveShow MoreRelatedAmerican Literature11652 Words   |  47 Pages Rationalism / Age of Enlightenment period of American Literature - 1750-1800 Content: ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · national mission and American character democratic utopia use of reason history is an act of individual and national self-assertion Genre/Style: ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · political pamphlets travel writing highly ornate writing style fiction employs generic plots and characters fiction often tells the story of how an innocent young woman is tested by a seductive male Effect: ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · patriotism grows

Teenagers Should Have Access to Birth Control Essay

Imagine you are sitting in the doctor’s office awkwardly with your mom. The doctor comes in, checks you out and asks a few questions. You fear him asking â€Å"Are you sexually active?† Your mom is sitting across from you and you are afraid what she is going to think of you when you answer â€Å"Yes.† to the question. You want to do the right thing and get on birth control to be safe, but you know your mom will say no. Girls in the 21st century should have the right to protect themselves with any sort of birth control they choose without parents’ consent. About 40 percent of sexually active teenagers admit to not using any form of protection (like a condom) during their last session. Behavior like this leads to higher risks of pregnancy or even†¦show more content†¦Girls who gave birth while still in high school only 38% of them graduate. The reason the rest of them drop out is since they are forced to work in order to support their child. Nearly all cannot manage parenthood, school, work without family or friends help. With teenage mothers â€Å"Their children showed reduced educational attainment, had more emotional and behavioral problems, were at increased risk of maltreatment or harm, and showed higher rates of illness, accidents and injuries.† (Dennison P. 6) Just in the state of Texas, in 2012, there were 44 births per 1,000 girls’ state wide. Nationwide 50% of pregnancies are accidental in 2006. Teen parents also are a financial load to society, According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, in 2004, all together taxpayers paid more than eight billion dollars to help support health cares designed to help the 420,000 teenage mothers who gave birth in that year. â€Å"results from economic analyses suggest that implementing evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention programs, expanding access to Medicaid family planning services, and utilizing mass media campaigns to promote safe sex may re duce teen pregnancy and save taxpayer dollars.† (Without the help of drugs like Plan B or any type of birth control, a large amount of teenage girls will become unplanned mothers, making more of a financial burden to society. How does birth control work? â€Å"Birth control pills are made of hormones or hormone-like chemicals calledShow MoreRelatedShould Teenagers Have Access to Birth Control1648 Words   |  7 PagesBarbara Burton Professor Singh English 111 November 13, 2012 Should Teenagers Have Access to Birth Control? Teenagers are still growing and learning. Sometimes we forget that they are making choices that can affect their whole life. Yes, we are here to teach them and to guide them in making decisions that will help shape their future. Are they going to make mistakes? Are they going to regret some of their choices? Are they going to wish that they had listened to their parents at times that they didn’tRead MoreBirth Control Access to Teens1463 Words   |  6 PagesFormal Outline Topic: Birth control access to teenage girls Thesis statement: Although teenage girls are prohibited from purchasing birth control, laws should be implemented to allow access to birth control as a means of managing safer sex, preventing the health risks and guarding them from the cycle of poverty. 1. Reasons for not allowing birth control to be given to teenagers A. It encourages sexual activity (Sex with many partners -promiscuity) B. Abstinence should be promoted Read MoreThe Prevention Of Teenage Pregnancy Essay1513 Words   |  7 PagesAn issue that is currently plaguing American teenagers today is the access to different types of contraception. This lack of access can lead to higher rates of teenage pregnancy and an increase in sexually transmitted diseases among teenagers. The sexually active teenagers who have been given better access to contraception are less likely to become pregnant or contract an STD, in comparison to their peers who do not have access. With the prevention of teenage pregnancy, comes the prevention of futureRead MoreUnintended Pregnancy Prevention Essay1269 Words   |  6 Pages Are controversial concerns about the birth control pill really a problem? Allowing teenagers to use the birth control pill has been a controversial subject for parents, teachers, and teenagers for a wide range of reasons. The vast majority of teenage pregnancies, more than four out of five, are unplanned (Unintended Pregnancy Pre vention). Whether teenagers believe in common myths that they cant get pregnant the first time having sex or they truly believe nothing like this could ever happenRead MorePersuasive Essay On Birth Control1288 Words   |  6 Pagesas those who are married or have previously been pregnant, to consent; four states have no standing laws or policy (â€Å"An Overview† 1-2). The contraceptive access also varies across the country. Some states require comprehensive sexual education and for teens to be able to access contraceptives. Some lean more towards abstinence only education in the hopes teens will steer away from sexual activities. There are also scattered clinics where teens can receive birth control. For many parents, this termRead MoreTeenagers And Birth Control Without Parental Consent897 Words   |  4 PagesTeenagers and Birth Control There are many different opinions on whether teenage girls should be allowed to access birth control without parental consent. Each parent has his or her own perspective, and reason behind this issue. Parenting styles help contribute to different opinions on allowing teenage girls to access birth control without parental consent. Some parents of teenage girls believe they shouldn’t be allowed to access birth control without parental consent because it takes the authorityRead MoreBirth Control : Who Controls?1159 Words   |  5 PagesBirth Control: Who Controls? â€Å"Should teenagers be allowed to get birth control without the permission of their parents?† Outline: -Thesis Statement- Teenagers should not be required to have permission from their parents to receive birth control. Religious Beliefs: -Sex before marriage -Encouraging the child to have sex -Against God’s will (IT’S A SIN) Communications with teens/parents -Wanting to know from a parent’s perspective -Asking the teen â€Å"why† -Social problems leading to crisis explosionRead MoreBirth Control: Available to Teens? Essay647 Words   |  3 PagesSeven hundred fifty thousand teenagers, ages fifteen to nineteen, become pregnant each year (â€Å"Facts†). Teenage birth specialists have often debated whether or not teenagers should have access to birth control and other contraceptives. Although some people think teenagers having birth control will promote promiscuity, birth control should be accessible to teens because they will put themselves at a higher risk for disease and pregnancy without it, and more teenage girls would get a high school diplomaRead MoreTeenagers and Birth Control1208 Words   |  5 PagesTeenagers should have access to birth control devices. The most compelling argument against this thesis is the idea that they are not emotionally mature enough to be having sex at all, in that it is a meaningful commitment that should be only taken up by adults who have the ability to consent ful ly and understand the consequences of their behavior. Additionally, sexual behavior contains a lot of risks of many different natures. There is the emotional risk of engaging in such intimate activityRead MoreTeen Pregnancy And Teenage Pregnancy1456 Words   |  6 PagesAbout one-third of American girls will become pregnant as teenagers (Kristof). Clearly, teen pregnancy is a concern among many people in the U.S. One way to help the teen pregnancy statistics would be birth control. Teenagers should have more access to birth control, particularly LARCs (long-acting reversible contraceptives), and be more informed about it. There are many reasons why this should be. For starters, it would help the child and the mother. It could also help the U.S. not be so high on

Directing Act 5 Scene 2 Essay Example For Students

Directing Act 5 Scene 2 Essay I will be directing part of Act five scene two. This is the part where most of the main characters are all together and Petruchio shows all the other men that he has tamed Kate. All the men have a bet on whose wife is the most obedient.  I have chosen to set my piece in the present time because I want the modern day audience to sympathise with both Katherina and Petruchio. I am going to set this in a stately home because the men will be playing cards and the women will be talking in a nearby room. The servants will be also playing cards because Biondello and Gremio are also good friends of their masters. The house will belong to Lucentio. I have chose to use a stately home because it is the closest thing to the type of housing and the class the people in the original play were set in. I thought that although the stately home is the closest thing to the original, the modern day audience would still be able to relate to the characters and settings a lot easier. The men will be dressed in casual suits with a loosened tie, to create the effect of the upper class relaxing with a few friends. Kate will be wearing a long flowing dress to show that she is like an ordinary upper class lady instead of the more radical clothing she would have worn before the taming process. Biannca and the widow will also be wearing the same style of dress. The servants (Biondello and Gremio) would be wearing the traditional butler uniform.  I want them to realise that Petruchio has tamed Kate, but I want them to question whether or not Kate has lost her robust personality in the process. I want them to think that although Kate has been disciplined and is obeying Petruchios every word, that she still is her own person, but she now puts her view across in very different ways. I am going to direct my play in a way that will bring out the fact that Kate is still her own person, but a lot more sociable.  Baptista and all the other men think that Petruchio could not have tamed Kate because she was uncontrollable. So I would get Baptista to say this line   Now in good. shrew of all  In a patronising way. I would get him to say it in this way because Baptista doesnt think that Petruchio has succeeded.  Well, I say no. we will propose  Petruchio would say this in a confident manner, which the other gentlemen will act upon because they think that Kate has no chance of winning therefore they all place a wager for their own wife. Twenty crowns? Ill venture. Upon my wife  Again Petruchio would say this in a conclusive way to make lure the audience and his friends into thinking he must be foolish to bet such a large amount of money upon a bet he is in no doubt going to lose.  That will I. Go Biondello, bid your mistress come to me  Lucentio would say this in a boastful manner because he thinks his sweet fair Biannca will come to him at once. The audience are in total agreement with Lucentio, they also think Biannca will come. When Biondello exits he will go through a large oak door and you would hear him running down the hall. Son, Ill be your half Biannca comes  The actor would need to say this in a way that convinces the audience he is willing to give his money away because he is that assured that Lucentio will win the bet.  Ill have no halves; Ill bear it all myself.  Lucentio would say this in an arrogant way because he is that confident that he will win he wants all the rewards for himself.  Sir, my mistress. She cannot come.  Biondello would be out of breath after he had been running; he would then say this sentence in a very surprised way. Before he said this Lucentio would have a very smug grin on his face, but afterwards his face would drop.  How? Shes busy. Is that an answer?