All About Shakespeare's Plays and Sonnets

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All About Shakespeare
Shakespeare introduced mankind to these words like
fashionable, comfortable and other 7,000 words through his
literature and these words were not used before the
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Shakespearian era. An ordinary literary person knows up to
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20,000 words but it is said that Shakespeare knew 27,000 to
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33,000 words. If we calculate the number of synonyms he
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knew then we might come across the mind-boggling value of
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70,000 synonyms.
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Quotations by Shakespeare
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1. Love is blind.
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2. All that glitters is not gold.

3. All is well when end's well
Other Facts

1. His work has been translated into every language spoken
on the planet earth.
2. Every 10th quotation is quoted of Shakespeare in
religious as well as ordinary books all around the globe.
3. He spelled his name as Willam Shakspr.
Birth and Parentage
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William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564, at Stratford,
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England, in which the river Avon flows. With reference to
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the river, he is well known as The Bard of Avon. The name of
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his father was John Shakespeare, who had been dealing with
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leather to make gloves. His mother was renowned as the
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woman of higher rank. Her name was Mary Shakespeare.

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Shakespeare was the third one among his siblings. They

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were five brothers and three sisters. After the birth of

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Shakespeare, his father had to face a severe financial crisis

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and his mother tried her best to bridge this financial gap. He
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had been learning Greek and Latin languages in school but

due to the financial crisis, he was made leave the school
education.
Shakespeare as a Drama Actor

He decided to make his way to London to earn his livelihood.
It is said that he had been wandering jobless for almost six
months. But it was a golden era of theatre and he learnt the
art of playwright by taking care of the horses which were
used in royal carriages: driven towards The Theatre. Then he
started taking part as a minor actor in dramas. His superior
intellect soon paved his way to play as a leading role in
dramas.
The King's Men- A Playing Company of
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Shakespeare
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A royal playing company which was managed by Lawrence
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Fletcher and by William Shakespeare. This company was well
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known for playing acts and dramas in the royal court of
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Queen Elizabeth. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth, this

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company was renowned as Lord Chamberlain's Men. When

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King James I took over the throne, the company was

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renamed as King's Men.

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Marriage and Children of Shakespeare

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Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway in November 1582. He,

himself was 18 and his wife was 26 years old during the
marriage. Their first child was Susanna, born in May 1583.
Later on, two twins were born, named as Hamnet (the boy)
and Judity (the girl). His son died of some unknown
consequences at eleventh age. Judity's children died and
Susanna's children were not married. Thus, the lineage of
Shakespeare ended and there is no one to call Shakespeare
as his grandfather.
Workings of Shakespeare
The literary work of Shakespeare has been divided into 4
phases:
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1st Phase | Immature Works (Early)
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The first period of Shakespeare literary and dramatic genius
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lasted till 1594. The language used in these dramas is loaded
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with difficult phrases. But the Plots are well connected with
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the story. Here are the notable works of that

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period:Comedies
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1. Comedy of Errors (1592)

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2. Taming of the Shrew (1593)

3. Love's Labour's Lost (1594)
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Tragedies
1. Henry VI (1590-1592) (Historical play)

2. Titus Andronicus (1594)

2nd Phase | Histories and Comedies (Balanced
Period)
The second phase of Shakespeare's works holds an
important position due to his historical plays. The language
used in these plays is simple. This phase started from 1594
and lasted till 1600. Here are some works of this
period:Historical Plays:
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1. Richard II (1595)
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2. Henry IV (1597)
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3. Henry V
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Comedies
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1. A Midsummer Night's Dream (1595)

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2. The Merchant of Vence (1596) (Tragicomedy)

3. Much Ado About Nothing (1599)
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4. As You Like It (1599)

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5. Twelfth Night (1600)

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Tragedies
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1. Romeo and Juliet (1595)

2. Julius Caesar (1599)
3rd Phase | Tragedies and Dark Comedies

(Overflowing Period)
The literary genius of this period by Shakespeare is made of
complex plot, challenging the reader with sudden reversal of
expected situations. This phase is also renowned for the
blood thirsty tragedies as every tragedy of that period is
littered with deaths of characters, including the protagonist
as well. Here are some well-known plays of this
period:Tragedies:
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1. Hamlet (1601)
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2. Troilus and Cressida (1602)
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3. Othello (1604)
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4. King Lear (1605)
5. Antony and Cleopatra (1606) sa
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6. Macbeth (1606)
7. Coriolanus (1607)
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8. Timon of Athens (1608)

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Problem Plays (Dark Comedies):

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1. All's Well That Ends Well (1602)

2. Measure of Measure (1604)
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4th Phase | Romantic Tragedies (Final Period)

The final period of Shakespeare literary genius. During this
period, he gave up his motives regarding bloody spectacles
and promoted peace and calm mixed with proper language,
technical skills and psychological wisdom. These plays often
illustrate magical illusions and mythical creatures. Here are
some works of the final period:
1. Pericles, Prince of Tyre (1608)

2. Cymbeline (1610)
3. The Winter's Tale (1610)
4. The Tempest (1611)
Product of Collaboration:
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1. Henry VIII (1613 – Historical Drama)
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2. Two Noble Kinsmen (Written in 1613 and Published in
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1634)
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Poems by Shakespeare
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This seems a bit confusing as 154 sonnets are also a part of

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his poetry but there are two long narrative poems which are
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"considered" the only pieces of poetry. He wrote these

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poems during the plague in England when the Government

of England temporarily shut all the theatres to prevent the
citizens from getting infected with plague. Here are the
names of these two poems:
1. Venus and Adonis

2. The Rape of Lucrèce
Shakespeare wrote 37 plays (without mentioning 2 lost
plays) and 160 sonnets (actual 154 and 6 in dramas)
collectively.
Everything Famous Regarding Shakespeare

Some Oblique Words and their Meanings
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1. He left us straight (at once).
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2. I marry her, what a customer (prostitute)
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3. O brave new world for I charge (to give authority) thee to
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obey me. I pray thee have a better chair.
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4. Thou art a silly (less educated woman).
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The famous words invented by Shakespeare
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1. Amazement
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2. Lonely
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3. Fashionable
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4. Hurry
5. Majestic
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6. Excellent
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Famous Idioms
1. Heart of Gold
2. Pillar of Strength
3. Green-eyed Monster (Jealousy)
4. To wear one's heart on one's sleeve
5. Method in Madness
6. More sinned than sinning
7. Vanish into the thin air
8. Foregone conclusion
Famous Lines
1. To be or not to be, that's the question.

2. You too brutus. (not certain regarding its spelling)
3. The course of true love never did run smooth
4. There's nothing good or bad but thinking makes it so.
5. Hell is empty and all the devils are here.
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Instances of Dramatic Irony in
Oedipus Rex
Irony
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Irony is the difference between
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expectations and happenings
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while dramatic irony is the
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difference between the

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knowledge of actors and that of

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the audience. Oedipus the King is

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the most renowned example of

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dramatic irony and ironies of all

kind. Every single scene contains
many instances of irony. It is
difficult to cover every single
instance of irony in the drama, yet
here are some examples of irony
in Oedipus the King.
Oedipus to Kill the Old Man
When Oedipus is given the oracle

of killing his father and marrying
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his mother, he leaves Corinth and
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sets forth to Thebes unknowingly.
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On his way, he kills an old person
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along with other persons, without

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knowing the fact that the old

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person is his actual father and

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king of Thebes. We, as the

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audience, know this fact but

Oedipus is unaware of it, creating
an instance of Dramatic Irony.
Oedipus to Marry Jocasta
Oedipus solves the prolonged
riddle of Sphinx. The Theban
people reward him with the
kingship of Thebes for this act of
intellectual bravery. He is married
to the "widow" Jocasta. This is
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another example of dramatic
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irony as the audience knows he sa
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has married his mother but

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Oedipus thinks he has married the

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wife of King Laius (he did not

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know about Laius being his

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father).
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Oedipus to Call the Blind Prophet Child of Endless Night
Thebes is suffering from the

devastating plague and he has to
find a way to save the city from
the killing plague. He has sent
Creon, his brother-in-law to bring
the oracle and it says that the
plague shall be lifted unless the
killer of King Laius is either killed
or exiled. The problem is who is
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the murderer of King Laius. To
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solve this issue, the services of a
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blind but the "Godlike" seer are

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called and Teiresias accuses

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Oedipus of killing the king.

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Oedipus fly in rage and mocks the

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blindness of the prophet by calling

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him "Child of the endless night".

This is the best example of
dramatic, situational and verbal
irony as in the end, Oedipus
makes himself a child of endless
night.
The Truth Must be Made Known as Situational Irony
Oedipus resolves to find out the

truth of his origin and the murder
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of king Laius by saying, "Truth
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must be made known". It is a
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situational irony as he is paving
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the ways about the awful truth

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about himself and about the

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crimes, done by him in ignorance.

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Jocasta's Attempts of Getting Rid of the Infant in Off-Stage

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Episode (Situational Irony)
Both King Laius and Jocasta are

given the oracle about their son
committing the crime of patricide
and incest. Both tried to get rid of
the child but ultimately their child
committed all the crimes, causing
distress in everyone's life.
Cosmic Irony in Oedipus Rex
Cosmic irony is the difference
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between the actions of gods and
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that of humans. To assert their
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dominance of gods over humans,
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they show their power of fate.

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Oedipus and his parents want to

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mock fate by going against their

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fate. At long last (‫)آﺧﺮ ﮐﺎر‬, fate and

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divine powers played their trump

card and showed the world who
was the actual boss.
Sources
* https://www.britannica.com/art/dramatic-irony
Renaissance - A Voyage from
Darkness to Light
Introductory
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Renaissance is considered the bridge between Black Death (A
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plague which eradicated half of the European Civilization)
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and modern civilization. It is speculated that it began in
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14thcentury and lasted till the 16th century. It alleviated the
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darkness of the Middle Ages and introduced the world with
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scientific, philosophic, artistic and humanistic

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advancements.
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Religious Reformation
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During the Medieval era, Pope had all the religious and
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political authorities of Roman Catholic Christianity. Even

kings from different kingdoms could not resist against his
'holy' orders. But it was Martin Luther who printed 95 thesis
against the ill practices of the Pope in 1517 and separated
England and Germany from the bondage of the Pope.
Humanism
The movement gained attraction in Italy that human is the
centre of all achievements and advancements. He can make
or mash his environment and the role of God has nothing to
play with the fate of humanity. That's why, this movement
was atheist in its nature. The Humanist group emphasized
on the importance of education for all and invention of
printing press alleviated the aristocratic influence over
education as the books were publicly available in large
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number.
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Exploration
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As the European people got out of their religious
backwardness, the Englandeers and Portages sea captains
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ventured into the unknown islands and colonised them to

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enlarge their kingdoms. Christofer Columbus discovered

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America in 1492. But the continent had been named after

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Amerigo Vespucci as he noticed that the newly found land

was not a part of the Indian continent.
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Fine Arts
During the Renaissance, painting met excellently skilled
painters. Da Vinci has been the most famous and talented
portrait painter in the entire human history. Two of his
paintings, Mona Lisa and The Last Supper have gained an
everlasting currency.
Scientific Innovations
The most influential innovation during this very period were
scientific inventions and corrections. In middle ages, it was
believed that the earth was the centre of the universe but
Galileo and other scientists gave reasonable theories and
calculations about the heliocentric universe, although they
have been imprisoned. The ironic concept of Flat Earth
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gradually decayed and Geology, Physics, Mathematics and
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Chemistry met their true representatives like Sir Isaac
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Newton, Galileo and Nicolaus Copernicus.
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Theatres and Literature
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The Ancient Greek dramas were only limited to the

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superiority of gods and the tragic downfall of the

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protagonist. Renaissance introduced conduction and

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alleviation of social evils in the plays performed in theatres

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and every possible and non-possible theme was tried and

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gluttoned in literature. Shakespeare, Spenser, Bacon and

Chaucer are some of the great names in literature during
that period.
Notable Children of Renaissance

Name Place Occupation Best Known For
Leonardo da The Mona Lisa & The
Italy Painter
Vinci Last Supper
Desiderius Translation of New
Holland Scholar
Erasmus Testament
Philosopher
Rane
France and Modern philosophy
Descartes
Mathematician
His pioneering work
Astronomer, with telescopes,
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Galileo Italy Physicist and arrested for his views
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Engineer on heliocentric
universe
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Nicolaus sa
Mathematician Modern concept of a
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Poland and heliocentric solar
Copernicus
Astronomer system
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Thomas
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England Philosopher Leviathan

Hobbes
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Geoffrey
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England Poet The Canterbury Tales

Chaucer
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Philosopher,
Poet, Writer
Dante Italy The Divine Comedy
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and Political
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Thinker
Niccolò Diplomat and
Italy The Prince
Machiavelli Philosopher
Poet and
John Milton England Paradise Lost
Historian
William England Playwright and Romeo and Juliet,
Shakespeare Poet Hamlet and The
(National Sonnets
Poet of
England)
Left Out
Sourcehttps://www.history.com/topics/renaissance/renaissa
nce
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Origin of Greek Drama
Greek Drama was an attribution or worship of the God
Dionysus (The god of fertility, wine and theatre) in the
festival, known as Dionysia, in which different theatrical
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performances were made. These dramas were just episodic
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stories which were devoid of beginning, middle or the end of
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the story. The episodic stories were merely the battles of
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their mythical gods. These dramas were based on myths. A
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myth is like a hypothesis which is or cannot be proven by
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science, logic or reason.

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Types of Greek Drama

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1. Tragedy
2. Comedy
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3. Satyr Plays
Famous Dramatists of Greek Drama

1. Sophocles
2. Aeschylus
3. Euripides
4. Aristophanes - Comedy
Greek Theatre
Literal meaning of Theatre is a viewing place. It was a grand
place where the participants showed their dramatic
performances in different groups like actors or chorus etc.
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Apparently, it viewed like the sports stadium of the modern
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era. The Theatre of Dionysus, situated in Athens. Like in
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Ancient Greek Athletics, women were not allowed to take
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part in performing the tragedy. Women and children were
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allowed to spectate the drama by sitting on the most upper
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seats of the theatre. In the earliest Greek dramas, only a

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person had to perform many characters of the drama. As the

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drama industry of ancient Greek started developing, the

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number of actors was increased gradually. The participants

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used to wear masks to:

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1. Enhance the distinction of characters for the spectators

who were sitting far away from the stage.
2. To alleviate the difference of gander
3. To make the audience fearful of gods
Chorus
Chorus was a group of musicians, it played an integral part in
simplifying and beautifying the story in Ancient Greek
Drama. The main objective of the chorus was to make certain
scenes understandable for the people, and to engage the
people when the actors were changing their masks and other
costumes.
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Structure of Greek Tragedy
The Ancient Greek Tragedy followed a specific set of
structure which was present in almost every Greek tragedy.
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1. Prologue: An introductory part of the tragedy, illustrated
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by the chorus
2. Parodos: Arrival of actors
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3. Scenes or Episodes: A scene or a series of scenes were
performed to the audience
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4. Exodos: A conclusionary song, sung by the chorus at the
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end of the tragedy, to mourn at the tragic death of the

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hero or a god
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Aristotle's Views on Greek
Tragedy
Aristotle was a great thinker of the second-century B.E.C. In
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his book, poetics, Aristotle commented on Greek tragedy as
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thus: Tragedy, then, is a representation of an action that is
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worth serious attention, complete in itself, and of some
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amplitude; in language enriched by a variety of artistic
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devices appropriate to the several parts of the play;
presented in the form of action, not narration; by means of
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pity and fear bringing about the purgation [catharsis] of such

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emotions. Source of definition:

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https://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/Library/SLT/drama/clas
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sical%20drama/aristotle.html
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Elements of Greek Tragedy, According to

Aristotle
According to Aristotle, there are six elements of the Ancient
Greek Tragedy
1. Plot: Arrangements of the story is called a plot.

According to Aristotle, a plot is a soul of the tragedy It
has two kinds:
1.1 Simple Plot: In which the hero is aware of his action: the
arrangements of incidents gradually shift from pleasant
situation to gloomish situation 1.2 Complex Plot: In which
the hero is unaware of his actions: this type of plot holds
sudden reversal of situations and a (long) journey towards
ignorance of incidents to awareness
1. Character: Characters make men choose the right and
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avoid the wrong, while explaining the moral purpose of
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the story.
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The central character of a story is called a protagonist.
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2. Thought: Thoughts is what is possible and important
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under certain circumstances, in a story.
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For Greeks, these thoughts were important for them:
1. Fate
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2. Man's position in the universe

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3. A sudden change of situations

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4. Importance of gods
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3. Diction: Formation of drama in either poetic or prose

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form but in simple and lucid language

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4. Music: Music helps to adorn the drama

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5. Spectacle: A background which is used behind a

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performance to illustrate some scene
Qualities of Tragic Hero

1. Martia (the weakness or tragic flaw in the hero which
leads him to his destruction or final tragic fate)
2. Noble Birth (belonging to royal class, the family of Greek
gods or having achieved a victory after fighting bravely
in the battlefield)
3. Essential goodness
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4. Undeserved Downfall
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Oedipus Rex Simplified
1. Oracle: An obscure divine message, which predicts
someone's future.
2. Prophecy: A clear divine message of someone's future;
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descent not by a god, through a priest.
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3. Apollo: A Greek god of prophecy, disease, light, sun and
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youth
4. Delphi: The central worshiping place of god Apollo in
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where he blessed his worshipers with his oracles
5. Athena: The goddess of wisdom and war. Also famous as
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Pallas
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6. Sphinx: A female monster: her head was human-like but

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her body or trunk of a lion. She had been bothering the

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people living in Thebes before her riddle was solved by

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Oedipus.
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7. Priest: An agent of god who performs various duties

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related to Christianity and in Greek mythology, priests

used to receive oracles from god Apollo
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8. Oedipus as King: Caring, empathetic, vain and pro-active

9. Oedipus' Adoptive Parents: King Polybus and Queen
Merope of Corinth, a shepherd gifted the king with the
baby as they were childless
10. Oedipus' Real Parents: King Laius and Queen Jocasta of
Thebes. They received the prophecy that the kid will kill
his father and will marry his mother. To avoid that
prophecy, they decided to kill their newly born child.
11. Cadmus: Founder and first king of Thebes
12. Motives Behind Oedipus' Decision to Find the Murderer
of King Laos:
1. To obey Apollo's prophecy
2. To prevent himself from getting killed as a king (He
thought it was someone else who had killed the former
king)
3. To save the Theban city from plague (as was ordered by
god Apollo)
1. Oedipus Expressions to Find the Murderer of the Former
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King of Thebes: I shall bring what is dark to light.
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1. Choragos: Leader of Chorus
2. Oedipus' Tragic Flaws:
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1. Rashness in judging people too early
2. Disrespectfulness to religious persons and laws
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3. Arrogance: Too much confidence in his ability of
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solving problems
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1. Curse of Oedipus as Declared by Teiresias (in Scene 1):

1. He shall come across his own plight
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2. He shall be banished from the city of Thebes

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3. He shall be blinded
4. He shall be cursed by all
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He accuses Oedipus the "defilement and corruption of

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his country".
1. Teiresias' Prophecy (Scene 1):

1. Murderer is in Thebes
2. Murderer will soon be deprived of his eyes and "Kingly
position"
3. Murderer will soon discover his other crimes (which
he is unaware of them now)
Original Text of Teiresias' Prophecy:
TEIRESIAS:
I will go when I have said what I have to say.
How can you hurt me? And I tell you again:
The man you have been looking for all this time,
The damned man, the murderer of Laos,
That man is in Thebes. To your mind he is foreign-
born,
But it will soon be shown that he is a Theban,
A revelation that will fail to please.
A blind man,
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Who has his eyes now; a penniless man, who is rich now;
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And he will go tapping the strange earth with his staff
To the children with whom he lives now he will be
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Brother and father—the very same; to her
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Who bore him, son and husband—the very same
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Who came to his father's bed, wet with his father's

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blood.
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Enough. Go think that over.

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If later you find error in what I have said,

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You may say that I have no skill in prophecy.

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2. Caveats by Creon and Chorus to Oedipus

1. Oedipus should know the facts before he reacts
(Creon)
CREON: Now listen to me. You have talked: let me talk, too.
You cannot judge unless you know the facts.
2. Judgements taken too early are dangerous (Chorus)
CHORAGOS: This is well said, and a prudent man would
ponder it.
Judgments too quickly formed are dangerous.
1. Phokis: A place where king Laos was murdered, the road

was divided into the ways for Delphi and Daulia
2. Oedipus Grief (in Scene 2):
1. He blames gods and fate for his suffering
2. He accuses gods for being savage and merciless
towards him
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3. He resolves not to return to Corinth to prevent from
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accomplishment his horrible prophecy
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3. Chorus Views on Scene 2:
1. Superiority of Divine knowledge
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2. It condemns the vice of arrogance
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3. They seek punishment for the hubris
4. Blasphemy must be avoided
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4. Prayers of Jocasta (in Scene 3)

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1. Relieve from the defilement

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2. To reduce the mental burden of Oedipus

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5. Message by First Messenger/Shepherd (in Scene 3)

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1. Oedipus will be successor of the throne of Corinth

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2. Oedipus' (adoptive) father has died of illness

6. The Reason Behind Oedipus' Happiness (Scene 3)
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1. According to Oedipus, his father died naturally.

7. Oedipus Resolve not to return to Corinth (Scene 3)
1. To prevent himself from accomplishing the second
part of prophecy (incest)
8. First Messenger's Second Message (Scene 3)
1. Polybus and Merope are not Oedipus' real parents
9. Oedipus Resolve to Find the Truth (Scene 3):
The truth must be made known
10. Oedipus calls himself the child of luck (Scene 3)
11. Ode 3:
1. Brevity
2. Optimistic
3. Chorus wonders about the parentage of Oedipus
12. Arabinoses and Peripeteia are two main events in Scene
4
13. Ode 4
Chorus laments on Arabinoses and Peripeteia of Oedipus
Oedipus position changes from majestic to wrenched
Chorus condemns the cruelty of fate
n
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Exodos
Im
d
1. Reasons for Oedipus' Blinding Himself
sa
1. To punish himself for the inner blindness
-A
2. To avoid looking at the miseries and horrors after
peripeteia
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2. Oedipus' Reason not to Commit Suicide

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1. He wanted to give the killer an exemplary punishment

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2. To execute the prophecy of Teiresias

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3. Oedipus' punishment is both physical and mental yet he

s
As
is ready for any other punishment (either banishment or

death)
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Th

Role of Fate in Oedipus Rex (the
King)
Before discussing the role of fate in Oedipus Rex, we are to
n
make it clear what the fate actually is.
ra
Im
Oedipus is merely a puppet In the hands of fate.
d
sa
Since Fate rules us and nothing can be foreseen (Jocasta)
-A
We blame gods for our misfortunes as naughty boys kill
flies for their sports.
rs
Our wills and actions go contrary to our expectations.

to
Our thoughts are ours: their consequence is not ours.

ila
im
Every quote, written above, shows the dominance of fate

s
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over human civilization.

e
Th
Fate and Ancient Greece

Grecian people had a deeper faith in fate. For them, their
future was determined by the divine powers. In order to
know about their past or future, they used to resort to a
priest, who gave prophecies and an oracle by god Apollo.
Prophecies were prone to go wrong but oracles were words
on stone, not "on the wind".
Fate and Oedipus' Parents
Oedipus' actual and authentic parents were King Laius and
Queen Jocasta of Thebes. They received an oracle that their
son will kill his father and will marry his own mother. To
escape from that dismal condition, imposed by fate, they
simply gave the newly born child to a Theban Shepherd to
kill it. But the Theban Shepherd took pity on the child and
n
left it on Kithairón mountains.
ra
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Oedipus Brought up by a Royal Family
d
sa
-A
On seeing a child, striving for life, the Shepherd of Corinth
took the infant and gifted it to their childless king and queen
rs
while earning a handsome reward. They were King Polypus

to
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and Queen Merope. They brought him up as if he were their

im
actual son. One day, he overheard that he was not the real
s
son of King Polybus and Queen Jocasta. For confirmation, he

As
set forth for Delphi where he was given an oracle about the
e
Th
crimes of patricide and incest. To prevent from

accomplishing these horrible crimes, he left Corinth and set
his course for a random place. On his way to Thebes, he,
unknowingly, killed his father, taking him merely as an old
man.
Oedipus, The King of Thebes

Oedipus was a wise and influential person. He was successful
in solving the prolong riddle of the monster Sphinx. The
Theban people were greatly impressed by Oedipus'
intelligence and they made him their king and he was
married to Jocasta. Both his parents and Oedipus tried their
level best to avoid their fate but fate clutched them in its
cruel claws and the oracles went true.
n
ra
Oedipus' Own Desire
Im
Oedipus accomplished these crimes in complete ignorance.
d
sa
But it was his quest for truth, "The truth must be made
-A
known", the truth about the murderer of King Laius and
about his lineage. He was stopped by Teiresias, Creon and
rs
to
Jocasta but the plague and his own interest led him to the
ila
horrible truth about the horrible wrongs.

s im
As
Conclusion
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Th
Oedipus' afflictions [‫ ]ﻣﺼﺎﺋﺐ‬were brought by fate but, to

know about his afflictions, was his own desire, to blind and
banish himself was, as well, his own decision.
Elizabethan Era - An Age of
Theatre, Exploration and
Religious Reformation in England
n
ra
This age is also known as the Renaissance of England as
Im
during the reign of Queen Gloriana (Elizabeth), England
d
flourished in scientific, industrial, philosophical and colonial
sa
advancements. This age is also renowned as the Golden Age
-A
for political peace.
rs
to
Age of Theatres
ila
im
During this age, theatres and dramas were widely performed

s
As
in England, from casual Greek rip-offs to an illustration of

e
social evils. The dramatic genre of literature was more

Th
effective, influential and popular at that time. Here are some

renowned theatresin England:
1. The Red Lion Theatre

2. The Theatre
3. The Swan Theatre
4. The Rose Theatre
5. The Globe Theatre
6. The Curtain Theatre
Notable Dramatists in English Renaissance:
1. William Shakespeare: Famous for his Romeo and Juliet,
Hamlet and The Sonnets
2. Christopher Marlowe: Famous for Jew of Malta and
Queen of Carthage
An Age of Exploration
n
There were three main reasons behind Englanders to venture
ra
onto the wide oceans:
Im
d
1. To find new continents and islands
sa
2. To find new markets for their business
-A
3. To enlarge the kingdom of England
rs
Famous Explorers
to
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1. Sir Francis Drake: The first to circle around the whole

im
globe
s
As
2. Sir Walter Raleigh: To colonize North America in 1585

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Th
Class Division During Elizabethan Era

1. The class division was rigid and no one was able to
switch his class
2. The Feudalism system was also at peak and helped the
monarch to rule over the working class
3. Another class, the merchants slowly but gradually
strengthen their position and has topped the Lords
4. The people had been judged by their nobility and class,
not by their characters
5. The Chain of Beings:
1. God
2. Angels
3. Humans
4. Animals and Insects
5. Plants and Trees
The Chain of Human Classes during the

Elizabethan Era
n
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1. Monarchy: Of Kings and Queens
Im
2. Nobility: Of Lords, Dukes and Ladies
3. Gentry: Of Knights and Soldiers
d
4. Merchants: Of Businessmen sa
-A
5. Yeomen: Middle-class people
6. Labours: Most lower class, workers in farms, industries
rs
and as servants
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Government
s im
As
The government during the Elizabethan era was comprised of

three tiers:
e
Th
1. Monarch
2. Privy Council: The advisers of the monarch
3. Parliament
3.1 The House of Lords (was more powerful during
Elizabethan Era)
3.2 The House of Commons (is powerful today)
Religion
During the Elizabethan Era, a major shift of divide could be
seen in religion. Before Queen Gloriana, British was "ruled"
by the Pope of Roman Catholic Chruch. As soon as the fire of
Renaissance caught up in England, the situation began to
change gradually in favour of Protestant form of Christianity
and the authority of Pope began to question. Queen Elizabeth
I was also a patronage of the Protestant movement. She
idealised the Church of England both as Catholic and
n
ra
Reformed but most importantly, she abolished the
Im
supremacy of Roman Catholic Church and proclaimed to
d
honour the church as the central church for England.
sa
-A
Elizabethan vs Greek Dramas
rs
to
1. Action in a drama was not performed but told by the

ila
characters
im
2. There were no or less spectacles as compared with Greek

theatre
s
As
3. Just like Greek theatre, there were no female actors in

Elizabethan Stage
e
Th
4. Fancy Dresses: A major source of attraction. Usually, the

dresses were used and then gifted by aristocratic class to
the drama companies. No one was allowed to wear such
costly cloths, in these dramas, these clothes were
allowed to be worn and displayed to the masses
Qualities of Marlowian Tragic
Hero
See the full-length article on The Jew of Malta as a Typical
n
Marlowian Tragedy
ra
Im
1. Dominance: The protagonist dominates the entire play
d
through his intellect and no one seems to excel in his
dominance. sa
-A
2. Passionate: The Marlowian tragic hero is intensively
passionate towards his goals and can cost everything for
rs
to
the sake of accomplishments of his goals (either positive

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or negative)
3. Humble Origin: Unlike Aristotle, the tragic heroes in
im
Marlowe's plays are the sons of the people belonging to a

s
As
humble or a poor family.

4. Conflict: He is a creature of external as well as spiritual
e
conflicts.
Th
5. Auto-biographical Aspect: All the Marlowian heroes are

based on the life of Marlowe himself to some extinct.
6. Elizabethan Morality: The protagonist is a portrayal of
Elizabethan morality.
Character Sketch of Abigail - The
Jew of Malta
Introductory
n
ra
Abigail is the "hopeless daughter of hapless Jew". She is the
Im
only character in the play by Christopher Marlowe to exhibit
d
positive and likeable qualities [for the reader]. In early act,
sa
her father prophesies that he loves her (as a daughter) and
-A
his money bags the most but it only turns out to be a myth.
rs
Her father uses his 14 years old daughter as a tool to seek

to
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vengeance upon his enemies.

s im
Pious Abigail does Something Sketchy

As
e
"Wrenched" Barabas, the wealthiest Jew of entire Malta is

Th
deprived of his hard-earned wealth by the Governor Ferneze

and he devising his policies to reclaim his 'gold'. Abigail, as
a whole, is seen positive and does not catch red-handed
doing anything harmful. Barabas uses his daughter as a toy
[remember the line of Machiavelli when he said, "I count the
religion but a childish toy"?] to retain his lost wealth by
sending her as a fakely converted nun in his house which is
converted into a fresh nunnery. She does not want to deceive
neither the nuns nor her lover, Mathias but her father
exclaims, "It is no sin to deceive a Christian" and forces her
to do so. In order to prove a good daughter towards her
father, she commits such a shady thing and secretly throws
her father's money bags in a street in the dark.
A Sincere Lover
n
ra
Im
When she is sent to the newly made nunnery, two young
men, named Don Lodowick (son of the governor) and
d
sa
Mathias because they deem her as "fair". She also falls in
-A
love with Mathias and when her father knows this all, he
hatches another policy to make Ferneze pay for his unjust
rs
to
action through fighting a duel between Mathias and

ila
Lodowick. Abigail openly protests against her father's

im
intrigues and resolutes, "I'll make 'em friends again". But it

s
As
is too late and both her friends kill each other in the duel.
The point is, she is sincere in loving either her father and her
e
Th
"would have been" husband, Mathias. She does her best to

enjoin the two Maltese but her efforts are "frustrated" by
her father. Barabas even does not listen to the confession of
love, uttered by Abigail, "O father, Don Mathias is my love! "
and moves forward to win his goal.
Abigail - A Tragic Character

Having known all the "brave policies" of her "hard-hearted"
father through Ithamore, she decides to convert to
Christianity so that she might be free from the sins
committed by her in her afterlife. Her conversion infuriates
her father and he decides to poison her own daughter whom
he loved the most [what a pity!]. Her pitiful death after
losing her beloved and her sincere help to her father makes
her a tragic character. She confesses every policy of her
n
ra
father to Friar Barnardine when she breathes her last but she
Im
requests him, "To work my peace, this I confess to thee
d
Reveal it not, for then my father dies"
sa
-A
Conclusion
rs
to
Abigail proves to be the most sincere daughter to her father.

ila
She arises the feelings of pity in the hearts of the readers

im
through her tragic death. Her character is an embodiment of

s
As
genuineness and honesty. Her character reminds us that

positivity can exist in the blowing storms of negativity and
e
Th
she is forced to kick the bucket but she successfully retains

her good name [throughout the play].
Sources, References and Citations

1. https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literature/jew-
malta/abigail
2. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-Jew-of-
Malta/character-analysis/
Malta/quotes/
4. The Jew of Malta - Text by Famous Production
5. Lecture(s) of Sir Hassan Akbar
n
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Thematic Significance of The Jew
of Malta
Introductory
n
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The Jew of Malta is a tragic story of a Jew, living in Malta.
Im
This play appeared in 1592 during Elizabethan Era. That is
d
why this play marks its appearance as a protestor
sa
(representator) of Elizabethan Morality. The story revolves
-A
around Barabas, the most wealthy Jew in Malta whose wealth
rs
is confiscated by the Christians. So, religion, hypocrisy,

to
ila
Machiavellianism, policies, avarice and justice intensify their

im
existence as important themes of the play.

s
As
Policy
e
Th
We know policy different but in Elizabethan Era, this word

meant a subtle intrigue. Barabas is seen using this word
throughout his play when he is planning something
harmful. Barabas can easily guess that it is the policy of the
Maltese government to take a hold of Barabas' ships, house
and bags 'brimful' of money because they might use this
wealth to pay the tribute which has been left unpaid for
almost 10 years. Barabas devices his daughter, "Be ruled by
me." to receive his hard-earned wealth back. From
reclaiming his bags to poisoning his "second half",
Ithamore, Barabas makes the best use of his policy.
Manifestly, a policy is a soft-sounding version of self-
interest.
Greed
n
ra
Im
Lust for money and shiny wealth is a humanly virtue which
is seen in its abundance in the particular play. The soul of
d
sa
Machiavelli gives us a hint in the prologue that Barabas
-A
"smiles to see how full his bags are crammed". When the
play begins in the counting-house, Barabas is seen anxious
rs
to
about his trading ships, returning from different parts of the

ila
world. But avarice is not limited in Barabas only, Lodowick

im
seems to grab Barabas' wealth by marrying Abigail; Friar

s
As
Jacomo and Barnardine try their best to receive the feign

sympathy of Barabas for the Church; Ithamore, Pilia Borza
e
Th
and Bellamira also attempt to extort money from Barabas. In

short, the theme of avarice is present in every negative
character of the play.
Revenge
The whole drama begins when Barabas' whole property is
seized by the Maltese Governor, Ferneze. Barabas declares
his revenge as thus: "I am not of the tribe of Levi, I, That can
so soon forget an injury." So, Barabas' first instalment to get
even with Ferneze comes in the shape of a duel between Don
Lodowick and Mathias which results in the death of the two.
Ferneze and Katherine seek revenge on Barabas and when
Abigail knows about her father's deeds, she converts to
Christianity and her father even seeks vengeance on her by
poisoning all the nuns, including his "inconstant Abigail".
n
ra
Barabas is still unsatisfied and strikes Jacomo and
Im
Barnardine with the arrows of revenge along with Pilia Borza
d
and Bellamira. [The most tyrannical tragic hero award goes
sa
to Barabas] Barabas and Ferneze join hands to get even with
-A
Turks and it all finishes when Ferneze seeks vengeance on
rs
Barabas by dropping him into his "dainty gallery". Revenge

to
is a fruit begotten through the seed of avarice but Barabas'

ila
revenge is [to some extent,] uncontrollable and unjustified

im
which paves the way for his tragedy.

s
As
e
Hypocrisy
Th
Hypocrisy also serves as one of the major themes of the play

which is abruptly depicted by the protagonist himself.
Barabas shows his double face even to his fellow Jews. He
promises both Lodowick and Mathias to have his "diamond"
but advises his daughter, "It's no sin to deceive a Christian".
His hypocrisy is not limited to his adversaries, he plays with
his own daughter (by protesting he loves her the most and
then kills her) and his "second half" Ithamore by poisoning
him too. Among other hypocrite characters is Lodowick who
plans to snatch Barabas' coffers through entrapping Abigail
in the web of love. Ferneze showcases his hypocrisy as a
mean to ensnare Barabas as well as the Turks. Hypocrisy and
revenge go hand in hand in this play.
Anti-Semitism
n
ra
Im
In simple terms, Anti-Semitism is the religious decimation
of the Jews. This is the core theme of the play which serves
d
sa
as a tonic to push the tragic workflow. Why was Barabas'
-A
property got confiscated? Because he was a Jew. Why was
Barabas blackmailed by Itamore? Because he had a long nose
rs
to
[which also signifies as a symbol used for the indication of

ila
the Jews]. In fact, Barabas was out-done by both Maltese

im
Christians as well as Turkish Muslims but Barabas

s
As
successfully jumped from these hurdles. Religious

discrimination also goes parallel with other themes in The
e
Th
Jew of Malta.
Conclusion
The Jew of Malta is a play in which avarice and Anti-
Semitism give birth to revenge and hypocrisy which are
executed by the subtle work of policy.
Sources, References and Citation
1. The Jew of Malta - Text by Famous Production
Malta/themes/
malta/themes
5. https://www.sparknotes.com/drama/jewofmalta/themes
/#:~:text=Vengeance%20and%20Retribution&text=Notio
n
ns%20of%20vengeance%20obsess%20the,broad%20as%
ra
20the%20play%20progresses.&text=As%20a%20theme%
Im
2C%20vengeance%20contributes,of%20The%20Jew%20o
d
f%20Malta.
sa
-A
malta/quotes
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sim
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The Jew of Malta as a (Typical
Marlowian) Tragedy
Introductory
n
ra
The full-length title of the very play reads as thus: "The
Im
Tragedy of the Rich Jew of Malta.", [Who uses full stops after
d
titles? Well, this is a well-crafted literary fashion. ] thus
sa
indicating us that we are about to enter into the gnomish
-A
realm of tragedy. But the question arises, is it really a
rs
tragedy or just Marlowe randomly chose this title for his

to
ila
play. To answer this question, we first need to define what

im
tragedy actually is. Oxford dictionary defines tragedy as thus,

s
"a serious play with a sad ending, especially one in which the
As
main character dies."

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Th
A Typical Marlowian Tragedy

Before Christopher Marlowe took to writing plays, mystery
(mystery plays originated in the Middle Ages to showcase
religious plays for example, showcasing the resurrection of
Christ and other Biblical events) and morality (as the name
suggests, morality plays were performed to depict and
advertise Christian morals) plays were popular among the
masses. When the first ray of Renaissance shined forth,
Masques and Pageants (An elaborate representation of
scenes from history etc; usually involves a parade with rich
costumes) were introduced, thus adding a touch of comedy
in dramas. Then the University Wits (a group of university
graduates), including Marlowe came ahead and started
innovating in dramas by moving from the mere imitation of
n
ra
Senecan tragedies (ancient Roman Tragedies). A critic
Im
remarks, "Before him [Marlowe] there was neither genuine
d
blank verse nor a genuine tragedy in our language. After his
sa
arrival the way was prepared, the paths were made straight,
-A
for Shakespeare."
rs
to
How is Marlovian Tragedy different from the Ancient

ila
Medieval Tragedies?
s im
The ancient Medieval tragedies dealt with the downfall of

As
princely and kingly figures. Marlowe seems to deny this rule.

e
Th
His heroes belong to the humble families but they attain a

higher position through their heroic qualities and struggles.
For instance, Barabas (our protagonist in the play, The Jew of
Malta) is not a son of a king but an ordinary Jew, who retains
his "counting-house", ships and gold through hard work
and policy. Another major hallmark of Marlowian tragedy is
the implication of Machiavellism. [For the folks who don't
know who Machiavelli is? He was a famous Italian
philosopher and the curator of The Prince. His morality was
cynical and was based on realism. ] The soul of Machiavelli
fly beyond the Alps to present a tragedy of the Jew who
accumulated his wealth through the means of Machiavelli
and using every character to serve on his ends. Barabas is
seen practicing Machiavellian principles of attainment of
power and wealth which steadily leads to his tragedy. Unlike
the ancient tragedies, which "blamed" fate for the suffering
n
ra
of the hero, here in Marlowian tragedy and especially in Mr.
Im
Jew of Malta, we see a mental conflict [more technically
d
speaking inner conflict]. Ferneze takes an unjust hold of
sa
Barabas' property and Mr. Jew vows in verbal solitude to seek
-A
vengeance on the Governor but in the end, to curb the core
rs
problem, Turks, he makes Ferneze his confidential who

to
makes the Jew fall down in the burning caldron which he

ila
made to "surprise the Turks". This all happens due to the

im
inner conflict to get his lost wealth.

s
As
e
A Dark Comedy
Th
The dramatic flow in The Jew of Malta is somewhat stained

by comic remarks of Barabas, Ithamore as well as the comic
ending. We often consider comedy a thing which makes us
laugh but in dramatic terms, comedy means a story which
ends happily and all problems are solved. The ironical aside
of Barabas, when he is to speak with Lodowick, "One that I
love for his good father's sake" makes us laugh a bit while
alerting us that something terrible is going to take place.
And the drama proceeds with a number of bloodsheds. For
Christians, Jews and Turks are major problems which are
exterminated at the end when Selim Calymath is captured
and Barabas falls a victim to his own policy. Thus poetic
justice is done because "Heavens are just". [which totally is
not the case]
n
ra
Conclusion
Im
The Jew of Malta is neither a complete tragedy not an
d
sa
absolute comedy. T.S. Eliot sums the whole debate by
-A
denoting to a new genre called Tragic Farse because the
tragedy is presented without a sombre or gloomiest but
rs
to
rather comic tone.

ila
im

s
As
1. The Jew of Malta - Textbook by Famous Production

e

Th
malta/analysis
4. http://www.cssforum.com.pk/css-optional-
subjects/group-v/english-literature/10308-jew-malta-
typical-marlovian-tragedy.html
5. https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/
english/tragedy
6. https://sites.udel.edu/britlitwiki/mystery-and-
morality-plays/
7. https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Senecan_tragedy#:~:text
=Senecan%20tragedy%20refers%20to%20a,Troades
n
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Character Sketch of Barabas in
The Jew of Malta
Introduction
n
ra
Barabas is the most notable protagonist of the play, The Jew
Im
of Malta, which entirely revolves around him. Barabas gets
d
his name through a Biblical thief Barabbas who is caught in a
sa
Jewish crowd and is given two choices of either Jesus or him
-A
to leave. Barabas, in the play, is given only one choice,
rs
conversion to Christianity to reclaim his confiscated wealth.

to
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Mr. Jew practices the best pursuit of his policies but his
im
intrigues reflect back upon him and appear as one of the

s
causes behind his tragedy.

As
e
Th
A Successful Businessman
[A little historical context here] During the reign of King
Edward I, all the Jews, living in England were expelled and
excommunicated because of their religion until 1656 when
they were remitted. This play takes place in 1592 so Mr. Jew
is located in Malta instead of England [fun fact: the author is
himself from the land of Faerie Queene]. Barabas makes his
living through the business of ships and money-lending.
Money-lending was prohibited in Christians at that time so
Barabas got an advantageous point. In Act 1 Scene 1, we see
Barabas interrogating about his ships, coming from different
lands including Persia, Spain, Greece and other well-known
continents with gold, pearls, opals, topaz and wine brought
in return. His bags of gold are so "well crammed" that the
wealth of all the people of Malta combined cannot reach near
n
ra
the line of his amassed treasure.
Im
d
Barabas - A Representative of Machiavellian
Morality sa
-A
rs
Barabas' tragic farce is narrated through the ghost of

to
Machiavelli who claims in the Prologue that, "Which money

ila
was not got without my means. " The actual Machiavelli

im
suggested a cynical way to claim money and power, and

s
As
Barabas is no exception from this. At first, Barabas is seen

e
somewhat 'good' but his Machiavellianism revealed when

Th
his "coffers" are entrapped by the Governor. He devices,

Lodowick, Mathias, Ithamore, Turks and even Ferneze and
his own daughter Abigail to reclaim his lost counting-house.
He acquires power through his "brave policies" and
everyone, including himself and excluding Ferneze, falls a
prey to Barabas' intrigues and loses his life. Barabas is not
alone in adapting himself to Machiavellistic morals, Ferneze
is seen being the same in paying back the Turks and Barabas;
Lodowick, for his plan to deceive Abigail and Barabas,
Bellamira, Pilia-Borza and Ithamore plan to extort Barabas'
money by blackmailing him through correspondence; Friar
Jacomo and Barnardine, they use religion "as a childish toy"
to hide their "mischiefs" of sexual lust as well as crave for
gold.
Barabas Only Lives for Himself
n
ra
Im
Earlier, he protests that he loves gold and his daughter but
he poisons her when she becomes "inconstant" by
d
sa
converting her to Christianity. Barabas also declares
-A
Ithamore, a Turkish Muslim slave, his "second half" and a
heir of his wealth but we see Ithamore poisoned by him as
rs
to
soon as Ithamore revolts against Barabas. Why he does so?

ila
The answer is simple, he kills everyone who stands as a

im
stumbling block against his way to erect a shiny castle of

s
As
gold. But he is not the only one; Ferneze sees his pursuit
behind freezing Barabas' wealth so that the unpaid tribute
e
Th
can be slapped on the face of Calymath and vice versa

[means other characters except for Abigail also strive for
themselves].
Conclusion
Barabas is a complex character with a complex past and a
straight forward future. He exhibits the qualities of a true
Marlowian as well as Machiavellian Character through his
actions, utterance and most importantly, his policies.

1. The Jew of Malta - Textbook by Famous Production
malta/barabas
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4. https://www.sparknotes.com/drama/jewofmalta/charact
ra
er/barabas/
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d
Malta/character-analysis/
sa
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Aristotle's Concept of Tragedy in
Oedipus Rex
Overview
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Born in 384, Aristotle is still remembered and regarded as
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one of the pioneers in philosophy, literature, science,
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mathematics, biology and metaphysics etc. Oedipus Rex was
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written way before the student of Plato had born. Greek
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Tragedy was gradually evolving at the time of Sophocles.
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Aristotle, in his Poetics, set the foundation of a typical Greek

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Tragedy as thus, "Tragedy, then, is a representation of an

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action that is worth serious attention, complete in itself, and

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of some amplitude; in language enriched by a variety of

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artistic devices appropriate to the several parts of the play;

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presented in the form of action, not narration; by means of

pity and fear bringing about the purgation [catharsis, a
process which deals with giving ways to psychological as well
as emotional anxiety and fear, here is a complete definition:
"the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from,
strong or repressed emotions."] of such emotions. ". Let's
trace the clues of this definition in the play of Oedipus Rex
because this tragic play was the prime focus when Aristotle
gave his concept of tragedy.
Representation of an Action that is Worth

Serious Attention
In the early versions of Greek Dramas, a tragedy was
presented through narration, not action but it gradually
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changed in Sophocles' times when his plays, including
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Oedipus Rex were presented through actions of actors,
wearing different dresses and masks. Such newness of
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presentation (might have) attracted a large number of Greek
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viewers and that is how a Greek drama saw its climax (arooj)
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during Aristotelian era.

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A Typical Greek Tragedy is Complete in Itself

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Most of the Greek Tragedies followed a complex plot in

which the hero was unaware of his actions which lead him to
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his finale. It might be ambiguous for the character himself,

but the audience did know his story well. So, a Typical Greek
Tragedy was complete in itself, leaving no extra thinking or
mental processing behind. For instance, in Oedipus Rex, the
play opens with a plague in Thebes and our brain works on
attaining the answers of these questions, Where is Thebes?
Who is Oedipus? Who are the real parents of Oedipus? What
is the reason behind this plague? All the questions are
answered within the text of the drama that King Laius and
Jocasta are Oedipus' real parents and he has fulfilled the
prophecy by marrying his mother and killing his old father
unknowingly, which is the core cause behind the suffering of
the Theban people.
Of Considerable Amplitude and Enriched with

Artistic Devices
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A typical Greek Tragedy does not cover over a few pages. It
comprises of three sub-dramas, technically known as
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Trilogy. The Tragedy of Oedipus is a collection of three sub-
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dramas, Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus and Antigone
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which span over a handsome amount of pages. Moreover,

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these dramas were decorated with a number of figurative

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and artistic language, including similes, metaphors and

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irony etc. While citing examples of Irony, Oedipus Rex takes

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the cake as every act has an abundance of irony, be it

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situational irony, verbal irony or dramatic irony. For

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instance, when Oedipus mocks Teiresias by calling him,

"You child of the endless night", this is verbal, dramatic as
well as situational irony because, at the end, it is Oedipus
who becomes the child of the endless night (blind).
The objective of the Greek Tragedy

The main objective of the ancient Greek tragedy was to arise
the feelings of pity and fear towards the hero and life, and
their catharsis. It is natural that when we see someone in hot
waters, we feel sympathetic for them [and we want to help
the character, "Hey Oedipus, stop strangling your own
father!"]. After reading the full text of Oedipus Rex, we feel
that our sufferings in the present time have no comparison
with the plight of Oedipus and we deem ourselves very
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blessed that we have no such obstacles to confront with. This
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satisfaction is the second name of Catharsis.
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Conclusion sa
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Oedipus Rex checks all the required boxes of the ancient

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Greek tragedy. It is straight forward, all the events are well-

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connected with each other ironically, gradually leading the

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hero to his catastrophe and his misery makes us pitiful

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which paves the ways for psychological satisfaction.

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2. https://www.gradesaver.com/oedipus-rex-or-oedipus-
the-king/study-guide/oedipus-and-
aristotle#:~:text=According%20to%20Aristotle%2C%20a
%20tragedy,experience%20a%20feeling%20of%20cathar
sis.
3. https://patrumtheologia.wordpress.com/2016/10/27/the
-aristotelian-tragedy-of-oedipus-rex/
subjects/group-v/english-literature/385-aristotles-
concept-tragedy.html
5. Aristotle's Views on Greek Tragedy
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Role of Chorus in Oedipus Rex
Introductory
Chorus has been derived from a Greek word, khorus, which
n
means "round dance, group of dancers"[6]. It is a group of
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people who take part in dancing and commenting on the
story which is recently presented. Chorus was an integral
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part of Greek tragedy and their main objective was to engage
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the audience in emotional relief [remember Catharsis?] so
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that they might not sweep away in the tragic atmosphere.

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How did chorus achieve that goal? Through dancing on the

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music, through commenting on the dramatic situation and

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by wearing and changing masks as the occasion

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demanded[5]. Oedipus Rex is a Greek tragedy and it is surely

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and accurately enriched with the (4 to 5) odes of Chorus,

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helping the characters in depicting different scenes and

actions. At first, the Chorus is seen commenting and
lamenting on the plague which has adversely hit the city of
Thebes. [1] "The plague burns on, it is pitiless, Though pallid
children laden with death Lie unwept in the stony ways." So,
it is Chorus who sets off the tragedy after prologue and
structurizes it perfectly. Why did Sophocles added the role of
Chorus at the first place? It is simple, he wanted to give the
Theban people an outline of the plague or major problem in
the play. Chorus comments on the terrible predictions of
Teiresias that the "blind man who has eyes now" will turn
out to be the murderer of King Laius and also curses the
wrenched who has committed this crime and questions,
"Shall I believe my great lord criminal?" Chorus is also
observed as a middleman between Creon and Oedipus who
blames Creon for plotting against his throne along with the
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"blind" seer. Choragos (The chief of Chorus) advices
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Oedipus, "Judgments too quickly formed are dangerous.".
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Thus Chorus not only entertains the audience with
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background story, but also plays an active part in solving
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'minute' problems. It is also the Chorus who shows the
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Messenger way to Oedipus' palace. Lastly, Chorus is seen

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mourning the tragic demise of Oedipus and says that

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generation of mor[t]al man adds up to nothing. This ode

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must be looked as the view of Chorus as Oedipus still retains

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his heroic figure, even after his downfall.

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Conclusion
Chorus effectively plays its role as a strong voice of the
Theban people. They dance on the music, wear masks
without creating an ambiguity and most importantly, helps
the characters, actors and audience in and out of the play
actively and precisely. Sources, References and Citation
subjects/group-v/english-literature/10313-oedipus-rex-
role-chorus.html
2. https://www.sparknotes.com/drama/oedipus/character/t
he-chorus/
3. https://www.bachelorandmaster.com/globaldrama/role-
of-chorus-in-oedipus-rex.html
4. https://www.shmoop.com/study-
guides/literature/oedipus-the-king/the-chorus
5. Lectures of Sir Hassan Akbar
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6. https://www.etymonline.com/word/chorus
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Character of Oedipus (as a Tragic
Hero)
Introduction
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Oedipus Rex is a tragic play, all about [well] Oedipus himself
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and his resolution which accounts for his tragedy. Scholars,
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from the ancient Greek till today have written many gigantic
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research papers just to give a solid reason to Oedipus
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hamartia (which means what were the causes behind
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Oedipus' tragedy). Oedipus protests a straightforward

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character. His motives are disclosed mainly by himself to

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find out the actuality behind the murder of the previous

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king, Laius.
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How Oedipus Coined his Name?

Oedipus' parents received a prophecy that their son will
commit patricide and incest before he was born. To prevent
the prophecy from fulfilment, Oedipus was handed over to a
shepherd, who was instructed to kill the baby [ what??!!],
but the shepherd took pity on the child and placed it in the
Cithaeron mountain where his ankles were joined together
by a pin [ouch!] so that he might not slip away. When he was
gifted to the Corinthian monarchy, he bore swollen ankles.
The word Oedipus also means 'Swallow Ankles'. This is how
his name was coined by the cruel fate.
Oedipus as an Intelligent and Responsible King

of Thebes
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Time goes by and Oedipus grows up into a young man. He,
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somehow, overhears the same prophecy but, this time, for
himself only. He, then, runs away to the city of Thebes where
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a tyrant monster, Sycorax had been tormenting the people in
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Thebes when a person would answer her riddle in a wrong
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way. Oedipus shows up his intellectual talent and solves the

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riddle within one try. Much impressed by the show of

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intelligence, the Theban people make Oedipus, their king.

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After several years, another plague hits the city and people
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demand Oedipus, a solution to the devastating plague.

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Before their demand, Oedipus has already sent Creon, his

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brother-in-law to Delphi to bring an oracle which will surely

tell them the solution. Oedipus' fast-paced act shows how
responsible and anxious he is about the betterment of his
city.
Oedipus' Self-Judgement (Somewhat) Brings

Ruin to Him
The oracle brought from Delphi suggests that the murderer
of King Laius should be either exiled or punished to death.
Previous successes of Oedipus were made through his quick
judgements of the problems or riddles just like the riddle of
Sphinx. But to bring "what is dark to light" was not
something which should be "judged" quickly. Oedipus,
earnestly, committed this mistake and accused Creon and
Teiresias of plotting the murder of the old king. This, not
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only shows his rashness, but also his blasphemous
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behaviours to religion and religious people. Oedipus was
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warned by Creon, "You cannot judge unless you know the
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facts." and by Choragos, "Judgements too quickly formed are
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dangerous". His firm resolution of "Truth must be made
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known" gradually but steadily leads Oedipus to his blindness

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and he discovers that he was the murderer of the king and

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husband of his own mother.

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Conclusion
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Oedipus' early life was adversely affected by fate. He tried to

flee from his fate. But as much as he attempted to escape
from his fate, the divine powers worked against him and
made himself the tool of his own tragedy. Despite his awful
tragedy, Oedipus' character remains unstained and we, the
readers are compelled to blame fate for his suffering.
References, Sources and Citations

1. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Oedipus-
Rex/character-analysis/
guides/literature/oedipus-the-king/oedipus
3. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/oedipus-
rex/characters/oedipus
4. https://www.sparknotes.com/drama/oedipus/character/
oedipus/
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subjects/group-v/english-literature/108910-oedipus-
ra
rex-tragic-hero.html
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Character Analysis of Desdemona
in 'Othello' by Shakespeare
Introduction
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Desdemona, a Venetian maiden, is the sole paragon of
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physical as well as spiritual beauty in Othello [not talking
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about Iago's victim but the play]. She strikes her character
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through her qualities of virtue, sympathy, bashfulness
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[which is rather ironical] and a faithful wife. Just like many
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other characters, she is not without her shortcomings which

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account for her, being a victim of Iago's evil intensions and

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intrigues. Despite her weaknesses [which you will see after a

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few lines] her positive qualities provoke us to admire as a

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guiltless character. Many critics stand for or against her. [Let

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us discover how?]
Desdemona's Bashfulness and Beauty

Brabantio is rather shocked to see her daughter revolting
against his wishes because he deemed her, "a maiden never
bold of spirit. So still and quiet that her motion blush't at
herself" until she saw Othello and all her shyness
evaporated. Othello counters Brabantio's statement
regarding his daughter that Desdemona is "fair, feeds well,
loves company, is free of speech". Desdemona's beauty is
aptly sketched by Cassio as thus: "Most fortunately. He hath
achieved a maid That paragons description and wild fame,
One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens, And in th'
essential vesture of creation Does tire the ingener. " In
simple terms, Cassio wants to assert the fact that
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Desdemona is so beautiful that her physical grace defies all
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the stories describing beautiful ladies and she is the
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masterpiece of God's creation. Manifestly, her shyness and
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abundant beauty is described by many noticeable characters.
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Desdemona's Love for Othello

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Her love for Othello is deep, profound and without any

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ostentation. She admires Othello for his deeds of bravery,

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done in the battlefield. Othello, while giving his account of

his love affair with Desdemona as follow, "She gave me for
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my pains a world of sighs. She swore, in faith, ’twas strange,

’twas passing strange, 'Twas pitiful, ’twas wondrous pitiful.
She wished she had not heard it, yet she wished That heaven
had made her such a man." To simply put, she loved Othello,
not because of his black complexity but because of his fierce
adventures of seas and lands. When Desdemona is asked to
prove her love for Othello before Senate, she juxtaposes
(places accordingly) her feelings for Othello, "My heart’s
subdued Even to the very quality of my lord. I saw Othello’s
visage in his mind, And to his honors and his valiant parts
Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate. So that, dear lords, if I
be left behind A moth of peace and he go to the war, The
rites for which I love him are bereft me, And I a heavy
interim shall support By his dear absence. Let me go with
him." [Wow! That's a long quote but you can write only one
line which seems favourite to you. ] She is ready to exceed
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every limitation out of her love for Othello and she
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practically does so by not only going with him to Cyprus as to
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support her gallant husband, but also when she is smothered
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by Othello's misunderstood cruelty and says when Emilia
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inquiries about the murderer, "Nobody. I myself. Farewell.
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Commend me to my kind lord. Oh, farewell!" just to protect

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Othello from being hanged.

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Desdemona's Innocent and Simple Nature

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Desdemona is a pure character who is free from any vile

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ailment. But she expects from others to be the same as she is

which proves fatally wrong. She does not realize that she is
being destroyed by the people she trusts the most, including
her brave "Moor" who is poisoned by Lago. Another
significant trait in Desdemona's character is her simple,
trustful and sympathetic nature. That is why she expresses
her firm resolution to Cassio when he resorts to her for his
restoration of the rank of the lieutenant, "If I do vow a
friendship, I’ll perform it To the last article. My lord shall
never rest, ……… Therefore be merry, Cassio, For thy
solicitor shall rather die Than give thy cause away." And this
is pretty much what happens to her on account of advocating
for her suit Cassio to Othello and he thinks it an affair and
she loses her life tragically because of her simple, trustful
and helpful disposition [this is also a fancy synonym of
nature].
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Desdemona's Faults
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As a character, Desdemona is presented as an ideal character
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who can hardly be found in the real world of ours. Her first
and foremost fault is her dual-channel nature of which she
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herself alludes, "I am not merry, but I do beguile. The thing I

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am by seeming otherwise." Her father takes her to a shy lady

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but in reality, she elopes with "an old black ram". Another
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shortcoming in her character is she is too simple and helping

without eying into her surroundings when she acts as a
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'lawyer' for Cassio and Iago instruments the best use of her
intellectual blunder to lead her to tragedy. A critic sharply
criticizes Desdemona for her faults as thus, "She is declared
untruthful, she is said to lack intellect and self-respect, she
is secretive, she meddles [pokes her nose] in her husband's
military affairs. "
Conclusion
Desdemona is a round character, possessing both good and
bad qualities but she leaves a noteworthy impression on a
reader and he cannot withhold himself from praising
Desdemona as a gentle-hearted character.

1. Othello - Critical Studies by Dr. S Sen and P. S. Chopera,
2014 Edition
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2. https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Desdemona#:~:text=Des
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demona%20(%2F%CB%8Cd%C9%9Bz,man%20several%2
0years%20her%20senior.
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3. https://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/othello/chara
cter/desdemona/
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4. https://englishsummary.com/lesson/desdemona-
rs
character-analysis/
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guides/literature/othello/desdemona
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Character Analysis of Iago in
'Othello' by Shakespeare
Introduction
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Iago, the man who is not what he claims to be, is one of the
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most striking creations of Shakespeare who lasts an
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immeasurable impact on every person, in or out of the play.
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He is the most clever out of the bunch who devises every
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person around him to serve on his own end. He is angry with
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Othello for not promoting him to the rank of a lieutenant

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and he uses every possible villainish trick for the demise of

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Othello, Desdemona, Cassio and Rodrigo (although he used

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Rodrigo's money to put up with his "enemies" but stabbed

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at the end) through his unescapable "webs". A critic remarks

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on the purely evil side of Iago, "A more artful villain than
this Iago has never been portrayed; he spreads his net with a
skill in which nothing can escape. " [To simply put, Iago is
the worst villain ever portrayed in dramas, films or novels]
Iago and Other Villains from Other Stories

As already asserted by a critic, Iago is the most subtle knave
in the entire history of English Literature [comment below,
if you know more terrible villains other than Iago. ]. Iago is
the most callous person who burns every person, trying to
run before and after him. His unpredictable callousness even
surpasses Milton's Satan in Paradise Lost who is
sympathetic with his fellow fallen angels who are thrown
into the burning depths of hell but on the contrary, Iago is
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observed playing with his fellow mate, Rodrigo. Ferneze, the
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Christian Governor of Malta in The Jew of Malta is also
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noticed working for the betterment of his city, protecting it
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from Turks and 'Jews'. On the flip side, Iago lives for himself
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and his motives. So, Iago is quite different from the villains
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in his contemporary literature as well as after his debut.

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Iago's Motives
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Iago hunts for the motives to set up his webs of conspiracy

for the characters he hates the most. What motivates Iago to
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hate them? He has stated about the pursuits behind his

agony is Cassio's "unjust" promotion. But in another
soliloquy, he blabbers that Othello has, perhaps, slept with
his Emilia, "I hate the Moor And it is thought aboard, that'
twixt my sheets He's done my office" He devices the same
motive for Desdemona that she might have an affair with
Cassio and thus proves his motive through, at first,
depriving Cassio of his newly attained rank and then
Cassio's requests to Desdemona for the restoration of his
rank and position. S. T. Coleridge, terms Iago motiveless
because according to him, Iago was an inborn devil [which is
rather grotesque because if Iago is a devil then why blood is
running through his humanly body? Think about it, Kubla
Khan!]. But Iago is a humanistic craft of Shakespeare. He is
far from motiveless as his motivation circles around his love
for power.
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Iago's Hypocrisy
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Iago is, from top to bottom and left to right, a hypocrite but
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his hypocrisy dwells on every character of the drama. He
says to Rodrigo about his hypocrisy while serving under
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Othello, "In following him, I follow but myself Heaven is my

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judge, not I for love and duty But seeming so, for my peculiar
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end….. ……. I am not what I am" His remarks, "I am not

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what I am" are sufficient enough to give a clue of his terrible

hypocritical nature which he exhibits in many crucial parts
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of the play. For instance, Iago is behind the duel between

Rodrigo and Cassio and indeed, he sends Rodrigo for some
fists but on the spot, he mistreats Rodrigo and stabs him. So,
Iago turns out to be what he is not, even to his dear Rodrigo.
Iago's Trust
This is the most horrible weapon of Iago which he utilizes to
hunt his prey. His wordful skills are strongly spell bounding
and he is trusted by every person. Both Othello and
Desdemona call him, "Honest Iago", Cassio, Brabantio and
Rodrigo also show their faith in Iago. But [as we know], their
trust in Iago is an eyewash and things are revealed after a
heavy toll of life of the protagonists. But Iago is actually
honest to the readers who read this play! Notice, "You are
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well turn'd now! But I will set down the pegs that make this
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music As honest as I am" He never conceals his evil
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intensions from the readers and he "honestly and earnestly"
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reveals them to the readers in his soliloquies.
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Other Traits in the Character of Iago

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Iago's villainy is mainly intellectual and devilish, and

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sometimes, the results of his villainy exceed his

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expectations, "I have ’t. It is engendered! Hell and night

Must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light" Iago's
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revenge is mostly ignited by jealousy. He cannot tolerate

who surpasses against him. He is subtly expert in scanning
through the inner psychological minds of the people around
him. His villainous expressions are interestingly marked
with humour.
Conclusion
Manifestly, Iago is a complex blend of intellectual villainy
whose humourous verbal expressions as well as horrible
inner confession make a reader [like me] tremble with fear.
Other Titles
Character Sketch of Iago
Iago as a Villain
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References, Sources, Citation and Suggested
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Reading sa
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guides/literature/othello/iago
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2. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Othello/character-
ila
analysis/
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2014 Edition, Page 314

4. Lectures of Sir Hassan Akbar
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5. http://neoenglishsystem.blogspot.com/2010/12/iagos-
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character.html
6. http://myenglish61.blogspot.com/2015/08/theme-of-
jealousy-in-othello.html

Shakespeare's Othello - The Moor
of Venice as a Tragedy
Introduction
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The full title of Othello reads as thus, "The Tragedy of
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Othello, the Moor of Venice". We cannot proclaim Othello
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being a tragedy just because the word "tragedy" lives inside
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the title. Othellois a tragedy because the play is teaming up
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with an abundant material in scenes, dialogues, actions and
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conflicts. The play harmonizes the traditional somber tone

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of jealousy along with flaws in characters who frame the play

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with hero's 'determined' downfall. [so far everything seems

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good for Othello being a tragedy, let's explore in depth.]

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Excessive Pain
A typical tragedy is characterized by the painful atmosphere
and suffering of different but significant characters of the
play. Othellosurpasses among all other tragedies, crafted by
Shakespeare. Even it excels King Lear in pathos (a fancy
equivalent behind the term catharsis). Not only one, but
many 'good' characters are affected by the evil doings of Iago
in a rather secular atmosphere where spirituality seeks to
twinkle its existence. There is no relief of suffering in the
play, the plight which seeded forth through the jealousy of
Iago, it was multiplied without any break of happiness or
dramatic relief. Another thing which contributes into the
exhibition of excessive pathos is sexual jealousy. Rodrigo
bears his hatred for Othello because he wanted to woo
Desdemona sexually and Othello accuses his "fair"
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Desdemona for spoiling his sheets with Cassio out of his
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sexual jealousy which was terribly fed by Iago. A critic, Dr.
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Bradley expresses his views as thus, "What spectacle can be
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more painful than that of this feeling turned into a tortured
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mixture of longing and loathing. " Manifestly, Othello
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carries an excessive level of pathos which arises the feelings

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of pity and fear tremendously in the heart of a reader.

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Tragedy of Character or Tragedy of Fate?

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In every common tragedy, fate and hamartia go hand in hand

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to shape a terrible tragedy. Most of Shakespeare's plays are

illustrated with the haunted images of fate or supernatural
powers. For example in Macbeth, witches foretell the
possible future. Role of fate in Othello is not simple to
evaluate as fate hardly seems to affect the play but it does
affect characters especially Desdemona when Othello is
initially being poisoned by Iago and she drops her
handkerchief which is a token of love by Othello. The
missing handkerchief is picked up by Emilia and then Iago
which he uses to exterminate his "foe". Fate also seems to
deafen Othello of Desdemona's innocence when Cassio and
Iago are jesting about Bianca (and Othello thinks Cassio is
talking about Desdemona). Despite these chances and
accidents, tragedy in Othello is mainly moved by its peculiar
characters Othello and Iago. Iago, who is rendered 'honest'
by everyone in the play, manipulates his "honesty" to cause
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damage to everyone who tries to excel him. So, fate gives
Im
way to characters to gradually move towards the guillotine.
d
Othello as a Shakespearean Tragedysa
-A
Othello is, after all, the tragedy written by Shakespeare so it

rs
to
checks all required boxes of being a Shakespearean tragedy

ila
perfectly but in a different way. Shakespearean tragedy is

im
different from Marlowian as well as Greek tragedies. Tragic

s
As
hero should belong to a noble family but Othello comes of a

black complexation. Still he possesses higher rank of
e
Th
General. Almost all the Shakespearean tragedies end in

deaths and blood, but in Othello, the villain is punished to
death for his evil passions as well. Unlike the tragedies
which proceeded before Shakespeare, he has magnified his
tragic genius by adding mental conflicts to it. Jealously,
which is a prominent theme of the play, comes to life [and
then death] through the conflict of mind of which Iago,
Othello, Brabantio and [somewhat] Rodrigo suffer. Bradley
beautifully sums up the whole debate, "Shakespearean
tragedy is essentially a tale of suffering and calamity,
conducting to the death of tragic hero. "
Conclusion
Othello is a magnificent tale of unparalleled plight which
moves its major characters to their finale either by fate or by
n
themselves, with a distinctive taste of Shakespearean
ra
Im
tragedy.
d
sa
References, Suggested Readings and Citations
-A
rs
guides/literature/othello/analysis
to
2. https://studydriver.com/william-shakespeares-othello-
ila
the-moor-of-venice-as-a-tragedy/
im
3. https://www.risenotes.com/othello/Othello-as-a-
s
tragedy=1.php
As

e

Th

Role of Chance or Accident in
Shakespeare's Othello
Introductory
n
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Iago's subtle and matchless villainy is considerably assisted
Im
by the role of chance or accident. Iago's intellectual villainy
d
is awesome but chance provides an extra and final boost to
sa
manipulate as well as eradicate the characters whom Iago is
-A
jealously indifferent with, including Cassio, Othello and
rs
Desdemona. A sound mind could easily question the "blind"

to
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manipulation of Iago to ruin his villainy in front of his

im
victims but some "By-Chance" incidents stamped the

s
tragical end of the victims profoundly. Before taking a deep

As
dive into the role of chance played in Othello, let us clarify

e
Th
what chance actually is. Cambridge Dictionary defines

"Chance" an occasion that allows something to be done.
Desdemona's Dropping her Handkerchief

Chance, for the first time, plays its fatal role when
Desdemona drops the handkerchief which she received as a
token of love from Othello. Iago is hunting after the
handkerchief to ensnare both Desdemona and Cassio
through that particular handkerchief but Desdemona keeps
the handkerchief with great care in her possession. One day,
she drops it by chance when she is offered to bind Othello's
aching head. Hardly Desdemona leaves the place where she
has dropped the most precious gift and Emilia, the wife of
Iago happens to come at the same place and pick it up by
chance as well. Such accidental loss and discovery of the
n
ra
handkerchief provides vitality to Iago's base motives. When
Im
Desdemona is unable to produce the handkerchief, Othello
d
feels deeply annoyed by the loss of it and his doubt against
sa
Desdemona's character grows even stronger than the
-A
"honest" words of Iago. Desdemona expresses her grief to
rs
Emilia as thus: "Since there's some wonder in this handkerchief I

to
am most unhappy in the loss of it"

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im
Cassio's Blunt Confession

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The second and the most crucial aspect of chance is

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highlighted when Cassio appears before Othello but Iago

sends him away and asks him to come later. If Othello saw
Cassio at this time, he would have run into rage and inquired
him about the handkerchief and how did he attain. But
Cassio again comes in the scene when Othello has hidden
himself and he overhears the conversation between Iago and
Cassio. Cassio is ridiculing his Bianca (a courtesan) but
Othello misunderstands that he is mocking his Desdemona.
The tension grows even more grim when Bianca hits the
scene and she complains to Cassio that he is cheating on her
and he is in love with someone else. She says that the
handkerchief which he gave to her [to copy] was a love token
from another lady. Thus Cassio's blunt confession [before
Iago] confirms the burning suspicion in the mind of Othello
and he questions Iago when Cassio has departed, "How shall
I murder him, Iago? " Accentual event dominates the mind
n
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of Othello than reasoning the truth.
Im
d
Conclusion
sa
-A
It is clear that chance and accident strengthen the feeling of
fate in us. Fate seems to side with the villainy of Iago. The
rs
to
notable characters are failed to find any way of escape from

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the unjust clutches of fate which has changed its favours for
im
the devil. Such tyranny of fate cultivates the belief in us that

s
As
our life is governed by the unseen forces of darkness and

goodness has nothing to do in this world without light.
e
Th
Resultantly, the role of chance, played in Othello, illustrates

a terrible picture of fate and its association with lightless
spirits.
References and Suggested Readings

1. https://www.studymode.com/essays/Role-Of-Chance-
In-Othello-63732148.html
2. https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/discuss-role-
chance-fate-coincidence-othello
3. https://neoenglish.wordpress.com/2010/12/05/comment
-on-the-view-that-the-chances-and-accidents-in-
othello-adversely-affect-our-view-of-it-as-a-tragedy-
of-character/
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sa
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Discussion on Racism in
Shakespeare's Othello
Introduction
n
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Racism, to simply put, is the discriminatory or abusive
Im
behaviour towards members of another race. Othello, the
d
play written by Shakespeare, is also based on racism. In fact,
sa
racism is one of the most prominent motifs behind the play.
-A
Racism is depicted through the jealousy of Iago with "black"
rs
Othello. Racial discrimination, illustrated in Othello is

to
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historical and realistic.

s im
Historical Context
As
e
Shakespeare wrote this play in 1604. But it showcases

Th
Elizabethan flux against the Spanish Moors which were

racially targeted. Shakespeare's six months interaction with
Morocco's ambassador gave him enough insight about
racism who had come to request Queen Elizabeth an alliance
with Morocco against Spain. Moors were usually disliked by
many Europeans because of their black complexation. So,
the racial feature of the play tends to inherit some historical
dilemma.
Othello's Gallantry Minused by Iago's Prejudice

Othello is the general of the prospering city of Venice. He
has made his name through intellectual as well as martial
victories over his enemies in the battlefield. Othello
n
promotes Cassio to the rank of Lieutenant and this infuriates
ra
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Iago. Iago, then, makes the best use of racial indifference to
achieve his evil motives. The question arises, is Iago
d
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magnifying the already prevailing racial prejudice or is he
-A
establishing the racial atmosphere as a new? The answer is
rather difficult to answer as Othello is highly regarded by the
rs
to
Venetian government despite his being a Moor. However,

ila
Iago exponentiates the racial prejudice subtly and

im
successfully for the noble demise of Othello. So, in Iago's

s
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perspective, racial prejudice is a plot rooted in jealousy.

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Th
Brabantio's Racist Attitude Towards Othello

Brabantio, who once loved and invited Othello to his
residence, suddenly changes his side to stand against
Othello. Why? Since he loved Othello personally, but still
Moors were not respected in the Venetian society. That is
why Brabantio accuses Othello of raping (kidnapping) his
beloved daughter to
1. Secure his seat in the senate
2. Retain his respect, reputation and honour in the
Venetian society
But the Duke advises Brabantio to have faith in Othello

because he is "fair than black".
Othello Sniffs a Little Racism
n
“My parts, my title and my perfect soul/Shall manifest me
ra
rightly”, says Othello who is still unaware of the purposeful
Im
hatred against him. But to his heart, he believes, "And yet,
d
sa
how nature erring from itself—". He inwardly believes that
-A
Desdemona might betray him for his dark complexation.
After being racially poisoned by Iago, Othello determines
rs
to
that he will send Desdemona out of his household if she is

ila
found racially dejected of him.

sim
As
Othello is Questioned
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Th
Iago keeps feeding Othello of Desdemona's "disloyal"

attitude. His rage and agony against her continues to nurture
every day and night. One day, when Lodovico brings a letter
for Othello, Desdemona gets it first and Othello
misunderstands that the letter has come from her supposed
lover. Resultantly, he slaps Desdemona. Lodovico is shocked
to see the other side of the shiny coin and questions, "Is this
the noble Moor whom our full senate Call all in all sufficient?
Is this the nature".
Murder
After Iago successfully convinces Othello of Desdemona's
infidelity, Othello smoothers his "fair Desdemona". After he
has accomplished the deadliest task, his skin colour is used
n
to describe his cruelty. For instance, Emilia calls him a
ra
Im
"blacker devil!". Emilia also exclaims that Desdemona was
too fond of her "filthy bargain". Such racist terms leave no
d
sa
ground for Othello to stand again respectfully.
-A
Conclusion
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to
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Othello lived a life without social prejudice but his

im
opponents used his colour to frame Othello in his own love

s
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and unfathomable jealousy. When Othello committed all

those crimes out of the "Green-Eyed Monster", people, once
e
Th
who admired him, defamed and condemned Othello, not by

his character, but by his black colour.
Sources, References and Suggested Readings

1. https://racisminshakespearesworld.weebly.com/racism-
in-othello-by-william-shakespeare.html
2. https://owlcation.com/humanities/Race-in-
Shakespeares-Othello
3. https://www.anoisewithin.org/doubt-and-racism-in-
shakspeares-othello/
4. https://sites.google.com/site/msblt5othello/themes/raci
sm
5. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Othello/context/
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Supernatural and Romantic
Elements in Shakespeare's The
Tempest
n
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Introduction
Im
Written in 1611, The Tempest is regarded as the final and last
d
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play of [our Good Old] Shakespeare. Basically, The Tempest
-A
is a magical comic which describes the story of the Duke of
rs
Milan, Prospero, who was duped by his brother Antonio.

to
Prospero was sent to an island where he practised his

ila
magical spells to strengthen his position in that island. After

im
a few years, his rivals are caught in a tempest (storm) and

s
As
happen to be governed by a soul of Prospero [yes, we are

e
talking about Ariel here] in the land of Prospero. So this play

Th
carries many romantic (remote to life) and supernatural

elements.
What is a Romance?
A romance is an unrealistic play or a story which essentially
tells the events which are rendered impossible or not
suitable for the ordinary human-beings to perform. [Sure, it
is not that type of romance which a couple does experiment.
It is a literary genre, matey. 🙃] Technically speaking,
romantic play is a combination of both tragic as well as
comic genre. This genre was not a trending hashtag in
Shakespeare's time so he might have taken some seeds from
Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher (somewhere between
1607 - 1613), who originally worked behind the (modern)
romantic plays. The last four plays of Shakespeare are
n
ra
neither tragic, nor comic nor historic entirely but they carry
Im
a few bits from the already mentioned genres. The romantic
d
plays written by Shakespeare are Pericles, Cymbeline, The
Winter's Tale and The Tempest. sa
-A
rs
Romantic Elements in The Tempest

to
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The Tempest is a striking example of a romantic play. The

im
play begins when King Alonso and his company are cast
s
As
shore on Prospero's island safe and sound. Which is rather

romantic as normally shipwrecks are drowned to death.
e
Th
Though they are left alive by the tempest just like Prospero
with his little daughter anchored safely before twelve years
ago after facing the cruelty of the tempest, yet they are
separated from each other. King Alonso, who is separated
from his son, thinks that his son is sleeping in the depths of
the ocean. The same thought knocks at the mind of
Ferdinand, a handsome hero, who labours for his beautiful
maiden, Marinda. Despite the romantic love venture
between Miranda and Ferdinand, The Tempest carries many
more romantic traits. The play exhibits the Elizabethan
spirit of voyaging towards the distant islands. Miranda's awe
after eying other human-beings is also romantic
(unrealistic) as it is difficult to find a person unaware of his
fellow mates.
Not an Entirely Romantic Play
n
ra
Romantic, The Tempest is rightly entitled but it also protests
Im
(shows) realistic parts. Other characters, apart from
d
sa
Prospero are portrayed as if they were real humans. Miranda
-A
and Ferdinand's first sighted love is no fantasy as such
(temporal) love is rampant in our society. Alonso's, as well
rs
to
as Antonio's villainy, is not a fairy tale as intrigues are a part

ila
of political life. Prospero's forgivingness is rare but it is

im
shown by realistic people at certain times.

s
As
Supernatural Enterprise in The Tempest

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Th
A romance is rendered as incomplete if there are no spirits or

supernatural creatures. Supernatural creatures or
happenings are beyond scientific explanation. Oxford
dictionary defines supernatural as a noun as thus, "Events,
forces or powers that cannot be explained by the laws of
science and that seem to involve gods or magic".
Supernatural serves as the most governing factor in The
Tempest after Mid-Summer's Night Dream. When
Shakespeare wrote this play, people had a firm believe in
supernaturalism. The events in The Tempest are moved by
supernatural powers. From creating the storm in the sea to
separating the ship-wrecks, from saving the life of the old
Gonzalo to condemning the "three sinners" by the harpy
[for the folks who don't know what a harpy is. It is a
mythical creature, having a bird-like winged body with a
n
ra
womanish face. ], from placing Ferdinand before Miranda to
Im
the masque presented during their marriage ceremony is all
d
masterminded by Prospero and illustrated by Ariel [not the
sa
washing powder but a "brave spirit"]. But one thing to be
-A
noted here that Prospero is not almighty in his art of magic.
rs
His magic cannot make Miranda and Ferdinand love each

to
other [common Genie excuse 😀]. Also, the conspiracy of

ila
Antonio and Sebastian to kill King Alonso is not the pursuit

im
of Prospero's magic. But still with Prospero's limited

s
As
magical power, he knows well to tame the play according to

e
his will.
Th
Does Supernaturalism Make This Play Undisplayable?
Charles Lamb asserted that the rapid supernaturalism made

this play a despair for the producer to display spirits among
Prospero. His point was justifiable in his time because there
was no special equipment to facilitate the audience with a
supernatural atmosphere. But today is a shining era of
computer animation and creating a spirit or even a mythical
Greek god is just a few clicks away in Desktop Apps like
Adobe Premiere Pro and Aftereffects. When a majority of
people watch dramas on their television for [somewhat]
free, the plays like Tempest are easily displayable on
television or in short clips on different social media sites or
apps [In fact The Tempest will go viral on TikTok and
Facebook Reels. 😀].
n
ra
Im
Conclusion
d
sa
The beauty of The Tempest is enhanced by its romantic as
-A
well as a supernatural atmosphere. Which creates a
distinctive but an enjoyable environment for everyone.
rs
to
ila
References, Citations and Suggested Readings

s im
1. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-Tempest/
As
e
guides/literature/tempest/analysis
Th
3. http://www.literary-articles.com/2014/04/the-tempest-
as-
romance.html#:~:text=Supernatural%20elements%20ab
ound%20in%20romances,the%20spirits%20of%20the%2
0air.
4. https://www.literaturemini.com/2018/07/shakespeare-
use-of-supernatural-elements-in-the-tempest.html
5. http://flash.lakeheadu.ca/~pallingh/shakespear/tempest
/Magic%20and%20the%20Supernatural%20in%20The%2
0Tempest.htm#:~:text=The%20supernatural%20elemen
ts%2C%20and%20Ariel,air%2C%20water%2C%20and%2
0earth.
6. https://olengmate.blogspot.com/2019/04/supernatural-
elements-in-tempest.html
7. https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/
english/supernatural
8. Critical Study of The Tempest by Rajinder Paul -
Published by Rama Brothers - 2007 Edition - Pages 175
and 199
n

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Im
d
sa
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Character Sketch of Miranda in
Shakespeare's The Tempest
Character Analysis of Miranda in the Tempest
n
ra
Introduction
Im
d
Miranda is a fourteen (some say fifteen) years old girl who is
sa
the only female character in the play [We are not counting
-A
Goddess Juno as she was merely a spirit]. She is the most
rs
charming figure of Shakespeare. She is also a romantic

to
ila
figure of the play who immediately falls in love with King

im
Alonso's Son, Ferdinand and who has not eyed any human-
s
being other than her father and Caliban. She was rescued by
As
her father when they were thrown out by Antonio. Overall,

e
Th
Miranda possesses a beautiful heart with positive sympathy.

[Let's find out]
Her Sympathetic Nature

Miranda's meek heart cannot see anyone in trouble. When
her father raises a storm in the oceans through his magical
powers. She requests her father to end the storm as the
plightful cries of the ship-wrecks made her miserable too.
[means she feels the suffering of the people struck by the
terrible storm]. She expresses her sorrows for the desperate,
"Poor souls, they perished,". She, then, says that if she had
been a powerful goddess, she would have sent the ocean to
the bowels of the earth before it dared to crash the ship.
Then her father narrates his hairbreadth escape from the
tempest hatched by the Nature itself. After having heard the
n
ra
stormy account of her father, she says that she might have
Im
created trouble for her father. Prospero says that they were
d
helped by an old Lord named Gonzalo who gave them
sa
eatables and other necessary items for the survival. Miranda
-A
is, again, moved by the help and she wishes that she would
rs
meet [and say thanks] Gonzalo. These incidents show

to
Miranda's sympathetic behaviour but it is only limited to the

ila
good people only. She hates Caliban for a sound reason as

im
once, that "monster" tried to "fill the island with Calibans"

s
As
by raping her. She protests her hatred against Caliban as

e
follows,
Th
Tis a villain, sir, I do not love to look on.
Miranda's Deep Love for Ferdinand

Miranda is a romantic character in a worldly sense because of
the love affair which ensnares both the prince and princess
entirely. Having spent twelve years on a remote island,
Miranda has not met any human other than her father. That
is why she startled to see a princely figure standing in front
of her and she mistakes Ferdinand, the royal son of the
majestic king of Naples, Alonso, for a spirit,
n
ra
What is it? A spirit? Lord, how it looks about! It carries a
Im
brave form. But 'tis a spirit.
d
sa
She believes Ferdinand a spirit until she is corrected by her
-A
father who says that Ferdinand is a human being who eats
rs
and sleeps like them. Ferdinand's good looks make Miranda

to
immediately fall in love with him at first sight [a well

ila
crammed romantic scene 😀]. When Mr. Prince tells him

im
about his father who has drowned in the sea, she expresses
s
As
her sympathy for him, praying: "Alas! May God have mercy
e
upon your father!" When Prospero, on his purpose, scolds

Th
Ferdinand, she shows her anxiety as thus, "Why speaks my

father so urgently?" When Prospero becomes pre-occupied
in his book reading, she secretly meets Ferdinand and
requests him to share his labour which is assigned by her
father. Ferdinand rejects her proposal and replies that he
must complete his work in the given time. When Ferdinand
praises her beauty in eloquent terms, she replies, owing to
her modesty (apny shaysta/umda rawaye ki qassam khaty
huy), that she loves no one other than him, he replies that
he loves her, honours her and values her more than anything
in this world. She is greatly moved by his sincere confession
that happy tears begin to flow from her eyes. Manifestly, it is
clearly evident that her love for Ferdinand is immeasurable.
The Most Charming Output from Shakespeare's

Pen
n
ra
Im
The character of Miranda is the most charming creation ever
sketched by the pencil of the noble playwright, Shakespeare.
d
sa
Although there are no clear references to her unparallel
-A
beauty in the play, yet she strikes her appearance as a
rs
modest, sympathetic, cheerful, simple and innocent girl.

to
Ferdinand sees her perfect and peerless. Prospero admires

ila
her daughter by saying,

s im
As
O Ferdinand, Do not smile at me that I boast of her, For

e
thou shalt find she will outstrip all praise And make it
Th
halt behind her.
Some Controversies among the Critics

In Act I Scene ii, when Miranda chides Caliban for calling
names upon Prospero, these lines are often reattributed to
Prospero by several critics. According to them, these lines
might be associated with Miranda for a typing error because
these lines collide with the cheering attitude of Miranda.
Critics also assert that the language used by Miranda
strongly resembles that of Prospero and throws her out of
her innocent character which Shakespeare gifted us. But
some critics go in favour of the lines, being spoken by
Miranda as it is later confirmed by Caliban that it was
n
ra
Miranda who taught the beast what the moon and stars were
Im
[quite romantic for Caliban, haan?]. They also argue that the
d
language of these lines is weaker than Prospero's if he had
spoken at that moment. sa
-A
rs
Conclusion
to
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Resultantly, Miranda is a cheerful personality with her

im
innocent sympathy for those who are caught entrapped in

s
As
the tyranny of Nature and Prospero. Her romantic character

makes us forget about any terrible happening of the past and
e
Th
present.

1. Critical Study of The Tempest by Rajinder Paul -
Published by Rama Brothers - 2007 Edition - Pages 110
(Character of Miranda)
guides/literature/tempest/miranda
3. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-
Tempest/character-analysis/
4. https://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/tempest/char
acter/miranda/
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miranda_(The_Tempest)?
oldformat=true
6. The Tempest - No fear Shakespeare Translation
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Themes of Wealth, Love and
Marriage in Wilde's The
Importance of Being Earnest
n
ra
Im
d
Introductory
sa
-A
The play first appeared in 1895. The full title of the play reads
rs
as thus, "The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy

to
for Serious People". Oscar Wilde mainly wrote this play to

ila
satirize and mock the hollow morality of the Victorian

im
society where money, love and marriage are "earnestly"

s
As
interlinked. Basically, The Importance of Being Earnest is a

e
story of concealing identities for the attainment of the

Th
desired ladies. The whole story is highlighted through the

themes of money, love and marriage.
Theme of Wealth
Wealth plays a central role in determining one's social
status. People with a hefty amount of money are respected
more than the ones who can hardly make both ends meal. It
was the amount of wealth which divided the people of
Victorian England in three, the upper class, middle class and
lower class. The mentality of the upper class is revealed
through Lady Bracknell who is looking for the husband for
her daughter if he happens to possess some cash. There are
two other requirements as well [which we will see in the
Marriage section] but the silvery coins do shine to blind the
upper class.
n
ra
Im
Theme of Love
d
sa
Love, in this play sees itself romantically than the love which
-A
is promoted through spiritual or sensual branch. Love is
depicted as superficial and as a mean to fulfil personal
rs
to
interests [in terms of Lady Bracknell who wants her nephew

ila
Jack to marry someone attractive and rich]. For instance,

im
Cecily falls in love with [the fake Ernest] through rumors

s
As
from other people and Gwendolen plans to love Ernest

because it is his 'name' which fills her with feelings of love!
e
Th
Love, in terms of the plot of the play develops quite

romantically [and comically in the end]. At first, we see
Gwendolen and Jack already in love but they are fighting
against the social obstacles to achieve their goal of marriage.
Cecily and Algernon fall in love with each other at first sight
and they also have to fight against the hurdles propped by
the society against them. Dr. Chasuble and Miss Prism have
clearly admired each other but they feel shy to show their
love for them. In short, love in this drama is not self-
sacrificing but it is shown for admiration, attention and pure
affection.
Theme of Marriage
Marriage for older Victorians was a mean to receive a partner
who would feed the other financially well, who would give
n
the other a well quoted title in the society. The upper class
ra
Im
asks the questions like, "State your name, rank, and serial
number." [here serial number means the amount of salary]
d
sa
to ensure that their son-in-law has the three Cs, (Cash,
-A
Character and Class). Jack was about to be accepted as a
husband for Gwendolen but he was rejected as his class was
rs
to
unknown to everyone, including him. Many characters hold

ila
different perspectives for marriage. For example, Dr.

im
Chasuble and Miss Prism, although they are old, but they
s
As
marry for the sake of love, not for the sake of social status or
wealth as most older Victorians [like Lady Bracknell] did.
e
Th
Algernon values marriage as a skepticism towards

committing to only one woman as compared to Jack who has
more traditional attitude of the typical nineteenth century
on marriage.
Conclusion
The Importance of Being Earnest successfully satirizes the
Victorian traditions through the themes debated above. Both
love and marriage feed on wealth and social status in the
Victorian society.

1. https://www.gradesaver.com/the-importance-of-
being-earnest/study-guide/themes
n
ra
2. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-Importance-of-
Im
Being-Earnest/themes/
3. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-importance-of-
d
being-earnest/themes
sa
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Importance_of_Bein
-A
g_Earnest?oldformat=true
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guides/literature/importance-of-being-earnest/themes
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6. https://sites.udel.edu/britlitwiki/social-life-in-
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victorian-england/
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Significance of the Title in The
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Introduction
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Oscar Wile terms The Importance of Being Earnest, a trivial
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comedy for serious people. Wilde's term is itself a pun. A
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pun is a literary device which creates a humorous effect by
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the use of the word which has a fleet of different meanings.

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In the play, Wilde puns through the word "Earnest" as the

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meaning of honest and "Ernest" as a masculine name meant

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"Serious" in German. The name, Ernest is manipulated by

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Jack and then Algernon to serve for their purpose. [Let's find
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out why in detail]
Jack's Younger Brother Ernest

Jack fabricates his younger brother named Ernest to
successfully woo Gwendolen. Why does Jack fabricate his
second brother? Because Gwendolen is extremely obsessed
with the name. She says, "It is a divine name. It has a music
of its own, …. It produces vibrations." So Jack, in the
disguise of Ernest meets Lady Bracknell to get the hand of
Gwendolen but the Lady shows her dislike for the name. The
Lady is more serious about the three Cs, (Class, Cash and
Character). She questions him about his orphanage and
parental identity. So, that is how Jack's un-"earnest" act
(deceitful action) serves nothing to him other than
complicating the plot. Jack decides to kill his fictitious
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brother Ernest as soon as he learns Cecily's interest in that
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name.
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Algernon's Ernest sa
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Algernon's future soul-mate is also profoundly devoted

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to
herself to name that sounds like "E[a]rnest". "It had always

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been a girlish dream", says Cecily "of mine to love someone

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whose name was Ernest. There is something in that name

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that seems to inspire absolute confidence." Why does Cecily

say so? Gwendolen answers on Cecily's part, "He is the very
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soul of truth and honour. Disloyalty would be as impossible

to him as deception. " [Spoiler Alert! The article on bard.org
by KELLI FROST-ALLRED states that these lines were uttered
by Cecily to describe the honest trait of Ernest. However,
this dialogue is uttered by Gwendolen in the play, not by
Cecily. I am totally confused in interpreting Cecily's opinion.
This is a contextual error. If you can correct this, kindly
correct me in the comment section below] Algernon, having
known Cecily's obsession, he also devises another fictitious
brother named Ernest. He terms this dishonesty as
"Bunburing". But Algernon's plan goes flat on him and he,
along with Jack, resort to Dr. Chasuble to get themselves
Christened to the name "Ernest" so that their beloveds may
not reject them. Eventually the truth is revealed which
startles the girls for a moment but they forgive their lovers
after realizing 'honesty' in the hearts of Jack and Algernon.
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[Happy ending! But this play offers more than just merely a
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story. ]
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A Trivial Comedy with Serious Satire
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It is evident by the subtitle of the play that Oscar Wilde did

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to
not mean his play to be only remembered for its comic

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setting. This trivial comedy is a serious satire on sham

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Victorian moralities. Wilde, through his comical and satirical

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tone unveils the hypocritical as well as hateful attitude of the

shallowness of the Victorian people. Take Lady Bracknell's
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blunt comments on her visit to her neighbour Lady Harbury,

who "looks quite twenty years younger" since "her poor
husband’s death". Then the play moves on and every
character's distorted ambition is revealed. Wilde, through
such "trivial" story, gives the lesson that honesty, no matter
how small it is but it is the best policy.
Conclusion
Wilde, himself concludes the whole debate stating the theme
of the play to Robert Ross as thus, "That we should treat all
trivial things in life very seriously, and all serious things of
life with a sincere and studied triviality."

1. https://brainly.in/question/14301963?
fbclid=IwAR1MsiJGeQfQLEp5wOSdCvc96gYlBoCjyZtVNyf
n
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uzaiwuCMeIzf51akZdRc#readmore
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2. https://www.indiastudychannel.com/resources/111841-
The-Title-The-Importance-Being-Earnest.aspx?
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fbclid=IwAR3MDXbvR4rrNy6FZ97DwtcrYaq6Gq-
dkB1F843hlQ80M-WFCeqFVhF_iks
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3. https://www.bard.org/study-guides/the-importance-
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of-the-importance-of-being-earnest
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guides/literature/importance-of-being-earnest/analysis
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5. https://www.behindthename.com/name/ernest
6. https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-is-the-
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meaning-of-the-title-the-importance-371568?
__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=02be3b8b2153a2a6a7f6f67ccb5905
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dbddf668d0-1595309625-0-
AYxijvRs5twzgN0sDqHwUf0Az41_TfI582zuC_rOv0g3A4X
QoaErY4bkbOdd9ro81XlwomLI7To8deDv72zuSA0GrDzN
nhOCOsUtT3dyR0VJPtPHL95ZV87JZF2GwebJprBHq2meM
Wb_aLVcPxuwGZvt5_vo8vVOsTJUzULaoEEIfxZYJf1gLREX
GCAZMqezM5xf7oC4gzjQSCyhldKtmcYLKNtm8SSqIvuJH
prJb1YsB_GQPn_5bcF8RM6JN_zHXSytZIUENY7-r-
uagTb0iUo6i2BWN7Oyp0BEwHCA5hc08PVfLv7pVtBwWv
jleRCY45XvLUtnbZzHpenBeQkdt-
qihMo3luP0DpUChwq9IfphyKTC4R-
dHEiQk3LLZQMU1Rn8SNSoo8LB4VGgYS5AjuuiQH3FjBH3
6nVLIs3aZjCH
7. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/844/844-h/844-h.htm
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Social Satire in Wilde's The
Social Satire in The Importance of Being Earnest
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Introduction sa
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The Importance of Being Earnest is, from head to top, a
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literary satire. A satire is a literary device which is implied to

to
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ridicule the follies, abuses, stupidity and faults of either an

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individual or an entire society in the notion of not to defame

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it but to reform it. Oscar Wilde, a top tier satirist, develops

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satire in his "trivial comedy for serious people" to ridicule as

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well as reform the shallow Victorian society who took a great

deal in forming many minute but noticeable social injustices
through the flawed characters who are deformed by the
morals of the Victorian civilization.
Satire within the Title

The importance of Being Earnest is in itself, a satire. Wilde
subtly uses Earnest in two ways. Earnest for honest and
Ernest for serious. But if we look closely in the play, no one
is earnest in the play. Everyone is doing the opposite of what
is set in the title. Jack is 'earnest' as Ernest, a fictitious
brother, just to woo his Gwendolen who is passionately
obsessed with the name Ernest. The same goes for Algernon
and Cecily. Algernon resorts to bunburing, a similar but
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polite intrigue to ensnare Cecily in her devotional web of
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Ernest. When comic relief is achieved, Jack mockingly
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asserts to Lady Bracknell that he has finally realized the
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vitality of being Earnest. Thus the title and the play's ending
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lines suggest a moral lesson with a mild satire that it is
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essential to be earnest than Ernest, which is merely a name.

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Read more
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Significance of the Title in The Importance of Being

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Earnest
Farcical Elements in Wilde's The Importance of Being
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Earnest
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Satire on the Institution of Marriage

Marriage was a crucial problem as an institution during the
Victorian Era. Women were not allowed to choose their
future life partners, neither did the men. Both of them were
selected based on their social status and the amount of
wealth they possessed. In the particular play, we find Lady
Bracknell hunting for the husband for her daughter who fits
exactly to her three Cs rule. That is why she rejects Ernest in
the garb of Jack because his orphanage is a hindrance in
knowing his true identity despite his being wealthy.
Marriage was dull and devoid of any constructive passion.
Martial freedom was termed as a fantasy those days.
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Satire of Character(s)
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Characters play a significant role in highlighting themes and
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satires in the most prominent way possible. The Importance
of Being Earnest is a satire of character(s) in two senses.
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Firstly, if we take the casual meaning of character [yes, I am

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talking about an individual's nature, Kirdar] then this play

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shadows a shallow characteristic trait. People's character in

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this play is not determined by their actual character, but by

other socio-economic factors including cash and class. If we
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measure this play in terms of its characters (imaginary

people), satire is seen in action in every character. For
instance, Algernon, an aristocrat, throws parties during
every notable occasion but still proclaims to be short of
money. Jack is the opposite of the gaiety found in Algernon.
He, sometimes, appears profoundly serious that Cecily tends
to call her guardian "unwell". Speaking of Cecily, the girl is
so enamoured of the name Ernest that she purchases a[n
engagement] ring on the unknown man's behalf.
Gwendolen, another aristocratic gentle-girl, is farcically
obsessed with the name Ernest, calling it "divine" which has
"a music of its own". Dr. Chasuble, although he is a
Christian priest but he quotes references from pagan
authors. Miss Prism is portrayed as an absent-minded lady
who forgets her son in a railway station. [For an in-depth
analysis on the satirical portrayal of characters, head
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towards the link 2 in the Sources section]. Thus such satirical
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follies of characters are depicted as "historical" absurdities
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of the prestigious Victorian Age.
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Conclusion
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Manifestly, Wilde represents the satirical image of the

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renowned Victorian society through character(s), title and

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marriage in The Importance of Being Earnest elegantly and

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playfully.
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1. http://englishliterature24.blogspot.com/2017/04/discuss
-importance-of-being-earnest-as.html
2. https://neoenglish.wordpress.com/2010/12/02/examine-
the-importance-of-being-earnest-as-a-social-satire/
3. https://www.bachelorandmaster.com/globaldrama/satir
e-in-importance-of-being-earnest.html
4. http://jackklinton.blogspot.com/2017/11/importance-
of-being-earnest-as-social.html
5. http://www.askliterature.com/drama/oscar-wilde/the-
importance-of-being-earnest/importance-of-being-
earnest-is-a-social-satire/
6. Essays, UK. (November 2018). Satire In The Importance
Of Being Earnest English Literature Essay. Retrieved
from https://www.ukessays.com/essays/english-
literature/satire-in-the-importance-of-being-earnest-
english-literature-essay.php?vref=1
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Farcical Elements in Wilde's The
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Introduction
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“The play, though extremely funny, was essentially hateful",
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observes G. B. Shaw, a renowned essayist. His hatred against
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the play The Importance of Being Earnest is largely based on
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its farcical illustration. A farce is a literary genre and a sub-

to
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category of comedy that is aimed at making people laugh

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through exaggerated statements as well as actions of the

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characters in a play. Its origins span over the times of

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Aristophanes, a famous Greek comic playwright. The

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Importance of Being Earnest is a farcical play because of the

misinterpreted identities and mockery of the upper class,
not to mention some absurdities in the characters as well.
Also Read
Social Satire in The Importance of Being Earnest

Significance of the Title in The Importance of Being
Earnest
Themes of Wealth, Love and Marriage in The Importance
of Being Earnest
False Identities
Jack is Ernest and Algernon is Ernest as well but who is the
true E[a]rnest? The question remains unanswered. Jack and
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Algernon, through their false identities, want to impress
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their love upon Gwendolen and Cecily respectively because
these rich ladies are farcically obsessed with the name
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Earnest. For Gwendolen, Ernest is "a divine name" and sings
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its own music while Cecily has a childish desire to marry
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someone whose name is Ernest. Their love for the fictitious

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people is superficial as both Ernests are reputed for being

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wicked as well as invalid (ill). When their true identities are

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revealed before their beloveds, Gwendolen and Cecily show

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their excessive detainment for the two but the ladies give up
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when their lovers' love is proven. So, The Importance of

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Being Earnest checks the first box of being a farcical comedy

through the false identities of Jack and Algernon.
Mockery of the Upper Class

During the rapid industrial growth in the Victorian Era, the
social structure was divided into three major classes. The
upper class which possessed social privileges, including
honour and did not observe any manual or laborious work.
On the flip side, people of the middle class as well as the
lower class earned their bread through manual work and
they did not enjoy the same amount of social prestige as
compared to the upper class. The mentality of the upper
class is mocked through the character of Lady Bracknell in
this play. Lady Bracknell selects the husband for her
daughter based on his cash, character and class [three Cs,
n
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remember?]. Another example as a mockery can be quoted
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from Cecily who considers herself betrothed (engaged) with
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Ernest without seeing and knowing about the particular
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person (Algernon, in this case) and she has purchased an
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engagement ring on the behalf of that "invalid" Ernest.
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Absurdities
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A Farse is incomplete without addition of absurdities in it.

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An absurd action is that type of action which is "Inconsistent

with reason, logic or common sense" [WordWeb Dictionary]
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which makes people laugh with noise. The Importance of

Being Earnest is teaming up with many absurd examples. For
instance, Algernon, an aristocrat, cries his bankruptcy
resulting after his ostentative parties. Jack is ridiculously
serious that he looks "sick". But the most flagship level of
absurdity is shown by Miss Prism who not only leaves her
three-volume long novel in a pram but also leaves her baby
in her [large] handbag in a railway. Such level of absurdity
not only make us laugh but also give s many reasons to point
our fingers at the absurd values found in the Victorian
society.
Conclusion
Farcical plays are far from realities. The events presented in
these plays are hardly seen in actual life. For example, Jack's
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surname turns out to be Ernest at the end of the play, so as
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the Algernon's, which is what both girls want their lovers to
be. Though The Importance of Being Earnest is a fantastic
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farse but its farcical elements play a key role in signifying
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the satirical pen-picture of the prestigious Victorian Society.
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References, Sources and Suggested Readings

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1. The Importance of Being Earnest as Farcical and Satirical

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Comedy Essay. (2016, Oct 17). Retrieved from

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https://graduateway.com/the-importance-of-being-
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earnest-as-farcical-and-satirical-comedy/
1. https://ardhendude.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-
importance-of-being-earnest-oscar.html
2. https://literarydevices.net/farce/
3. https://neoenglish.wordpress.com/2010/12/02/examine-
the-importance-of-being-earnest-as-a-social-satire/

Drama - Short Questions and
Their Answers (From Sargodha
University Past Papers) MA
English Literature Part 1
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View Long Questions/preview/button/#000000
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2020
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Q1: What does Oedipus think when Jocasta forbids him to

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explore more about his identity? Oedipus thinks that

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Jocasta might be worried about his lineage as he might

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turned out to be the son of a slave. Q2: How does Oedipus

kill Jocasta?Possible Answer 1: Oedipus does not kill Jocasta
e
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directly but she hangs herself when Oedipus' "fated" guilt is

revealed. Possible Answer 2: Tiresias and Jocasta tried their
best not to proceed the ongoing investigation about the man
at fault but he resists and kept on to reveal the curiosity.
When the way was being made cleared and the disclosure
was ready to be revealed then Jocasta realized that Oedipus is
leading him and herself to a blind alley. So she skipped out
of the scene and hanged herself. In this sense, it can be said
that Oedipus became the main source for her suicide and in
this sense, he can be considered her killer. (Originally
answered by Zahid Shabeer) Learn moreQ3: What had
Ithamore been doing before Barabas bought him? Ithamore
was as callous as Barabas or even surpassed him in certain
"arts". Ithamore had been involved in poisoning wells;
cutting throats of Christian travelers and maimed pilgrims
in Jerusalem. Q4: Why is Barnardine grieved by Abigail's
n
ra
death?Barnardine is grieved by Abigail's death because he
Im
did not have enjoyed her physical "grace". He shows his
d
grief as thus in a response to Friar Jacomo:"And a virgin
sa
too."Q5: Why did Othello strip Cassio of his rank?Othello
-A
stripped Cassio of his rank of Lieutenant on his fierce fight
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with Rodrigo and Lodovico, cunningly provoked by Rodrigo

to
as a plot of Iago. Q6: What pattern is present on Othello's

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handkerchief?The pattern present on Othello's

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handkerchief is of strawberries. The colour of strawberries

s
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signifies the power of love. Q7: Mention two motifs in The

e
Tempest. Two hidden but tracible motifs of The Tempest are

Th
as thus: 1. Revenge 2. Retirement 3. LoveQ8: In what way

does Caliban mention his mental and moral degradation?
Caliban, the "fish-like monster" mentions his mental and
moral degradation as thus when he is thrashed by
Prospero,Thou didst prevent me. I had peopled elseThis isle
with Calibans.Q9: How does Jack's cigarette case betray his
identity to Algernon?Jack unintentionally leaves his
cigarette case to Algernon's lodgings on which Jack's true
name is written. View SourceQ10: What is Lady Bracknell's
initial opinion about Cecily?Lady Bracknell's initial opinion
about Cecily is that she belongs to a poor family. But when
she learns about Cecily's wealth, her stern attitude against
her changes to a moderate one.
2019
n
Q1: How many odes are present in Oedipus Rex? There are 4
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odes present after every scene of Oedipus Rex. Q2: Why is
Oedipus reluctant to go to Corinth after the death of King
d
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Polybus? Oedipus fears to go back to Corinth as he might
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fulfil the second part of the oracle of committing the crime
of incest. Q3: What is Act 2 Scene 1 in Jew of Malta mainly
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to
about? Act 2 Scene 1 is mainly about Abigail throwing the

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bags full of gold and money and Barabas catches his "bliss"
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and hugs his moneybags while standing in an alley of his

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counting-house which is turned into a nunnery. Q4: What

does Barabas' nose symbolize for? Barabas' nose symbolizes
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for humour and satire. It is a common symbol for a Jew to

have a long pointing nose. Q5: What is Brabantio's warning
to Othello about Desdemona? Brabantio who is much
dejected by the marriage of his gentle Desdemona with "An
Old Black Ram", warns Othello that she has deceived her
father by marrying and she might deceive the Moor too. Q6:
How did Vince treat Othello before he was dispatched for
Cyprus? Venice treated the "Valiant Moor" in an engaging
manner and wished for his victory in silent prayers. Q7: How
are Ariel and Caliban different? Ariel is a faithful servant
spirit of Prospero while Caliban is rude in his behaviour
towards his master and he was born out of wedlock through
the womb of a witch. Q8: Who is Sycorax? Sycorax is the
name of a witch who gave birth to a beast Caliban and
overtook the throne of the lonely island where Prospero and
his daughter took shelter. Q9: What is a Dandy with a
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reference to 'The Importance of Being Earnest'? A dandy is a
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person who pays excessive attention to his dress, looks and
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lifestyle, while pinpointing his society's dual identities
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through his wit. Jack and Algernon are those two dandies in
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The Importance of Being Earnest. View Source Q10: Define
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artificial comedy: Artificial comedy is just another term for

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comedy of manners, where a playwright decides to satirize

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the behaviour of a particular social group, which is normally

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upper class in some way. (Copied from eNotes)

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As
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2018
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Q1: How was Lais murdered? King Laius was murdered by his
own son, Oedipus the King in the place where three roads
met. Oedipus killed the old man with his youthful might,
taking the old man for merely a stranger. Q2: Who was called
the son of Labdakos? Oedipus was called the son of Labdakos
by the Chorus in Ode 1 in the following line: Labdakos' line,
and the son of Polybos Q3: What is Oedipus' request to Creon
in the ending scene of the play? Oedipus requests his
brother-in-law Creon after his tragedy is unfolded before
him that his sons shall grow up in the warm winds of the
society but his daughters shall not withstand these warm
winds and they have no one except their uncle Creon to fall
back upon. Q4: Why is Othello sent to Cyprus? Othello is sent
to Cyprus by the Venetian Senator to combat with a possible
Turkish invasion prevailing in Cyprus. Q5: How is Rodrigo
n
ra
befooled by Iago? Lago uses his stealthy and fatal weapon of
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his persuasive tongue and convinces Roderigo to "put money
d
in thy purse" for him to attain Desdemona for his sexual
sa
satisfaction but Iago stabs him back after "serving for his
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own purposes". Q6: Why does Desdemona marry Othello?
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Desdemona marries Othello after learning about his

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dangerous military ventures and she professes to love

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Othello's occupation as a general. I, as a reader, assume that

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she might have married Othello in order to serve Othello as

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his companion in his ordeals. Q7: Who is Bunbury in the play

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"Importance of Being Ernest"? Algernon is Bunbury[ing] in

Th
the play The Importance of Being Earnest as Jack's invalid

brother, Earnest just to escape from his responsibilities in
his society. View Source Q8: Why does Miss Prism fear from
Lady Bracknell? Miss Prism fear from Lady Bracknell as she
might be questioned for stealing a baby from Bracknell's
house. View Source Q9: Why does Barabas decide to kill
Ithamore? Barabas decides to kill Ithamore because he
"knows too much" about Barabas' vengeance and he might
confess to Ferneze. Thus Barabas decides to poison his
"heir". Q10: Who is Ceres? Ceres is one of Prospero’s spirits
(likely Ariel) representing the goddess of the harvest in the
masque. She joins Juno to bless Ferdinand and Miranda’s
union. (Copied)
2017
n
Q1: What is the other name of Apollo used in “Oedipus Rex’?
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Another name used for god Apollo in Oedipus Rex is
Phoebus, a dazzling ray of light. Q2: How does Creon treat
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blind Oedipus in the end? Creon treats the blind Oedipus as a
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true brother-in-law and uses every possible mean to make
Oedipus stay in his Theban palace. Q3: What is meant by the
rs
to
Machiavellian statement “End justifies the means”? This

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Machiavellian statement indicates that a person's death

im
reveals all his concealed intrigues so as his follower Barabas

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As
reveals his own policies before his arch-enemy, Ferneze,

when he falls in his own "dainty gallery". Q4: Why is
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Th
Barabas angry with the three Jews? Barabas is angry with

three Jews as they have arrived to seek Barabas' help on the
arrival of Turkish galleys and Barabas only cares about his
own gold and coffer. Q5: Why does Desdemona marry
Othello? Already Answered Q6: Who is the first character to
refer to Othello by name? Duke of Venice refers to "Valiant
Othello" in Act I scene ii. Q7: Who, in “The Tempest’, says:
“He that dies pays all debts”? Stephano speaks these lines in
The Tempest in Act III Scene ii. Q8: Introduce Boatswain in
the Tempest: Boatswain is in charge of running the ship in
the storm. He has no time for time-wasters and does not
bother to shackle his tongue when talking to landlubbers
coming on deck and getting in the way. (Copied) Q9: How is
Algernon a dandy in ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’?
Algernon serves as a dandy in The Importance of Being
Earnest because he remains conscious about good clothes
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ra
and spends lavishly on throwing parties. Q10: When is Cecily
Im
bad and good for lady Bracknell? Initially, Cecily is bad for
d
Lady Bracknell because she is a niece of the Lady's poor
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sister's son, Jack. But the Lady takes Cecily good when it is
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revealed that she is wealthy. View Source
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2016
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Q1: How does Oedipus become the king of Thebes? Oedipus

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becomes the king of Thebes by solving the mind-wrenching

riddle of Sphinx. He achieves the monarchy as a reward of
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solving the puzzle. Q2: What are the charges of Oedipus

against Creon? Oedipus charges Creon for plotting the
murder of King Laius with the companionship of "Child of
Endless Night". Q3: Who says in “Jew of Malta”: “I count
religion but a childish toy”? This sentence is uttered by the
soul of Machiavelli who prologues to present "the tragedy of
a Jew". Q4: What does Ithamore reveal about his past deeds
to Barabas? Ithamore reveals about his cruel profession of
slaining and poisoning the innocent people and he hates
Christians as his master does. Q5: Why does Iago turn
against Othello? Iago turns against Othello for not
promoting him as Othello's lieutenant and giving his seat to
Cassio who is "mere prattle without practice". Q6: What is
called “a green-eyed monster”? Jealousy is personified as "a
green-eyed monster" by the Bard of Avon. Q7: Why is ‘The
Tempest’ called a play about revenge? 'The Tempest' is
n
ra
called a play about revenge because this theme prevails right
Im
after the play begins and Prospero's Ariel creates a tempest
d
on the ocean to make the being-revenged submissive for
sa
once they used their influences to throw Prospero and his
-A
newly born daughter in the ocean. Q8: Mention some
rs
ambitions of Caliban. Caliban, the "fish-like monster"

to
wants to kill Prospero to rule over his mother's island and

ila
for this ambition, he instruments Stephano, a "heavenly-

im
drunkard" to accomplish the monster's long-cherished

s
As
desire. Q9: On what grounds, do you dislike Lady Bracknell? I

e
dislike Lady Bracknell for her interfering, authoritative and

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hypocrite behaviour. She wants everyone to press under her

thumb. Her obsessed vision of the three Cs (Cash, Caste and
Character) creates detest against her in our heart. Q10:
Define Artificial Comedy. Already Answered.
2015
Q1: Why does Oedipus run away from Corinth? Oedipus has
run away from Corinth in order to flee from his destined fate
of committing the crimes of patricide and incest towards his
(adopting) parents. Q2: What are the traits of Apollo? Apollo
is an ancient Greek god, son of Zeus and Leto. He is a god of
oracles, fertility, diseases and cure. Q3: How does Ferneze
treat Basso when Basso demands tribute? Ferneze replies
bluntly upon Basso's demand of ten years' unpaid tribute
n
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that he shall have no tribute from Malta, thus treating him
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worthlessly. Q4: With whom is Abigail in love with? Abigail
d
is in love with Don Mathias. Q5: What is Othello’s opinion
sa
about unexposed Iago? Othello considers his ancient honest
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as he is unaware of the knavery which is about to take his
rs
faith away. Q6: Why is Brabantio dismayed about

to
Desdemona? Brabantio is dismayed about Desdemona's

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marriage with Othello because of his black complexation.

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Q7: What is the reaction of Prospero when he notices

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Ferdinand in love with Marinda? Prospero rejoices, noticing

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signs of affections between Ferdinand, Prince of Naples and

Th
Miranda, Queen of Milan. But he plans to put The Prince on

test as "too light winning make the prize light". Q8: How
was Caliban begotten? Caliban was begotten through his
mother. She died on the island while giving birth to a half-
beast where Prospero and his daughter lodged in. Q9: What
do you know about Lane in ‘The Importance of Being
Earnest”? Lane is Algernon's butler who knows pretty much
everything about his master. He even saves his master from
Lady Bracknell's possible insult when his master eats
sandwiches "unethically". View Source Q10: What picture of
Lord Bracknell is created by the things Lady Bracknell and
Gwendolen say about him? The picture of Lord Bracknell is
painted through his wife Lady Bracknell and his daughter
Gwendolen as another aristocrat who remains absent in
functions of the family. View source
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ra
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d
sa
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rs
to
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s im
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e
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Elements of Renaissance in the
Works of Shakespeare and
Christopher Marlowe
n
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Introductory
Im
Renaissance is a period of the revival of knowledge, the
d
sa
rebirth of power and discovery of new lands that were
-A
unknown to human civilization. It is not easy to pinpoint an
rs
exact date for the beginning and end of this prestigious era
to
but a careful study of literary Geography reveals that it

ila
started in the 14th century and ended in the sixteenth

im
century. The period of the Renaissance served as a transition

s
As
period from the dark ages to the age of science and

e
technology. But it was surely an age of discovery, religious

Th
reformation and notorious for the accumulation of wealth

and power. Renaissance in Shakespeare and Marlowe
Christopher Marlowe and Shakespeare were both the top-
notch playwrights of the Elizabethan era. In fact, they were
born in the same year, in 1565. Marlowe was fortunate
enough to coin his name as the one among the University
Wits (a group of university graduates) but it was
Shakespeare, who took away the throne of the best
dramatist of Elizabethan era from Marlowe. The literary
genius of both the contemporaries was marked with the
same exhibition of the colour of Renaissance as their poetic
or prosaic counter-parts like Edmund Spenser or Francis
Bacon.
The Jew of Malta
n
The political tussle between Europe and the Ottoman Empire
ra
Im
was a chief issue among the people of Renaissance.
Numerous wars were fought for securing the sovereignty of
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Europe. The Jew of Malta by Marlowe is a correct historical
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account of Spanish and Ottoman influence to claim the
island of Malta. The show and the lust of power is vividly
rs
to
woven into the heart of the play. Barabas, a Jew, whose

ila
wealth amounts more than the wealth of the whole Malta

im
combined, uses Machiavellian principles to settle his scores

s
As
with the ones who harm him and his gold, and to harvest
more power through the use of his "brave policies". The
e
Th
actions of all characters in this play except Abigail broadcast

a negative image of Renaissance.
Othello
Othello by Shakespeare is another but a dark tragic work to
showcase the Ottoman Europe tug-of-war. Despite the
historical allusion to Renaissance, Othello signifies the
religious transition to humanism, a movement in which man
was considered as the centre of his actions and
accomplishments instead of God. Some critics even argue
that the atmosphere of Othello is secular. We can easily trace
out the humanistic elements in the arch villainy of Iago.
Almost all of his subtle knavery is back-upped by his
persuasive tongue and his sheer trust of him in both his
enemies and his "friends". In some way or the other, Iago
n
ra
was a subtle follower of the teachings of Machiavelli. Iago
Im
asserts his self-interest as thus,
d
sa
I follow him [Othello] to serve my turn upon him.
-A
rs
In this respect, Iago's villainish character parallels Barabas.

to
Such reflection of self-interest is purely of Renaissance.

ila
im
The Tempest
s
As
The Tempest of Shakespeare is distinctively marked with

e
Th
geological discovery of new places or more specifically,

islands. It is historically evident that the epoch of the
Renaissance was an age of discovery and colonization. To put
these measurements in the story of The Tempest, we
discover the same stuff. Prospero and his newly born
daughter are banished from Milan and they are cast to the
sea. After facing the tempest stout, Prospero discovers a
strange island but he colonized it through his supernatural
powers. He thought Caliban, an inhabitant of that island,
language and used the beast to serve for his own purposes.
The same goes for Arial and other spirits. Such a
phenomenon directly shows how a place is colonized. First,
the colonizers will make its inhabitants learn something as a
reward or will aid them financially and then they will use
these inhabitants to make products for them or even a
purchaser. Caliban's curse also alludes to the cries of the
n
ra
oppressed for freedom. In the case of The Tempest, freedom
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is granted but in actual life, liberty is granted with a huge
d
trade-off or a land dispute. Thus, the discovery of new lands
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and colonizing them was a true "spirit" of the Renaissance.
-A
rs
Conclusion
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Manifestly, both Shakespeare and Marlowe were greatly

im
influenced by the epoch of Renaissance and its impact is

s
As
directly visible in their writings with a stout exhibition of

Elizabethan morality. There are no sources as this answer is
e
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purely written by me after a careful study of these plays and

lectures of Sir Hassan Akbar, Sir Saffi and Sir Mohsin on
Renaissance.
List of Important Long Questions
of Classical Drama in 2021 for MA
English Literature Part 1 -
Sargodha University
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Click on any of the questions to see a detailed answer.
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{alertInfo} sa
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Oedipus Rex
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1. Concept of Fate & Free Will/Character & Fate

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2. Oedipus as a Greek Tragic Hero

3. Plot Construction in Oedipus Rex
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4. Hamartia & Hubris

5. Irony in Oedipus Rex
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6. Role of Chorus
Othello
1. Character Sketch of Othello
2. Character Sketch of Desdemona
3. Character Sketch of Iago
4. Character Sketch of Casio
5. Othello as a Tragedy
6. Racism in Othello
7. Role of Chance and Accident
8. Significance of the Handkerchief Scene
The Jew of Malta

1. Jew of Malta a Morlovian Tragedy
2. Character Sketch of Ferneze
3. Character Sketch of Barabas
4. Character Sketch of Abigail
5. Themes in Jew of Malta
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6. "If there is No Marlowe then No Shakespeare", Elaborate
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d
The Tempest
sa
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1. Character Sketch of Prospero
2. Character Sketch of Miranda
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3. Compare & Contrast between the Characters of Aerial &

to
Caliban
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4. Themes in The Tempest

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5. Role of Supernatural Machinery in The Tempest

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The Importance of Being Earnest

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1. Title Significance of Importance of Being Earnest

2. Importance of Being Earnest as a Comdey of Manners
3. Importance of Being Earnest as a Farcical Play
4. Importance of Being Earnest as a Social Satire
5. Character Sketches of Algernon Monicrieff & Jack
Worthing
6. Character Sketches of Lady Augusta Bracknell & Cecily
Cardew
7. Use of Wit & Paradoxical Statements

All About Shakespeare's Plays and Sonnets

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All About Shakespeare's Plays and Sonnets

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Cl

2. All that glitters is not gold.

Birth and Parentage

woman of higher rank. Her name was Mary Shakespeare.

Shakespeare was the third one among his siblings. They

were five brothers and three sisters. After the birth of

Shakespeare, his father had to face a severe financial crisis

had been learning Greek and Latin languages in school but

Shakespeare as a Drama Actor

The King's Men- A Playing Company of

Queen Elizabeth. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth, this

company was renowned as Lord Chamberlain's Men. When

King James I took over the throne, the company was

renamed as King's Men.

Marriage and Children of Shakespeare

Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway in November 1582. He,

the story. Here are the notable works of that

1. Comedy of Errors (1592)

2. Taming of the Shrew (1593)

1. Henry VI (1590-1592) (Historical play)

1. A Midsummer Night's Dream (1595)

2. The Merchant of Vence (1596) (Tragicomedy)

4. As You Like It (1599)

5. Twelfth Night (1600)

1. Romeo and Juliet (1595)

3rd Phase | Tragedies and Dark Comedies

8. Timon of Athens (1608)

Problem Plays (Dark Comedies):

1. All's Well That Ends Well (1602)

4th Phase | Romantic Tragedies (Final Period)

1. Pericles, Prince of Tyre (1608)

This seems a bit confusing as 154 sonnets are also a part of

"considered" the only pieces of poetry. He wrote these

poems during the plague in England when the Government

1. Venus and Adonis

Everything Famous Regarding Shakespeare

1. To be or not to be, that's the question.

difference between the

knowledge of actors and that of

the audience. Oedipus the King is

the most renowned example of

dramatic irony and ironies of all

When Oedipus is given the oracle

along with other persons, without

knowing the fact that the old

person is his actual father and

king of Thebes. We, as the

audience, know this fact but

has married his mother but

Oedipus thinks he has married the

wife of King Laius (he did not

know about Laius being his

Oedipus to Call the Blind Prophet Child of Endless Night

Thebes is suffering from the

blind but the "Godlike" seer are

called and Teiresias accuses

Oedipus of killing the king.

Oedipus ﬂy in rage and mocks the

blindness of the prophet by calling

him "Child of the endless night".

Oedipus resolves to ﬁnd out the

the ways about the awful truth