The Influence of the Audiences' Supernatural Belief in "Hamlet" and "Macbeth"

The Influence of the Audiences' Supernatural Belief in Author: Jonas Heidger
Publisher: Grin Publishing
ISBN: 9783668345874
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 16

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Book Description
Seminar paper from the year 2015 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 2,0, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, language: English, abstract: "Hamlet" and "Macbeth" are two of Shakespeare's most successful and greatest tragedies. One reason why this can safely be said, is that both tragedies are two of the greatest written by Shakespeare and both are some of the most written about plays in all Western literature. Given the great interest, that has scholars and critics captured and fascinated to continue writing and interpreting every character, theme, and every turn of events throughout the years. Both tragedies have much in common, as they open in the country in which the action took place, with a reigning monarchy, which is threatened from both interior and exterior of the country, as the murder of a king and the approach of an enemy armament, are at the center of both plots. The murderer in both plays is a kinsman of the king, occupying the throne out of greed for power but is being punished by death at the end of the tragedy. Both plays are located abroad, as "Hamlet" is placed in medieval Denmark and "Macbeth" in medieval Scotland. But what these plays have most in common is that the supernatural is playing a key role. The ghost of the old King in "Hamlet" and the three witches in "Macbeth" are determining the two protagonists' actions and the establishment of the plays' atmosphere from the outset. The supernatural in both plays was influenced by beliefs prevalent during Shakespeare's lifetime.

The Influence of the Audiences' Supernatural Belief in "Hamlet" and "Macbeth"

The Influence of the Audiences' Supernatural Belief in Author: Jonas Heidger
Publisher: Grin Publishing
ISBN: 9783668345874
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 16

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Book Description
Seminar paper from the year 2015 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 2,0, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, language: English, abstract: "Hamlet" and "Macbeth" are two of Shakespeare's most successful and greatest tragedies. One reason why this can safely be said, is that both tragedies are two of the greatest written by Shakespeare and both are some of the most written about plays in all Western literature. Given the great interest, that has scholars and critics captured and fascinated to continue writing and interpreting every character, theme, and every turn of events throughout the years. Both tragedies have much in common, as they open in the country in which the action took place, with a reigning monarchy, which is threatened from both interior and exterior of the country, as the murder of a king and the approach of an enemy armament, are at the center of both plots. The murderer in both plays is a kinsman of the king, occupying the throne out of greed for power but is being punished by death at the end of the tragedy. Both plays are located abroad, as "Hamlet" is placed in medieval Denmark and "Macbeth" in medieval Scotland. But what these plays have most in common is that the supernatural is playing a key role. The ghost of the old King in "Hamlet" and the three witches in "Macbeth" are determining the two protagonists' actions and the establishment of the plays' atmosphere from the outset. The supernatural in both plays was influenced by beliefs prevalent during Shakespeare's lifetime.

Shakespeare and the Supernatural

Shakespeare and the Supernatural PDF Author: Victoria Bladen
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781526109064
Category : Occultism in literature
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
This edited collection of twelve essays from an international range of contemporary Shakespeare scholars explores the supernatural in Shakespeare from a variety of perspectives and approaches.

The Supernatural in Shakespeare's Plays "Hamlet" and "Macbeth"

The Supernatural in Shakespeare's Plays Author:
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
ISBN: 334670050X
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 29

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Book Description
Seminar paper from the year 2022 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,7, University of Bonn, language: English, abstract: Stories with supernatural elements like ghosts and witches existed before the coming of Christianity. Folkloric tales, vernacular beliefs and legends were at the roots of such stories. Ghosts and witches fascinated and at the same time scared many people around the world. During Shakespearean times, people believed in the idea of good and evil and were very superstition. The idea of the afterlife was also very popular. The unknown scared but at the same time amused many people; therefore, many plays feature supernatural elements in them. William Shakespeare, who wrote his plays during the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras used supernatural beings like ghosts and witches to help move the plot and convey a certain atmosphere. The depiction of supernatural creatures changed throughout the years. Many stories feature different kinds of ghosts and the reasons for their appearances. The contemporary image of ghosts and witches is vastly different from the medieval ones. In the past, ghosts appeared to convey a message or haunt the living, while witches were usually women who did not conform to the standards of society at the time. The term paper will explore the roles of The Weird Sisters and decide whether they are responsible for Macbeth’s actions or he alone is in charge of his destiny. The theme of prophecy and the role of destiny that was very popular at the time the play was written is also going to be explored and analyzed. Moreover, I will compare the Ghost of Hamlet to the Ghost of Banquo in the plays. The aim of this term paper is to trace supernatural creatures in Shakespearean plays and find reasons for the use of the supernatural in the plays. In Hamlet, I will focus my attention on the Ghost, its description, and its purpose in the play. In Macbeth, I will look at The Weird Sisters and the Ghost of Banquo. In order to contrast the ghosts in both plays, I will look at their appearances, purpose in the play, and personal motifs. Moreover, I will explore the role of witchcraft, prophecy and destiny in Macbeth.

Shakespeare and the Supernatural

Shakespeare and the Supernatural PDF Author: Cumberland Clark
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Occultism in literature
Languages : en
Pages : 358

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Book Description


Shakespeare's Use of the Supernatural in Hamlet and Macbeth

Shakespeare's Use of the Supernatural in Hamlet and Macbeth PDF Author: Merissa Bartlett
Publisher:
ISBN: 9783656695899
Category :
Languages : de
Pages : 16

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Book Description
Essay from the year 2013 in the subject English - History of Literature, Eras, grade: 80.00, Memorial University of Newfoundland, course: English 3200, language: English, abstract: Witchcraft and the supernatural has been a prevalent theme throughout theatre history, having many plays involving issues of witches, wizards, magic, ghosts, and other mysticisms. The world's most famous playwright, William Shakespeare, who wrote during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, was definitely no stranger to otherworldly premises. The ghost of the old king in Hamlet and the Weird Sisters in Macbeth are central to the plays' plots, they are a major force in determining the two heroes' actions, form the plays' opening scenes, and they are an important element in establishing the plays' atmosphere.

Supernatural Shakespeare

Supernatural Shakespeare PDF Author: J. Snodgrass
Publisher: City of Light Publishing
ISBN: 1942483937
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 276

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Book Description
Immerse yourself in Shakespeare's magical world, filled with supernatural encounters with faeries, ghosts and witches. Frolic with royalty, wander through forests, and experience love layered with enchantment. The Bard' s use of these fantastical phenomena has had a tremendous and enduring influence on authors and audiences for more than four centuries. But what are their origins? Explore the folk beliefs and literary sources that influenced Shakespeare and discover how he assembled his own masterful portraits of these phenomena, giving his plays vibrant life and his characters unforgettable personalities.

Character and the Supernatural in Shakespeare and Achebe

Character and the Supernatural in Shakespeare and Achebe PDF Author: Kenneth Usongo
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1000349608
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 230

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Book Description
Through mainly a New Historicist critical approach, this book explores how Shakespeare and Achebe employ supernatural devices such as prophecies, dreams, gods/goddesses, beliefs, and divinations to create complex characters. Even though these features indicate the preponderance of the belief in the supernatural by some people of the Elizabethan, Jacobean, and traditional Igbo societies, Shakespeare and Achebe primarily use the supernatural to represent the states of mind of their protagonists. Both writers appropriate supernatural features to mirror tragic flaws such as ambition, arrogance, impulsiveness, and fear that contribute to the downfall of Macbeth, Lear, Okonkwo, and Ezeulu. We relate to some of these characters because they project our inner minds, principal drives that may be hidden within us. Therefore, Shakespeare and Achebe’s preoccupation with the supernatural adds subtlety to their characterization and enhances their readability by situating their art beyond time, place, or particularity.

What Happens in Hamlet

What Happens in Hamlet PDF Author: John Dover Wilson
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521091091
Category : Drama
Languages : en
Pages : 384

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Book Description
In this classic 1935 book, John Dover Wilson critiques Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Is This a Dagger Which I See Before Me?

Is This a Dagger Which I See Before Me? PDF Author: William Shakespeare
Publisher: Penguin UK
ISBN: 0241252202
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 128

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Book Description
'And when I shall die, Take him and cut him out in little stars.' This collection of Shakespeare's soliloquies, including both old favourites and lesser-known pieces, shows him at his dazzling best. One of 46 new books in the bestselling Little Black Classics series, to celebrate the first ever Penguin Classic in 1946. Each book gives readers a taste of the Classics' huge range and diversity, with works from around the world and across the centuries - including fables, decadence, heartbreak, tall tales, satire, ghosts, battles and elephants.

Shakespeare's Philosophy

Shakespeare's Philosophy PDF Author: Colin McGinn
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 0060856157
Category : Drama
Languages : en
Pages : 244

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Book Description
Shakespeare's plays are usually studied by literary scholars and historians and the books about him from those perspectives are legion. It is most unusual for a trained philosopher to give us his insight, as Colin McGinn does here, into six of Shakespeare's greatest plays—A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, King Lear, and The Tempest. In his brilliant commentary, McGinn explores Shakespeare's philosophy of life and illustrates how he was influenced, for example, by the essays of Montaigne that were translated into English while Shakespeare was writing. In addition to chapters on the great plays, there are also essays on Shakespeare and gender and his plays from the aspects of psychology, ethics, and tragedy. As McGinn says about Shakespeare, "There is not a sentimental bone in his body. He has the curiosity of a scientist, the judgement of a philosopher, and the soul of a poet." McGinn relates the ideas in the plays to the later philosophers such as David Hume and the modern commentaries of critics such as Harold Bloom. The book is an exhilarating reading experience, especially at a time when a new audience has opened up for the greatest writer in English.