Genre Essays

When contemplating the notion of ‘tragedy’, various plays are immediately brought to mind, including Shakespeare’s renowned tragedies: Othello, Macbeth, Hamlet and King Lear; as well as Sophocles’ classic play from ancient Greek times, King Oedipus. On first inspection, there are numerous similarities between these works. Both King Oedipus and King Lear are rulers who explore […]

In his essay Tragedy and the Common Man, Arthur Miller writes of how ‘the common man is as apt a subject for tragedy in its highest sense as kings were’, and uses the protagonist, Eddie Carbone, an as illustration of the ‘common man’. Miller has a unique perspective on tragedy, and tries to reinvent its […]

In Tennessee Williams’ ‘Streetcar Named Desire’, the character of the protagonist Blanche is created by Williams to be facing great change, and is facing the pull between her internal flaws and the external forces pushing this change . By showing this change in accordance within the confines of a modern domestic tragedy, it becomes inherently […]

Arthur Miller’s play ‘Death of a Salesman’ is considered a notable tragedy of modern times. However, some argue that the requiem segment goes against traditional Shakespearean conventions and diminishes the overall impact of the tragedy, leading to a decrease in audience sympathy. The main character, Willy Loman, has built his life around material possessions, resulting […]

The dramatic impact of ‘Absent Person Singular’ lies in the lack of characters, which makes it clear to the audience that someone is missing. Throughout the play, all the main characters are introduced in each act, except for Dick and Lottie Potter and George, the dog. Although there is a constant reference to them, the […]

In creating Iago, Shakespeare crafts a character that, according to Harold Bloom,”is by merit raised to a bad eminence that seems unsurpassable. ” Undeniably, Iago is one of Shakespeare’s most compelling villains; his unfaltering malice, as well as his relentless desire for a revenge supported by feeble motives, are all features that have ensured infinite […]

This short story is based on two love triangles, at the apex of both being Phyllis, a secluded young woman who lives alone with her father, a failed doctor in an isolated farmhouse outside Weymouth. It is described as an “obscure island nook” which encapsulates the fact that there was no fresh work for the […]

There is great talk among the Heath folk of Clym Yeobright and how well he has done for himself after moving away to become a diamond merchant’s manager. We see people respect him and even though he has got an education people still admire him. He is seen as a hero figure but has a […]

Without a doubt, I found the show to be superb and it certainly lived up to my lofty anticipations. Both comedic and tragic elements in the play captivated the audience, resulting in a standing ovation and tearful emotions. The production featured credible and realistic performances. The beginning of the show was particularly impactful, depicting the […]

This essay discusses who or what is to blame for the tragedy. The tragedy of ”Blood Brothers” was written by Will Russell In 1986. ”Blood Brothers” is about twins separated at birth, later becoming Blood Brothers, only to find out the truth, which leads to the tragic end. As the play is a tragedy, it […]

Educating Rita, a 1983 British film directed by Lewis Gilbert, based on Willy Russell’s popular stage play, is a text that conveys significant ideas and themes, through an informal and light-hearted manner. Russel’s text addresses many “serious” aspects of life, by exploring intricate and complex themes alike, via his two primary characters; Rita and Frank. […]

Alan Bennett mixes comedy and tragedy in the two monologues ‘A Chip in the Sugar’ and ‘Her Big Chance’. In ‘A Chip in the Sugar’ the characters tend to be afflicted by tragic circumstances, broken up by humorous anecdotes that engage the audience’s interest and ‘lighten up’ the play. In ‘Her Big Chance’ there is […]

Over the years many differing interpretations of hamlet have come to the forefront. The audiences over time have experienced immense themes with deep internal and external meaning. It is apparent that over time all relevance has remained the same and thus allowed the creation and recreation of ‘Hamlet’ to remain as relevant as it was […]

William Shakespeare, who lived from 1564 to 1616, is considered a distinguished dramatist of the sixteenth century. One of his enduring tragedies is ‘Hamlet’, which has received considerable acclaim from both critics and audiences. Although he adhered to Elizabethan beliefs, his dramas convey timeless messages that address themes relevant to humanity in any era or […]

Hardy’s clever use of setting in order to wrap it’s emphasizing meaning around Tess’ present status in life in ‘Tess Of The d’Urbervilles is one of the main reasons why his book became a best seller. In every phase, Hardy would somewhat use the surroundings of Tess at her present status and wind it with […]

At the end of Act Five, Shakespeare has re-established Hamlet as a traditional Elizabethan revenge tragedy through the bloody catharsis at the end of the play, the purpose of this being to cleanse Denmark of the corrupt and to restore order, although it is doubtful whether Hamlet’s revenge achieves this aim. It is during Act […]

In Hamlet, Shakespeare carefully develops themes and characters in order to achieve the desired dramatic intensions. As Hamlet is a tragedy there is a strong sense of foreboding from the very beginning. This is fully intentional and is dependent on the development of relevant themes and characters. A final important factor of the dramatic significance […]

Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564, the eldest son of John and Mary Shakespeare, and lived until 1616. In 1582 he married Anne Hathaway and later became father to two daughters and a son. Hamlet was written around 1601-1602 in a time of great political turbulence. It has been commented that much of the […]

One of the focal aspects within the play is a dilemma he is forced to face. This dilemma is whether or not he should murder his uncle to revenge his father’s death. In Act 1 Scene 5, Hamlet comes face to face with the ghost of his father, who is doomed to suffer eternal damnation […]

Thomas Hardy expressed his inability to fully portray the significance of Tess to him, stating in reference to ‘Tess of the d’Urbervilles’, published in 1891, that it carried a subtitle ‘A Pure Woman’ amidst great controversy. Tess Durbeyfield, a girl born in the countryside, faces various challenges throughout her life in Hardy’s 14th novel. The […]

The themes of disease and corruption infuse Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” as a revenge tragedy. The play’s opening serves as an indicator of the pervasive nature of these themes throughout the work. In this essay, I will explore how images of disease and corruption in the first act create essential tension for the unfolding of this tragedy. […]

Hamlet was written during the seventeenth century during which Britain was going through a time of social anxiety there was no certain heir to throne as Elizabeth was nearing her end of her reign. This uncertainty is mirrored in the play through the death of the king of Denmark and so highlights a key subject […]