William Shakespeare Essays

Shakespeare is regarded as the greatest writer of his time. His plays span a variety of different topics, all for which he shows great passion. ‘Romeo and Juliet’ was written by William Shakespeare around 1595. The play is about a boy and a girl, from families who share nothing but hate for each other. They […]

Romeo and Juliet was a play written in the Elizabethan times by the famous British playwright Shakespeare. This play is based on a feud between two families, the Montague family and the Capulet family. In those two families two ‘star crossed lovers’ are found, their names Romeo and Juliet. The play begins with a fight […]

Both William Shakespeare and John Donne wrote sonnets at around the same time as each other. However, both of them wrote very differently yet still deciding to write about philosophical topics. They are different because Shakespeare decides to calm the reader; Donne uses powerful words which make the reader very aware of what they are […]

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 […]

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 […]

The play, Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, is widely considered the most famous play ever written. It has been translated into many languages and continues to be performed globally, sparking extensive critical discussions. The play’s popularity stems from its central character, Hamlet, who offers different interpretations for different people. The purpose of this essay is […]

In both types of sonnets, Shakespearean and Petrarchan, there are different ideas expressed by the poets but the actual sonnets have similarities and differences. These poets are mainly focused on the elements of death, love, religion and the passage of time and how these themes affected themselves and their lives. These sonnets were extremely popular […]

The first three scenes of Hamlet, gives you an extremely dramatic and interesting insight into most of the themes continued throughout the play. Shakespeare manages to create the suspense and drama necessary to keep the audience enthralled and expectant. He does this through the use of imagery, mystery and language, some unusual, unifying themes, and […]

In order to grasp the character of Hamlet portrayed in the play, it is crucial to comprehend the historical context and the prevalent beliefs regarding ghosts among Shakespeare’s audience. Understanding Hamlet’s behavior in the play requires an understanding of the Elizabethan-era beliefs about ghosts. Three main views existed at the time, each offering different perspectives […]

Both poems were written in the seventeenth century, though their subject matters differ. The Sonnet’s subject matter is intended to be an ode of love to a woman, saying how he will love her even when she is old. Contrastingly, To His Coy Mistress is more about lust. It is quite crude, with the poet […]

Appearances is one of the key themes in ‘Hamlet’, and it occurs throughout the whole play, each character has been seen to put on an appearance, even Horatio who can be seen as someone who doesn’t put on an appearance, yet he does for Hamlet’s sake. The effects, appearance has on the audience vary, as […]

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 […]

Although every character in a play or story serves a unique purpose, our attention is often drawn to the lead characters – the hero or villain. Nevertheless, the supporting characters can have a greater impact on the audience by influencing their emotions and carrying the plot forward. This makes their role all the more significant […]

The two sonnets I am comparing, Sonnet LX by Williams Shakespeare, and Ozymandias, by Percy Shelley. I am going to compare the way both deal with the themes of transience and immortality through the sonnet form, the arguments and ideas expressed and the way the writers use imagery, language and tone to make their point. […]

This period in history, which was approximately between the years of 1540 and 1600, saw an explosion of literature, particularly in the genres of drama and poetry. Shakespeare, the dominant and most famous writer of this period, is regarded by many as the greatest ever writer in the English language. Although the period is recognised […]

Shakespeare is revered for his mastery in both playwriting and sonnet composition. Over 150 sonnets were written by Shakespeare, predominantly on love and affection. Two of his renowned sonnets, Sonnet 29 and Sonnet 130, will be analyzed in this essay. While Sonnet 29 provides an understanding of readers’ expectations during the sixteenth century, Sonnet 130 […]

“Macbeth” is a play derived from Scottish history, written by Shakespeare in the early 1600’s, links between James I and this tragedy are evident. There are various themes running throughout the play, such as ambition, desire, loyalty and power. In this essay I plan to concentrate primarily on Lady Macbeth, making in-depth analysis of the […]

In this essay I will be looking at the imagery and the Language of evil, and Macbeth’s descent into evil. The play begins with the witches who are on an eerie heath waiting for Macbeth. It is important to understand just how seriously people took witchcraft in Shakespeare’s day, as they were extremely superstitious. In […]

Shakespeare was born in Stratford upon Avon, he married Anne Hathaway and had children, went to London and found work acting and writing plays and at the end of his life he returned to Stratford. His mother was Mary Arden, born of Robert Arden; a wealthy yeoman farmer. Shakespeare wrote the play, “Macbeth” based loosely […]

Macbeth is a tragic play written by Shakespeare to entertain King James. As the play is a tragedy the play must have a downfall. There are different themes that are shown throughout the play such as murder, ambition, and events that involve the supernatural. Supernatural is presented in the play, because in 1606 when it […]

In 1606, King James the first of England and sixth of Scotland was presented with one of William Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies. Macbeth, one of Shakespeare’s plays, is widely known. Although Shakespeare is known to have borrowed plots from other play wrights, Macbeth is a unique exception, being a partly true story about a thane […]

I am going to discuss the difference between Macbeth on the Estate, which is set on a Birmingham housing estate, and Roman Polanski’s Macbeth set in Scotland. Macbeth on the estate is set in the early 1990’s and has similar issues that are brought up in modern day life. Roman Polanski’s version of Macbeth is […]