...Philosophical challenges read from a contemporary context help us better understand individuals and their relation to the world they live in. Through an existential reading of King Lear, we see Lear’s challenge of his identity crisis, thus providing us with a deeper understanding of Lear and his diegetic world. Likewise, a feminist reading of the text gives insight to females and their challenge to achieve equality in King Lear’s diegetic world when read from a contemporary viewpoint. Furthermore, the representations of the existential challenges in The invention of Love demonstrate how existential philosophy is inherent within the characters and the diegetic world of the text. Through an existential reading, Lear’s challenge of achieving “existential freedom” can give us insight to Lear’s own identity crisis and it’s association with his world. Lear’s identity crisis in splitting of the kingdom can be considered, “good faith” from an existential reading. “We have divided in three our kingdom.” Shakespeare uses the collective pronoun, “we” to show the decision has come from a new identity created within himself. His action is based on his internal new identity in contrast with external stimuli, thus having “good faith.” The challenge inherent in Lear’s identity crisis can help us understand Lear’s splitting of the kingdom as good faith and rejection of the diegetic world. The next step in Lear’s existential journey is Lear’s challenge of understanding of the absurdity of the...
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...King Lear questions Act 1, Scene 1 1. Is Lear’s demand of an expression of love from each daughter likely to bring honest answers? Lear chooses to give up his kingdom to the daughter that loves him the most. His two eldest daughters, Goneril and Regan, tell him that they love him so much and they use elaborate examples of how they love him. However, the youngest daughter, Cordelia chooses to explain her father by saying “Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave My heart into my mouth, I love your majesty According to my bond; no more no less” which shows that she does love him but she doesn’t have words to explain her love for her father. Also Cordelia was the only daughter which told the truth to his father and she wasn’t greedy like her other sisters to have part on their father’s empire or kingdom. Infuriated with Cordelia's answer, Lear banishes her from the kingdom. Because of this, it is evident that Lear only cares about his children's love being overwhelming, even if the most honest answer was Cordelia's. Based solely on this love test at the beginning of the play it is obvious to readers that Lear is a selfish, horrible father who would rather divide his kingdom up amongst two daughters and banish another one than give each of the daughters a fair share of land. From this test one could also tell that Lear's method of dealing with issues as a king is corrupt. As long as someone can sweet talk, or explain how much King Lear means to them, Lear will allow them to do...
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...thing simple and not have too much going on to where the viewer is easily getting distracted by others things happening within the video. While King Lear has some pretty gruesome events we found a way to keep things PG, so that viewers could understand what was going on but didn’t necessarily have to witness the goriness of the scenes, that are not appropriate for younger viewers. One of the artistic choices that we made while creating this video is the way we presented characters in the video, almost all of the character had some expression on their face, where you could tell what their motive was in the plot of the story, once again simplifying the plot for younger viewers. Another...
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...King Lear Research Paper Shakespeare’s play, King Lear, characterizes the archetypes ‘good’ and ‘evil’ as good being loyal and bad being disloyal. In all Shakespearean tragedies, there is a series of events with a common theme that lead to the chaos of the plot: here, the theme is fidelity versus infidelity (Bonheim 39). King Lear highlights this theme mainly through familial and hierarchical relationships. The tragedy’s large cast of characters is divided into the archetypal categories of ‘good’ and ‘bad’, which are essentially determined by their faithful or unfaithful actions towards their family and kingdom. In their somewhat parallel lives, King Lear and Gloucester are driven to despair and madness by their familial relationships. Sibling rivalry, betrayal of fathers by daughters and by son and rash misunderstandings of a loyal son and a dutiful daughter, are the roots of chaos in the play (Bloom 15). King Lear and Gloucester’s downfalls are essentially caused by the ‘bad’ child’s betrayal and later resolved by the ‘good’ child’s help and support. Shakespeare introduced Cordelia as caring and loyal daughter, who is profoundly devoted to family (Bonheim 41). When it is her turn to publically confess her love for Lear, she explains in her own defense: “Why have my sisters husbands, if they say They love you all? Haply when I shall wed, That lord whose had must take my plight shall carry Half my love with him, half my care and duty. Sure I shall never marry like...
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...The story opens in ancient Britain, where the elderly King Lear is deciding to give up his power and divide his realm amongst his three daughters, Cordelia, Regan, and Goneril. Lear's plan is to give the largest piece of his kingdom to the child who professes to love him the most, certain that his favorite daughter, Cordelia, will win the challenge. Goneril and Regan, corrupt and deceitful, lie to their father with sappy and excessive declarations of affection. Cordelia, however, refuses to engage in Lear's game, and replies simply that she loves him as a daughter should. Her lackluster retort, despite its sincerity, enrages Lear, and he disowns Cordelia completely. When Lear's dear friend, the Earl of Kent, tries to speak on Cordelia's behalf, Lear banishes him from the kingdom. Meanwhile, the King of France, present at court and overwhelmed by Cordelia's honesty and virtue, asks for her hand in marriage, despite her loss of a sizable dowry. Cordelia accepts the King of France's proposal, and reluctantly leaves Lear with her two cunning sisters. Kent, although banished by Lear, remains to try to protect the unwitting King from the evils of his two remaining children. He disguises himself and takes a job as Lear's servant. Now that Lear has turned over all his wealth and land to Regan and Goneril, their true natures surface at once. Lear and his few companions, including some knights, a fool, and the disguised Kent, go to live with Goneril, but she reveals that she plans...
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...of Lord Angelo. Yet, if any elaboration is to be made on the use of disguise in King Lear, defining the term as it adheres to Shakespearean scholars must first be made. In “Disguise in King Lear: Kent and Edgar,” a scholarly journal by Hugh Maclean, he discusses “Disguise in Elizabethan drama [to be] ‘the substitution, overlaying or metamorphosis of dramatic identity, whereby one character sustains two roles; this may involve deliberate or involuntary masquerade, mistaken or concealed identity, madness or possession’” (Maclean 49). In much of Shakespeare’s work, according to this definition, the development of one’s character can often be seen as close to the margin of disguise. Yet, King Lear exhibits characters whose disguises make significant class distinctions, favorably casting a positive light on the lower class. For some examples of this; King Lear finds himself without a home and caring daughters, he learns to sympathize with a beggar, and unclothes himself in an act to regain his lost innocence. Edgar, the victim of deceit, traverses into the disguise of a beggar with which Lear sympathizes, and dismisses his past identity. He has seen the life of “poor Tom” preserved and deems that the only way he will remain is by disguising himself in that same class (II.vi.20). Even the banished Earl of Kent disguises himself as a peasant in order to reclaim his association with nobility. Thus, King Lear discloses on...
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...KING LEAR Act One The play opens at Lear’s court, where we meet the main characters. The opening scene is in itself shocking, as Lear forces his daughters to declare their love for him. The one who loves him the most will receive the largest part of his kingdom, which he intends to divide between the three. Lear himself wishes to hand over the ruling of the kingdom to his daughters, while retaining the ‘Pre-eminence, and all the large effects / That troop with majesty’ (Scene 1, Lines 131-2). Goneril and Regan acquit themselves well at this love test. Cordelia, however, dismayed by her sisters’ ponderous words, refuses to take part in the ‘contest’ and tells Lear that she loves him as her duty instructs her. When Cordelia refuses to speak again, Lear casts her off without a moment’s hesitation. Ken attempts to argue with the King, accusing him of ‘hideous rashness’ (Scene 1, Line 151). When Kent further warns Lear that his elder daughters are false flatterers, Kent too is banished. Lear invests Albany and Cornwall with power, and, after Burgundy refuses to take Cordelia as his wife, now that she is without dowry, France takes her for her virtues alone. Goneril and Regan complain, in private, about Lear’s harsh judgement and unpredictable behaviour and worry that they too may be treated unfairly. Edmund, Gloucester’s bastard son, soliloquises about his own situation, revealing his devious intentions towards his brother. When his father enters, Edmund’s...
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...Chapter II: literature of the renaissance (End of the 15th - beginning of the 17th century) In the 15th - 16th centuries capitalist relation began to develop in Europe. The former townspeople became the bourgeoisie. The bourgeoisie fought against feudalism because it held back the development of capitalism. The decay of feudalism and the development of capitalist relation were followed by a great rise in the cultural life of Europe. There was an attempt at creating a new culture which would be free from the limitation of the feudal ideology of the Middle Ages. The epoch was characterized by a thirst for knowledge and discoveries, by a powerful development of individuality. It was then that great geographical discoveries of Columbus, Magellan and other travelers as well as astronomical discoveries of Copernicus, Bruno, Galilei were made. The invention of the printing press (Fyodorov in Russia, Guttenberg in Germany, Caxton in England) contributed to the development of culture in all European countries. Universities stopped being citadels of religious learning and turned into centers of humanist study. There was a revival of interest in the ancient culture of Greece and Rome ("Renaissance" is French for "rebirth"). The study of the works of ancient philosophers, writers, and artists helped the people to widen their outlook, to know the world and man's nature. On the basis of both the ancient culture and the most progressive elements of the culture of the...
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...The Concept of the Outsider Literature often persecutes the most vulnerable, a person who lacks support and therefore power within society. Described by Terry Eagleton for The Guardian as the “literary mainstream”; these characters are often referred to as the Outsider due to their exclusion from the community in which the text is set. The characters who are referred to as Outsiders can be portrayed in different ways; their initial exclusion from society can ultimately lead to a narrative of their acquisition of power throughout the text but similarly, can portray a story of their maintenance of the minimal power they have over the course of the text’s plot. However, this is not to argue that some Outsiders presented within literature do not have power over the course of the development of the text so, as a consequence, remain excluded from the society. In this case, the text would then be considered an exposition of the character’s experience from their position in society rather than the author’s attempt of trying to integrate their character into society through their work. Furthermore, the author themselves may be considered an Outsider through their own status in society; they command their readers to be Outsiders themselves within the novel. As well as to read and observe the narrative in order to emulate the same feeling within themselves, within the reader or to have a specific impact on the issues surrounding humanity at the time. The contrast in the ways in which...
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...William Shakespeare was baptized on April 26, 1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. From roughly 1594 onward he was an important member of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men company of theatrical players. Written records give little indication of the way in which Shakespeare’s professional life molded his artistry. All that can be deduced is that over the course of 20 years, Shakespeare wrote plays that capture the complete range of human emotion and conflict. Known throughout the world, the works of William Shakespeare have been performed in countless hamlets, villages, cities and metropolises for more than 400 years. And yet, the personal history of William Shakespeare is somewhat a mystery. There are two primary sources that provide historians with a basic outline of his life. One source is his work—the plays, poems and sonnets—and the other is official documentation such as church and court records. However, these only provide brief sketches of specific events in his life and provide little on the person who experienced those events. Though no birth records exist, church records indicate that a William Shakespeare was baptized at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon on April 26, 1564. From this, it is believed he was born on or near April 23, 1564, and this is the date scholars acknowledge as William Shakespeare's birthday. Located 103 miles west of London, during Shakespeare's time Stratford-upon-Avon was a market town bisected with a country road and the River Avon. William...
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...Shakespearean plays were set in the Renaissance Era, they are still the epitome of English literature and are revered by theaters, performers and audiences alike due to their remarkable credibility in portraying everlasting political, social and moral issues. http://www.neptunetheatre.com/content/Shakespeare_hat_trick His plays move from romantic to tragic, humorous to serious so much so that he not only caters to all tastes but also all times by portraying the political situation of his times as well as the way of living. Even Romeo and Juliet, considered by many as a die –hard romantic scripture actually highlights political issues. One of the main political aspects of the play was when count Paris uses his political and aristocratic power to threaten Juliet if she did not marry him. The romance provided a perfect front to front to address the rich/poor issues in the Elizabethan era, and even today we see such situations where the influential overpower the lower castes, forcing them to sometimes give up on their dreams and hopes. The relevance is uncanny and once you read the play you...
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...“Charismatic CEOs and Succession Planning: Not so Charismatic” This article takes a look at CEO succession planning. It essentially focuses on charismatic CEOs and how they chose their successor. This article argues that the approach most charismatic CEOs take is flawed, hence, their successors tend to struggle. Most charismatic CEOs often do not make succession planning a priority until it is too late. In cases where a company puts a process in place, charismatic CEOs tend to be domineering in their choice of a successor. In other cases, charismatic CEOs die on the job, thereby making the transition shaky. Although this article delves into the open literature for insights, it also uses a case study to drive home the point that charismatic CEOs’ approach to succession planning is flawed. The challenges of succession planning are truer today than ever. Indeed, the abrupt departures of two important charismatic CEOs – Charles Prince of Citygroup and Stanley O’Neal of Merrill Lynch – in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, which fetched these firms colossal losses have made scholars to beam their searchlight on this neglected aspect of corporate governance. The nonchalance with the way some CEOs handle the process of succession planning not only puts their companies in jeopardy, but also signposts a major criterion on which outgoing CEOs and their executive board members will be evaluated. Before we proceed, we will issue a caveat: the practice of succession planning...
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...Bloom’s Classic Critical Views W i l l ia m Sha k e Sp e a r e Bloom's Classic Critical Views alfred, lord Tennyson Benjamin Franklin The Brontës Charles Dickens edgar allan poe Geoffrey Chaucer George eliot George Gordon, lord Byron henry David Thoreau herman melville Jane austen John Donne and the metaphysical poets John milton Jonathan Swift mark Twain mary Shelley Nathaniel hawthorne Oscar Wilde percy Shelley ralph Waldo emerson robert Browning Samuel Taylor Coleridge Stephen Crane Walt Whitman William Blake William Shakespeare William Wordsworth Bloom’s Classic Critical Views W i l l ia m Sha k e Sp e a r e Edited and with an Introduction by Sterling professor of the humanities Yale University harold Bloom Bloom’s Classic Critical Views: William Shakespeare Copyright © 2010 Infobase Publishing Introduction © 2010 by Harold Bloom All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher. For more information contact: Bloom’s Literary Criticism An imprint of Infobase Publishing 132 West 31st Street New York NY 10001 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data William Shakespeare / edited and with an introduction by Harold Bloom : Neil Heims, volume editor. p. cm. — (Bloom’s classic critical views) Includes bibliographical references...
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...Specimen Papers and Mark Schemes for English Literature For first AS Examination in 2009 For first A2 Examination in 2010 Subject Code: 5110 Contents Specimen Papers Assessment Unit AS 2 Assessment Unit A2 1 Resource Booklet Assessment Unit A2 2 1 3 9 15 25 Mark Schemes Assessment Unit AS 2 Assessment Unit A2 1 Assessment Unit A2 2 29 31 61 95 Subject Code QAN QAN 5110 500/2493/0 500/2421/8 A CCEA Publication © 2007 Further copies of this publication may be downloaded from www.ccea.org.uk Specimen Papers 1 2 ADVANCED SUBSIDIARY (AS) General Certificate of Education 2009 English Literature Assessment Unit AS 2 assessing The Study of Poetry Written after 1800 and the Study of Prose 1800-1945 SPECIMEN PAPER TIME 2 hours INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES Write your Centre number and Candidate Number on the Answer Booklet provided. Answer two questions. Answer one question from Section A and one question from Section B. Section A is open book. INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES The total mark for this paper is 120. All questions carry equal marks, ie 60 marks for each question. Quality of written communication will be assessed in all questions. 3 Section A: The Study of Poetry Written after 1800 Answer one question on your chosen pairing of poets. Heaney: Opened Ground Montague: New Selected Poems 1 John Montague and Seamus Heaney both write about the Irish past. Compare and contrast the two poets’...
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...fictional society, usually portrayed as existing in a future time, where the conditions of life are extremely bad due to oppression, or terror. Science fiction (particularly post-apocalyptic science fiction and cyberpunk stories set in an imaginary future world controlled by technology and computers) often feature dystopias. Common traits of Dystopian fiction: The setting is the future, but often with contemporary social trends taken to extremes incorporated on purpose. A hierarchical society where there are unbending and definitive divisions between the upper, middle and lower class Society is conditioned to fear the outside world, and one of the methods for achieving this is the restriction of information and freedom. A corrupt authoritarian and totalitarian government creates or sustains the poor quality of life This government makes people believe that society is proper and just, even perfect. State propaganda makes citizens worship the state the leader of the state and the government. There is strict conformity among citizens and the general assumption that having opinions and individuality is bad The penal system often employs psychological or physical torture Violence, cruelty and aggressiveness are always present. Dystopias are frequently written as warnings, or as social satire, criticizing a current trend, norm or political system. In order for the dystopia to have an effect on the reader, the author uses characteristics of every day society...
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