Essays and Research Papers on All Shakespeare

A 10 page paper which examines the way business was conducted throughout the antiquity, the Renaissance, and the 17th century (specifically, such practices as money-lending, interest, trade, banking) and considers how this is depicted in such literary works as Plautus’s “The Pot of Gold (The Aulularia),” William Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” and Moliere’s “The ...

A five page paper looking at this play by William Shakespeare in terms of its statement about creativity. Prospero's monopolization of creative power, the paper argues, deprives the other elementals on the enchanted island of valuable experience they could use when they achieve self-rule at the play's end. Bibliography lists three sources.

This 5 page paper examines the issue of power and control as seen in "The Tempest" and what it says about Shakespeare's society. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 5 page paper which examines how men and women are depicted and considers who wields the true power, as represented theatrically and cinematically. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

This 5 page report discusses Shakespeare’s use of Desdemona's handkerchief in the tragic story of Othello. In fact, Desdemona's handkerchief itself appears to exert unusual powers. Othello sees the handkerchief as proof of Desdemona's adultery, and without that proof Iago's plots would mean nothing. The handkerchief's three appearances pull the play's six most important characters into an unavoidable tragedy. Bibliography lists 3 ...

A 5 page paper which examines how innocence is often subjected to blight, considers whether innocence has power in this play, and the relationship between purity and maturity. No additional sources are used.

A 6 page paper which compares and contrasts these two plays in terms of their representation of the moody protagonists featured in each, the relationships between fathers and sons, fathers and daughters, as well as the themes of power, justice, and the Prodigal Son. Bibliography lists 9 sources.

A 5 page paper which examines two of the play’s oppositions, barbarism versus civilization and the greedy lust for power versus the benevolent desire for justice. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

King Richard the Third is known historically as well as through the plays of William Shakespeare to be a notoriously evil man who seeks power above all else and lets nothing or no-one stand in his way. This 5 page paper presents the argument that Queen Elizabeth is one of the few characters that meets Richard on his own ...

A 5 page paper which examines love and power within the family relationships of both plays, how each is specifically affected and determine the complexities within the relationships. No additional sources are used.

A 5 page paper analyzing the twin plots of Shakespeare's play -- that of the dispossession of Lear by his two evil daughters, and the usurpation of Gloucester's lands and power by his illegitimate son. The paper shows that the moral of both stories is the same: that we do not always judge our children ...

A 3 page paper which examines how love often hides political and personal powers as seen in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and Shakespeare’s The Tempest. No additional sources cited.

An 8 page paper which examines the theme aids in driving the plot, is employed in character development, and serves as a reflection of life, times and religions of the periods in which they were written. Bibliography lists 7 sources.

In 5 pages, the author discusses the use of religion in William Shakespeare's "The Tragedy of Macbeth." Religion is being used less and less in modern literature just as in modern society. This has a great deal to do with the times. It is evident that people in general are stereotyped as ...

This 7 page essay argues that Hamlet had to be under the sway of intense emotion in order to overcome his innate morality and engaged in acts of violence. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

In six pages an analysis of six important passages of William Shakespeare’s plays – Julius Caesar (Act II, Scene i), Merchant of Venice (Act III, Scene ii), The Tempest (Act IV, Scene i), Richard III (Act I, Scene ii), As You Like It (Act II, Scene vii), and Hamlet (Act V, Scene ii) – is ...

This 3 page essay offers analysis of the last act of King Lear and the writer discusses how this act reflects the patterns established earlier in the play. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A ten page paper describing the events and significance of five pivotal scenes from this play: Act I, Scene 2; Act II, Scene 1; Act III, Scene 1; and Act IV, Scenes 3 and 4. The paper shows how Shakespeare demonstrates that evil may triumph for a short time, but good will win in the ...

This 12 page paper provides some distinct answers to 12 questions about the nature of acting, including assessments of the variations between Mel Gibson and Kenneth Branaugh's interpretations of Hamlet and Paul Robeson's history of American acting. This paper outlines some major points to be used in response to the questions provided.

A 3 page research paper/essay that examines Shakespeare's use of humor with two minor characters in Act V of Hamlet. The writer argues that examination of Act V, Scene 1 demonstrates how Shakespeare utilizes humor through these minor characters to enhance his characterization of Hamlet, as well as make comments regarding the action that would ...

A 5 page paper which considers the importance of the witches to the play as a whole, in terms of plot, characters, themes, language and stagecraft in Act I, Scene I, Act I, Scene III, Act IV, Scene I. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 3 page paper which analyzes act IV from Shakespeare's "Macbeth." No additional sources cited.

A 3 page essay that analyzes Shakespeare's development of Macbeth's character in Act I. The writer argues that this shows how a man who was recently hailed as a hero of his country could turn traitor and commit the act of regicide. Throughout Act I, Shakespeare carefully builds the image of Macbeth as a man ...

A 5 page paper which examines the characterization of Ophelia as an amoral girl who affirms Prince Hamlet's mistrust of all women in William Shakespeare's tragedy, Hamlet, specifically concentrating on Act II, Scene ii and Act III, Scene i.

A 6 page essay on the artistic means by which Shakespeare brings about harmony—or resolution of the message—in the play. The writer compares and contrasts Act II:1 and Act V:3 with the other scenes to show how harmony is brought about through symbolism, characterization and theme. Bibliography lists 1 source.