Consider how Shakespeare presents madness Essay Example for Free

Consider how Shakespeare presents madness Essay Consider how Shakespeare presents madness in the play and explain whether you think it does illustrate how, something is rotten in the state of Denmark. One of the main themes in Hamlet is that of madness. Shakespeare conveys madness through not only Hamlet but through other characters as well, such as Ophelia, to covey that that the state of Denmark is rotten. At the beginning of the play, the first thing introduced are the night watchmen seeing the ghost. This is at the beginning because it is the first event in the chain that eventually leads to Hamlet seeking revenge for his fathers death. Although he was upset by his fathers death and his mothers oerhasty marriage, it was the revelation that his father was murdered that he thinks that he must take revenge. When Horatio first speaks to the ghost he recognises that it is unnatural for it to be there; What art thou that unsurpst this time of night, illustrating that he feels that the ghost has wrongfully seized the night. The atmosphere is unsettling and the ghosts unnatural appearance is a sign of the bad things going on in Denmark, especially the court; This bodes some strange eruption to our state. During the times that the play was written, unusual things that happened were seen as a sign that something was not right in the courts; Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. This could be referring either to the whole of Denmark, or just the courts. It is after Hamlet sees the ghost that he decides that he will pretend to be mad; put an antic disposition on, but he does not want his friends to tell anyone what they have seen or that he is feigning madness; Never make known what you have seen tonight, as he believes that this way he can find means to exact his revenge on Claudius for killing his father; And thy commandment all alone shall live within the book and volume of my brain, meaning that all he shall have in his thoughts is how the ghost of his father told him to exact revenge on Claudius. This is the first step in the theme of madness for the play. Although Hamlet clearly says that he will be putting on his madness, it is uncertain whether actually he does go mad during the play, as illustrated in his outbursts towards his mother and Ophelia, and the murder of Polonius. There is much deception during the play, such as Claudius trying to gloss over the fact that he knows that his marriage to Gertrude could be seen as incest by the Church and that Hamlet should have been the rightful heir to the throne; Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature that we with wisest sorrow think on him together with remembrance of ourselves. He says that he is mourning and feels that mourning is appropriate for the old king, but he must think of himself, perhaps hinting at the fact that the death was convenient for him and he has had enough of mourning. This is characteristic of him throughout the play as all he has done and will do is for his own self interest, as when Hamlet asks if he can leave the castle, Claudius refuses, saying; And we beseech you, bend you to remain here in the cheer and comfort of our eye. He appears to be asking him to stay for his comfort, but he actually wants to keep an eye on him because he knows that he is still a threat to him and the throne. He at first seemed to want Hamlet to become like a son to him, but that changes as soon as he realises he could be a threat to him. He also continually uses the words we, our and us to establish himself as the husband of Gertrude and the King of Denmark. Polonius comments; with pious action we do sugar oer the devil himself. To which Claudius replies as an aside; The harlots cheek, beautied with plastering art, is not more ugly to the thing that helps it than is my deed to my most painted word. Claudius admits that he is covering up the truth, continuing the theme of deception, adding to the audiences awareness of the rottenness of Denmark. As there becomes more deception and secrecy throughout the play, it seems that the imagery in the language reflects the deception, and images of disease are used; For the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a good kissing carrion. This could be language to refer to how that state of Denmark is rotting, but also Hamlets language seems to reflect his turmoil as he tried to decide what to do about Claudius, and as he gets more frustrated with himself he becomes more abusive towards his mother and Ophelia; You are keen my lord, you are keen. It would cost you a groaning to take off mine edge. He is taunting Ophelia using double meaning. Hamlet is very good at creating double meanings, like when he says to Claudius; I am to much ithsun, which he says as if he is in too much sunshine but also he is saying that he feels too much like Claudiuss son. Later in the play the text says; It will but skin and film the ulcerous place, whiles rank corruption, mining all within, infects unseen. He is saying that corruption, like infection starts within, and the corruption of Denmark will begin with the court. This also links in with madness because madness also starts from within within the mind, and perhaps it is saying that just one unstable mind could bring down all the state. Another way that Shakespeare presents madness in the play is through Ophelia. She goes mad after Hamlet kills her father, but also because of the way Hamlet treated her cruelly. He said to her that he loved her, and there were some hints that he had been intimate with her, but he treats her badly and even tells her that he does not love her. She has been a victim of a corrupt society from Hamlet leaving her and from her father, such as using her as a pawn to spy on Hamlet. After she has become mad, she sings many songs. The first one that she sings is, How should I you true love know. This song could be her recalling the death of her father; He is dead and gone lady, he is dead and gone. This is the first thing that comes into her mind to sing about, so it must be the thing that is foremost in her mind. It could also be that she is recalling how Hamlet is now lost to her, and she is still looking for her true love, because it seems obvious that she has not found him yet. However, the rest of the songs seem to be about Hamlet, as they are about lost love and some of them imply that Ophelia had been sexually intimate with Hamlet; Quoth she, before you tumbled me you promised me to wed. It seems that both her father and Hamlet are responsible for Ophelias madness, and this is reiterated by what Ophelia sings about. Ophelia was controlled all the men in her life, and this was customary for the time, but it seems that they took too much of a hold on her, with none of them considering her feelings, for her father told her to no longer speak to Hamlet as it could affect his career, Laertes also told her to stay away from Hamlet and Hamlet was cruel to her. She also says, after her first song; They say the owl was a bakers daughter. This could just be nonsense, but it could also be referring to her father, saying that once she was the daughter of a man in the court, but now she is just the daughter of a dead old man. Polonius did help the corruption in Denmark, such as spying and trying to make sure his own career was safe, and because of him Ophelia is mad. Hamlet also said that he loved Ophelia, and whereas before he was tender, due to the corruption around him and his succumbing to it, he was a factor in Ophelias madness, which eventually led to her suicide. By the actions of people around her, Ophelia is tainted by the corruptness around, as Hamlet says in the beginning of the play says that she is pure, but later on says she is wanton like all women, and tells her; to a nunnery go. This could be to send her to be protected, or it could be a sarcastic remark telling her to go to a brothel.

Animal Farm, by George Orwell :: Animal Farm Essays

Hypocrisy on Animal Farm   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In George Orwell’s novel Animal Farm, the animals possess many traits that humans portray such as emotion and physical qualities and activities. The novel withholds many examples of hypocrisy among the animals. These acts of hypocrisy originate from the animals hatred for the humans, which eventually transforms them into humans in an animal form and the major downfall of Animal Farm. These acts of hypocrisy are primarily summoned by the pigs in many different fashions including the higher equality, the ban on human characteristics and activity and the basis of â€Å"four legs good, two legs bad†. The higher equality of certain animals was a major contribution to the general act of hypocrisy that takes place on Animal Farm. During the beginning of the novel, all the animals are equal and happy, but once the pigs gain total control, they decide to change the rules. : â€Å"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.†(90). This is hypocritical due to the sudden change of the animal’s views. During the beginning of the novel, all the animals are equal and agree upon equality as a group. After a while, the pigs begin creating rules that help to provide and advantage themselves. After the pigs make this statement, the other animals begin to see that Napoleon and his committee are very similar to their previous owner, Mr. Jones. While the pigs are living the simple life of relaxation, the other animals are doing slave labour to ensure that humans do not regain control of Animal Farm and ensuring that they don’t not lose control of their o wn lives. Another ac of hypocrisy located in the novel, deals with the ban on human appearances and human activity. During one of the first meetings after the rebellion, the animals make the rules clear and state that they will apply it to every animal on the farm. : â€Å"No animal must ever live in a house, or sleep in a bed, or wear clothes, or drink alcohol, or smoke tobacco, or touch money, or engage in trade.†(6). Despite the rules agreed upon by the animals at the starting of the novel, the pigs decide to become more like the humans and gain complete control over Animal Farm. Things at first seem pretty reasonable, like the learning to read and write, but when the pigs begin wearing clothes and compromising with the neighbouring farm owners, the animals become suspicious of their motives.

Arrival of the Bee Box by Sylvia Plath Essay

Plath’s arrival of the Bee Box is a poem which depicts a box containing bees. In regards to this theme, it is not the only poem that Plath has approached bees as she wrote The Beekeeper’s Daughter. Additionally this poem can also be seen as a classical allusion to Pandora’s box as it concerns a feared object, which may cause destruction if opened. At first this box is looked upon with distrust, and possibly fear, as there is a lack of control of the contents of this box. However the speaker gradually rears itself to gain control or at least power in regards to the box and feels more confident about approaching it. Initially there is a sense of uncertainty about the nature of the box. It is first said to be a â€Å"clean wood box/square as a chair and almost too heavy to lift† (1-2). This is a clear and objective description of the box however a contradicting depiction of the box follows: it is said to be the â€Å"coffin of a midget/or a square baby† (3-4). These are images of distortion with references to death, which can leave a somewhat disturbing image of the box. This misshape is also found on the final line of the introductory stanza as Plath describes it as having â€Å"not such a din in it† (5), yet in the midst of claiming silence Plath introduces an assonance(â€Å"in†) giving the sentence an acoustic trait. This sense of uncertainty is quickly replaced by fear as Plath now becomes concerned with the box’s basic attributes, such as it being â€Å"locked† and â€Å"dangerous† (6). As such it allows her to introduce the theme of control; the speaker has indeed â€Å"ordered this† (1) box yet the box, once delivered, is considered unapproachable and to be a burden (â€Å"I have to live with it overnight† -7). As such the lack of control becomes clear and it may even be said that it is the box that has started taking ownership of the speaker. And this ownership is in the form of fascination, the speaker cannot stop from exploring the box (â€Å"There are no windows, so I can’t see what is in there† -9) despite the reasons not to do so. Overwhelmed by fascination, the speaker â€Å"puts her eye to the grid†(11). This reveals a box with reminiscent themes of African slavery. For example the speaker has â€Å"the swarmy feeling of African hands† (13). In addition to this there are references to slave trade (â€Å"shrunk for export†-14) and the theme of dislike of captivity is conveyed by placing the consonance of an â€Å"ll† sound in the last line: â€Å"black on black, angrily clambering†. This resonates the bees (and the slaves) want to escape their prison. Later on we also find this same assonance associated to unpleasant noise (â€Å"It is the noise that appalls me most of all,/The unintelligible syllables.†17-18). Also the use of assonance (â€Å"dark, dark†-12; â€Å"black on black†-15) achieves a similar effect and sustains this unease. The reference of slavery may be related to the Civil Rights movement in America in the 1960’s and it would be Plath’s way of conveying the cries for equality. Most important however are the threatening nature of these complaints which draw back into the theme of control and underline that the speaker still does not feel safe in regards to the box and its contents, especially as the content is alive and fervent. The speaker then ponders as to how to let the bees escape (16). However such a choice is not made as the threat of the bees build up. Firstly a buzzing sibilance,†It is the noise that appals me most of all† (17), echoes the presence of the bees but it also provokes confusion, destabilizing the speaker who becomes confused in regards to what the bees are trying to communicate with him (â€Å"The unintelligible syllables†-18). This lack of understanding can be understood as the bees are now even more threatening, they are now a â€Å"Roman mob† (19), a symbol of rebellion. In spite of the individual bee being harmless, it is the bee’s nature as a swarm that impresses the speaker: â€Å"Small, taken one by one, but my god, together!†(20). The next stanza provides the first hints that the speaker is finally in control of the situation. Firstly, the speaker â€Å"lay[s his] ear to furious Latin† conveying the need to understand the bees, something not previously achieved. But to be properly able to understand them, the speaker discards all the Roman associations, which could be a symbol of power over the speaker. This is done by declaring â€Å"I am not a Caesar† (22). However this statement is ambiguous in the sense that it contains a paradox as the speaker both mentions power, when the need for power is obvious, and yet denies wanting or having it. Regardless of this, the speaker does finally gain power over the bees. Such is achieved by the speaker announcing that â€Å"I have simply ordered a box of maniacs.†(23). Not only does the speaker finally settle as to what the box is (having previously been uncertain about it), but the concept of power grasp resonates by the use of â€Å"simply†, allowing to set aside any previous problems about this box and imposing the speakers interpretation on it. This leads to multiple statements about what the speaker can do with this newly realized power such as: â€Å"They can be sent back./They can die†(24-25). This leads to the culmination of this stanza with triumphant, yet dispassionate, assertion â€Å"I am the owner† (25). This statement chimes throughout this stanza due to the anaphora of â€Å"I† serving as a reminder of who is now in charge. Additionally the short and concise sentences present throughout this stanza act as orders, another way of displaying authority. This newly gained authority is enjoyed as the speaker now settles and starts musing about the bees:†I wonder how hungry they are† (26). Again we find an anaphora, but this time it is â€Å"I wonder† (26-27), which is one of the first clear clues for choice as they introduce hypothetical statements which rely on will to be realised. Following this Plath makes another of her classical allusions, this one being the Greek myth of Daphne. This allusion is done to represent the extent to which the speaker, relishing the newly unveiled power, is now dreaming about what could be achieved with the bees, as now an extra touch of magical realism is added to the poem. In this trail of thoughts, the speaker refers to the ability to transform into a blond tree, the colour of honey, so as to appease the bees. The speaker also hopes to be ignored by the bees, dressed in a â€Å"moon suit and a funeral veil† (32). In this statement we can interpret the moon suit to be the usual beekeeper’s suit, but more importantly the moon suit gives an imposing, and possibly bizarre, image of the speaker. Additionally we find again a reference to death sustaining the dark aspect of the poem. The specific reference to a funeral may imply that the speaker is now mourning over the chase for power with the bees. Irrespective of this, the speaker ceases day-dreaming and instead rationalizes that â€Å"I am no source of honey/So why should they turn on me?† (33-34). This provides a justification for setting the bees free without the fear of being attacked. In doing so the reader claims to be â€Å"sweet God†(35), which links back to the references of â€Å"I am not a Caesar†(22). Indeed both these statements refer to power, but both also display a nuance in regards to the kin d of power that should be gained; there is an attempt at the distinction between a tyrant and the image of a kind and respected leader, â€Å"The box is only temporary† (36). Such ends the poem. One of its first roles is to create a couplet with the â€Å"free â€Å"of the previous line. However this conclusive line also serves as a way of declaring that perhaps choice is finally in the speaker’s hands. However the statement does not give the speaker the choice not to open up the box, which is after all what the bees and later on the speaker want. As such Plath ends the poem ambiguously by not being clear as to whether or not there has been a definite success. Throughout this poem, Plath has dealt with the struggle for control with the bees. At first she panics but then manages to calm down and make a rational decision about what should be done. Panics and confusion are often caused by the bee’s buzzing which may allow us to suggest that she uses bees as a metaphor for scary thoughts, a kind of paranoia. Indeed the buzzing sound that reverbs would be an easy way to drive someone mad and thus paranoia is a good candidate for this metaphor. In fact, the bees having been ordered by the speaker, presumably Plath, we can say that Plath is dealing with a personal dilemma. This would be reminiscent of Plath’s life by 1960, wherein she had multiple cases of trauma and was in a state of mental decline. It can then be concluded that Arrival of the Bee Box is indeed confessional poetry.

The Effects of the Berlin Confernece on Africa Essay

Africa is a large country and Europe noticed this, they wanted to capitalize on everything it had to offer. Africa has a large quantity of natural resources including oil, diamonds, gold, iron, cobalt, uranium, copper, bauxite, silver, petroleum and cocoa beans, but also woods and tropical fruits. Much of its natural resources are undiscovered or barely harnessed. The Berlin Conference was Africas undoing in more ways than one. The colonial powers superimposed their domains on the African continent. By the time independence returned to Africa in 1950, the realm had acquired a legacy of political fragmentation that could neither be eliminated nor made to operate satisfactorily (Muller, 301). In 1876 the king of Belgium, Leopold II†¦show more content†¦French claims Pierre de Brazza was ok with French taking control of todays Republic of the Congo. This convinced Italy to become part of a Triple Alliance, disturbing Bismarcks carefully laid plans with Italy. The extent of Portuguese control on the coasts, penetration by France across Central Africa toward Ethiopia, the Nile, and the Suez Canal, Britain saw its vital trade route through Egypt and its Indian Empire threatened. The collapsed Egyptian Economics and a large riot which had hundreds of Europeans and British subjects murdered, the United Kingdom intervened in nominally Egypt, which would later become British territory. Due to the disappointment of Bismarcks power in European politics caused by Leopolds gamble and later European race for colonies, Germany felt obligated to act and started beginning trips of its own which scared both British and French explorers. Hoping to soothe this growing conflict, King Leopold II was able to convince France and Germany that common trade in Africa was in the best interests of all three countries. Under support from the British and Portugal, , German Chancellor, called on representatives of Austria, Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Norway the Ottoman Empire, and the United States to take part in the Berlin Conference to work out a plan. However, the United States did not actually join in the conference because it was not able to