Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' / Psychological Effect of the Witches
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An 8 page paper analyzing the role of the witches in Shakespeare's drama. The paper argues that the witches in no way forced Macbeth to take the path he chose, but rather that they merely served as a psychological justification for him to do what had been in his secret heart all along. Bibliography lists 9 sources.
Filename: Macwitch.wps

The Influence of Classical Philosophy on Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'
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A five page paper showing how the philosophy of Aristotle, Plato, and St. Augustine influenced Shakespeare in his characterization of Hamlet. The paper argues that over the course of the play, Hamlet moves from the position of a Platonist to an Augustinian to an Aristotelian. Bibliography lists four sources.
Filename: KBhamlt5.wps.

Is Hamlet A Definitive Tragedy?
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A 4 page paper on Shakespeare's very complex play. Looking specifically at the play's resolution and the characterization of Hamlet, the paper analyzes this play in terms of the rules of classical tragedy put forth in Aristotle's Poetics. It argues that while Hamlet is unquestionably a tragedy from our point of view, it does not in several important respects conform to Aristotle's formula. Bibliography lists 2 additional sources.
Filename: Ham11.wps

“Natural Slaves” in Shakespeare’s “Tempest” and Aristotle’s “Politics”
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A five page paper looking at these two works in terms of their treatment of the concept of the “natural slave.” The paper concludes that if by “natural slave,” Aristotle meant that one’s fitness to rule or serve is based on one’s aristocratic or menial birth, Shakespeare would have disagreed with that. But he would have agreed that certain people just don’t make good leaders and would be better off in a supporting role. No additional sources.
Filename: KBtemp3.wps

Tom Stoppard's 'Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead'
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A 6 page essay exploring how the play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead reflects specific aspects of life: 1. humans as social animals and 2. how the individual finds his or her place in society. The confusions and feelings of what am I doing here and why am I doing it are emphasized.
Filename: Rosencra.wps

Feminism in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Lysistrata”
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An eight page paper looking at the issue of feminism in these two plays by William Shakespeare and Aristophanes, respectively. The paper argues that both writers mocked women -- in “Lysistrata” because they were too unfeminine, and in “Midsummer Night’s Dream” because they were too irrational -- and shows how both plays call for a return to an ordered society at the end. No additional sources.
Filename: KBlysis.wps

Social Issues in “Othello” and “The Bluest Eye”
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A five page paper looking at these two works by William Shakespeare and Toni Morrison respectively, dealing with their treatment of social issues such as racism, both in the Elizabethan era and today. The paper shows that what the two protagonists have in common is the degree to which they have internalized their society’s racist impressions of them, and allowed it to corrode their own self-image.
Filename: KBothel3.wps