...the protagonist in Macbeth who strives to become king after hearing of the witches prophecy. Having free will, Macbeth’s life is not predetermined, as he has active control over his actions, choices, and his fate. Macbeth often questions in his own free will due to many of the witches prophecies, which always seem to be true. Macbeth, taking the prophecies as fate, is influenced into killing many of the people close to him and eventually leads to his death. The world seemly lacking free will, the witches appear to see fate. The first lines of the play they state”When shall we three meet again?/ In thunder,...
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...Conor Casey 9-10-13 Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet Paper Fate in Romeo and Juliet In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, fate is a key theme that is present throughout the play. The “star-crossed” lovers Romeo and Juliet, cannot stop fate from taking its course, and are unaware of the implications that it will have on them. In Romeo and Juliet, the young lovers find their untimely ends through the hands of fate. At the onset of the play the chorus enters and begins the play with a prologue. Introducing the reader to what is going on, the chorus talks of Romeo and Juliet saying, “A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life; / Whose misadventured piteous overthrows / Doth with their death bury their parent’s strife” (Prologue.7-8). Starting the play with this type of foreshadowing shows that this relationship is doomed by fate from the start. Fate by definition is the determining cause by which things are believed to come to be (Merriam-Webster). Fate in this play favors the Romeo and Juliet’s demise, opposed to their potential future. Romeo alludes to a feeling he has on the way to the Capulet ball saying, “I fear, too early: for my mind misgives Some consequences yet hanging in the stars Shall bitterly begin his fearful date With this night’s revels and expire the term Of a despised life closed in my breast By some vile forfeit of untimely death. (1.4.106-111) Another reference to the stars is made, as if some uncontrollable and higher entity is controlling...
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...Count Dracula and his vampire girls. Dracula’s vampire girls are three sisters in the book seen in Dracula’s castle. Shakespeare’s Macbeth is about a Thane who gets greedy, and kills to get, and keep the throne. The play then shows and focuses on his guilt from those deeds. During the play, Macbeth becomes fascinated with three witch sisters seen in the beginning by him and Banquo. In Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the weird sisters are more enticing and sexually active than the weird sisters in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, who are more dark and similar to the three fates, though both symbolize temptations and show male fears. The three vampire sisters in Dracula symbolize sexual temptations and show the fear of female sexuality. Jonathan Harker talks about the three sisters, seeing them for the first time after waking up in the parlor. “There was something about them that made me uneasy, some longing and at the same time some deadly fear. I felt in my heart a wicked burning desire that they would kiss me with those red lips” (Stoker 40). Jonathan is attracted to these sisters and is tempted to kiss them, even though it may hurt Mina. He understands that it could hurt her, but the girls, and their kiss, are too appealing to him. Beth Shane, a professor at University of Iowa, does a review on Dracula and talks about the sisters: “… ‘the kiss’ – harnesses the sort of illicit sexual energies… [Van Helsing] ultimately reacts violently to overt expressions of female sexuality he encounters… the...
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...Romeo and Juliet Fate or Free-Will Fate is defined as “a powerful force that is believed to control what happens in the future.” In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet we are able to see how the theme of fate is cleverly infiltrated through events and dialogue throughout the play. Fate is mainly evident through the actions of Lord Capulet’s Servingman, Friar John, the timing of Romeo and Juliet’s death, and how the Montague’s and Capulet’s feud and been put to rest due to the tragedy in their lives. The first fated event was introduced to us in Act I Scene II, when Lord Capulet after finishing his conversation with Paris, regarding his request to marry Juliet, handed over a list of names to the Servingman and orders him to: [Rom....
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...Fate plays a crucial role in both Sophocles's Oedipu Rex and William Shakespeare’s Othello. Oedipus the King and Othello the Moor both experience a catharsis, or emotional downfall, due to fate. Fate is not only a prevalent theme in both works, but a basis of plot as well. Sophocles and Shakespeare both employ elements of fate being influential in their works. Fate in Oedipus Rex does not possess the same meaning as it does in Othello. In Sophocles’s Oedipus Rex, however, fate is depicted as the idea that one’s destiny in predetermined. In Othello, fate pertains to the limit that is placed on the control of one’s own destiny. Fate can be used to show how different authors portray the theme in their work and how each different vision of fate...
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...the most disarming fear experienced by mankind is of the absence of life. Death is the most frightening fate of mankind and the inevitable fate of all living things. The fact that death cannot be evaded, and that it is impossible for the living to have an accurate concept of death is the root cause of fear derived from it; all life will inevitably be consumed by the mysterious and destructive power of death. William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is punctuated by moments of murder and death caused by the hands of the power-delirious title character. John Donne’s Holy Sonnet X “Death, Be Not Proud” exhibits arguments that challenge the integrity of death’s power. The...
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...Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence, Hagar never seems to be able to grasp an acceptance of death. Hagar is constantly characterized as being a stubborn person, which results in her continually fighting her fate and persistently disregard the fact that she is going to die. Also, throughout many distinct settings in the novel, Hagar tends to deny death which is reflected through the different settings in the novel. Finally, due to the fact that Hagar has had so many missed opportunities throughout her life, she ends up being overwhelmed with the feeling of regret which is demonstrated through the narration of the novel. Hagar is a very complex and stubborn character, and as a result she is never able to accept her death. Hagar is portrayed as being a very obstinate individual who can never grasp the fact that she will eventually die. Throughout the novel, there are many occasions where we see Hagar trying to change the outcome of her own fate. We first see this when Hagar is brought to Silver Threads. Hagar being the stubborn woman that she is says “’you’ll not see me here,” I blurt. “Oh—I don’t mean to be rude. But you’ll not see me coming here to stay’” (Laurence 104). Hagar says this when she is consulting with Mrs. Steiner, and even though she enjoys speaking with her, Hagar’s fear of staying in the nursing home completely overturns the pleasure of the situation. Also, the thought of being left in a nursing home to die irritates her because she is not choosing the way she wants...
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...(Introduction to Beautiful Creatures) "Sixteen moons, sixteen years Sixteen of your deepest fears Sixteen times you dreamed my tears Falling, falling through the years…" "Sixteen moons, sixteen years Sound of thunder in your ears Sixteen miles before she nears Sixteen seeks what sixteen fears…" "Sixteen moons, sixteen years, Sixteen times you dreamed my fears, Sixteen will try to Bind the spheres, Sixteen screams but just one hears…" "Sixteen moons, sixteen years, The Claiming Moon, the hour nears, In these pages Darkness clears, Powers Bind what fire sears…" "Sixteenth Moon, Sixteenth Year, Now has come the day you fear, Claim or be Claimed, Shed blood, shed tear, Moon or Sun—destroy, revere." -Beautiful Creatures "Seventeen moons, seventeen years, Eyes where Dark or Light appears, Gold for yes and green for no, Seventeen the last to know ..." "Seventeen moons, seventeen turns, Eyes so dark and bright it burns, Time is high but one is higher, Draws the moon into the fire ..." "Seventeen moons, seventeen fears, Pain of death and shame of tears, Find the marker, walk the mile, Seventeen knows just exile ..." "Seventeen moons, seventeen spheres, The moon before her time appears, Hearts will go and stars will follow, One is broken, One is hollow ..." "Seventeen moons, seventeen years Know the loss, stay the fears Wait for him and he appears Seventeen moons, seventeen tears ..." -Beautiful...
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...is noble or a man of high status, has a tragic flaw, and discovers his fate by his own actions. Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe could be easily classified as a tragic hero because his character satisfies all the requirements set forth by Aristotle. Because Okonkwo was a powerful and respected man in Umuofia, possessed the flaw of the fear of failure and weakness, and his unwillingness to change after returning from exile resulted in his demise, his character is undoubtedly that of a tragic hero. In order to be classified as a tragic hero, Aristotle requires that the character must be noble or a man of high status. Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart was “well...
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...abandoned as a child, left to die, but with pity from a Sheppard that was suppose to get rid of the “baby” (Oedipus) and never did, let the child live and he tended growing up to be the king of Thebes and the killer of his father. Analyzing the text from “Oedipus Rex” allows the reader to understand the characteristics of Oedipus and how the developments of his childhood revealed the true person he was and how the message that Teiresias told him actually was true about his fate coming. In "Oedipus Rex," the plot begins in the heart of murder. A King (Liao’s’) has been murdered, and the new king Oedipus seeks retribution. The city of Thebes is suffering from a plague, which is symbolic of the blight about to befall Oedipus. As Oedipus sends for the clairvoyant, the reader expects a mystical moment of truth. Instead we are presented with a stubborn character, evasive in dispelling the secret of his vision. The prophet Teiresias, becomes the nucleus of the scene. Teiresias gives insight into the ill fate that awaits Oedipus. Foreshadowing is the main theme of this scene, which sets the tone for the rest of "Oedipus Rex." The king was too stubborn to believe the old blind man but soon came to find out that he was absolutely right. As...
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...The second Red Scare alludes to the fear of communism that pierced American culture, society, and politics, during the beginning of the Cold War. This episode of political repression lasted longer than the Red Scare that followed the Bolshevik Revolution. It was known as “McCarthyism” after Senator Joseph McCarthy, who made himself famous in 1950 by claiming that large numbers of Communists had wormed their way into the United States. The second Red Scare outlasted McCarthy (Red Scare). Both of these sources are part of this second Red Scare. The Rosenberg’s, Julius and Ethel, were arrested in 1950 (charged with espionage). Julius was a member of the American Communist Party and he was arrested in July, and Ethel was arrested a couple of...
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...be the perfect tragedy and the basis for his thoughts in Poetics. He defines tragedy as, “an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, the several kinds being found in separate parts of the play; in the form of action, not of narrative; with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish its catharsis of such emotions…Every tragedy, therefore, must have six parts, which parts determine its quality – namely, plot, characters, diction, thought, spectacle, melody”. The work Oedipus Rex fits very well into this structure using the specific characteristics of; late point of attack, exposition, several key incidents, climax, catharsis, protagonist, antagonist, hamartia, anagorismos, metabasis, and perpetia. Aristotle’s first principle of tragedy is that of the plot. He defines the plot as how the incidents are presented to the audience in the structure of the play. This is the most important of the parts and holds the meat and potatoes of a tragedy. According to Poetics the best plots should be complex, arouse fear and pity, and involve a high degree of suffering for the protagonist. These are all seen in Oedipus Rex as there are plot twists, we learn to care about Oedipus and the decisions he makes, and finally understand his pain when he eventually claws out his own eyes. The plot of Oedipus Rex utilizes a late point of attack and exposition as it begins after many of the several...
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...Sinner’s Fate Jonathan Edwards, a philosopher, preacher and puritan of the 18th century acknowledges that many sisters and brothers have walked away from God. In an attempt to bring those people back he establishes a fear into them, a fear of God, so those who left may come to find their church and God once more. Jonathan Edwards’ sermon aims to bring the people who have walked away from God and from the church, back. His homily is strong and effective, and is able to produce an argument that frightens those listening to his sermon, contributing, in part to the Great Awakening. Throughout his sermon Edwards utilizes rhetorical devices to transmit his message. He applies devices such as invectives, analogies, and imagery to make his speech effective toward the audience and successfully deliver his news of how God will eventually punish the sinner. Edwards uses literary devices such as invectives and analogies to convey his message of having people come back to the church, and mainly to God. Edwards harshly criticizes his audience when he describes how God "looks upon you as worthy of nothing else, but to be cast into the fire… you are ten thousand times more abdominal in his eyes than the most hateful venomous serpent is in ours." (Edwards). Edwards manages to get through to those who left, criticizing the society that has become corrupt in the...
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...Scare refers to the fear of communism that penetrated American politics, culture, and society, during the beginning of the Cold War. This episode of political repression lasted longer and was more pervasive than the Red Scare that followed the Bolshevik Revolution. Known as “McCarthyism” after Senator Joseph McCarthy, who made himself famous in 1950 by claiming that large numbers of Communists had wormed its way into the U.S. State Department, the second Red Scare predated and outlasted McCarthy, and its idea far exceeded the reach of a single individualist politician. Nonetheless, “McCarthyism” became the label for the strategy of undermining political opponents by making unconfirmed attacks on their loyalty to the United States....
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...His new emotions were sadness, despair, loneliness, and fear. Fear and despair were the worst emotions for Gilgamesh because he thought Enkidu’s fate was going to be his own destiny. Gilgamesh came to a tavern by the sea and spoke to the tavern-keeper Siduri about his friend’s fate. Siduri told him to follow the sun god to cross the sea and if he survives the crossing he would reach the Waters of Death. There he met the ferryman Urshanabi who task him to go back into the forest and cut 300 poles and get other items to craft a boat. The two traveled on the magillu-boat and traveled the waters and met with the Sun God Utanapishtim. Utanapishtim asked him why he sorrow for morality since it is the destiny of all humanity to experience death, but through Gilgamesh’s story Utanapishtim tells him his fate and how only he and his wife were given the gift of immortality (Gilgamesh 2.10). Utanapishtim gives Gilgamesh a test to not sleep for one week; however, Gilgamesh accepts the challenge but as soon as he sits down he falls a sleep. Gilgamesh was awoken by Utanapishtim who told him that he can never return here and Urshanabi will be taking him back to Uruk, but before...
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