Medieval Archetypes Utilized in Hamlet Essay Example for Free

Medieval Archetypes Utilized in Hamlet Essay Hamlet by William Shakespeare is a complex play because of its multiple dimensions. Upon dissection, the influence of other works can be observed in it. One of the most prominent of these works is the York Fall of Man. This particular play is a very poor remake of the book of Genesis in the bible. However, William Shakespeare utilizes the medieval traditions exemplified in the Fall of Man to create the characters in Hamlet. For example, Hamlets mother, Queen Gertrude, shows an uncanny parallel to Eve from the Fall of Man. Gertrudes behavior and characteristics fall under the archetype presented in the rendition of Genesis. Eve can be described as: gullible, naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ve, accidentally rebellious, trusting, curious, manipulated, and egocentric. These same traits can be used to identify Gertrudes personality as well. In part three of the Fall of Man, Satan, in the form of the worme, is trying to convince Eve to rebel against God by eating the forbidden fruit. The worme claims that it will make her omnipotent. When Eve questions Satan, he replies, Why trowes thou nog[h]t me?/ I wolde by no- kynnes ways/ Telle nog[h]t but trouthe to the[e] (pg 270, line 75). In perhaps one of her most naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ve and gullible moments, Eve responds, Than wille I to thy teching traste,/ and fange this frute unto oure foode (78). Likewise, in Hamlet there is a moment that closely mirrors this. When King Claudius and Polonius decide to spy on the interaction between Hamlet and Ophelia, Claudius tells Gertrude to leave even though it is her son. She only answers, I shall obey you (III,I, 42). These two quotes show the extent to which both Eve and Gertrude have been manipulated by their curiosity and weakness. Eve only wanted to know if the fruit contained a certain power and Gertrude was interested in her sons apparent madness yet both women put aside independent thinking and oblige the villain. Later in the Fall of Man, Eve brings the forbidden fruit to Adam saying A worme has done me for to witte/ We shalle be as goddis, thou and I,/ If that we ete/ Here of this tree (91). Then in Hamlet, Gertrude asks her son, Have you forgot me? ( III, IV, 16). She is essentially asking if Hamlet has forgotten whom he is speaking to. In the Fall of Man, Eve portrays egocentric qualities. When she discovers the power of the fruit, she suddenly desires to share it with Adam so that they might be god- like together. She wants to be all knowing and powerful, so when she sees the chance she takes it. Gertrude is self-centered as well. She doesnt want to lose her standing as queen when her husband dies so she marries his brother not even two months following his passing. When Hamlet confronts her on her actions she retorts with anger that he would dare speak to her in that manner. Both Gertrude and Eve have a mental self image of themselves that is better than what others perceive them as and both women strive to maintain/ improve that image. Gertrudes character directly parallels that of Eve in respect to characteristics and traits. They are both archetypal characters but the resemblances are eerie. The women both end in similar manners as well. Eve eats the forbidden fruit and guarantees her banishment from the Garden of Eden. Gertrude drinks the poison and ensures her own death. The characters have too many similarities to be dismissed as coincidence. Ergo it can be stated with a level of confidence that William Shakespeare utilizes the medieval traditions outlined in the Fall of Man to write Hamlet. Works Cited Medieval Drama. Ed. David Bevington. Boston; Houghton Mifflin Company, 1975 Hamlet. William Shakespeare. Ed. Louis Wright. Virginia Lamar. New York; Simon Schuster Inc, 1958

The Scarlet Letter - Roger Chi :: essays research papers

Imagine a man having insecurities of his own, with a somewhat deformed and unpretentious appearance, finding that his spouse had betrayed him. For Roger Chillingworth, it was a completely heart-breaking devastation. In The Scarlet Letter, Chillingworth is the husband of Hester Prynne. When they married, he knew that she didn't love him, but still proceeded to commit the rest of his life to her. Consequently, a story of forbidden passion, hatred, and jealousy unfolds. Starting off as a scholar, Roger Chillingworth finds himself in a doctor's position later in the book. His back is deformed, and one shoulder is higher than the other, giving him a hunchbacked appearance. Chillingworth is not physically attractive and very slender. His eyes have a 'strong, penetrating power,'; (Chpt. 10, p. 157) and he is a loner. 'Old Roger Chillingworth, throughout life, had been calm in temperament, kindly, though not of warm affections, but ever, and in all his relations with the world, a pure and upright man.'; (p. 157, Chpt. 10) He enjoys studying and the pursuit of knowledge. When Chillingworth finds out that Hester cheated on him, he cannot be blamed for being dismayed and livid. He feels betrayed, and calls Hester's sin unpardonable. His rage quickly becomes resentment, and he develops a strong desire to find out with whom Hester had an affair with. Chillingworth seeks nothing but revenge. When Arthur Dimmesdale defends Hester and her actions, Chillingworth begins his suspicion. Chillingworth quickly becomes determined to withdraw the truth from Dimmesdale, who in fact was the man for whom Hester had betrayed him. The spite Chillingworth feels towards Dimmesdale grows stronger as his suspicion about Hester and Dimmesdale seems more and more likely. Chillingworth plans his vengeance during all of his waking hours. He becomes close to Dimmesdale, hoping maybe he would get a confession, but it didn't happen. The two soon lived together, while Chillingworth still prodded. From then on, Dimmesdale's life became miserable. 'Roger Chillingworth's aspect had undergone a remarkable change while he had dwelt in town, and especially since his abode with Mr. Dimmesdale. At first his expression had been calm, meditative, and scholar-like. "Now, there was something ugly and evil in his face, which they [people of the town] had not previously noticed, and which grew still the more obvious to sight the oftener they looked upon him.'; (Chpt. 9, p. 155) While pretending to be Dimmesdale's trusted confidant and physician, Chillingworth is actually slaying him by means of medicine and mental torture.

Religious Views on War Essay

1. To complete this Graded Assignment, retrieve the Religious Views on War DBQ. Use this document with its essay instructions and the DBQ Checklist to complete this DBQ essay. Please consult the rubric throughout the process. Using the documents, compare the views of major world religions on war. What additional kind of document(s) would you need to compare the views of major world religions on war? Essay: Three major world religons have their roots in India: Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism. Buddhism and Sikhism both grew from Hinduism. All three share the idea of non-violence (ahimsa). The term ‘non-violence’ was actually coined in English (about 1920) by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948) as a direct translation of ‘ahimsa’, ‘avoiding harm to others’. The idea of non-violence was very important to Mahatma Gandhi’s thinking and actions as a Hindu leader during India’s approach to independence in 1947. He wrote: ‘I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent Hinduism is perhaps the oldest world religion; in some of its writings ahimsa has been considered the highest duty from the beginning of time. Jainism also grew out of Hinduism; Jainists believe that people should strive to become detached from the distractions of worldly existence; and that the practice of ahimsa is an essential step on the way to personal salvation Buddhism developed from the teaching of Siddhartha Gautama, called the Buddha (c.563 – 483 BC), who believed that human suffering could be overcome by following a particular way of life. The first precept of Buddhism is ‘non-harming’ (ahimsa): Buddhists reject violence. Buddhism is clearly pacifist in its teaching, and many Buddhists say quite bluntly that it is ‘better to be killed than to kill’. Some Buddhists have been very active in promoting peace, particularly during the Vietnam War (1961- 1975), when they  offered a ‘Third Way’ of reconciliation between the American and Communist armies. Some Buddhist monks burned themselves to death in self-sacrificing protest against the war. In the Guru’s house, religion and worldly enjoyment should be combined – the cooking pot to feed the poor and needy and the sword to hit oppressors.

African American History and Women Timeline 1900-1919

The following is a timeline of African American womens history from 1900-1919. 1900 †¢ (September) Nannie Helen Burroughts and others founded the Womens Convention of the National Baptist Convention 1901 †¢ Regina Anderson born (librarian, Harlem Reaissance figure) 1902 †¢ Local white protests of the appointment of Minnie Cos as postmistress of Indianola, Mississippi, led to President Theodore Roosevelt suspending postal services to the town. †¢ (February 27) Marian Anderson born (singer) †¢ (October 26) Elizabeth Cady Stanton died (antislavery and womens rights activist) 1903 †¢ Harriet Tubman signed over her home for the elderly to the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church †¢ Harriet Marshall founded the Washington (DC) Conservatory, admitting African American students †¢ Maggie Lena Walker founded St. Lukes Penny Savings Bank in Richmond, Virginia, becoming the first woman bank president †¢ Sarah Breedlove Walker (Madam C.J. Walker) begins her haircare business †¢ Ella Baker born (civil rights activist) †¢ Zora Neale Hurston born (writer, folklorist) 1904 †¢ Virginia Broughton published Womens Work, as Gleaned from the Women of the Bible †¢ Mary McLeod Bethune founded what is today Bethune-Cookman College 1905 †¢ Niagara Movement founded (out of which the NAACP grew) †¢ National League for the Protection of Colored Women founded in New York †¢ Ariel Williams Holloway born (musician, teacher, poet, figure in Harlem Renaissance) †¢ Constitution of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW, Wobblies) included a provision that no working man or woman shall be excluded from membership in unions because of creed or color †¢ first outdoor tuberculosis camp in the United States was opened in Indianapolis, Indiana, sponsored by the Womens Improvement Club 1906 †¢ after a riot in Brownsville, Texas, President Theodore Roosevelt delivered dishonorable discharges to three companies of African American soldiers; Mary Church Terrell was among those formally protesting this action †¢ second meeting of the Niagara Movement met at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, with about 100 men and women in attendance †¢ Josephine Baker born (entertainer) †¢ Susan B. Anthony died (reformer, abolitionist, womens rights advocate, lecturer) 1907 †¢ Negro Rural School Fund was established by Anna Jeanes, aimed at improving education for rural southern African Americans †¢ Gladys Bentley, Harlem Renaissance figure, became known for her risque and flamboyant piano playing and singing †¢ Meta Vaux Warrick Fuller received the first federal art commission awarded to an African American woman -- for figurines of African Americans to be used at the Jamestown Tercentenniel Exposition 1908 †¢ call issued which resulted in 1909 founding of NAACP; women signers included Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Jane Addams, Anna Garlin Spencer, and Harriot Stanton Blatch (daughter of Elizabeth Cady Stanton) †¢ in Los Angeles, the Womans Day Nursery Association was formed to provide care for African American children whose mothers worked outside the home †¢ Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority founded 1909 †¢ Nannie Helen Burroughs founded the National Training School for Women, Washington DC †¢ Gertrude Steins novel Three Lives characterizes a black female character, Rose, as having the simple, promiscuous immorality of Black people. †¢ (February 12) National Negro Conference 1910 †¢ second conference of the National Negro Conference forms the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), with  Mary White Ovington  as a key organizer holding a variety of offices 1910-1947 including as member of the Executive Board and board chair, 1917-1919; later women leaders included Ella Baker and  Myrlie Evers-Williams †¢ (September 29) Committee on Urban Conditions Among Negroes founded by Ruth Standish Baldwin and George Edmund Haynes 1911 †¢ Committee on Urban Conditions Among Negroes, Committee for the Improvement of Industrial Conditions Among Negroes in New York, and National League for the Protection of Colored Women merged, forming the National League on Urban Conditions Among Negroes (later just National Urban League) †¢ (January 4)  Charlotte Ray  died (first African American woman lawyer in the United States and the first woman admitted to the bar in the District of Columbia) †¢Ã‚  Edmonia Lewis  last reported in Rome; died that year or after (her death date and location are unknown) †¢ Mahalia Jackson born (gospel singer) †¢ (February 11)  Francis Ellen Watkins Harper  died (abolitionist, writer, poet) 1912 †¢ Virginia Lacy Jones born (librarian) †¢ Margaret Washington, newly elected president of the National Association of Colored Women, founded the periodical  National Notes 1913 †¢Ã‚  Harriet Tubman  died (Underground Railroad conductor, abolitionist, womens rights advocate, soldier, spy, lecturer) †¢ Fannie Jackson Coppin died (educator) †¢ (February 4)  Rosa Parks  born †¢ (April 11) federal government officially segregates by race all federal workplaces, including rest rooms and eating facilities †¢ (-1915) Ruth Standish Baldwin served as president of the National League on Urban Conditions Among Negroes 1914 †¢ Marcus and Amy Jacques Garvey founded the Negro Universal Improvement Association in Jamaica -- this moved later to New York, promoting a homeland in Africa and independence in America for African Americans †¢ (or 1920) Daisy Bates born (civil rights activist) 1915 †¢ National Negro Health movement began to offer services to black communities, serving and including as health workers many African American women †¢ Billie Holiday born as Eleanora Fagan (singer) 1916 1917 †¢ Ella Fitzgerald born (singer) †¢Ã‚  Gwendolyn Brooks  born (poet) †¢ (June 30)  Lena Horne  born (singer, actress) †¢ (July 1-3) race riots in East St. Louis killed 40 to 200; 6,000 had to leave their homes †¢ (October 6)  Fannie Lou Hamer  born (activist) 1918 †¢ Frances Elliott Davis enrolled with the American Red Cross, the first African American nurse to do so †¢ (March 29)  Pearl Bailey  born 1919 †¢ NAACP founded with a number of women signing the call;  Mary White Ovington  became the first chairperson †¢ Pearl Primus born (dancer) †¢ Sarah Breedlove Walker (Madam C.J. Walker) died suddenly (executive, inventor, philanthropist);  ALelia Walker  becomes president of the Walker company †¢ Edmonia Highgate died (fundraiser, after the Civil War, for the Freedmans Association and the American Missionary Society, for educating freed slaves)