Critical Criticism Of Julius Caesar - 942 Words

Written by Shakespeare in 1599, Julius Caesar has become one of most eye-opening pieces on power and the use and misuse of it. In this play, Julius Caesar is depicted as egotistical and easily swayed by other’s arguments that appeal to his pride or love of self-image, as seen in Act II, Scene II, when Calpurnia, Caesar’s wife, attempted to persuade Caesar to stay home after having dreams and seeing omens insinuating his impending death. Calphurnia’s argument temporarily convinced Caesar to grudgingly agree with her and stay at home, but soon after Caesar reluctantly complied, Decius, one of the conspirators in Caesar’s oncoming assassination, with pointed appeals, immediately convinced Caesar to overlook Calpurnia’s argument and to focus†¦show more content†¦Although Calpurnia did not fully take into account Caesar’s pride, she still created a potent argument and ended with an appeal to Caesar’s self-image. Asking Caesar to bl ame his absence on her, Calpurnia begged, â€Å"call it my fear that keeps you in the house and not your own†, drawing away attention from what others in the Capitol might think of Caesar’s leave, which happened to be one of the first problems Decius mentioned when dissecting the â€Å"flaws† in Calpurnia’s argument. Overall, Calpurnia’s argument did not fail in convincing Caesar to stay at home; in fact, it succeeded at first. Although Caesar only begrudgingly agreed, he still, at his wife’s urging, decided to not go to the Capitol, that is, until Decius, with hidden motives, persuaded him otherwise. Why was Calpurnia’s argument less compelling than Decius’? Several factors contributed to the ineffectiveness of Calpurnia’s argument following Decius’, such as the order that the two presented in and also gender. Calpurnia, not expecting a rebuttal from anyone else, did not solidify her argument, which Decius fully took advantage of after entering unannounced. Simply the fact that Decius presented his argument last and that his argument already appealed to what Caesar desired in the first place, which was to not stay at home, persuaded Caesar that Calpurnia’s arguments were faulty. Also, Calpurnia was not a man.Show MoreRelatedVictory or Demise, Same Faces in a New Light1520 Words   |  7 Pagescrushed by the hands of an oppressive government and trust is scarce. A totalitarian government is threatened and helped by individuals, however, one thing is common, the obligation to love of the authority, Big Brother. In William Shakespeares Julius Caesar, friendship and patriotism are crossed, as well as vengeance and power where Rome is betrayed and lacerated by the Conspiracy. The outcome of Caesars assassination is caused by his close friends and companions becoming twisted into traitors vanquishingRead MoreEssay on Antony and Cleopatra1655 Words   |  7 Pagesmanners corrupt (Giddens 13). Note the same sentiment for the relationship between war, leadership, and honor found in this message delivered to Caesar. Thy biddings have been done, and every hour, Most noble Caesar, shalt thou have report How tis abroad. Pompey is strong at sea, And it appears he is beloved of those That only have feared Caesar. To the ports The discontents repair, and mens reports Give him much wronged. (1.4.34-40) This passage speaks of important activity all ofRead MoreImpossibility of Certainty in Hamlet1296 Words   |  6 PagesPlayers recite lines referring to the â€Å"ominous horse† of Troy (II.ii.479). Polonius makes a reference to Brutus’ betrayal of Julius Caesar (III.ii.109-110). All three of these references contribute to the duality and deception evident in the play. A Satyr is only half a man, the Trojan horse is heralded as one of the most treacherous and deceitful means of conquest, and Julius Caesar is murdered by people he thought were loyal to him. David Bevington notes in his commentary on Hamlet that the name ClaudiusRead More Analysis of Shakespeares Antony and Cleopatra Essay5083 Words   |  21 Pagesschool, but his formal education proceeded no further. In 1582 he married an older woman, Anne Hathaway, and had three children with her. Around 1590 he left his family behind and traveled to London to work as an actor and playwright. Public and critical acclaim quickly followed, and Shakespeare eventually became the most popular playwright in England and part-owner of the Globe Theater. His career bridged the reigns of Elizabeth I (ruled 1558–1603) and James I (ruled 1603–1625), and he was a favoriteRead MorePhilosophy1687 Words   |  7 Pagesof Juluis Ceasar, I may be said, after a manner to perceive him by my sense, (The Empiricists, pg 248†). But he claims that he can indirectly perceive it, just as when he sees a picture of Julius Caesar, he directly perceives lines and colors but not Caesar direct ly. If a man has never seen a picture of Caesar he will perceive the same picture but will not have a knowledge of who it is but will have knowledge that is a man in a picture because he perceives it through sight which is perceived throughRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet1264 Words   |  6 Pagesliterature, Shakespeare occupies a well-known position in the world of talented authors. His canon contains thirty-seven plays, written in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. Additionally, throughout the years, they continue to sustain critical attention, with the majority of his works circling tragedies, one being Romeo and Juliet. William Shakespeare s Romeo and Juliet speaks to the timeless appeal of star-crossed lovers. Their love in the beginning borders upon a reality of maturityRead MoreEssay on A Feminist Perspective of William Shakespeare1506 Words   |  7 Pagesboth masculine and feminine qualities and behaviors, about the nature and power of a h egemonic patriarchy, and about the roles women and men should play in acting out the stories of their lives. Since feminist criticism today focuses on many of these same issues, we can bring such critical inquiry into the classroom by asking straightforward questions of and about Shakespeares stories.    Defining what a female was supposed to be and do was an act of Renaissance culture, as it has been forRead More A Comparison of Romantic Love in A Midsummer Nights Dream, The Tempest, and Twelfth Night1505 Words   |  7 Pagesoften writes about fantasy worlds and events, but they are all based on basic human beings and their daily lives. His love for social sciences is clear when one considers the many plays he wrote based on people in the Greek and Roman Empires(Julius Caesar); also his many other plays written based on actual people (King Lear). In The Tempest, there are very few references to love, but the one that IS present is very hopeful and positive. Ferdinand and Mirandas love for one another is soRead MoreInferno Research Paper1715 Words   |  7 PagesInferno Research Paper Anthony K. Cassell stated in his critical essay titled â€Å"Farinata† that â€Å"the methods of punishment in Dante’s Hell are exquisitely diverse.† The cantos in Inferno are focused on Circles or subdivisions of Hell that describe specific punishments for the suffering souls based upon the sin they committed. The deeper into Hell, the worse the sins that were committed, therefore the agonies of the punishments are greater. In Inferno, Dante brings the issue of sin into light by givingRead MoreBetrayal and Loyalty in Shakespeares plays3231 Words   |  13 PagesAntony multiple times throughout the play. Cleopatra proves to be a very unstable character who tends to switch her moods abruptly with her own well being in mind. During the war between Octavius Caesar and Marc Antony, Cleopatra conveniently withdraws her troops from battle, causing a victory for Octavius Caesar. Marc Antony, infuriated by such an act, cries, This foul Egyptian hath betrayed me: / My f leet hath yielded to the foe; and yonder / They cast their caps up and carouse together / Like friends

Dante Alighieri Essay - 834 Words

Dante Alighieri was one of the most renowned writers in world literature. His great masterpieces have influenced the world immensely. He was not only a great writer and poet but he also was a man that overcame great odds to write awe inspiring works of art. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Dante Alighieri was born in Florence, Italy either in late May or early June, 1265. His childhood was somewhat troubling because of the early death of his mother and then his father when he was 18. He managed to get through these bad occurrences and fell in love with a Florentine noblewoman named Beatrice Portinari in 1274 but she also died not long afterwards. He once said that the most significant occurrence of his childhood was his meeting with his†¦show more content†¦That position was his for only two months. In 1301, Dante was fined and banned from Florence for two years by the newly returning leaders of the Blacks; a faction within the Guelph. Failing to pay the fines, it was decided that h e would be put to death if he ever returned. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;During his exile, Dante Alighieri spent time in Verona and other northern Italian cities as well as Paris. His political views changed dramatically to those of the Ghibellines during this time period of 1307 to 1309. He supported the idea of a united Europe under a single emperor. Between 1304 and 1305, he wrote amp;#8220;De Vulgari Eloquentia; which promoted the use of the Italian language rather than Latin in literary works. amp;#8220;Convivio; was written between 1304 and 1307 as a comprehensive, 15 book summary of all the knowledge of the time. Only the first four books were ever completed. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In 1310, Henry VII, king of Germany and Holy Roman emperor arrived in Italy to bring the country under his rule. Dante Alighieri supported his cause and wrote to many Italian political leaders and princes urging them to support king Henry also. In these letters, he presented king Henryamp;#8217;s cause as a way of ending the political turmoil i n many Italian cities. King Henryamp;#8217;s death in 1313 quickly broughtShow MoreRelatedThe Inferno Of Dante Alighieri1647 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"The Inferno of Dante Alighieri† translated by Ciaran Carson, originally written by Dante himself is a classical piece of literature. It is the first part of Dante’s three part epic poem entitled, â€Å"The Divine Comedy†. â€Å"The Inferno of Dante Alighieri† transports the reader into a gradual ride, going from an familiar and earthly land, to descending the depths of Hell in the search of salvation. The imagery conjured up while reading this book is plentiful as Dante’s writing is impeccable. NaturallyRead MoreThe Inferno By Dante Alighieri1367 Words   |  6 PagesDante Alighieri must have been an extremely strict and lecture-loving parent. In the first part of his collection, The Inferno, Alighieri filled his story with subliminal messages within the text to teach a greater lesson to the reade r. Dante Alighieri purposefully chooses specific moments to express humankind’s weakness and how human reason can positively influence people to react in the correct manner in the eyes of God. Through the interaction of two of his main characters, Dante, who representsRead MoreThe Inferno By Dante Alighieri1617 Words   |  7 PagesInferno by Dante Alighieri is beautifully woven to reflect the realities or unrealities of the time. The various circles of hell are used by the Florentine writer Dante, to tell the tale in a structured and elaborate manner, with the use of nine circles of the Inferno (Havely, 374). Interesting, however, is the manner in which Dante describes the characters, as they are seen to be facing tragedies in their life in hell. The author of this medieval text categorizes the different types of sins thatRead MoreThe Divine Comedy By Dante Alighieri873 Words   |  4 PagesDivine Comedy† is an epic poem written by Dante Alighieri. He wrote the epic sometime between 1308 and 1321, the year he died. It is considered one of the greatest works of world literature. He wrote â€Å"The Divine Comedy† while he was exiled from Florence, Italy (Bishops 182). â€Å"The Divine Comedy† recounts Dante’s idea of the afterlife. It is written in a first person perspective and follows Dante’s journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. At the time Dante wrote the Divine Comedy, Italy was goingRead MoreDante Alighieri And William Shakespeare1245 Words   |  5 Pages and the readers go without even noticing the hints. Almost every author does this to some extent, but two most well-known authors that do this quite frequently in their works are Dante Alighieri and William Shakespeare. More commonly these authors both referred wrote Biblical references in many of their pieces. Dante referred back to the Bible when writing his Inferno. He not only takes the reader on a journey into the different levels of Hell but he also uses Biblical references to help the readerRead MoreThe Classic Inferno By Dante Alighieri1228 Words   |  5 Pages  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The classic Inferno by Dante Alighieri is beautifully woven to reflect the realities or unrealities of the time. The various circles of hell are used by the writer to tell the tale in a free-flowing manner (Havely, 98). Interesting, however, is the manner in which he describes the characters such that they are seen to be facing tragedies in their life in hell. The writer categorizes the different types of sins that people can commit and subjects the characters to various punishments, eachRead MoreAnalysis Of Inferno By Dante Alighieri1583 Words   |  7 PagesInferno, written by Dante Alighieri illustrates the idea of justice through the belief that with each action arise a consequence. What you sin above ground, you deal with under. Through this he gives examples of the sins done and the punishment that is inflicted from doing such thing as a disgrace to God. All through Dantes imagination and his views as to how it should be done, there is a punishment for each area of sin committed which is why a person who bribes will be in the further in the levelRead MoreThe Divine Comedy Dante By Dante Alighieri1101 Words   |  5 Pagestry our best or we give up and follow other paths. Dante Alighieri, born in Florence, Italy in 1265, was born into a very power hungry age. Morality was not very high on someone’s to-do list. In the Divine Comedy Dante makes a point of writing about those that have done him wrong and placing them where the â€Å"belong†. But Dante does not only expose the bad people in his life but the bad people all over the world and he also includes himself. Dante writes his book to scare others into changing to beRead MoreEssay on Dante Alighieri: Hell1666 Words   |  7 Pages Dante Alighieri: A Poetic Descent into Metaphorical Hell nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;quot;Abandon all hope, ye who enter herequot; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Only through a journey into hell can we hope to attain paradise... nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;His Early Life: nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Dante Alighieri was born under the sign of Gemini, he was thought to be born on May 29, but this is not certain. He was born in Florence, the son of Alighiero II, his family was one ofRead MoreDante Alighieri s The Inferno Essay1311 Words   |  6 PagesDante Alighieri’s, The Inferno, is autobiographical account of his journey through hell. This story is the first part of a larger account known as The Divine Comedy. Dante wrote this passage during the Late Middle Ages, a time in Europe where the Christian faith was a central influence in life. His story describes what life after death was like for those who had sinned here on Earth. Dante Alighieri used The Inferno to teach both people then and now about the horrors of afterlife for those who went

Original Writing †Cinderella Free Essays

â€Å"And you can tidy that room before you go out anywhere, young lady!† Great, just what I needed. Another chore, which would take me all night. Well, maybe it’s better than going out with them lot anyway. We will write a custom essay sample on Original Writing – Cinderella or any similar topic only for you Order Now Carly and Michelle had been my best friends for as long as I could remember, but recently the three of us had started hanging around with a girl called Lauren and her friends. To begin with, I wasn’t keen on Lauren, but put up with her comments for Carly and Michelle’s sake. Then Carly began to change. She was always trying to impress Lauren, and became quite nasty, turning on me. And everyone else seemed to follow Lauren too. I began to feel like none of them liked me, and quite out of place. Just because I didn’t worship the ground Lauren walked on. But I was too scared to stand up to her. It would’ve meant losing all of my â€Å"friends†. I got on with my room feeling down. Later on, we were all down at the youth club. Lauren was telling us all about her latest crush, and as usual, everyone was glued to her story. Well, everyone except from me. I looked around the room and let out a little gasp. Standing in the corner was the nicest guy I had ever seen. He was laughing with his friends, and had a gorgeous smile. He had short, perfect brown hair, and twinkling brown eyes. He looked over and smiled†¦and began walking over. All the girls went quiet, and secretly looked at Lauren. She flicked her hair, and flashed a dazzling smile. His smile moved from me to her. I looked in envy as he walked over to her, and began chatting. â€Å"She knows everyone,† I thought, and turned to them to listen to what he was saying. â€Å"†¦So it will be at my house on Saturday. And I hope to see all of you there.† Was it my imagination or did he look at me while saying that? He walked off, and I was about to ask the girls who he was when Lauren sighed†¦.†oh, he’s sooo gorgeous!!† So this is the guy she likes! No wonder, he is really good looking. I can’t believe I ever thought I had a chance!! â€Å"Cindy, what have you done to your hair today? It looks awful! And if you come with us to Josh’s party, you’ll have to make more of an effort with your clothes!!† Lauren’s frosty, mocking tone cut right through me, â€Å"And another thing, Josh is mine.† It was Wednesday when I got the phone call. â€Å"Hello? Is that Cindy Lewis?† â€Å"Yeah. Who is this please?† â€Å"It’s magic 828. We’re ringing to let you know that you’ve won our ‘guess the year’ competition, and have won à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½40 in Topshop vouchers, and a free taxi service for the next time you go out!!† It was great, and it saved me a lot of money for a new outfit for Josh’s party. I had spent a long time deciding whether I should actually go or not, after what Lauren had said. But in the end decided to go anyway. I had thought about Josh a lot, and wanted to see him again. My mum, on the other hand, was a different case. â€Å"What do you want to go to a party for when you can stay in and play games with your family?† â€Å"You can’t go to someone’s party you don’t even know!† â€Å"I might have to ring up his parents to check if they’re allowing alcohol.† She went on and on like that for ages, until finally, I talked her round. â€Å"Okay, you can go. Under one condition†¦ You get a taxi back and are in this house before 11:30. Otherwise you’ll never go out again!† I hadn’t been to any proper parties before, Lauren’s gang always conveniently ‘forgot to mention it to me’ or ‘ thought I already knew about it’. I was nervous, and had no idea what to expect. With my vouchers, I had bought a pair of jeans, which I’d have never been able to afford myself. They were the perfect fit, and sparkled under the light. I also bought a new hair bobble, which had a glittery heart on it. I knew they looked good, but was scared what Lauren would think of them. It was amazing what effect she could have over my life. When the taxi pulled up In front of the address Michelle had given me, a sudden thought that she’d given me the wrong address on purpose nearly made me ask to be taken home. But then I heard the music booming from the house, and saw some people scattered near the doorway. ‘Keep calm,’ I told myself. Once I was inside, I saw how packed it was. Someone was trying to open the back door. I saw it was Josh. I began walking over when Lauren appeared in front of me. â€Å"Cindy! Didn’t think you would make it. Good party isn’t it? We have Josh to thank for that! I came round early to help him get ready. He asked me to, and I just couldn’t resist! He’s such a sweetie! Oh, have you decorated an old pair of jeans† She reached over and grabbed Josh’s hand. She was trying to make me feel small, and it worked. I felt so stupid for thinking that someone might choose me over Lauren. If I had gone over to Josh, what would I have said? Would it looked like I fancied him? I made my way through the moving crowd, and sat outside on the step, alone. â€Å"Hello? How long have you been out here? You must be freezing!† It was him. Why was he talking to me? I looked up at his concerned face. â€Å"I†¦I. Needed some fresh air.† â€Å"What, for over an hour Is it Lauren? Has she upset you?† How did he know I still didn’t believe he was actually talking to me. I found myself making up some excuse about something bad happening at home. â€Å"Well I hope it’s not bad enough so you can’t dance with me,† he smiled shyly. I couldn’t believe this was happening. Josh was asking ME to dance! By now people had begun to drift outside, and the music was loud enough out here. Before I gave him an answer, he swept me into his arms, and began to move to the beat. Then a slow song began. â€Å"I hope you don’t min†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He began. I rested my arms on his shoulders and he wrapped his around my waist. We swayed to the music together. The song seemed to last for ages, but when it ended, neither of us let go. He moved his face closer to mine†¦ â€Å"Oh no!!† I looked at my watch. It was 11:25. My taxi was supposed to turn up 5 minutes ago, and I was supposed to be home in 5 minutes. I moved away from Josh, and ran towards the front of the house. As I moved, I saw something fall to the floor, and my hair came loose. Great, my new hair bobble. Oh well, I would just have to leave it. I’d rather lose that than be grounded for the rest of my life!! The taxi was still there, so I jumped in without looking back, or saying goodbye to Josh. It was a week after the party, and we were in the youth club. Lauren had seen me with Josh, so was being even more awkward. I didn’t dare say anything to her; I was too scared. â€Å"Cindy, get some drinks for all of us please,† She ordered. I went to the vender, thinking about Josh. Why had he danced and tried to kiss me when he could have Lauren? She was far prettier than me, and had a lot more confidence than me. While I was getting the drinks, I heard shouting coming from our table. â€Å"Honestly, it will tie back. I just need to pull it a bit†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I turned round, and took in a deep breath. There was Josh, looking as lovely as ever, standing over Lauren. She was trying to tie something in her hair. Something that looked a lot like my bobble. Suddenly, Josh turned around and spotted me. His face lit up with a smile, and he grabbed the bobble off Lauren. â€Å"Cindy! I’ve been looking for you all over. When you left so suddenly†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I know, I’m sorry. But I had to be home by 11:30.† â€Å"I knew there must be a reason. We were getting along so well†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he winked. I went red, and looked over at Lauren. She was staring daggers at me. He reached over and brushed my hair back into a pony, and tied it with the bobble. â€Å"And I wanted to ask you something†¦ will you go out with me?† My stomach did a somersault, and I felt like I was floating. I knew how much Lauren liked him, but then I thought of all the awful things she’d said and done to me, and how she’d made my life hell, hoping that everything I did would be all right by her. I thought back to the party, and at the surprise that someone actually found ME attractive. I had managed to have a good time on my own, without being constantly being put down or made fun of. I’d met someone who appreciated me for being myself, not depending on how popular I was. I realised Josh was waiting for my answer. I looked him straight in the eyes and gave him a big smile. â€Å"Yes!† I said. How to cite Original Writing – Cinderella, Papers