Monday, May 25, 2020

Hamlet, By William Shakespeare - 1431 Words

In Shakespeare’s play â€Å"Hamlet,† we are introduced to the sorrow and tragic character of Ophelia. In spite of a comparatively marginal role throughout the play, Ophelia actually has quite a substantial impact on our understanding of the main character, Hamlet. With Ophelia’s highly controversial and often debated death, we are left to ponder about what truly constitutes action, attempting to make meaning of actions with relation to context. Specifically, through examining Gertrude’s description of Ophelia’s death, while also taking into consideration the character’s history and experiences, we can forge a connection between our understanding of Ophelia’s actions, and Hamlet’s dilemma with his own actions. To unravel the reality of†¦show more content†¦From this depiction of the incident and the introduction of a spiteful branch that broke, we are given the perception that Ophelia’s decision to climb the branc h was a miscalculated one purely for the intention of hanging her flowers, as opposed to it being the grounds of her suicide. This is supported with Gertrude description that after the branch broke, â€Å"down her weedy trophies and herself [Ophelia] Fell in the weeping brook† (4.7.174-75). From Gertrude’s choice of diction, considering her use of the word â€Å"fell,† instead of, perhaps, â€Å"jumped,† one is provided with an image of a young girl falling to her death, merely for lack of better judgment, and not a contrived suicide. Controversy is created as Gertrude recounts what happened next in how Ophelia â€Å"chanted snatches of old lauds,† rather than attempting to swim out of the stream; appearing â€Å"as one incapable of her own distress† (4.7.177-78). This could suggest that Ophelia is, in fact, committing suicide, as otherwise her reflex action after a fall would see her struggle to swim out. Yet, by factoring her character and state of mind, a more plausible explanation may be that she was blinded by her insanity, and unaware of her menacing circumstances in the stream. While no conclusive verdict can be made, Gertrude inclines us to conclude an accident as a higher probability to what took the life of this troubled woman. By close reading of Gertrude’s passage, emphasizing Ophelia’s

Thursday, May 14, 2020

The Iconic Egg-and-Dart Motif

Egg-and-dart is a repetitive design that today is most often found on molding (e.g., crown molding) or trim. The pattern is characterized by a repetition of oval shapes, like an egg split lengthwise, with various non-curved patterns, like darts, repeated between the egg pattern. In three-dimensional sculpting of wood or stone, the pattern is in bas-relief, but the pattern can also be found in two-dimensional painting and stencil. The curved and non-curved pattern has been pleasing to the eye for centuries. It is often found in ancient Greek and Roman architecture and, so, is considered a Classical design element. Definition of Egg-and-Dart Egg-and-dart molding is a decorative molding in classical cornices that resembles alternating egg-shaped ovals with downward-pointing darts. — John Milnes Baker, AIA Egg and Dart Today Because its origins are from ancient Greece and Rome, the egg-and-dart motif is most often found in Neoclassical architecture, both public and residential, on interiors and exteriors. The Classical design provides a regal and stately feel to a room or facade. Examples of Egg-and-Dart The above photos illustrate the common ornamentation use of egg-and-dart design. The top photo is a detail of an Ionic column of the Great Court at the British Museum in London, England. This columns capital shows the volutes or scrolls typical of Ionic columns. Although the scrolls are a defining characteristic of the Ionic Classical Order, the egg-and-dart between them are added details—architectural ornamentation more ornate than found on many earlier Greek structures. The bottom photo is a piece of cornice from the Roman Forum in Italy. The egg-and-dart design, which would run horizontally along the top of the ancient structure, is underscored by another design called bead and reel. Look carefully at the Ionic column in the picture above, and youll notice the same bead-and-reel design beneath that egg-and-dart. In the egg-and-dart design on the ancient Parthenon in Athens, Greece combines both of these uses—between volutes and continuous design line on the entablature. Other Roman-inspired examples include the Temple of Saturnus at the Roman Forum in Italy and the Temple of Baal in Palmyra, Syria. What is Ovolo? Ovolo molding is another name for quarter round molding. It comes from the Latin word for egg, ovum, and is sometimes used to describe crown molding decorated with an egg-and-dart motif. Ensure that you understand the meaning of ovolo as used by your architect or contractor because todays ovolo molding does not necessarily mean its decoration is egg-and-dart. So, what is ovolo? A convex molding less than a semi-circle in profile; usually a quarter of a circle or approximately a quarter-ellipse in profile.—Dictionary of Architecture and Construction Other Names for Egg and Dart (with and without hyphens) egg and anchoregg and arrowegg and tongueechinus What Is Echinus and Astragal? This design looks very similar to egg-and-dart with a bead and reel below. The word echinus, however, is architecturally part of a Doric column and the word astragal describes a bead design more simple than bead and reel. Today, echinus and astragal is used by historians and students of Classical architecture—rarely by homeowners. Sources Baker, John Milnes, and W.W. Norton, American House Styles: a Concise Guide. 1994, p. 170.Harris, Cyril M. Dictionary of Architecture Construction. McGraw-Hill, 2006. pp. 176, 177, 344.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Poes Heart Essay - 1456 Words

Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most recognized prose poets, short story authors, and literary composers of all time. His works contain trending themes such as love, time, death and the concept of â€Å"oneness.† Poe often expressed these themes according to events that he had experienced, and some of his themes intertwined with others. Take for instance, his love for beauty and perfection played a major role in his concept of oneness, or state of absolute fulfillment. However in his short story, The Tell-Tale Heart, Poe effectively explores the power of guilt, and leads his readers through a cynical plot to murder while enduring the struggle to silence a beating conscience by treading the lines of genius versus insanity, moral reasoning versus†¦show more content†¦So while his ideas of truth and fiction â€Å"mingled† with one another to be exposed on paper, his inability to carefully distinguish the two is what added timelessness to The Tell-Tale Heart. Debatin g and deciphering the difference between an absolute intellect and an absolute sociopath is one investigation that never grows old. Poe’s writing not only treads the line of genius and insanity, but he balances the two in a way that leaves each reader with the opportunity to form his/her own conclusion of the narrator. Now, this story also blurs the line between moral reason and indifferent resolution. In the opening excerpts of the story, the narrator explains that he indeed loved the old man. The old man â€Å"never wronged nor insulted him.† But the feeling that he felt towards the old man’s eye was something so overwhelming, it shadowed any moral reasoning he could ever imagine. He explains that his blood ran cold whenever he looked at it. So this caused him to compute an indifferent resolution: kill the old man, and he’d no longer have to witness the chilling eye. He still remained kind to the old man after resolving to kill him. Although it seems that he would behave this way based on his moral reason, the idea actually stemmed from his indifferent resolution. He wanted to make sure the old man had no idea of his sinister plot, so he treated him well before executing his demise. OftenShow MoreRelatedEdgar Allan Poes The Tell Tale Heart1203 Words   |  5 PagesA Tell-Tal e Spirit In 1843, author Edgar Allan Poe crafted a haunting story about a man who commits murder because he finds an old mans’ pale eye unsettling. This story, â€Å"The Tell-Tale Heart†, is one of many masterfully written stories crafted by the gifted writer. Edgar Allan Poe was born on January 19th, 1809, in Boston, Massachusetts but was orphaned at the young age of three. His foster parents surrounded him with material comfort in the city of Richmond, Virginia. As a youth, Poe excelledRead MoreSymbolism In Edgar Allen Poes The Tell Tale Heart1174 Words   |  5 Pagesdoes it make it more or less important? Symbolism is used to represent ideas; that may imply deeper, hidden meaning than what the text directly states. Symbolism can be used in different ways throughout different books; for example, â€Å"The Tell-Tale Heart†, by Edgar Allen Poe and â€Å"Once upon a Time†, by Nadine Gordimer, contain a variety of symbolism that have the possibility of hav ing two or more meanings. The problem with this is identifying what the text could really mean, and how that changes theRead MoreThe Murderers Motivation Depicted in Poes The Tell-Tale Heart1820 Words   |  8 PagesPoes writings are not without morals, and as a representation of a guilty conscience, â€Å"The Tell-Tale Heart† has been called one of the most effective parables ever conceived (Ward 310). â€Å"I find it almost impossible to believe that Poe has no serious or artistic motive in The Tell-Tale Heart, that he merely revels in horror and only inadvertently illuminates the depths of the human soul,† James Gargano asserts. He further states that though Poes stories sometimes seem to be nothing more than ramblingsRead More Critical Analysis of Poes The Tell Tale Heart Essay examples1635 Words   |  7 PagesCritical Analysis of Poes The Tell Tale Heart The Tell Tale Heart is a story, on the most basic level, of conflict. There is a mental conflict within the narrator himself (assuming the narrator is male). Through obvious clues and statements, Poe alerts the reader to the mental state of the narrator, which is insanity. The insanity is described as an obsession (with the old mans eye), which in turn leads to loss of control and eventually results in violence. Ultimately, the narrator tellsRead MoreSymbolism in Edgar Allen Poes The Tell-Tale Heart Essay863 Words   |  4 PagesSymbolism in Edgar Allen Poes The Tell-Tale Heart In Poes The Tell-Tale Heart, the narrator claims that he is not mad but his behavior tells a different story. He is truly determined to destroy another male human being, not because of jealousy or animosity but because one of his eyes resembled that of a vulture- a pale blue eye, with a film over it (1206). The narrator sees the man with this ghastly eye as a threat to his well being, but it is he who is a menace to his own being. HeRead MoreA Reader- Oriented Approach to Edgar Alan Poes the Tell- Tale Heart1465 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound?† A Reader- Oriented approach to Edgar Alan Poe’s The Tell- Tale Heart The Titular question is an old philosophical riddle for which a wide range of metaphysical and non-metaphysical solution has been offered. The answers differ based on the perspective of the interpreter. Judging these answers is neither possible nor desirable for us, but the riddle and the ensuing debates attest to the veracity of one of the mostRead More Edgar Allen Poes The Tell Tale Heart Essay499 Words   |  2 PagesIn The Tell-Tale Heart, by Edgar Allen Poe, the setting, the plot, the characters and even the point of view are great contributing factors to the overall reaction of the readers of the narrative. The setting contributes to the readers reaction in several different ways. All of the shutters in the house were closed, no one could see anything from the outside or the inside. This was important because no one ever knew what went on in the house except the old man with the pale blue eye with a filmRead MoreEssay on Creating Suspense in Edgar Allen Poes The Tell-Tale Heart2319 Words   |  10 PagesCreating Suspense in Edgar Allen Poes The Tell-Tale Heart In the gothic genre there are numerous techniques the author can use to add interest and suspense to a story, such as the choice of words, the time of day and pathetic fallacy, to name but a few. In the Tell Tale- Heart Poe uses psychosis, detail, and appeal to the reader to keep us on the edge of our seats. These are just some examples of what makes the story so thrilling. The story is written in the first person in the styleRead More Comparing Edgar Allen Poes The Cask of Amontillado, The Black Cat, and The Tell-tale Heart752 Words   |  4 PagesComparing Edgar Allen Poes The Cask of Amontillado, The Black Cat, and The Tell-tale Heart The short stories of Edgar Allen Poe demonstrate the authors ample gifts in the psychology of the mind, regardless of the fact he was decades ahead of Freud.   Poes short stories are often from the deranged and murderous point-of-view of the narrator, who often illustrates the inner-workings of his own psychology and the disintegration of the self brought about by psychological disorders, aberrationsRead MoreFreudian Analysis of Edgar Allen Poes a Tell Tale Heart Essay665 Words   |  3 PagesErika Barnett Professor Curley Daring the Nightmare 13 October 2010 A Freudian Analysis of â€Å"The Tell-Tale Heart† By Edgar Allen Poe As an esteemed psychologist analyzing this accused murderer, I have found a few key pieces of evidence that ultimately lead me to the decision that the murderer is in fact mad and I recommend psychological rehabilitation as well as jail sentence as a proper penalty for the crime committed. Although, he claims he can recount the night of the murder â€Å"healthily and

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Romeo Juliet the tension in Act 3 Scene 1 Essay Example For Students

Romeo Juliet: the tension in Act 3 Scene 1 Essay * Romeo and Juliet was written by William Shakespeare in the 1500s, and is the story of two star-cross lovers from two rival families who find love with one another amongst the hate and violence between their two families. * The play belongs to the genre of plays known as tragedies, and more specifically, belongs to Romantic Tragedy, a genre Shakespeare created, and started off with this very play. Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy as the two main characters (Romeo and Juliet), die at the end of the play. * The main themes of the play: Love, Destiny, Power, Honour, Masculinity and Manhood. * Socio-historical Context: Male Dominance, Arranged Marriage, Plague, City of Verona-City associated with hot-blooded people. Act 1 Scene 1: * The Elizabethan society was strongly male-dominant, and men had the role of the breadwinner, the person who works and earns income. Women were thought of as mothers and child bearers and were considered subservient to men. Masculinity is a key theme of this scene- servants show off and boast I strike quickly to be moved. Thrust his maids to the wall. * Shakespeare contradicts this widely-held belief of the time in Act 1 Scene 1, where he portrays the wives of Lord Capulet and Lord Montague as being very strong, powerful women, who prevent their husbands from going to war. Crutch! A crutch! Shakespeare could have portrayed them in such a way as he feels that society needs to be rid of these stereotypes, and could have tried to convey this message to his audience in this way, trying to get them to question the male dominancy in society. . Shakespeare could have believed that this view was outdated and that men were just arrogant and irrational. Also, it could be said that Shakespeare merely wanted to show this powerful role of women to appease Queen Elizabeth I, who ruled England during Shakespeares lifetime. * The groundlings of the audience were peasants and poor servants. In this scene, Shakespeare shows the Lords and Ladies of Verona to be arrogant and uncaring, whilst the servants are hard-working and loyal to their masters despite being treated unfairly. Shakespeare would have done this to please the groundling crowd, and send a message to the Upper and Middle Classes that they need to change their attitudes and behaviour. * This first scene is also very aggressive and loud, and is used to hook the audience into the play. A large amount of violence is used, with loud arguments and fighting, which draws the audience in and grabs their attention straight away. Act 3 Scene 1: * Shakespeare structures the play in an oxymoron form. The previous scene to Act 3 Scene 1 is very peaceful, and is when Romeo and Juliet get married. The scene is very sweet and calm. This atmosphere is turned on its head and is contrasted sharply with the very tense and violent scene of Act 3 Scene 1. Shakespeare does this to draw in the attention of the audience, and to show the contrast between love and hate, a very core theme of the play. * Shakespeare highlights the faults of the upper-class, and more importantly, of men in this scene. The fight between Mercutio and Tybalt which lead to both of them being killed was caused by the simple fault of arrogance, and the need for upper-class men to live upto their reputation, their manhood, and their need to compete for power. This could have reflected the social situation at the time, and Shakespeare could have been trying to send a message to these men in the upper class of society that their boisterous ways can only lead to unfortunate outcomes. .udeb86bca0f77bc1ac52b85aa05513c75 , .udeb86bca0f77bc1ac52b85aa05513c75 .postImageUrl , .udeb86bca0f77bc1ac52b85aa05513c75 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .udeb86bca0f77bc1ac52b85aa05513c75 , .udeb86bca0f77bc1ac52b85aa05513c75:hover , .udeb86bca0f77bc1ac52b85aa05513c75:visited , .udeb86bca0f77bc1ac52b85aa05513c75:active { border:0!important; } .udeb86bca0f77bc1ac52b85aa05513c75 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .udeb86bca0f77bc1ac52b85aa05513c75 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .udeb86bca0f77bc1ac52b85aa05513c75:active , .udeb86bca0f77bc1ac52b85aa05513c75:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .udeb86bca0f77bc1ac52b85aa05513c75 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .udeb86bca0f77bc1ac52b85aa05513c75 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .udeb86bca0f77bc1ac52b85aa05513c75 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .udeb86bca0f77bc1ac52b85aa05513c75 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .udeb86bca0f77bc1ac52b85aa05513c75:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .udeb86bca0f77bc1ac52b85aa05513c75 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .udeb86bca0f77bc1ac52b85aa05513c75 .udeb86bca0f77bc1ac52b85aa05513c75-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .udeb86bca0f77bc1ac52b85aa05513c75:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Jonh Keats Essay* At the beginning of the scene, the atmosphere is quite relaxed, yet tense and agitated, due to the scorching heat of the day, and the restlessness of Mercutio. When Tybalt enters the scene, things suddenly become extremely tense; with the hot weather and the agitation adding to the effect (This is called Pathetic Fallacy). * Shakespeare uses dramatic Irony to create tension in this scene. The audience and Romeo know why Romeo cannot fight Tybalt, but the other characters do not. Romeo is now married to Juliet, and Tybalt is now his brother-in-law, something that Tybalt is unaware of. As a results, Tybalt is hell-bent on fighting Romeo to regain his honour, which he considers to have lost when letting Romeo attend the Capulet Banquet. The audience is given the impression here that Tybalt is a stubborn and hot-headed character, while Romeo is calm, collected and more emotionally stable than Tybalt. * This builds tension as the characters get more and more agitated and more closer to fighting. Tension is also created as the audience is aware of the consequences the characters will face if they brawl once more. These consequences plague the minds of the audience who themselves become even more agitated and tense as the tension builds in the scene, which climaxes with the death of (L)Mercutio, which is swiftly followed by Tybalts own death. * Romeo makes a realisation that Juliets love has made him soft, and has prevented him from being a man and retaining his honour. Here, Shakespeare again highlights the irrational beliefs of upper-class men, but also, he may also be sending a message that it is important to love moderately and control your emotions and passions, as it can distract you from the realities of life, and eventually cause the love to die out prematurely. * Mercutio curses the two houses, both Capulet AND Montague, calling for a plague on both your houses. The plague of which Mercutio speaks of refers to the black plague that was rife in most parts of the world at the time. This plague is associated with death and devastation. This is the point at which the play turns for the worst. Before this scene, and this point in the scene, the play was heading towards a happy outcome, with Romeo and Juliet marrying in an effort to join the two families. After this point, Mercutio and Tybalt are killed, and Romeo exiled. It could be said that this curse foreshadows the rest of the play and inevitably leads to the end outcome of the play, with both Romeo and Juliet taking their lives. * Conclusion This scene is vital, as it is the climax of the whole play, and is the point at which the play turns for the worst. This scene creates a feeling of pity and fear within the audience, which is the main purpose of a tragedy play and flips the whole play around, and converts the atmosphere from one of peace and love to one of hate, violence and bloodshed. Shakespeare also points out many of the flaws of Society in this scene, and communicates with the audience, showing them that the beliefs of male dominance and the attitudes of the upper-class must be eradicated to create a peaceful, happier society.