Was Hamlet Mad Essays - Characters In Hamlet, Prince Hamlet, Hamlet

Was Hamlet Mad? Hamlet is a complex character in the play. His character is always changing in some way, and he never seems to be the same person. In some scenes, he appears to be mad, while in others he is perfectly sane. Therefore, a question that has become a major argument for those who analyze the Shakespearean text is : was Hamlet mad or sane in the play? There are several arguments as to why Hamlet was mad. The first occurrence of his madness is found after his encounter with the ghost, his father. Hamlet appears to be act insanely when he speaks to his friends about what he saw. He speaks "wild and whirling words,"(Act 1, Scene V, lines 127-134). Horatio and the others are mystified when Hamlet talks like they have never heard him before. Another argument for his madness can be supported in his treatment towards Ophelia. When he first encounters her after speaking to the ghost, he is courteous at first, but then suddenly turns against her. He completely denies ever having loved her, attacks the womankind, and orders her to go to a nunnery. If this is not mad behavior, what is? Another point where Hamlet acts madly is when he had Rosencrantz and Guildenstern killed even though they had nothing to do with the plan to murder his father. Granted they were carrying letters to England with orders to kill him, but they were not aware of wh at was written in them. The argument can be further supported when Hamlet is in his mother's chamber. Hamlet alone sees his father's ghost. Every other time the ghost appeared someone else could see it. During this scene, the argument for Hamlet's madness can be strongly supported because his mother could not see it. Gertrude even says, "Alas, how is't with you-That you do bend your eye on vacancy,"(Act 3, Scene 4, lines 133-134). IN that same scene, Hamlet acts violently to his mother. He tells her that she is a whore and to abandon his uncles' bed. Finally, Hamlet's madness can be seen in his actions after killing Polonius. Hamlet even tells Laertes that he killed Polonius in "a fit of madness." When Hamlet is confronted about the murder, he will not tell anyone where the body is and seems very happy about it. These are all strong arguments for Hamlet being mad. However, one must look at the other side of the argument before making the decision about whether Hamlet was sane or not throughout the play. For example, Hamlet, after meeting the ghost, tells Horatio that he is going to "feign madness" and that if Horatio notices any strange behavior from Hamlet, it is because he is putting on an act. A pattern also emerges on when Hamlet is "mad" and when he is not. Hamlet's "madness" only manifests itself when he is in the presence of certain characters. When Hamlet is around Polonius, Claudius, Gertrude, Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, he behaves irrationally. However, when Hamlet is around Horatio, Bernardo, Francisco, the Players, and the Gravediggers, he behaves rationally. Several characters also admit to believing that Hamlet is not mad. Even Claudius confesses that Hamlet's "actions, although strange, do not appear to stem from madness,"(Act III, Scene 1, lines 177-180). Polonius admits that Hamlet's actions and words have a "method " to them, and there appears to be a reason behind them, and they are logical in nature. A powerful example that supports this argument is Ophelia's true madness. Ophelia's insanity and Hamlet's are entirely different from one another. In fact, Hamlet's actions contrast them. Ophelia acts mad no matter who is around, and she acts different than Hamlet. Finally, Hamlet believes in his sanity at all times. He never doubts his control over his psyche. He even tells his mother that he is not mad, "but mad in craft," (Act III.Scene IV. Line 210). Therefore, one can see that this argument is also strong. It is up to the audience to decide whether or not Hamlet was truly mad or not. However, it seems that the argument for Hamlet being sane is stronger. Hamlet tells his best friend that he is going to pretend to be mad.

Explaination of Terrorism essays

Explaination of Terrorism essays After browsing through Stephen E. Atkins book Terrorism, I soon learned many interesting things regarding the history of terrorism. It seems this form of protest has been around since Biblical times. Also, the main goal of a terrorist is not to do damage to one particular person or place, but to gain publicity for an idea they support. (page 1) Evidence of this can be found by looking at the recent past of the United States. The Oklahoma bombing was one man's way of expressing his dislike of the government. The exact definition of terrorism is not a solid line; it is a very wide line that isn't defined. The general definition of terrorism is an attack of some sort against a person or place that involves violence and/or destruction of property and is usually politically motivated. (Terrorism 3) Our fight against terrorism became something the terrorists might fear in 1970, at the Hague Convention. This United Nations convention basically defined hijacking as a crime and required contracting states either to allow the extradition of hijackers to their country of origin, or to prosecute them in the state where they were arrested. (The Terrorists 146) Atkins states that one of the reasons it took so long to do anything about terrorism is that it is so hard to define, and therefore just as hard to enforce. He also says Declarations and conventions from the UN have lacked effective enforcement mechanisms, so they have been ignored by member states and have been characterized as largely cosmetic. Basically, the UN is doing this to satisfy the public and little else. This lack of understanding of the meaning of terrorism has also been a hindrance when law 8:56 PM 2/14/96 enforcement was actually implemented. Police aren't trained to handle terrorist type attacks; instead t hey handle them like ordinary criminal attacks. (Terrorism 26-27) This gives the terrorists exactly what they wanted, publicity for their cause. ...

Discussion 4 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Discussion 4 - Assignment Example In essence, the statement could be saying that the facts and realities of inductive arguments are not as important as those of deductive arguments but this could not be entirely true. Once the latter is accepted as true, it would mean that inductive arguments do not have the merit of being taken seriously. The fact that the premises of all arguments are linked with its conclusion in establishing the true in an argument is a very important analogy. This is because the conclusion of any given statement is as important as the premises. Under no circumstance should it be acceptable that the truth of a statement be judged merely based on the conclusion of the statement. The reason for this argument is that if that happens, the need to follow the logical arguments and reasoning in the structure of any given statement or argument will not be necessary and for that matter, it will be unnecessary to pay attention to statements till they get to their ends. The comment made in the paragraph above applies both in the situation of both deductive and inductive arguments. In effect, inductive and deductive arguments could both be said to have a very strong merit based on the relation made between the premises and the conclusion (Michigan State University, 2012). Furthermore, it would be emphasized that the from the last comment, the basis of as to whether an argument is inductive or deductive may not be as relevant as whether or not the substance of the argument could be trusted as the truth. In essence, inductive and deductive could both be trusted or mistrusted depending on the facts or ideologies that the arguments carry. This means that listeners should not be complecent in their judgments of the meanings that statements and arguments carry unless of course they have weighed all sides of the arguments and untaken background checks to verify the authenticity of the arguments. The final comment will be an example

Kill Bill Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Kill Bill - Essay Example No doubt, the girl standing in the middle is the dominant character of the film. It can be proved with the elements: 1. Size: she is the one with largest size in the scene. 2. Focus. Focus is on the sun and the girl. She is more in focus as she comes in front of the sunset 3. Lighting. She is in clear lightening effetcs 4. Color. In the whole bluosh background, she is the one wearing skin top. High key? Low key? High contrast? Some combination of these? The scene is low lightening, the scene is not very much bright and the blur things, there are diffused shadows and atmospheric pools of light. What type of shot? How far away is the camera from the action? This is the full shot, showing the full body of girl, and a minimum location of her is identified. Are we (and the camera) looking up or down on the subject? Or is the camera neutral (eye level)? The scene is captured from the high angle, the girls body is insignificant but still one can see it and the angle seems harmless. What is the dominant color? Are there contrasting foils? Is there color symbolism? ... Other than sun are the circles produced by the sun rays in the scene that capture the attention. How much visual information is packed into the image Is the texture stark, moderate, or highly detailed The image is quite dense, the image is wide but the things are still blur. How is the two-dimensional space segmented and organized What is the underlying design The scene is horizontal and circular, the sunrays give a circular touch and the girl and her surroundings make a horizontal frame suggesting peacefulness. Is the form open or closed Does the image suggest a window that arbitrarily isolates a fragment of the scene Or a proscenium arch, in which the visual elements are carefully arranged and held in balance The form is closed, enclosing the whole scenario and self contained. The necessary information of the sad environment is clearly structured. Thus it is a longer shot Is the framing tight or loose Do the character have no room to move around, or can they move freely without impediments The framing is losse, it's a large ground where the characters can move freely. On how many planes is the image composed (how many are in focus) Does the background or foreground comment in any way on the mid-ground The form is deep, allowing all planes to be in the focus. The girl with the sun and sun rays circles. And the whole ground with some plants are also zaprured. What part of the framed space do the characters occupy Center Top Bottom Edges Why The character is focused in the center implying its importance in the film. Which way do the characters look vis-a-vis the camera The focus is back to camera revealing girls alienation from the world. The only

Masculinity in Great Expectations

Masculinity in Great Expectations Late Victorian Masculinities are bound up with discourses of evolution and aesthetics. Analyse this statement in relation to Charles Dickens Great expectations and Oscar Wildes The Picture ofDorian Gray This essay will try to assess the validity of the abovestatement using the texts stated, and also referring to existing criticism onthe subject. In answering the question, I shall break the statement into twosections. Firstly, I will discuss masculinity in Great Expectations inrelation to evolution, looking at Pips transition from humble beginnings to amore flamboyant existence, and how this fits in with Darwins theory ofevolution. As well as this, I will look at how masculinity is represented insome of the other characters, and lastly to what extent Pips life story cantruly be said to be an evolution. Next, I will discuss masculinityin The Picture of Dorian Gray in relation to aesthetics. This part ofthe essay will focus on how the portrayals of masculinity in the novel fit inwith the idea of Art for arts sake, promoted by followers of the aestheticmovement. In particular I will examine the identity of the eponymous hero, whoembodies much of the aesthetic ideal. There will also be a consideration of theunderlying theme of homosexuality and how some criticism has suggested that theaesthetes used such themes in order to illustrate their own ideas aboutidentity and masculinity. I will then consider to what extent aesthetics arepart of the representation of masculinity in the novel. Masculinity in Great Expectations doescertainly intertwine with the idea of evolution. Pip is in many ways thearchetypal bildungsroman, progressing from a simple domestic life in ruralKent, to London and fortune (although his ending does represent a variation onthis concept). His masculinity is developed along the way. In earlier chapters,he is governed largely by fear, as in the readers first encounter with Mrs.Joe, in which he is informed that he is in trouble. At this dismal intelligence,Ilooked disconsolately at the fire. Tickler was a wax-ended piece of cane. Contrast this with his behaviour later on in the book, after he has begun to make his way in the world Being on one occasion threatened with legal proceedingsI went so far as to seize the Avenger by his blue collar and shake him off his feet. By comparisons such as this, we can observe a correlation between the kind of personal evolution, common to the Victorian novel, undergone by Pip, and an increase in perceived masculine traits, such as dominance and physical aggression. However, underneath this, there is perhaps amore scientific form of evolution under discussion. No novel exists in avacuum, and being published in 1861, Great Expectations Darwinsgroundbreaking Origin of Species by only two years. Darwin mentions theStruggle for Existence, in which all life strives to be successful,identifies some key factors in this success. I should premise that I use theterm struggle for existence in a large and metaphorical sense, includingdependence of one being on another, and including, which is more important, notonly the life of the individual but the success in leaving progeny. Pips struggle is clearly dependent on others, for example Magwitch, his benefactor, and it is ultimately Joe who helps him in his time of need. Interestingly, however, he does not have an heir. Indeed, in the original ending, Pip notes in an unmistakably gloomy tone Estellas reaction to Little Pip, She supposed the child, I think, to be my child. In this sense, Pips evolution can be seen to be incomplete. But what does this mean with regard to masculinity? It is interesting to note that masculinity in GreatExpectations is not limited to the male characters. One example of this isMrs. Joe, who, as one critic notes, wore the pants in the household, while Joeserves as an effete and effeminate child like figure.Since Joessimple character evolves less than Pip, this might be seen as fitting in withDarwin, but, as has already been mentioned, Joe achieves the ultimate inevolution leaving progeny while Pip does not. Similarly, Mrs Havisham isgiven a somewhat masculine-tinted description her voice had dropped, so thatshe spoke low, and yet she is arguably the most static characterin the book, being unable to move beyond the trauma of her past. In the lightof this, it seems doubtful that Dickens intended a purely evolutionary picture. Although there is a link in the novel between masculinity and evolution, the two do not go entirely hand in hand. Dickens uses the bildungsroman model, but Pips development is one of acceptance of his role in life rather than the outright triumph evolutionary theory suggests. However, I do not believe that Dickens set out to critique Darwin either. The novels discussion of masculinity sometimes coincides with evolution, and sometimes does not. I think it would be fair to say that Dickens was influenced by the effect of evolution on masculinity, but his characters successes and failures do not fit in with any definite theory. In The Picture of Dorian Gray,masculinity is linked less to evolution and more to aesthetics. This is largelya result of Wildes adherence to the principles of the aesthetic movement,particularly that of Art for Arts sake. This consists of the idea, outlinedin the novels preface, that Art is an entity in itself and that its ownbeauty, and not its meaning or purpose, is what gives it the right to exist -All art is quite useless.This idea permeates the main character,Dorian Gray, in lots of ways, not least in the identity of his masculinity.This can be seen in Lord Henrys description of him in the first chapter -this young Adonis, who looks as if he was made out of ivory and rose leaves.Whyhe is a Narcissus.With its classical references and focus onphysical attributes rather than personality characteristics, this represents aquite different masculine ideal from that which the evolutionists favoured.Masculinity here is perhaps closer to the Platonic ideal, and there is noparticular empha sis on such traits as physical strength and courage, eitherphysical or moral, with which the bildungsroman might be associated. Moreover, some of the most fundamental aspectsof masculinity are challenged. Wilde was, of course, a homosexual, and thistheme is implicitly covered in The Picture of Dorian Gray. For instance,although all of the main characters have heterosexual relationships, such asDorians love for Sybil Vane, there is a suggestion of homosexuality as well.The men are certainly homosocial, and there are implications in therelationship between Lord Henry and Dorian. The former talks very dotingly tohis protÃÆ'Â ©gÃÆ'Â ©, right up to the end of the book, My dear boy, You are much toodelightful, and so forth, and perhaps more significantly, it isDorians good looks that first attract him. This affects the way masculinity isdealt with in the novel in the respect that it removes the element of trying towin the female love interest that we see in Great Expectations. DespiteDorians brief fixation with Sybil, women seem largely incidental to the livesof the principal male characters. This is arguably b ecause they are onlyrequired when they are of aesthetic value, not for their emotional input.Dorian does not ultimately let Sybils suicide interfere with thepseudo-homosexual, and more aesthetic, relationship he has with Lord Henry. Critics have suggested that thisis part of a movement in society in which Wilde and others brought forwardidentity politics, the concept that individuals can view themselves in thelight of their deviations from the norms of society, often enjoying aspects ofthemselves that some might consider abnormal or even immoral. As Audrey Jaffenotes, the contrast between beautiful and ugly images of Dorian Grayreproduces the aesthetics of contemporary identity politics, in which identitytakes shape as the difference between negative and positive culturalprojections.This is perhaps the biggest contrast with GreatExpectations. Whereas Pips manhood is seen as complete when he has learned to accept his place in the world, Dorians masculinity is defined by his unwillingness to conform. It is his aesthetic makeup that makes him a man. The implied homosexuality is part of that, since it involves breaking the taboos of society. According to Jaffe, we may catch the early strains of an identity politics whose anthem will eventually become loud enough to make itself heard even on St Patricks Day.In this respect, aesthetics are central to the novels portrayal of masculinity, although characters like James Vane do represent a more traditional viewpoint, showing such traits as confrontation, family loyalty and defence of ones honour. In conclusion, the representationof masculinity in Great Expectations does nod to a discourse onevolution. Dickens uses the bildungsroman model, and there is a genuine senseof progression, and with it, the rise of masculinity. In some respects,Darwinian theory is supported, as in Pips dependence on others in thestruggle for existence. However, his failure to sire offspring and hissomewhat humbled ending conflict with theories of evolution. As well as this,there is the consideration that masculine characteristics are often given tocharacters that do not evolve, such as Miss Havisham, while the hen-pecked Joeachieves the ultimate evolutionary success in reproducing. This would seem tolead to the conclusion that Dickens was aware of evolution, and to some extentinfluenced by it, but did not use it as the sole basis for portrayingmasculinity. By contrast, The Picture ofDorian Gray shows a direct link to the principles of the aestheticmovement. With his looks and his sensual approach to life, Dorian embodies muchof the movements ethos, and his masculinity is defined in terms of his charmand visual appeal. The undercurrent of homosexuality in the book reinforcesthis. By failing to conform to the ideals of Victorian society, Dorian isrepresentative of a form of masculinity that relates to identity politics.Rather than taking the moralistic route to manhood, he celebrates the beauty ofhis deviance. In this respect, his masculinity is entirely aesthetic, as it isdefined by his individual beauty, and the contrast between positive andnegative views of him. However, Wild does portray other, more traditional formsof masculinity, albeit marginally, in the character of James Vane. Evolution and aesthetics,therefore, do play a major part in late Victorian masculinity. Thebildungsroman is an evolutionary figure, while aesthetic portrayals of men werebeginning to come to the fore in this period. However, it is important toremember that these ideas do not govern masculinity entirely, mainly becausewriters are artists and not merely theorists. Although Wilde does adhere to aprincipal more closely than Dickens, both authors show a willingness to breakaway from theory when it is necessary for artistic purposes. References Charles Dickens, Great Expectations, Wordsworth, 2003, (Ch. 2, pg. 7) Charles Dickens, Great Expectations, Wordsworth, 2003, (Ch. 34, pg. 223) Charles Darwin, Origin of Species, 1859, (Ch 3 The Struggle for Existence) Charles Dickens, Great Expectations, Wordsworth, 2003, (original ending) Wayne Huang, Problems of autobiography and fictional biography in Great Expectations, www.victorianweb.org/authors/dickens/ge/huangcd.html (1997) Charles Dickens, Great Expectations, Wordsworth, 2003, (Ch. 8, pg. 50) Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Complete Illustrated Works of Oscar Wilde, Chancellor Press, 1991, (Preface, pg. 4) Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Complete Illustrated Works of Oscar Wilde, Chancellor Press, 1991, (Ch. 1,pg 5) Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Complete Illustrated Works of Oscar Wilde, Chancellor Press, 1991, (Ch. 19, pg. 147) Audrey Jaffe, The Aesthetics of Cultural Identity: Embodying Culture, www.victorianweb.org/authors/wilde/jaffe2.html (No date) Audrey Jaffe, Sympathy and the Embodiment of Culture in Wildes Portrait of Dorian Gray, Cornell University Press, 2000 (pg. 167)

A Fusion of Past and Present

Vacations are always a treat for everybody. For families, it means spending more than the usual time with each other, creating memories, having fun and blocking the rest of society out. It is in these rare times, when everybody is relaxed and optimistic that family members get to know the real people behind their Dads, Moms, Brothers and Sisters.Not everyone can indulge in vacations and others may see it as an irrelevant expense, instead of a necessity. We often take it for granted but it is amazing how much good a simple vacation could do to a family who is under stress, and is caught up in their everyday routines.In fact, according to several independent studies published at Stress.About.com, vacations help one become more creative, as vacations are usually a time to get to know one’s self better. These studies also suggest that people who take more vacations are less likely to experience burnouts from little everyday stresses from work, marital life, and family life which c ould ultimately lead to a better way of life and an increase in the quality of work in one’s job.According to Barbara Fiese, a professor of Psychology at Syracruse University, vacations actually make you and your children healthier because they alleviate stress that builds up every day. Fiese also suggests that the amount of money you spend on vacations is not directly proportional to the health benefits you get, and adds that the silly songs you sing in the car, or those funny accidents you experience during a trip out of town are the things that make your vacation more unique, enjoyable and ultimately a lighter, happier experience.I think vacations are to be encouraged to everyone who has growing children, because they not only make for great memories, relieve the stress brought about by everyday life, and give a chance for family members to bond; but they also give you a place to find your inner child, which is definitely one of the best stress busters one could have.

Marketing Plan for Microsoft Xbox in Gaming Console Market in India

Marketing Plan for Microsoft Xbox in Gaming Console Market in India Group 10: Ankur Chaudhary (1211326)Gaurav Parashar (1211340) Nikhil Wasnik (1211398)Shanthosh P (1211381) Saakshi Mahajan (1211378) Backdrop: The current gaming console market in India is around INR 900 crores . The most prominent players in this industry comprise of Sony (PS Series), Nintendo (Wii Series) and Microsoft (XBOX Series).The market share of Xbox in India is 23% by sales, compared to PS Series’ share of 40%-45% , which is in contrast to the global statistics where Xbox enjoys a market share of around 45%-47% compared to PS Series’ share of around 25-28%. The stark difference in the market share is a case for assessing the lag Xbox suffers, with regard to its marketing strategy in India. Project Details: In this project, we aim to study the gaming console market in India, specifically looking at current marketing of Microsoft Xbox in India and compare it with global markets (US and other deve loped markets).We will explore the performance of Xbox v/s the Sony Play station (current market leader in India) The market which we are studying is urban teenagers/young adults (age 10-25) and gaming consoles Gaming consoles in India have a market penetration of only 2% but with the increase in sales of big screen TV's and leisure wants of the urban teenager, the market is expected to grow at a fast pace in the next decade. We will explore the current marketing process of Microsoft Xbox in terms of integrated marketing mix and the customer ; partner relations.Gaming consoles belong to the hedonic category of products where rationalizing evaluation of alternatives by the shopper is important. The purchase for gaming consoles is typical approved by the parent and the user is the teenager. We aim to explore the decision pattern used individually by the parent and teenager. Some of the factors affecting consumer behavior in India are unique because of traditionally lesser spending on games, piracy in PC games and parental fear that games interfere in studies. We aim to do qualitative analysis the market, through surveys and interviews.The gaming console market has been segmented into customers using PS2 (cheaper old technology but still a step up for gaming in India), PS3 (premium cutting edge gaming) and PSP (gaming on the go primarily for the kids). We aim to study Microsoft's market segmentation, targeting and position in terms of its offerings like XBOX, XBOX 360 and Kinect. Overall we would address how Microsoft should reposition its gaming consoles in Indian markets to gain more market share and build profitable customer relationships.