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Character analysis in Othello by William Shakespeare
Character analysis in Othello by William Shakespeare
Analysis of Shakespeare
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In everyday life, whether it is someone committing a good deed of saving someone’s life, we can always see them as some sort of hero. To many, a hero can be defined based on the archetypal hero quest pattern. In the movie, A Knight’s Tale, a peasant, William Thatcher takes the place of his mentor in order to change his stars, become a knight himself, and claim the girl.
William undergoes the archetypal hero quest pattern as he jousts his way to a challenging quest and gains his most desired reward with the help of his comrades. As a child, William was told by his father that he could “change the stars.” His quest initiates when he makes a noble sacrifice to take the place of Sir Ector to become Sir Ulrich Von Liechtenstein. Without much experience, his ability and courage to take a blow guides him through his quest to be a
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Before William become Sir Ulrich, he and squires Roland and Wat guided their master , Sir Ector, to his victory. As William becomes a knight himself, his squires train him to joust. Along the way to the first tournament in Rouen, they encounter writer Geoffrey Chaucer. Knowing William was not descended from nobility, Chaucer helps forge a patent in return for clothing. Jousting through many battles, William’s armor is severely damaged and blacksmith Kate forges a lightweight armor for him. Ultimately, as William’s false identity was revealed to the authorities his friends encourage him to run for his greater good, but they stayed to support William’s decision to defend his pride. In our world, we are convinced that no one is perfect, not even our everyday heroes, which is why they require help. For William, his friends and their assistance is one of the most prominent factor of his success. Furthermore, they contribute their own feelings to William for him to write a poem for Jocelyn and win her heart. This shows the amount of assistance William receives which fits under the archetypal
Heroism may be a thematic issue as well (Polashuk, 2007). Oscar Wilde is trying to be a hero for his partner, Douglas by standing up to Lord Alfred Douglas of Queensberry about their relationship and feelings for each other. This causes issues, especially for Wilde who is taken to court and put down by Alfred of Queensberry.
William was born in 1028 and was the only son of Duke Robert I of Normandy, who later died on a voyage to Jerusalem. After his father’s death in 1035, he was knighted at the age of fifteen and the Norman magnates accepted William as duke even though he was an illegitimate child; he was actually known as William the Bastard. This caused William serious problems later in life and he had to overcome several massive obstacles, one of which was surviving numerous rebellions. William relied heavily on King Henry I of France and his mother for protection. He faced substantial difficulty maintaining control over Normandy, but by his early twenties, he emerged a powerful leader. Many writers agree that William was average in height but stocky in composure. He had a bass voice and he was exceptionally strong, fierce, intelligent, and he showed great respect for his rivals.
In Medieval Times knights are the protectors. The knights fight for, and obey the king. And for that reason Knight’s are in high rankings in the class system, compared to the peasants and merchants. The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, people are going on the pilgrimage to Canterbury for Salvation. The knight is Chaucer’s ideal of a night should be. The knight is a highly principled killer who travels the world and fights for what he believes in with unequivocal bravery and valor.
energies and passions above all else to the noble pursuit of fame, honor and valor.
Throughout British Literature, there are many instances of heroism. To be considered a hero by others in the time period of 449 to 1625, you must be, “noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose: especially, one who has risked or sacrificed his life” (Morris 618). Four characters in British Literature that portray heroic traits are Beowulf, Sir Gawain, Macbeth, and the Knight of The Canterbury Tales. Beowulf shows himself worthy of the title of being a hero when he leaves his country to help a neighboring country, Denmark and rid them of the long lasting fear of a malicious monster known as Grendel. Sir Gawain is considered a hero by many because of his loyalty to King Arthur. He even risks his life so that King Arthur would live and participates in the Green Knights challenge. Although Macbeth has got a few more faults than other heroes have in British Literature, his name is still synonymous with “hero”. Aristotle says “the tragic hero has to fall from grace … after being on top” (Chui 1). Before the three witches tell Macbeth the false prophecies, Macbeth is in held is high accord, yet afterwards, his ambition tears him down and he does anything it takes gain the role of King. The Knight, from The Canterbury Tales, excels beyond all others when it comes to being a hero. He is the most loyal and is admired by the other characters for his courage, bravery in battle and his exploits in war. He is on a religious pilgrimage not to make money or any other avaricious deed that the other characters are on the pilgrimage for, he is on the pilgrimage to worship God, which is also honored by his peers as being heroic. All four characters mentioned have heroic traits and they all are considered heroes. Although they might gain their title in different ways and for the wrong reasons, they are truly heroes. In British Literature, many stories have been influenced by the heroic traditions of their time period. The characters, although in different stories, all portray the heroic tradition in British Literature.
What is a Hero? In the Novel Mythology by Edith Hamilton it speaks of many Greek Gods and Goddesses, you get a clear outlook on many of the characters in the novel. Many of these gods fit some criteria on what a hero is. An Epic Hero is a character who is brave and takes risks to accomplish tasks not only for themselves but for the goodness of others. A Hero is someone who doesn't only do things to benefit themselves but benefits the people around them and goes on quests to establish their greatness. Who is also glorified by their community. In the Novel two characters by the name Theseus and Perseus meet many of these characteristics. Perseus is very brave and goes on a quest to capture an item that is very dangerous
A true hero is someone who stands up for an idea that has admirable intentions. In the book “Beowulf,” men were considered heroes based on the way they followed the warrior’s code. The warrior’s code included duty, honor, and chivalry. At the beginning of the book, Beowulf seems to have the characteristics of a warrior, but as the story develops Beowulf starts having a different perspective on what a true warrior is.
What is a hero? The Webster dictionary describes it as, “a person...who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.” But how can mere words on a page create icons that change the course of a culture? Lost in the midst of time, two stories emerge from the medieval era, telling of two great kings who clash in various ways.
A hero is someone who is admired for their courage and bravery, as well as their noble accomplishments. They are respected by almost everyone, due to their kindness and charitable mindset, that drives them to fight for the good of others. Beowulf is the perfect representation of a hero, based on multiple characteristics that he displays throughout the novel. Along with his characteristics, Beowulf also takes on many “hero like” challenges and tasks. In the novel, Beowulf is praised and admired throughout the kingdom for his bravery, humility, and selflessness.
...ad the Knight tell this long, drawn out, overly chivalric tale as a contrast to the Knight's personality. The Knight is an subtly un-chivalrous person who tells a story so full of chivalry that it basically parodies itself. I think that the Knight is making up for his own un-chivalrous behavior by telling a very chivalrous story, as if to show the other pilgrims that he knew how to be honorable.
One of Geoffrey's less believable main characters is the Knight, for reasons of chivalry. The knight displays many traits which make him seem almost too good to be true, and a true gentleman that rarely exists in reality. The narrator sums up the knights character by stating that "Though he were worthy, he was wys,/And of his port as meeke as is a mayde." (pg. 5, The Canterbury Tales) The knight holds four main admirable traits, making him the most liked traveler in "The Canterbury Tales," and also amplying the doubt of his realism. The reader is prepared to learn of each of his noble accomplishments and importance when the narrator remarks that" A knight ther was, and that a worthy man,/That fro the tyme that he first bigan/To ryden out, he loved chivalrye,/Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisye." (pg. 4, The Canterbury Tales) From the characters impressive introduction, it is clear that this man is the most valued and honorable traveler among the group. This perfect gentleman holds a love of ideals that are often not displayed by people. First and foremost, he believes in the ideals of chivalry, and always stays true to its principles. He also feels that one should be honest, truthful and faithful, which many people are not all of these ideals. The knight thinks one should only do what is right, and what will gain him honor and reputation. This character also believes in freedom and generosity towards all, and displays this ideal repeatedly throughout the novel. And lastly, the knight also strongly feels that any proper person should display courtesy and elegance at all times. Another aspect of this character's life which makes him seem too prestigious to be truthful is his impressive military career. He fought in the holy war, known as the Crusades and was involved in 15 "mortal battles." In the prologue, the narrator informs the reader that "Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre,/And therto hadde he riden, no man ferre,/As wel in Cristendom as hethenesse,/And ever honoured for his worthinesse.
How would you describe Sir Lancelot? Most people would say he is the strongest, bravest, and kindest knight of the round table. Some might say he is the biggest Benedict Arnold of all time because of the adultery he committed with Queen Guinevere. However, his chivalry and code of honor make him the epitome of a true gentleman. These contrasting qualities set Sir Lancelot apart from all the other knights and characters in the “Morte D’Arthur.” Lancelot’s gallant, courageous, and conflicting personality make him a complex character in this dramatic tale of love and betrayal.
Throughout history, the ideas and concepts of literature have evolved and become more complex. In early century writings, heroes and heroines were clearly defined protagonists. Typically, these heroes were described as brave, honorable, courageous warrior type characters. Heroes that are from earlier archetypes, such as Beowulf are legendary. Beowulf was a typical hero. He was a strong, brave warrior that fought many terrifying creatures to the death. The Romantic conception of the hero is drastically different. Romantic literature portrays the hero as someone that does not necessarily agree with the normal ideas of a heroic character. The Romantic hero is not a character that saves a town, a distressed lady, or fights evil titans. Romantic heroes are the protagonists of a literary works where there is a great deal of emphasis on that character’s thoughts instead of their deeds.
The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer is a piece of work that resembles both a historical and sociological introduction the late middle ages. Chaucer’s ability to interpret basic human nature from different viewpoints is exemplified in the characters he created. I have selected two stories, The Prioress Tale and The Knights Tale, within the Canterbury Tales that manifest the strengths and weaknesses of human character. Than I will compare Chaucer’s pilgrims to figures portrayed by Dante in the Divine Comedy.
In the Song of Roland, ideal characteristics of a knight are identified mainly with having skill as a horseman and fighting on the battlefield. The idea of an armored knight is closely descended from the equites class of Rome. Knights were closely tied to the various fiefdoms and to the church. A knight was expected to have courage, honor, selflessness, respect, honesty, and many other characteristics of how a perfect knight was seen such as Roland, Oliver, and Thierry in the Song of Roland. Many knights were of course not perfect but in the Song of Roland Roland, Oliver, and Thierry are perfect knights because they have a strong devotion, and are respectful.