The Writings of Shakespeare

Witchcraft is viewed both as a religion and a way of life; it has evolved greatly throughout time and history in Europe, and has a large influence in the arts. Witchcraft dates back to as early as the ancient Celts and Druids, and was originally a nature based religion where people gave reverence to the elements for the animals and vegetables they ate (“Witchcraft Started”). The word “witch” translates to the Hebrew word “kashaph”, which comes from the root meaning “to whisper” (Linder). Witchcraft is a spiritual belief system and a way of life. Believers in Witchcraft generally work in covens, or an assembly of witches. Each coven develops its own system of worship, rituals, and practice in Witchcraft based on the experiences and beliefs of the members (“How Witchcraft”). In the sixth century B.C, it was written in the Bible that anyone who assumes the existence of witches is killed (Linder). This was stated in Exodus and Leviticus, and said to be written because it was intended to urge Jews to adhere to their own religious practices and not those of surrounding tribes. In the early 400’s, St. Augustine, an influential theologian in the early Christian Church, argued that Witchcraft was clearly impossible. He said that God, and God alone could suspend the normal laws of the universe, and that neither Satin nor the supernatural had the ability to effectively invoke magic of any sort (Linder). In 1273, a Dominican monk named Thomas Aquinas said that demons do exist and they lead people into temptation (Linger). And from then on, religious viewers argued the existence of a supernatural being, and Witches were killed for their beliefs. They were tortured and beaten if they admitted to practicing Witchcraft. This went on for years; bu...

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...comedy is usually about a mistaken identity or a person who is in love with someone that loves someone else who is in love with yet, another person. There is an example of this in Twelfth Night: Olivia comes out and tells Sabastian that she wants to marry him because she thinks he is Cesario. Cesario is actually Sebastians twin sister dressed as a man names Viola and Viola loves the duke, which is the person she works for. The duke thinks Viola is a man and loves Olivia who loves Cesario who is really Viola; Sebastians twin sister (Skakespearean Comedies) Shakespeare’s comedies are usually filled with lots of confusion and chaos, like Twelfth Night. Next to his comedies, Shakespeare also wrote many Histories. These plays reflect the nationalism under Queen Elizabeth in England. Ten of his histories were about English Kings, while several where about Roman history.