A Midsummer Night s Dream And The Taming Of The Shrew

A comedic story can be summed up as one thing; a hero who triumphs over evil and wins the day. In these tales, our main character encounters around one hardship and overcomes it with much ease. The ancient Greek playwrights had a similar view on comedic tales: in order for something to be a comedy, the main character must reach a positive outcome. So no matter what comes their way, our hero will be in a better spot than he was at the beginning. Well-known comedies include A Midsummer Night s Dream, The Taming of the Shrew, and Cyrano de Bergerac. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Taming of the Shrew, the main character achieves their goal with few hardships. Yet, in Cyrano de Bergerac, our main character’s ambitions are never†¦show more content†¦Yet, if he were to act sad and depressed, then the tale would be more of a tragedy, since it would belabor the negative context. By focusing on Cyrano’s point of view, Rostand was able to make a pathetic situ ation seem humorous and hopeful. In this tragic event, Rostand accentuates Cyrano s support towards Roxane and by doing so, he makes the scene seem more of a heroic comedy. Consequently, the tension between Cyrano and Roxane isn t the only place where Cyrano s wit is up against the tragic play. On the other hand, Cyrano’s optimism counterbalances the play’s tragic theme when he confronts De Guiche, during a battle in Arras. De Guiche, who suffers from Cyrano’s humiliations, decides to betray the Gascons and sent the Spanish army to slaughter them. Despite this, Cyrano takes this as an opportunity to show off his strength. He tells his fellow Gascons, â€Å"My friends, we shall add now to our old Gascon arms with their six chevrons, blue and gold, a seventh, blood red!† (IV. 164). Here, Cyrano seems especially proud of this chance, that he and his fellow soldiers will get the chance to die in â€Å"honor.† Not only that, but right before he charges into battle, Cyrano yells at a Spanish offer who asks him, â€Å"Who are these men who are so fond of death?† (IV 200). Full of pride, he replies, â€Å"The Cadets of Gascoyne, the defenders of Carbon de Castel-Jaloux, free fighters, free lovers, free spenders.† (IV 200). In this sc ene, despite the tragic event that De Guiche hasShow MoreRelatedLa Story and Shakespeare1546 Words   |  7 Pagescredited with being a variation on A Midsummer Nights Dream. This is a more subtle lifting of the works. The similarities are limited to the device of the confused lovers, and the possible use of magic in order to bring the lovers to their correct partner. The similarities would probably have gone unnoticed were it not for the production notes that came as a supplement on the DVD, wherein Steve Martin bluntly says that he took the idea from A Midsummer Night‘s Dream. But as previously stated, the themeRead MoreSonnet 107 by William Shakespeare-literary analysis.1200 Words   |  5 PagesWilliam Shakespeare s Sonnet 107 Nowadays William Shakespeare is renown as one of the world s greatest and most prolific dramatists of all times.Both tragedies such as Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Anthony and Cleopatra, and light-hearted comedies like The Taming of the Shrew and A Midsummer Night s Dream are still box-office successes in theatres all around the globe.Yet, besides being a playwright, Shakespeare has also exercised his complex literary talents in poetry, appreciated inRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Influence On The Course Of World History1440 Words   |  6 PagesShakespeare s first child was named Susanna, and she was born on May 26,1583. Two years later, on February 2,1585, Anne was pregnant with twins. Their names were Hamnet and Judith. Hamnet, however, died at age 11 due to unknown causes. When the twins were born the â€Å"lost years† came into effect (â€Å"William Shakespeare Biography†). This period of time was seven years where there were no records of Shakespeare. Throughout the years, Shakespeare made a living as an actor and playwright. In the early 1590’s, ShakespeareRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s English Literature Essay1667 Words   |  7 PagesWilliam Shakespeare has been best known for his poems, plays and masterful piece of writings in the English language. He has been referred to as the England s national poet and the Bard of Avon. He produced over thirty eight plays, hundred fifty four sonnets, five poems, and more verses. Shakespeare s plays consist of mainly tragedies, comedies and histories which are regarded as one of the best in those genres. 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Here are some of my favorite stories ever written; Othello, The Moon of Venice, The Taming of the Shrew, Twelfth Night or What You Will, Julius Caesar, Richard III, Macbeth (which was a favorite in high school), Midsummer Night’s Dream ( I have read that book), Henry V, Hamlet, which I might add Mel Gibson did very well playing that part, and my most favorite love story of all time, Romeo and Juliet. As youRead MoreHow Shakespeare Impacted The British History?1851 Words   |  8 Pagesto his own outstanding work due to the fact that his parents were illiterate. Shakespeare’s first plays were based on the categories of comedy and tragedy such as â€Å"Titus Andronicus , The Two Gentlemen of Verona , The Comedy of Errors, The Taming of the Shrew, and â€Å"Henry VI† . (William Shakespeare, n.d.). He began interacting with different theater companies when his plays started becoming a hit on the stage. By, 1594 he prepared to write and acting for a troupe called Lord Chamberlain’s Men, inRead MoreShakespeare As A Midsummer Nights Dream Essay1922 Words   |  8 PagesHenry VI and Richard III, King John centered on the Kings right to the throne. Shakespeare not along just wrote plays that applied to history he also included some comedy plays such as The Taming of the Shrew, The comedy of Errors, The Gentlemen of Vernon. A popular play of Shakespeare A Midsummer Night’s Dream, tells a story of courtship within the suffering of Love, such as Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare had a long list of plays of Tragedy of noble ch aracters; Hamlet, Macbeth, Anthony and CleopatraRead MoreEssay on Biography of William Shakespeare2736 Words   |  11 PagesAge. It was in this atmosphere that London became a leading center of culture as well as commerce. Its dramatists and poets were among the leading literary artists of the daythis is the environment in which Shakespeare lived and wrote. In the 1580s, the writings of the University Wits defined the London theatre. Though grounded in medieval/Jacobean roots, men such as Marlowe, Greene, Lyly, Kyd, and Peele, produced new dramas and comedies using Marlowes styling of blank verse. Shakespeare outdidRead More Shakespeares World Essay3144 Words   |  13 Pageshave known that he was a successful playwright while he was alive. There is not even a contemporary portrait to reveal his true appearance. Although a number of mentions of William Shakespeare the poet-dramatist appear on record during the 1590s and early 1600s, they comment only briefly on his writings, telling us nothing about the man. Less is known about Shakespeare than almost any other playwright of his time. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The orthodox version of William Shakespeares life is probably