Sample Paragraphs from previous students (thanks :D )
Sample paragraph about Power....
Power is explored in the two contexts by its assertion and distribution. The value of power is first introduced in Richard’s first monologue in which Richard describes himself as “Cheated of feature by dissembling nature / deformed, unfinished”(I.i.19-20). Shakespeare’s use of symbolism demonstrates Richard’s self-consciousness, as he is aware of his physical appearance, an appearance that was symbolic of evil, as the Elizabethans believed that deformity was a punishment from God. The quote also demonstrates that Richard is aware of his place in Elizabethan society and despite his perceived lower status he still aims to dismantle its power structure (the divine right of kings). Furthermore, Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to further demonise Richard’s character. “From blood to blood / Your right of birth, your empery, your own.” (III.vii.134-7) Shakespeare uses strong imagery to portray Richard as a religious man in order to obtain power to convey Richard’s rejection of the Elizabethan’s Christian moral paradigms. Similarly, the value of power is apparent in Pacino’s docudrama, particularly in his portrayal of Richard III. Dissimilarly to Shakespeare, who exaggerated Richard III’s deformity in order to show Richard’s corruption, Pacino wears black in order to reflect 20th century society’s perception of evil. Furthermore, Pacino explores power by comparing the monarchical power structure of the Elizabethan era and 20th century politics. “The truth is that those in power have total contempt for everything they promise, everything they pledge.” This statement is reflective of both contexts and the visual chiaroscuro of Pacino reciting Richard’s first monologue illustrates Richard’s duplicity. In order to further show the re-shaping of the value of power, Pacino includes vox pops and interviews to demonstrate the democratic power structure of 20th century society. Through their use of Richard III as a vehicle to explore the assertion and distribution of power, both texts accentuate their respective contexts’ power structure.
Sample Paragraph about Morality....
The value of morality is shaped in the play by Christian moral paradigms and re-shaped by Pacino to reflect 20th century society’s growing secularism. Shakespeare uses Richard III as a physical manifestation of evil in order to legitimize the Tudor rule. “And thus I clothe my naked villainy / with old ends stolen out of holy writ; and seem a saint, when I play the devil” (I.iii.336-8). The religious connotations give insight into Richard’s Machiavellian nature and his omission of the divine right of kings. Furthermore, the machinations employed by Richard to dispatch of Hastings and the princes further highlight elements of Machiavellianism. “Should I be plain? I wish the bastards dead.” (IV.ii.19). This demonstrates that Richard’s thirst for power is dissonant of natural order and the offensive pronoun ‘bastards’ further alludes to his Machiavellianism. In order to reflect 20th century values, Pacino explores secularism and highlights the growth of humanism in shaping 20th century morality. This is demonstrated in the scholars’ appreciation for Richard’s pragmatism. “Irony is really only hypocrisy with style… we love Richard’s irony in a way.” This quote is reflective of a 20th century secular mindset that admires Richard’s tenacity and elaborate scheming. Furthermore, the scholar is objective because she’s viewing him from an academic viewpoint and is looking at the psychology of his actions. The use of the mise-en-scene that features a bookshelf further alludes to the scholar’s academic approach to Richard. Pacino juxtaposes the contextual value of morality in the dream scene. Elizabethans would have seen the dream as divine intervention and an opportunity for Richard to gain redemption but as 20th century amoral society, we see the dream as a manifestation of Richard’s guilt from his subconscious. Through the introduction of morality in Richard III and the re-shaping of the value in Looking for Richard, the constructs of morality from the two distinctive contexts are accentuated and we are able to gain a deeper understanding of Richard.
Sample Paragraph about Gender....
The function of women defined by the two texts yields a dissimilar connection and this is influenced through the altered historical and cultural contexts. Fostered by a society denoted by patriarchy and a traditional appreciation for determinism, the role of women within Shakespeare’s text is twofold; assistance in the representation of Richard as intrinsically evil and an endorsement of Richard as a predetermined villain fated to fall. This function, however, is not in balance; patriarchy weakens the former and a customary appreciation of determinism strengthens the latter. Therefore women are perceived as the mouthpiece of determinism. Conversely, a social, political and economic empowerment of women, coupled with growing secularism allows Pacino to exploit Richard’s misogynistic treatment of women as confirmation of his innately evil nature. This role is achieved through an effective filmic representation of Richard’s pursuit of Lady Anne. A creation of slowed film and non-diegetic music along with the consecutive close-ups of Richard’s contorted face are juxtaposed with long shots of a small and vulnerable Lady Anne and a crescendo of discordant operatic music coupled with a repetitive voice-over selecting appropriate quotes such as ‘Was ever a woman in this humour wooed’, ‘was ever a woman in this humour won’ and ‘I’ll have her but I will not keep her long’ serves to reduce Richard to lowly predator. Pacino furthermore selects a young actress and omits the stichomythic discourse between Richard and Anne prior to this in an effort to validate Anne’s willingness to marry in such circumstances. This is seen as one of the most varying concepts in relation to the distinctive contexts of these comparative texts. Therefore, the women in these texts amplify significant connections to the contexts in which they were composed and have been an important device in forming the content of the play and film in regards to texts as a whole form.
Sample paragraph about Power....
Power is explored in the two contexts by its assertion and distribution. The value of power is first introduced in Richard’s first monologue in which Richard describes himself as “Cheated of feature by dissembling nature / deformed, unfinished”(I.i.19-20). Shakespeare’s use of symbolism demonstrates Richard’s self-consciousness, as he is aware of his physical appearance, an appearance that was symbolic of evil, as the Elizabethans believed that deformity was a punishment from God. The quote also demonstrates that Richard is aware of his place in Elizabethan society and despite his perceived lower status he still aims to dismantle its power structure (the divine right of kings). Furthermore, Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to further demonise Richard’s character. “From blood to blood / Your right of birth, your empery, your own.” (III.vii.134-7) Shakespeare uses strong imagery to portray Richard as a religious man in order to obtain power to convey Richard’s rejection of the Elizabethan’s Christian moral paradigms. Similarly, the value of power is apparent in Pacino’s docudrama, particularly in his portrayal of Richard III. Dissimilarly to Shakespeare, who exaggerated Richard III’s deformity in order to show Richard’s corruption, Pacino wears black in order to reflect 20th century society’s perception of evil. Furthermore, Pacino explores power by comparing the monarchical power structure of the Elizabethan era and 20th century politics. “The truth is that those in power have total contempt for everything they promise, everything they pledge.” This statement is reflective of both contexts and the visual chiaroscuro of Pacino reciting Richard’s first monologue illustrates Richard’s duplicity. In order to further show the re-shaping of the value of power, Pacino includes vox pops and interviews to demonstrate the democratic power structure of 20th century society. Through their use of Richard III as a vehicle to explore the assertion and distribution of power, both texts accentuate their respective contexts’ power structure.
Sample Paragraph about Morality....
The value of morality is shaped in the play by Christian moral paradigms and re-shaped by Pacino to reflect 20th century society’s growing secularism. Shakespeare uses Richard III as a physical manifestation of evil in order to legitimize the Tudor rule. “And thus I clothe my naked villainy / with old ends stolen out of holy writ; and seem a saint, when I play the devil” (I.iii.336-8). The religious connotations give insight into Richard’s Machiavellian nature and his omission of the divine right of kings. Furthermore, the machinations employed by Richard to dispatch of Hastings and the princes further highlight elements of Machiavellianism. “Should I be plain? I wish the bastards dead.” (IV.ii.19). This demonstrates that Richard’s thirst for power is dissonant of natural order and the offensive pronoun ‘bastards’ further alludes to his Machiavellianism. In order to reflect 20th century values, Pacino explores secularism and highlights the growth of humanism in shaping 20th century morality. This is demonstrated in the scholars’ appreciation for Richard’s pragmatism. “Irony is really only hypocrisy with style… we love Richard’s irony in a way.” This quote is reflective of a 20th century secular mindset that admires Richard’s tenacity and elaborate scheming. Furthermore, the scholar is objective because she’s viewing him from an academic viewpoint and is looking at the psychology of his actions. The use of the mise-en-scene that features a bookshelf further alludes to the scholar’s academic approach to Richard. Pacino juxtaposes the contextual value of morality in the dream scene. Elizabethans would have seen the dream as divine intervention and an opportunity for Richard to gain redemption but as 20th century amoral society, we see the dream as a manifestation of Richard’s guilt from his subconscious. Through the introduction of morality in Richard III and the re-shaping of the value in Looking for Richard, the constructs of morality from the two distinctive contexts are accentuated and we are able to gain a deeper understanding of Richard.
Sample Paragraph about Gender....
The function of women defined by the two texts yields a dissimilar connection and this is influenced through the altered historical and cultural contexts. Fostered by a society denoted by patriarchy and a traditional appreciation for determinism, the role of women within Shakespeare’s text is twofold; assistance in the representation of Richard as intrinsically evil and an endorsement of Richard as a predetermined villain fated to fall. This function, however, is not in balance; patriarchy weakens the former and a customary appreciation of determinism strengthens the latter. Therefore women are perceived as the mouthpiece of determinism. Conversely, a social, political and economic empowerment of women, coupled with growing secularism allows Pacino to exploit Richard’s misogynistic treatment of women as confirmation of his innately evil nature. This role is achieved through an effective filmic representation of Richard’s pursuit of Lady Anne. A creation of slowed film and non-diegetic music along with the consecutive close-ups of Richard’s contorted face are juxtaposed with long shots of a small and vulnerable Lady Anne and a crescendo of discordant operatic music coupled with a repetitive voice-over selecting appropriate quotes such as ‘Was ever a woman in this humour wooed’, ‘was ever a woman in this humour won’ and ‘I’ll have her but I will not keep her long’ serves to reduce Richard to lowly predator. Pacino furthermore selects a young actress and omits the stichomythic discourse between Richard and Anne prior to this in an effort to validate Anne’s willingness to marry in such circumstances. This is seen as one of the most varying concepts in relation to the distinctive contexts of these comparative texts. Therefore, the women in these texts amplify significant connections to the contexts in which they were composed and have been an important device in forming the content of the play and film in regards to texts as a whole form.