THE TRAGEDIES AND POEMS OF SHAKESPEARE

SHAKESPEARE
Why did Shakespeare write tragedies?
Shakespeare wrote tragedies because he felt like other English writers had written work lacking artistic form or purpose. He believed, as we can agree, that his work was extraordinary in the fact that he didnt write the norm.

"To be, or not to be: that is the question" Hamlet Act III, Scene I
Hamlet's story is a sad story. Following the events of his father dying, his mother marrying his uncle, and seeing is father's spirit, Hamlet goes a little insane. Hamlet gets so caught up with the death of his father in trying to understand it that he pushes people away. One person in particular who he pushed away was Ophelia, a woman who truly loved him. After being pushed away from Hamlet, Ophelia goes crazy and takes her life in spite.

HAMLET

MACBETH
"What 's done is done". (Act III, Scene II).
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth will do anything to keep their power, anything at all, even kill people. The couple is a very greedy couple. Lady Macbeth forces her husband to kill people just to keep their throne. In the end Macbeth is not king and Lady Macbeth kills herself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5nlx2XzP-4

Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar is a historical tragedy about the assassination of Caesar and the men who killed him. It is full of murder, intrigue, guilt and tragedy. Brutus is the main character. For he was the murderer and was a wanted man. The play is about power and what happens to a man with power.

Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more." "Et tu, Brute! "As he was valiant, I honor him; but, as he was ambitious, I slew him."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzDWdO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OjMuuk 0W5Q rvGLk

OTHELLO
This play is about a couple's relationship that is ruined by a jealous enemy of the husband. The enemy, Lago, convinces Othello that his wife Desdemona is not being faithful to Othello. He then takes action to prove it. In the end Othello presumes that is in fact true. Thus do I ever make my fool myit purse: For I mine own gain'd knowledge should profane, If I would time expend with such a snipe. But for my sport and profit.

Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeares most famous plays about the star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet who die for each other out of love. However, they are caught the middle of two feuding families. Resulting in this work to be a classic love story. This play is about a doomed couple, heart-wrenching love, and an unfortunate end. Good Night, Good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow. "Tempt not a desperate man." Don't waste your love on somebody, who doesn't value it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0qao2x INsE

From off a hill whose concave womb reworded A plaintful story from a sist'ring vale, My spirits t'attend this double voice accorded, And down I laid to list the sad-tuned tale, Ere long espied a fickle maid full pale, Tearing of papers, breaking rings atwain, Storming her world with sorrow's wind and rain.

The Lovers Complaint

This poem is probably one of the most neglected of Shakespeare's works. It's about a girl telling her story of her heartbreak to a shepherd . It was on how she fell for a very handsome man that has many mistresses. She then became a cloistered nun to keep her away from his temptation. She fell in love anyways and is heartbroken. Thus the title the lovers complaint.

http://www.william-shakespeare.info/william-shakespeare-poem-the-loverscomplaint.htm

Even as the sun with purplecolour'd face Had taken his last leave of the weeping morn, Rose-cheek's Adonis hide him to the chase; Hunting he loved, but love he laugh's to scorn; Sick-thoughted Venus makes amain unto him, And like a boldfaced suitor 'gins to woo him.

Venus and Adonis

This is a unusual love story. Its about a daughter who tricks her father into sleeping with her. Once aware she is his daughter, he tries to kill her. Pregnant, she escapes and becomes a tree; but, with the help of the gods bears a son. Growing into the most beautiful man ever he eventually dies while hunting, but not before Venus(aka Aphrodite) falls in love with him.

http://www.william-shakespeare.info/william-shakespeare-poem-venus-andadonis.htm

A brief description of Shakespeares Tragedies and Poems

There are 3 common features in Shakespeares Tragedies 1)Fatal Flaw - The heros are always flawed, which is the weakness that leads to their downfall 2) The bigger they are, the harder they fall- These tragedies focus on the fall of someone with wealth and power thus their downfall is more tragic than a commoner 3)External Pleasures - The heros often fall from pressures such as fate, evilness or a manipulating person

A complete list of his tragedies: -Antony and Cleopatra -Coriolanus -Hamlet -Julius Caesar -King Lear -Macbeth -Othello -Romeo and Juliet -Timon of Athens -Titus Andronicus

THE END