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BASIC INFORMATION
Writer
William
Shakespeare
Year
written
1599
Form
Play
CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION
Written during the English Renaissance 1599
Its intention was to entertain people Providing compelling dichotomy of ideas (Freewill vs fate, public vs private, good vs evil) to instigate
conversation
During Queen Elizabeths monarchy, in Elizabethan England
Produced 70 years after Niccolo Machiavellis The Prince Shakespeare had full knowledge of its existence
Shakespeare criticised the pragmatic values explored in The Prince, favouring idealistic values
Idealistic values were favoured due to the need to appeal to the monarchy Reflected in the idea of fate vs freewill
Shakespeare also punishes idealism through Julius Caesars assassination However he punishes Brutus and Cassius for their betrayal of loyalty The
chain of being is disrupted
TECHNIQUES
Technique
Meaning
Effect
Foreshadowing of Caesars
assassination Pathetic fallacy of
rain and thunder, bad omens from
the soothsayer, vision of Caesars
corpse
Characterisation of Cassius
Cassius is a manifestation of
Machiavellians ideas
QUOTES
Quote
Meaning
Effect
THE PRINCE
BASIC INFORMATION
Writer
Niccolo Machiavelli
Year
written
1513
Form
Treatise (Discussion of
idea)
CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION
The Prince was without a doubt a pragmatic approach to leadership Invoked ruthlessness and deception Contrasted with Shakespeares idealism
TECHNIQUES
Technique
Meaning
Effect
Unequivocal exposition
High modality diction
Personification of fate as a
woman
being punished)
It is an unequivocal exposition that fate can be limited
through the exercise of freewill
QUOTES
Quote
Meaning
Effect
Refer to above
Antithesis between public and private
Refer to above