Free essays on plays are written by experts who have a deep understanding of theater and literature. The essays can cover a wide range of topics, such as analysis of specific plays, information on playwrights, and historical context of certain plays. These essays are often used by students, scholars, and theater enthusiasts to gain a better understanding of different aspects of plays. They can be accessed online and are often available in various formats, including PDFs and word documents. Additionally, free essays on plays are a great resource for those who wish to expand their knowledge about theater and literature without having to pay for expensive academic resources.
Settle For Half
In A View From The Bridge, Arthur Miller aimed to write a modern tragedy involving ‘the common man’. He wrote in 1949 for the New York Times that ‘the common man is an apt a subject from tragedy in it’s highest sense as kings were. He thought that tragedy ‘is the consequence of a man’s total compulsion to evaluate himself justly’ and that most of us are willing to remain passive when our dignity and our image of our rightful…...
A View From The BridgeCultureLawTragedy
Lady Macbeth Is The Real Villain Of The Play
In ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’ . Shakespeare portrays many negative subjects through the Acts of the Apostless of Lady Macbeth which show the audience that she is a existent scoundrel of this drama. She holds a malicious docket and many immorality inclinations which separate her from the mean single. but this was merely after construing the witched prophase. Therefore. non merely doing her the lone guilty scoundrel in the drama. Lady Macbeth is no more than an embodiment of immorality.…...
Plays
Willy Loman in “Death of a Salesman”
In In death of a salesman we see an optimistic salesman, Willy Loman, in the last 48 hours of his life. The play has frequent flashbacks to Willy’s past that are representative of how Willy is having a nervous breakdown and later commits suicide. We see Willy as a broken man under the cutthroat capitalist system he has so loyally served and supported all his working live trying to make the best for his family and trying unsuccessfully to become…...
Plays
Save time and effort. Get incredible results with the help of our writers.
Hire a Pro to Write You a 100% Plagiarism-Free Paper.
Get My
Paper
Honest Ghost “Hamlet”
The following sample essay on "Honest Ghost Hamlet" discusses Shakespeare's world famous work. In particular, the image of the Ghost and Hamlet is analyzed. Immediately after the Ghost has left the stage Hamlet is uncertain to whether it has come from either Heaven or Hell and, until he has other proof Claudius’s guilt, he remains ready to believe “it is a damned ghost we have seen. ” The Ghost talks about returning to Purgatory and Hamlet at once insists that…...
AfterlifeGhostHamletSoul
Sheila’s Changing Character in Play
I agree with this statement because at the beginning of the play Sheila seems very bubbly and she is always happy about everything, but as the truth comes out as the play goes on Sheila becomes unhappy and more and more upset. Eric changes as the play goes on because at the start of the play he can drink as much as he likes and the family won’t notice how much he is drinking because they don’t suspect him to…...
An Inspector CallsCommunication
Miller’s Masculinity in A View from the Bridge
How Does Miller present masculinity in a view from the bridge? Masculinity is an evident theme that runs through the play and is made very obvious through the speech and actions of the characters. The main leading males are Eddy, Marco and Rudolph, [Alfieri could also be considered as a main male role] each playing different roles and different types of men. Arthur Miller does subvert from the theme of masculinity and highlights the ever important theme of femininity throughout,…...
A View From The BridgeCultureMasculinity
Suspense In Romeo And Juliet
How does the Prologue at the start of Romeo and Juliet create suspense? William Shakespeare, writer of Romeo and Juliet, creates suspense through the use of different techniques. Shakespeare is very particular in his choice of diction, by wisely picking specific vocabulary to create an atmosphere. It is usual that a Greek tragedy, such as Romeo and Juliet, contains a Prologue to set the tone for the rest of the play. Shakespeare wrote the Prologue in a Sonnet form using…...
Plays
Shakespeare Soliloquy
How far would you agree with this statement with particular reference to the ways in which Shakespeare presents Hamlet through his soliloquies? William Shakespeare presents Hamlet as possessing a mind that is in turmoil. However, it must be argued whether this turmoil exists in Hamlet’s subliminal thoughts, as a result of recent experiences, or whether, as his soliloquies suggest, Hamlet’s conscious thought processes reveal his reasoning behind why he should take revenge. The tragically flawed hero’s confusion can be explained…...
HamletMindReasonThoughtWilliam Shakespeare
Tragedy Narrowly Averted
The following sample essay on Tragedy Narrowly Averted tells about the fine line between tragedy and comedy for the audience. How far do you agree with this statement with reference to ‘Much Ado about Nothing? Shakespearean ‘Much Ado about Nothing’ (MAN) juxtaposes the themes of love and deceit and how deception can be used for good or evil. This juxtaposition creates a fine line between tragedy and comedy for the audience and portrays the tragic elements underlying in comedy. There…...
ComedyDeceptionLiterary GenreLoveMuch Ado About NothingTragedy
Exploring Betrayal and Loyalty Through Play Structure
How are ideas about betrayal and loyalty explored through the structure of the play-within-a-play? The most obvious structural feature is the ‘play-within-a-play’, which highlights the parallels between the characters and themes in Mozart’s opera, and those in Nowra’s play. Both the opera and play revolve around issues of loyalty, fidelity and betrayal. The backdrop of war is also a significant feature of both texts: the Vietnam War in the 1970s (in Cosi) and the Albanian battle for independence from the…...
Plays
Hamlet Analysis Essay
The following sample essay on Hamlet Analysis Essay tells about Old King Hamlet. Today’s society has begun to move away from religious concepts, and closer towards the black and white thinking of reality. In the words of John Lennox, “reality leaves a lot to the imagination”, which is where Shakespeare fills in the imagination with religion. In the time of Shakespeare, Christianity was beginning to become popular, as Shakespeare himself was said to have been a Christian. In many…...
Plays
Mel Gibson Hamlet
Hamlet, one of the most discussed plays from the Shakespearean canon, has generated more film adaptations than any other Shakespeare play. The two film productions under discussion are those of Laurence Olivier (1948) and Franco Zeffirelli (1990). It is important to note that all of Shakespeare’s plays were created especially for the stage. Laurence Olivier states that, … allowing for the distinction between the two media, the same problems remain, of reducing the length, elucidating the plot, unravelling irrelevancies, and…...
Plays
Father And Child Gwen Harwood Analysis
Gwen Harwood- Father and Child The ability of a text to be universally accepted in a range of contexts ultimately determines its textual integrity and appreciation. Gwen Harwood’s work draws from the inspiration of her context, her lifelong influences, primarily music, her childhood and religious beliefs. This can be identified through study of Gwen Harwood’s poem, “Father and Child” that is able to be appreciated in a multitude of different contexts due to its universality and textual integrity. Gwen Harwood’s…...
CultureKing LearMusicPoetry
“Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
The following example essay on “Macbeth by William Shakespeare" discuss the techniques William Shakespeare has used to express the theme of ambition and good vs. evil in Macbeth, Shakespeare expressed these themes using various techniques such as imagery, symbolism, hyperbole and personification. The theme of ambition is one of the major themes within the story and it shows the destruction ambition can cause.When Shakespeare first introduces us to Macbeth, who in my opinion is the most ambitious character in the…...
MacbethWilliam Shakespeare
Gerald Croft’s Character Analysis in the Play
Gerald Croft tries to avoid any involvement with the questioning from Inspector Goole and says “Look here, sir. Wouldn’t you rather I was out of this?” Automatically the audience will assume he’s hiding something and wants to escape any inquiries. Mr. Birling in trying to protect his future son in law from inquiries defends Gerald by saying “he is the son of Sir George Croft- you know Crofts Limited.” This has a double meaning. In one way Priestly builds up…...
Plays
Sheila Birling’s Play Analysis
Gerald’s attempt to stop the truth from coming out results in Sheila being hysterical by the end of Act 1. At the beginning of Act 2, Priestley ensures that Sheila is in the same hysterical (panic- stricken and frenzied) state, but he ensures that she remains centre stage. By doing this, Priestley also ensures that the audience knows that Sheila will learn everything. It will add to Sheila’s understanding and her growth as a person, and she will be the…...
Plays
Eva Smith Death
Gerald Croft is the son of Birling’s business rival. He seems be bright, polite and charming by the first impression. He also hardworking confident man. In Act-two, the Inspector caught Gerald; he was cheating on Sheila. At the time he was with a woman name, Daisy Renton whom was Eva Smith has claimed name. Gerald met her in a bar. Gerald came to her and soon made her his mistress. Gerald gave a roof over Eva’ head and he shows…...
An Inspector CallsDeathDisease
Friar Lawrence Is To Blame
Friar Lawrence is the local Roman Catholic priest who is also an apothecary. He is the confident of both Romeo and Juliet and plays an important role in the fate of both. He is more than aware of the family’s feuding and seems to be well thought of by everybody. Romeo respects Friar Lawrence very much and sees him as a father figure. When Romeo feels suicidal when he has just been banished from Verona, the Friar tells him to…...
Romeo And Juliet
Key Scenes In Hamlet
Friend: Ophelia, I got your message. What’s the matter? Ophelia: I’ve ruined it. I can’t do it anymore. I want this all to be over. Friend: What? Ophelia you know you can tell me anything, it’s me. Ophelia: No, No I can’t even bring myself to say it. PAUSE OPHELIA IS ABOUT TO SAY. HAMLET ENTERS. OPHELIA BURSTS INTO TEARS. Ophelia: I don’t want him here. Get him out! Friend: Look she’s in a bad way. I think you should…...
Plays
Vladimir And Estragon
Furthermore, the search for confirmation of existence is apparent in the characters Vladimir and Estragon. The fact that they are living in a bare setting already gives them a lack of identity. Yet, they have an identity and know who they are by their names; they just crave confirmation from each other. The two characters are extremely sensitive and vulnerable which is why they can never leave each others’ sides; they feel weak alone. This neediness shows a sufficient lack…...
Human NatureMemoryMemory LossMetaphysicsWaiting For Godot
Version of “Macbeth” by Roman Polanski
For my film analysis, I was fortunate that there many different adaptations of the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare. Most of them are set in the period of the play, like Roman Polanski’s 2002 version, which I also viewed and found to be disappointing at best. The only good thing was the realism of the sword fighting. Realistically clumsy in their armor, which was amusing, but other than that, dull, dull, dull. Instead, I opted to view and analyze the…...
Plays
Romeo Juliet Summary
For my English coursework, I have been studying the Shakespeare play “Romeo and Juliet”. “Romeo and Juliet” is a romantic tragedy. The plot chronicles two star-crossed lovers, which belong to two feuding families, the “Capulet” family and the “Montague” family. For the two to be happy they must deceive their families. This is done with the help of Juliet’s maid and Friar Lawrence. The dramatic play concludes tragically as the couple die, together, in a sad twist of fate. The…...
DramaFictionLovePlaysRomeo And Juliet
Forrest Gump Destiny
Fates Destiny Society has always questioned whether love or death is a matter of choice or fate. Fate is the theory that everything happens just the way it is supposed to happen. It is also the notion that all things and events are predetermined by a higher power. In William Shakespeares’ Romeo and Juliet, he writes about a young man named Romeo who falls in love with a woman named Juliet. Romeo’s falling in love with Juliet causes multiple people…...
DestinyFilm AnalysisForrest GumpRomeo And Juliet
Nature of Family in Sophocles’ Play Oedipus
Family creates a sense of identity for each individual. In the case of Oedipus the King, identity is a very important concept as it helps one establish one’s integrity. One of the themes of the play is the importance and value of family; this gives the tragedy the sense of ‘not knowing’ as it coincides with any prior knowledge that the characters may have of their fate. Sophocles creates the concept of family as an idea of origins; Oedipus enters…...
Oedipus Rex
Forming and Using Elements Of Drama in a Play
Elements Of Drama The dictionary definition of Drama is the activity of acting, or simply a play for theatre, the elements however that make up this intricate and diverse art form are far more complex than the concluding definition. The elements of Drama are essentially building blocks that culminate in the finality of this wholesome, rigorous activity. A simple way to understand a form as complex as Drama, Is to look at It as a physical project, Like building a…...
Plays
Educating Rita Play Script
Educating Rita is a story about a working class woman who wants to become Educated. Both the play script and the film were written and developed by Willy Russell; both are very similar except from slight changes with regards to setting and character. The audience, and therefore the audience interpretation, would also differ. The film script is based on the play script and the development of it. The film script has extra added scenes and more characters, some of which…...
Plays
Eddie Carbone in ‘A view from the bridge’
Eddie Carbone is main character in ‘A view from the bridge’. Set in the 1940’s ‘A view from the bridge’ was written in the 1950’s by Arthur Miller, (Miller was influenced by Greek tragedy). During those times Italian immigrants came over to America for work, dreams and freedom but like in this story it all ends in disaster, Eddie’s an Italian American. This play is a tragedy because the play ends in death, also Eddie Carbone is tragic in that…...
A View From The BridgeBridgeEnvyFilm AnalysisIronyJealousy
Eddie Carbone’s Transformation
Eddie Carbone is one of the main characters in Arthur Millers ‘A View From A Bridge’. Within the production Eddie is seen as from a warm loving man into an over-protective uncle, jealous over his Nieces own love for an immigrant known as Rodolfo, thus turning into a love triangle and leading to the death of himself. Was this his own fault or was it due to the actions of someone else? Eddie Carbone’s Tragic Hero Qualities: Within the play ‘A View…...
A View From The Bridge
Macbeth Macduff
Compare and contrast Macbeth, Macduff, and Banquo. How are they alike? How are they different? Is it possible to argue that Macbeth is the play’s villain and Macduff or Banquo its hero? Is the matter more complicated than that? Macbeth is the “bravest” soldier, very noble, courageous. He is also the honorable Thane of Glamis, but he is not a virtuous one. Macduff is very loyal Scottish nobleman, courageous and is also a Thane of a city. Banquo is a…...
Plays
The Devil And Tom Walker Themes
Comparison Essay As the reader or audience members read the book, “The Devil & Tom Walker” and the play Macbeth , you tend to visualize the comparison between the two authors. The most common theme used by both Shakespeare and Irving is greed. In which Greed is the intense and selfish desire for something, such as wealth, food, power or excessively or inordinate desire for wealth, and profit. Throughout the book “The Devil & Tom Walker” and in the play…...
GreedMacbethWilliam Shakespeare
Is Eric or Gerald Responsible for Eva’s Death
Compare And Contrast Eric And Gerald. Which Do You Consider To Be Most To Blame For Eva’s Death? Eric and Gerald share similarities, the main one being that they both had a relationship with Eva. They also both gave her money and their behaviours went against the moral ‘code’ of the time. There are more differences however between the pair. Eric exploited Eva whereas Gerald ‘rescued’ her meaning that Eva meant different things to them. Whilst Eric made Eva worried, Gerald…...
An Inspector CallsDeathDiseaseHuman Nature
The Glass Menagerie Character Analysis
Character Analyzation in The Glass Menagerie Many people find it difficult to cope with reality. While most choose to press on through their struggles, some choose to ignore them completely. They engross themselves in their own little world in order to escape reality. We see various examples of this with the Wingfield family in Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie. Amanda Wingfield is the mother of Tom and Laura. She is a “southern belle” whose glory days have long since faded…...
Plays
Alienation in “King Lear” and “The Jew of Malta”
The following sample essay on Alienation in "King Lear" and "The Jew of Malta". By definition, the term “alienation” has different meanings. First, it refers to the state of being “estrange”, causing somebody “to become unfriendly or indifferent (by unpopular or distasteful actions)” Alienation also means a feeling of being “shut out from society”. Another meaning of the term “alienation” is “critical detachment (of actors and audience) from, emotional non-involvement in, problems presented by a drama, which is commonly known…...
King LearLove
Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet A Modern Epic of Love.
The following sample essay on "Baz Luhrmann Romeo And Juliet ": by general consensus the original and world’s greatest epic concerning love, Romeo and Juliet is presented here by Baz Luhrmann in a thoroughly modern and accessible format, whilst retaining the original plot and utilising some of the world’s best-known text. I must admit that, before I viewed this film, I approached it with a not insignificant amount of trepidation. I myself am not a great fan of the original…...
Plays
Death In A Streetcar Named Desire
Blanche’s death speech plays a vital role in the development of the play “A Streetcar named Desire”. In the monologue the tension between Blanche and Stella comes to a zenith as Blanch explodes with rage as she expresses her jealousy-driven feelings to Stella. In doing so Blanche reveals much more, including her unstable mental state, her emotional reaction to the lost of Belle Reve, and most importantly her preoccupation with the theme of death. One of the roles of this…...
Plays
Summary Of Antigone
Being the third, yet first written, of Sophocles’ Theban tragic myths, Antigone was written in or around 441 B. C. The setting of Antigone occurs in the palace of Thebes. Thebes is ruled by Creon, whose sister, Jocasta, was the wife and mother of infamous Oedipus Rex. Oedipus was King of Thebes until he expelled himself from the kingdom, leaving his children Polynices, Ismene, Eteocles, and Antigone, along with the throne, in Creon’s care. The two brothers Polynices and Eteocles…...
Oedipus Rex
Reflection Essay On Romeo And Juliet Film
Baz Luhrmann had to encapsulate a timeless Shakespeare classic into a contemporary, snappy, interesting and engaging Hollywood blockbuster. Well, no one said it was going to be easy. But the question still remains – how did he do it? Today’s generation has been brought up with incredibly strong visual input through media such as television, posters, magazines and the internet. So doing justice to Shakespeare himself, while still trying to appeal to a modern audience was the first problem he…...
Plays
A View From The Bridge Thesis
ASSIGNMENT TITLE: ‘A View from the Bridge ends in tragedy. Explore how the audience’s response is shaped towards this conclusion throughout the play.’ Arthur Miller is a world-renowned playwright and dramatist who was born in New York City in the year 1915. Miller studied at the University of Michigan where he started writing some of his better known plays. In the year 1955, Miller wrote a play called, ‘A View from the Bridge’, it is a 20th century interpretation of the…...
A View From The BridgeBridgeFilm AnalysisTragedy
Private Investment in European Imperialism
At the beginning of European imperialism, the country’s kings and rulers were not too keen on the idea of explorations. They felt that most merchants were chasing a lost cause, or just looking to use up the nation’s coffers and come back with nothing. The kings traditionally only undertook ventures that would bring them riches for sure. There was nothing sure about the trips that explorers wanted to take to Asia and other regions. There was a very, very good…...
Plays
Oedipus As A Tragic Hero
Aristotle uses six different points to define a tragic hero. The tragic hero must be of noble stature and have greatness. Though the tragic hero is pre-eminently great, he/she is not perfect. The hero’s downfall is partially his/her own fault, the result of free choice, not of accidental means. The hero’s misfortune is not wholly deserved and the punishment exceeds the crime. The fall is not pure loss. And though it arouses solemn emotion, tragedy does not leave the audience…...
Oedipus Rex
We've found 901 essay examples
on Plays
24/7 Support