Shakespeares Alls Well That Ends Well, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, and Hamlet :: Free Macbeth Essays

Finding Ourselves in Shakespeare's All's Well That Ends Well, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, and Hamlet Who are we? Paul Simon said, "I am a rock." John Lennon said, "I am the walrus." Steve Miller said, "I'm a joker, I'm a smoker, I'm a midnight toker." Richard Nixon said, "I am not a crook." Basically, it boils down to this: people naturally don't really know who they are, or really are. These metaphorical song lyrics (excluding Tricky Dick) seem to be searches at an explanation of the self. People have been attempting to secure their identities forever. At first this search seemed synonymous with a search of an origin. Religious doctrines were devised to explain who people are and if not, how they should be. However, one's identity or soul or true self is not a stagnant or secure identity. One's character or self is always apt to evolve with age and experience, or quicker, depending on situations like if one is drunk (Cassio), etc. The ambiguity of people's personage is a theme Shakespeare explores in most of his works. He does so with many means: the use of costumes, magic, dishone sty, and most often with confusion. Characters in Shakespeare are never what they seem. Hamlet says, "I know not 'seems.'" Iago says, "I'm not what I am." Henry V says, "Presume not that I am the thing I was." What Shakespeare seems to be doing is breaking down identities. We develop a discourse of pattern-based predictions about who people are and how they will behave. When people act differently or out of our perception of their character we assume something is wrong. We all fester a natural tendency to seek black and white or at least know where people stand. Trust and honesty, declared and respected virtues, are based on this inherent need. Shakespeare again and again breaks these beliefs down by basing all significant action in his plays on people acting out of their perceived characters. Examples include the love quadrangle in A Midsummer Night's Dream; the rejection of Falstaff in Henry IV, Part 2; Othello's struggle with Desdemona's potential promiscuity; Claudio and Prince John's assumption of Hero's whorishness; the Archbishop, Mowbray, and Hastings' belief in the honor of Lancaster's inferred intentions; etc. So often in Shakespeare's plays, characters put on disguises and wear masks to hide who they truly are for some purpose or another. So much of his story lines depend on instances where people's assumptions are false perceptions of who someone really is.

Comments and Reactions on 2014 SONA Essay

July 28, 2014, President Benigno S. Aquino, delivered his fifth State of the Nation Address and tackled the matters for government’s contribution in terms of education, health services, defense, public works and many more. The President first mentioned about the controversial â€Å"Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP)†, and still convince his bosses (Filipinos) of the good achievements of DAP. As an example, he cited Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) as an example, and furthen even showed video clips of those TESDA graduates who have now better lives because of their scholarship. He also highligted some of the accomplishments of the administration which involves the following: the Expanded Conditional Cash Transfer of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which is now extended when the benefeciaries reached eighteen (18) years of age, not only after the completeion of high school; the broader scope of Sin Tax Bill, which help our country increase its budget without increasing other taxes; see more:sona 2017 reaction On the labor sector, it has been noticeable that there is sudden decrease in the number of strikes due to the improved conciliation and mediation of labor cases by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); In the infrastructure, the President acknowledged the improved system of the Department of Public Works and Highways, that leads to lesser of corruption within the bidders and contractors which lead to faster delivery of service and resulted to P28 Billion savings and road projects for the Filipinos. I have my personal omments as I watched nd read the content of the said SONA, as follows: There is no admission of any problems encountered by our country. As we heard the President, it seems that everything went well for the Philippines. I partially agree and gave credit to our present Administration for all its efforts to improve our economy, fight corruption and improve the rotten system of the government. However, in the SONA, there is no admission of any problems and issues encountered of the country and this Aquino Administration, or if he can promise not to have another DAP and Pork Barrel Scam in his administration. On the other hand, I agree with the way the President delivered his SONA, in a softer and calm way. Also, good job for no more attacking words and pointing fingers for the previous leaders administration. Further I am looking not only for the  achievements of this country during Aquino administration but but also for the concrete plans and continuity of what he has started, and think those matters were missing in the SONA. To conlude my reaction, I can say that I am satisfied with the content of President Aquino’s SONA, let us not be so dependent on what the government and the President can and cannot offer us, more importantly let us focus on improving ourselves first, the way we will not be a burden, but as assets and contributors to the growth of this count ry.

Peter Fritzche s Book Germans Into Nazis - 1599 Words

Peter Fritzche’s book, Germans into Nazis, contends that, â€Å"Germans became Nazis because they wanted to become Nazis and because the Nazis spoke so well to their interests and inclinations†¦however, voters did not back Hitler mainly because they share his hatred of the Jews†¦but because they departed from established political traditions in that they were identified at once with a distinctly popular form of ethnic nationalism and with the basic social reforms most Germans counted on to ensure national well-being.† (8-9) His argument rests on the notion that the Nazis had a vision for Germany that incorporated Germans into a national community, throwing off the restraints of a tired government, and propelled them towards a future that would†¦show more content†¦He urged the people, â€Å"go into your churches, kneel before God, and implore his help for our brave army.†(25) This moment hinted at a more independent minded approach to tradition al authority. When coupled together, the emotions of the crowds and the ability of groups like the Fatherland Party to find a footing in the political arena, gives reason to believe that the German people were ready to make a change that served their newfound interests. Fritzche explicitly makes this point, â€Å"the patriotism that Germans displayed was of their own making and suited to new conceptions of nation and citizenship which invited rather than discouraged public participation.† (66) At the conclusion of the war, millions of people were at a loss, and the Nazis stepped in to fill a void left by their opposition who had stoked the flames of nationalism but failed to capitalize on its apparent momentum. This included a strong message that laid blame for the German surrender at the feet of those in charge. Also, previous notions of class were turned upside down or, for the Nazis, right side up, making it possible for an illiberal, fascist community to become the norm. Simply put, â€Å"Basic elements of the Nazi message spoke to the political aspirations that burghers had held for more than ten years.† (192) Germans became Nazis by their own choosing, they were not forced to