Discussion 4

Both Laertes and Polonius object to Ophelia's relationship with Hamlet because they are concerned with her well-being.  They perceive Hamlet as having gone mad.  Not only do they believe that Hamlet has gone mad, but they also believe that Hamlet's royal background will negatively affect Ophelia.  While they share similar objections, they expressions of these objections are different.  While Polonius is demanding, tedious, and condescending in his persuasion, Laertes is more kind and serves as a great brother.  Obviously, Laertes has a more respectful view of women in general, while Polonius's sexist notions suggest his condescending view of women.

Horatio: Seasoned with a Side of Reason

In Hamlet, Shakespeare uses patterns of language for different characters to illustrate in depth the prevalence of existing relationships.  After enduring the murder of his father and the remarriage of his mother, Hamlet exhibits unreasonable and indecisive behavior.  Although he possesses good intentions, Hamlet's lack of direction and devastated emotional state, in part, is a result of not having a living father figure.  Horatio, Hamlet's greatest friend, serves not only as a protectorate of Hamlet, but also as source of logic and skepticism for Hamlet's increasingly insensible behavior.  Shakespeare's juxtaposition of Horatio’s sensible decisiveness to Hamlet’s irrational behavior enables the audience to clearly discern that Horatio is the voice of reason for Hamlet.

One well-written paragraph on any small aspect of Prufrock

"I have measured out my life with coffee spoons"

Prufrock illustrates the complexities of society through very bleak diction.  This line in particular indicates the speaker's absolute sense of futility.  The speaker's perception of society is very calculating, as he has literarily measured out his life in an extremely humdrum fashion.  By making this statement, the speaker indicates that he is convinced that there is unquestionably nothing for him to look forward to in the future and that his perception of society is skewed.  Yes, it is quite possible that if a person drank coffee everyday for his entire live, he could potentially measure out his life with coffee spoons; however, why would someone ever be in that mindset?  Evidently, the speaker lacks faith in society, and therefore, he does not see any beauty in society whatsoever.

“Coy Mistress”: Essay with ONE central, interesting claim about the poem

In To His Coy Mistress, Marvell uses a three-part structure, each consisting of different tones and emotions in order to convey the theme of carpe diem.  In lines 1-20, Marvell speaks to his mistress in the condition:  "Two hundred to adore each breast, But thirty thousand to the rest." Marvell employs a high-spirited tone, which expresses the magnitude of his love for his mistress, without considering the withering effects of time.  In a perfect, timeless world, he could afford to be patient; however, lines 21-32 play a pivotal role in the poem, as these lines serve as a reality check for the mistress. Although he states that he would be patient in their relationship in a timeless world, Marvell uses the second part to emphasize the constraints of time:  "The beauty shall no more be found."  Marvel, using a rather ominous tone, stresses that, unlike his conditional world where beauty would be preserved, their youth, beauty, and fertility cannot be taken for granted.  In the final part, lines 33-46, Marvell employs an urgent tone.  In the previous part, he had made his claim that the boundaries of time were very much real; however, in the third part, he takes what he said in the second part and says that they should make the best of their relationship before time runs out.  While the third part is the only part that concretely stresses "carpe diem," both of the other parts have just as important a role in demonstrating it.  Both parts serve as a introduction to the final part, as they are different proposals.

How the 3-part structure and sound and poetic devices enhance meaning of "Coy Mistress"

Andrew Marvell in "To His Coy Mistress," expresses his love and passion for his mistress; however, he also emphasizes the limitations that time has placed on their love.  Therefore, he states that they must make the most out of their relationships within its boundary of time.  In lines 1-20, the writer speaks in the conditional.  He states that in a perfect world, they could do whatver they pleased without worrying about time; however, line 21-32 play a pivotal role.  This portion of the poem servesas a reality check, emphasizing the withering constraints of time.  Then, from lines 33-46, the writer expresses the urgency of their relationship.  He states that they need to do everything they can before time runs out.