ERH 321WX
John Stann
11/9/19
Help Received: Spell Check, Grammar check, Works cited

Revenge
Hamlet, like many of Shakespeare’s plays with a focus on a particular emotion or set of emotions. In Othello, for instance, Shakespeare focuses on passions and in Hamlet, Shakespeare decides to tackle the act of revenge. Two of the main characters in Hamlet are driven by the desire for revenge, and this desire drives both characters to either act rashly or to madness and eventual suicide. In Hamlet, the main character, Hamlet, and Laertes are both driven by revenge. It Is important to study revenge specifically in Hamlet not only because we can learn what the people thought about revenge but the Christian doctrine on revenge can be learned too.
Shakespeare was influenced in his plays by his Christian religion. Many Christian themes seep into his plays and suicide and revenge specifically are explored in great detail in Hamlet. “Hamlet is strongly influenced by Christian theology: even as it lays out the motives and impulse to revenge, it also gestures toward the prohibition of revenge in divine and positive law.” (Jordan,202). Shakespeare also adds a legal twist to the issue of revenge. According to the customs and beliefs of England at the time, “Most opinion declared that a wronged subject had no recourse against tyranny but prayer.” (Jordan, 202) However, because Hamlet is royalty himself, some believe him to be in a privileged position and he should act not just for revenge, but for justice as well. (Jordan, 203) A third twist is added with the relationships of the characters of the play. Because Claudius was Hamlet’s father’s brother and he married his mother this makes Hamlet’s desire for revenge a familial matter. Because Claudius married his brother’s wife some would believe this to be an incestus relationship, Hamlet himself makes reference to this in the play. Because Incest is a sin, was Hamlet justified in this regard to act against a sinful person? The beliefs on revenge is interesting in early modern England while the bible declares revenge to be a sin, there were some instances according to Early English writers that said that revenge was allowed, albeit still looked down on. “the most tolerable sort of revenge is for those wrongs which there is no law to remedy; but then let a man take heed the revenge be such as there is no law to punish; else the man’s enemy is still beforehand, and it is two for one.” (Jordan, 208) Through this view of the multifaceted approach to revenge the character of Hamlet and his desire for revenge becomes far more interesting to analyze.
Part 2
Hamlet’s desire for revenge comes from his want for justice against his father. “Yea, from the table of my memory, I’ll wipe away all trivial fond records, all saws of books, all forms, all pressures past. That youth and observation copied there, and they commandment all alone shall live with the book and volume of my brain.” (I.v.97-101) Hamlet doesn’t want the throne, he doesn’t even want to live, he just wants justice for his murdered father. Because there is no law, above the king, Hamlet is justified in seeking revenge. He doesn’t gain anything out of it except for rest for his and his father’s soul. “Rest, rest, perturbed spirit!” and later on “That ever I was born to set it right!” (II.i.179-185). Laertes, on the other hand, while he does seek revenge for the same act, murder, does not go about it in the correct way. There are legal ways to solve disputes, the king, however, manipulates Laertes so that he can use him for his own plans instead of Laertes going about getting justice in the proper way. “Let this be so, his means of death his obscure funeral, no trophy, sword, nor hatchment o’er his bones no noble rite, nor formal ostentation, cry to be heard, as ‘twere from heaven to earth, that I must call into question.” (IV.V. 209-213). Instead of Laertes desiring justice in the legal manner, he gets caught up in his emotions and vows revenge instead. In doing so, he uses revenge in the wrong way.
Everything in the Christian world had a purpose, revenge should be used only in the right way. This includes revenge. Hamlet sought revenge for the right reason while Laertes sought revenge for the wrong reason despite desiring the same end goal.

Works cited

Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Edited by Constance, Jordan, Pearson/Longman, 2005.

ERH 321WX

John Stann

Help Received: Works Cited, Spell Check, bibliography

Shakespeare and War in Othello

With the end of the middle ages and the beginning of the renaissance, ideas began to spread that changed society and the world one of these ideas was the evolution of the military.  (pg 291.). Because of a military revolution and the rise of nation-states, warfare changed from cavalry dominating the battlefield to infantry. Muskets and cannon replaced longbows and crossbows and professionalism replaced feudalism. All of these changes affected the way wars were fought and the status of soldiers in society.

During the middle ages, knights were an important part in society.  They offered their lords military service in return for land.  The age of enlightenment and the renaissance changed that way of life permanently. When nation states arose, and kings turned into enlightened despots, the knightly class became honorary and their status changed from warrior to noble and politician. The way of the sword went from being an honorable and dignified post to one taken up by the common man, the peasant.  “However, by Shakespeare’s time, men on foot- infantry from the – had come to dominate, and the professional soldier acting in concert with others became the new image of war.” (pg 292).

During this evolution from knight to professional, soldier’s roles changed dramatically as well. Men began to wear uniforms and units carried flags.  Troops became specialized and professional’s in their craft.  (pg 292). Soldiers began to be seen as a low class by society’s upper echelons, and mercenary armies became common, especially in Italy where the populations of the various city-states and small Republics did not allow for rulers to recruit large armies. “Othello is not a citizen-soldier, but rather a foreign mercenary hired by the Venetians.” (Pg 292). In England, the military revolution was crucial and affected everyone because of the many civil wars that had gripped the country.  England, preferred to not keep a standing army, and instead focused most of its military spending on its navy.  The army developed its own chain of command, ranks and a formal military training system. In England, discipline and professionalism were incredibly important.  (pg 294). Rank was important, not only in the chain of command on a battlefield, but also in the social environment of society itself.  An Ensign, a rank only used by the army, carried the colors of the unit. A lieutenant was the aid de camp to higher officers, especially generals, and the position was a coveted one. (pg 296). War had changed from focus on single combat, honor, and nobility to being bloodthirsty, professional and a gruesome business.  At the battle of Agincourt, Henry V gave no quarter, an unprecedented act betraying his honor as a knight.  During the Wars of the Roses no ransom was taken by knights on either side, and casualties were extremely high for the time. During the time of William Shakespeare, warfare changed drastically from small armies of knights and their retainers to large professional armies of infantry soldiers with strict discipline and rank structure.

Act 2, scene 3 of Othellois a perfect example of the changing views on military professionalism.  In this scene Iago gets Cassio, the newly promoted lieutenant drunk while he was supposed to be on duty.  Lines 240-290 have Cassio and Iago talking about honor and reputation.  Cassio tells Iago that he is hurt “past all surgery” (II.III 238).  Cassio is the newly appointed lieutenant to Othello, this position was one of respect and responsibility and whoever held it was supposed to act honorably. Cassio, by drinking while on duty tarnished his reputation and “The immortal part of myself. And what remains is bestial. My reputation Iago, my reputation.” (II.III.240-241.).  Officers were supposed to hold themselves to a higher standard, this has carried over to our military today.  Cassio laments the fact that he hurt the honor of his general by behaving in a stupid and dishonorable way.  The way that junior officers acted reflected heavily on their commanders.  Junior officers represented the commander when he was not there, and this is why Cassio feels ashamed.  Othelloshows a different attitude towards the military. In Henry IV, the soldiers and Fallstaff try to wiggle their way out of military service.  In Othello, the soldiers enjoy their service, and lament not acting honorably. These are two very different views.

Bibliography

Shakespere, William.  Othello. Ed. Hall, Kim. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2007.

ERH 3231WX
John Stann

Help Received: Spell Check, Grammar Check, The British Library Website, works cited.

The Merchant of Venice

Despite not having much knowledge on the Jews or having that many Jewish people in England during the 16^thcentury, Elizabethan England persecuted the Jewish people rather harshly.  Jewish people had to either practice their faith in private or convert to Christianity. Many of the Jewish people in England at the time had fled from Spain or Italy where the Spanish Inquisition had driven them out. (https://www.bl.uk/shakespeare/articles/how-were-the-jews-regarded-in-16th-century-england).  The British Library website says that one of the most famous Jews that lived in England was Roderigo Lopez, who was Queen Elizabeth’s personal physician, and he was executed for conspiring to poison the queen.  According to historical records “The historian, William Camden reports that Lopez went to his death strenuously, affirming that he loved the Queen as well as he loved Jesus Christ; which, coming from a man of the Jewish profession, moved no small laughter in the standers-by.”  (https://www.bl.uk/shakespeare/articles/how-were-the-jews-regarded-in-16th-century-england). Many believe that William Shakespeare took these prejudices and wrote them into his play, The Merchant of Venice, when he came up with the character of Shylock.

The character of Shylock was written very curiously by Shakespeare. Despite having many of the characteristics of the Jews of the 16^thcentury, he can also be seen sympathetically by the viewers of the play.  This dilemma makes for an interesting analysis of the character. In act three scene 1 of the Merchant of Venice, Shylock gives a compelling argument for Jews and how they are being treated unfairly.  “I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions; fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer as a Christian is? If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge. The villainy you teach me I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction. “ (III.i.49-61). This scene shows that Jewish people are human and because they are human, they should be treated equally as well.  There is a darker undertone to the quote however, and Shylock is letting his anger and frustration seep through in his words. He swears that, because he is human, like the Christians in Venice, he will behave as they do, he will be vengeful, hateful and spiteful, just like the Christians.

The Merchant of Venice is an interesting play, the character Shylock has many of the features and characteristics that Christians perceived of Jews at the time. However, there is a certain sympathy that can be felt towards Shylock. He is left alone at the end of the play and is in a pathetic state throughout the play.

Works Cited

Shapiro, James. https://www.bl.uk/shakespeare/articles/how-were-the-jews-regarded-in-16th-century-england

Shakespere, William.  The Merchant of Venice. Ed. M. Lindsay Kaplan. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2002.

ERH 321WX

Short Assignment 1

John Stann

Help Received: Works cited, Grammar check, Spell Check.

Part 1:

The short treatise of political power by John Ponet shows what some educated people in England believed should happen if a king or monarch was being unjust to their people and their perspective on rebellion and civic order.  Ponet believes that that God has the most absolute power and should even hold the monarch accountable and that a government should be established for the people.  (Hodgdon,180).  He also argues for checks on the government so that it does not turn into a tyranny. (Hodgdon, 180).  He believes that a person does not owe the duty to their obedience to the monarch themselves but instead, they owe it to the state. (Hodgdon,180).  Ponet also declares that citizens should obey their monarch if it is beneficial to the kingdom and to God. (Hodgdon,181).  Despite this believe of a monarch for the people, Ponet believes that if a monarch is unjust, the individual person should rebel and if his cause was just God would then intervene on his side and help him. (Hodgdon,181-182).

Part 2 (34-39)

Act 1 scene 3 of Henry IV, Part 1 is a good example of demonstrating what the people believed of rebellion.  The Percy’s are discussing rebellion because King Henry IV was not recognizing them as much as they had hoped since they helped him win the crown. The Percy’s believe that King Henry is a usurper and a tyrant and are angry at having to give up their prisoners.  “By God, he shall not have a Scot of them, No, if a Scot would save his soul, he shall not! I’ll keep them, by his hand (I.III.213-216).” Discussion turns from the prisoners to the legitimacy of Henry IV and how Mortimer should actually be king. This scene backs Ponet’s belief of rebellion because Henry Percy says in one of his speeches in this long scene that

“Wherein you range under this subtle king! Shall it for shame be spoken in these days, or fill up chronicles in time to come, that men of your nobility and power did gage them both in unjust behalf. (as both of you- God pardon it!- have done) To put down Richard To put down Richard, that sweet lovely rose, and plant this thorn, this canker, Bullingbrook?” (I.III.169-177)

This excerpt shows that they believed originally that they originally thought that Richard II was a poor king and they tried to replace him with a better king, who also turned into a tyrannical king.  Henry Percy later on tries to encourage the other Percy’s to “restore yourselves into the good thoughts of the world again” by rebelling against King Henry whom they believe to be a tyrant. Ponet argues that rebellion against a monarch is just if that monarch is not helping their citizens. King Henry is not directly being a tyrant to the people of England but the Percy’s believe that he is being unjust to them for not giving them more power after putting him on the throne.

Bibliography

Hodgdon, Barbara. The First Part of King Henry IV, Texts and Contexts, William Shakespeare  Hodgdon, Bedford/st. Martin’s, 1997.

Shakespeare, William.  The First Part of King Henry IV, Texts and Contexts.  Edited by Barbara Hodgdon, Bedford/st. Martin’s, 1997.