"Love" is a central topic in Shakespeare′s plays. Many of his couples have gained a status of immortality: Antony and Cleopatra, Romeo and Juliet, or Beatrice and Benedick are only a few examples. These lovers share one experience, which Lysander in "A Midsummer Night′s Dream" sums up very clearly:
"The course of true love never did run smooth ..." (1,1,134)
This dilemma is the "raw material" I am interested in. I will take three Shakespearean plays with "love" as their central issue and examine the protagonists′ courses of love in them. This involves the beginning, the obstacles in the way, the reactions to these obstacles and the final failure or success to overcome them. The plays chosen are "Romeo and Juliet", "All′s Well that Ends Well", and "The Taming of the Shrew". In the First Folio edition the first one is classified as belonging to the literary form of "tragedy", the latter two as "comedies". This leads me to the second element in the title, which is "dramatic genre". What Northrop Frye says about comedy is also valid for tragedy:
"If a play in a theatre is subtitled ′a comedy′, information is conveyed to a potential audience about what kind of thing to expect, and this type of information has been intelligible since before the days of Aristophanes."
One such expectation concerns a play′s mood. Here lies a fundamental difference between tragedy and comedy. Generally speaking, the audience expects that a comedy creates a happy mood and a tragedy a sad one. However, I am not alone finding that "Romeo" is a rather happy play over long stretches, whereas "The Taming" and "All′s Well" are anything but thoroughly happy pieces. In these three dramas Shakespeare only partly fulfils the expectations, which are evoked. Their generic structure does not generate a consistent mood. So what are the causes of this inconsistency?
Table of Contents
- General Introduction
- Introduction to "Romeo and Juliet"
- Romeo and Juliet's course of love
- Conclusion
- Introduction to "All's Well that Ends Well" and "The Taming of the Shrew"
- Bertram and Helen's course of love
- Conclusion
- Katherina and Petruchio's course of love
- Conclusion
- General Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper examines the portrayal of love in three Shakespearean plays: "Romeo and Juliet," "All's Well That Ends Well," and "The Taming of the Shrew." The main objective is to analyze how Shakespeare approaches the topic of love within the context of the plays' respective dramatic genres (tragedy and comedy), exploring the consistency or inconsistency between genre expectations and the actual presentation of love in each play.
- The concept of love in Shakespearean drama
- The relationship between dramatic genre (tragedy and comedy) and the portrayal of love
- The consistency (or lack thereof) between genre expectations and the depiction of love
- Analysis of love's development and challenges in specific Shakespearean relationships
- The role of social integration (or lack thereof) in determining comedic or tragic outcomes
Chapter Summaries
General Introduction: This introduction establishes the central theme of love in Shakespeare's plays, using examples such as Romeo and Juliet, and introduces the core concept of the "course of true love" never running smooth. The paper focuses on three plays—"Romeo and Juliet," "All's Well That Ends Well," and "The Taming of the Shrew"—to examine the protagonists' journeys of love, exploring their beginnings, obstacles, reactions, and ultimate successes or failures. It also highlights the connection between the chosen plays' classifications as tragedy or comedy and the expectations associated with each genre regarding plot structure and mood, setting the stage for a comparative analysis of how these expectations are met or subverted.
Introduction to "Romeo and Juliet": This section provides a contextual introduction to Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," specifically framing it within the broader themes of love and the complexities of dramatic genre. It sets the stage for the detailed analysis of the main characters' relationship that follows in subsequent sections, acknowledging the play's classification as a tragedy within the context of the larger project's inquiry into the relationship between genre and the depiction of love.
Romeo and Juliet's course of love: This chapter delves into the intricacies of Romeo and Juliet's relationship, tracing its development from initial attraction to its tragic conclusion. It examines the obstacles they face, including the feud between their families, and analyzes their reactions to these challenges. The summary will discuss how their love story unfolds and ultimately results in their deaths, a key element that aligns with traditional expectations of a tragic narrative. It will explore how their individual choices contribute to the unfolding of the tragedy.
Introduction to "All's Well that Ends Well" and "The Taming of the Shrew": This section introduces the remaining two plays, "All's Well That Ends Well," and "The Taming of the Shrew," both categorized as comedies. The introduction will highlight the differences and similarities between the two comedies, and foreshadow how they will be examined with regard to genre expectations and the portrayal of love in comparison to the tragedy of "Romeo and Juliet".
Bertram and Helen's course of love: This chapter analyzes the relationship between Bertram and Helen in "All's Well That Ends Well," examining the unique challenges they face and how their conflict is internal rather than solely external, as found in "Romeo and Juliet". The summary will explore the complexities of their bond and will discuss how the internal conflict impacts the overall narrative, potentially challenging the expectations of a typical comedic resolution. It will analyze whether their relationship adheres to the conventions of comedic love stories or deviates from them in significant ways.
Katherina and Petruchio's course of love: This chapter focuses on the relationship between Katherina and Petruchio in "The Taming of the Shrew." The analysis will explore their courtship, the conflicts that arise, and how their relationship eventually culminates in marriage. The chapter will explore how their love story fits within (or challenges) the typical conventions of Shakespearean comedy, and whether the comedic resolution feels consistent with the play’s overall themes and tone. The summary will address potential complexities in their relationship, considering whether the play offers a truly "happy" ending according to typical comedic standards.
Keywords
Shakespeare, love, dramatic genre, tragedy, comedy, Romeo and Juliet, All's Well That Ends Well, The Taming of the Shrew, social integration, conflict, resolution, plot structure, mood, comic conventions, tragic conventions.
Shakespearean Love: A Comparative Analysis of Three Plays - FAQ
What is the main topic of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes the portrayal of love in three Shakespearean plays: "Romeo and Juliet," "All's Well That Ends Well," and "The Taming of the Shrew." It examines how Shakespeare approaches love within the context of the plays' respective dramatic genres (tragedy and comedy), exploring the consistency or inconsistency between genre expectations and the actual presentation of love.
Which plays are analyzed in this paper?
The paper focuses on three Shakespearean plays: "Romeo and Juliet" (tragedy), "All's Well That Ends Well" (comedy), and "The Taming of the Shrew" (comedy).
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include the concept of love in Shakespearean drama, the relationship between dramatic genre and the portrayal of love, the consistency (or lack thereof) between genre expectations and the depiction of love, and the analysis of love's development and challenges in specific Shakespearean relationships. The role of social integration (or lack thereof) in determining comedic or tragic outcomes is also a significant theme.
How does the paper structure its analysis of the plays?
The paper follows a structured approach. It begins with a general introduction establishing the central theme. Then, each play is introduced individually, followed by a detailed analysis of the course of love for the central couple in each play. Finally, there's a general conclusion summarizing the findings.
What is the methodology used in this analysis?
The paper uses a comparative analysis approach, contrasting and comparing the portrayal of love in the three plays, considering their genre classifications (tragedy and comedy) and analyzing how the depiction of love aligns with or deviates from genre expectations.
What are the chapter summaries?
The paper includes chapter summaries for each section, outlining the key points covered in each chapter. These summaries provide a concise overview of the analysis of each play's portrayal of love, including the challenges faced by the central characters and the eventual resolution or lack thereof.
What are the key findings or arguments presented in the paper?
The paper's key findings will likely revolve around how Shakespeare uses the conventions of tragedy and comedy to shape the portrayal of love in his plays. It will likely examine whether the love stories adhere to or subvert traditional genre expectations. The role of social factors in determining the outcomes of the love stories will also be a key area of discussion.
What are the keywords associated with this paper?
Keywords include: Shakespeare, love, dramatic genre, tragedy, comedy, Romeo and Juliet, All's Well That Ends Well, The Taming of the Shrew, social integration, conflict, resolution, plot structure, mood, comic conventions, tragic conventions.
What is the overall objective of the paper?
The main objective is to analyze how Shakespeare approaches the topic of love within the context of the plays' respective dramatic genres, exploring the consistency or inconsistency between genre expectations and the actual presentation of love in each play.
Where can I find the full text of the academic paper?
The provided HTML is a preview of the paper; the full text would need to be obtained from the publishing company.
- Citar trabajo
- Thomas Eger (Autor), 2003, Love and dramatic genre - Approaches to the topic of love in three Shakespearean plays, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/56312
