William Shakespeare : As a Dramatist
Shakespeare has used metaphorical language while writing plays. He has exhaustively used all the poetic devises in his plays. He has immortalized his characters by giving them universal touch. Shake pear soon turned to the stage, and become first an actor, and then playwright. In 1592 he was well known as a successful author. His play can broadly be put under seven groups.
(1) The early Comedies: The early comedies or Shakespeare the comedy of manner , love’s labor’s lost and other comedies are immature plays of Shakespeare , which put him height of success in his dramatic career .The character of these plays are less finished finished and marked with artistic lapses in character portrayal.
(2) The English histories: the history plays like Richard-2, Henry -4, part-1 and Henary-5 king john and many other. In this historical plays Shakespeare presents British history of three hundred years and create a nice picture of English Kings. This historical plays gives a guides of kings of England, and there life style. In these plays we witness a rapid maturing of Shakespeare’s skill in plot construction and characterization.
The mature comedies of Shakespeare are ‘much ado about nothing’, ‘as you like it’ and many other. In these comedies we found the flower of Shakespeare comic genius. These plays are full of vitality and vivacity marked with relief from the strain of tragedy writing. Shakespeare comedies have been classified under four part 1) Romantic comedies 2) comedies free form romanticism 3) lighter comedies 4) dark comedies. Another classification of Shakespearean comedies is 1) Early comedies 2) Middle comedies 3) late comedies.
In early comedies comic quality arises from the language in the dialogue, and speeches. The comic situations and comic characters are the essence of the comedy. His humor is many sided. Referring to his multifold humor Dowden says : Shakespeare abounds in kindly mirth : he receive an exquisite pleasure from the alert with and bright good sense of a Rosalind, he can handle a fool as tenderly as any nurse qualified to take a baby from birth can deal with her charge.”
(4) The Somber plays: In this group are all well that ends well, measure for measure and Troilus and Cressida. The reflected cynical disillusioned attitude to life, and a fondness for objectionable desire to expose the falsity of romance and to show the sordid reality of life.
(5) The Great Tragedies: the great tragedies of Shakespeare are Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, King Lear, Romeo and Juliet. A tragedy is a tale of death or suffering, shake spear’s tragedies are also powerful tales of death and suffering, but Shakespearean tragedy is a something more than the story of death and suffering. The suffering is of such a powerful nature that it shakes the man and the hero writhes in the coils of insufferable agony. Hamlet in the state of his vacillation is literally on the rack. In the tragedy fate plays an important part in bringing about the tragedy. But in shake spear spit of external’s tragedy man is responsible for his tragic fall. In other word he believes in “character is destiny.” In each of his tragedy the hero catch in some fatal fall, and bed luck, which in spite of external circumstances lead him to his tragic doom.
In Hamlet there is painful consciousness that duty is being neglected. Each hero has virtues above the average man, but it is not necessary that the hero may have virtues alone.
(6) The roman plays: “are based on North’s tradition of Plutarch’s lives and though written at fairly wide intervals. Usually considered as a group. Antony and Cleopatra and Coriolanus follow the great period and while the former in soaring imagination and tragic power is truly great, both of them show some relation of tragic intensity” (Albert)
(7) The last play –romans: the last play of Shakespeare Cymbeline. The winter’s tale and The Tempest, The mellowed maturity is the chief feature of forgiveness and reconciliation. The name ‘Dramatic romances’ applies very aptly to these plays for nether they are not tragedies pure and simple nor are they comedies scintillating with humor and fun. In other words in the play contain incidents are tragic but their end is happy. This play is combination of tragedy and comedy.
(8) Pleasant humor. Shakespeare creates good humor. The sparking and vivacious heroes and Orlando in ‘As you like it’. His comedies primary aim is neither satire nor a correction of the evils prevalent.
The theme of Shakespeare’s work is always fresh, in other words their freshness and their appeal is permanent in literature. We may read his dramas for the hundred times yet it can give same pleaser, when we read it first time.
Dryden says that “was the man who of all modern and perhaps ancient poets had the largest and most comprehensive soul.” Shakespeare has, too the gift of universality, which alone gives permanence to literature. His characters recur in everygenration; they remain individuals, but yet they are types nor are his comedies all laughter, being true of life, they are
Full of mirth in funeral and dirge in marriage.” The characters of Shakespeare have a permanent hold on the human mind. We have read novels and dramas and have read hundreds of character both male and female, but no one hold of gripes our attention as the character create image in our mind. Shakespeare’s characters do not lose their individuality. Another feature of his characterization is his objectivity.
We admire humanity in his drama. He loves human being and has an infinite feeling of sympathy for his creation. We like Shakespeare because he likes us. Shakespeare has praised human being and human life. The beautiful lines on man presented in Hamlet, man in this work: “What a piece of work is man? How noble in reason, how infinite in faculties in form and moving, how expressive and admirable in action, how like an angel in apprehension, how like a god, the beauty of the world. The paragon of animals. He touches the human heart and moves us to pity and sympathy. We appreciate Shakespeare for his admirable treatment of subject of love. Shakespeare presents variety of love in his plays. The element of romance makes his dramas highly interesting. In other words love keeps the interest of his plays. His fertile imagination is present everywhere in his plays. His language is grand and majestic. Shakespeare use extra ordinary language.
Themes of William Shakespeare :
Shakespeare’s works cover a wide array of themes that transcend time, culture, and human experiences. Below is a detailed exploration of the major themes in Shakespeare’s plays and poetry:
1. Love
Shakespeare’s exploration of love is multifaceted, addressing its joys, complexities, and tragedies.
- Romantic Love: In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare portrays passionate and youthful love, doomed by fate. In contrast, As You Like It explores lighthearted and comedic aspects of love through different couples.
- Unrequited Love: This theme is poignantly depicted in Twelfth Night, where Viola’s love for Orsino remains unfulfilled for most of the play.
- Jealousy in Love: Othello presents jealousy as a destructive force that corrupts love, as Iago manipulates Othello’s love for Desdemona.
- Marriage and Fidelity: In The Taming of the Shrew, Much Ado About Nothing, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare examines the social aspects of love and marriage, often with humor and conflict.
2. Power and Ambition
The pursuit of power and its consequences form a central theme in many of Shakespeare’s tragedies and histories.
- The Corrupting Influence of Ambition: In Macbeth, unchecked ambition leads to moral decay and chaos. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s ruthless pursuit of the throne ends in their destruction.
- The Struggle for Authority: The historical plays, such as Henry IV and Richard III, depict power struggles, betrayal, and the sacrifices required to maintain authority.
- Political Intrigue: Julius Caesar explores the manipulation of political power, loyalty, and betrayal as Brutus and the conspirators assassinate Caesar.3. Fate and Free Will
Shakespeare often examines the tension between destiny and human agency.
- Predetermined Fate: In Romeo and Juliet, the lovers are described as "star-crossed," suggesting their tragic end is fated from the start.
- Conflict Between Choice and Fate: Macbeth wrestles with the witches’ prophecy—whether Macbeth’s actions are guided by fate or his free will.
- Divine Intervention: Plays like Hamlet and King Lear explore the belief in higher powers shaping human destinies.
4. Death and Mortality
Shakespeare delves into the inevitability of death, the afterlife, and human reactions to mortality.
- The Meaning of Life and Death: In Hamlet, the protagonist’s existential musings ("To be or not to be") explore the fear of death and the uncertainty of what lies beyond.
- Tragic Deaths: In plays like Othello, Macbeth, and King Lear, death is often the culmination of tragic flaws, revenge, or betrayal.
- Celebration of Life: His sonnets, particularly Sonnet 18 ("Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?"), immortalize life and beauty through art.
5. Appearance vs. Reality
This theme runs through many of Shakespeare’s works, questioning the truth beneath surface appearances.
- Deception: In Othello, Iago deceives others through false appearances, leading to tragic consequences. Similarly, Much Ado About Nothing plays with misunderstandings and trickery.
- Identity and Disguise: In comedies like Twelfth Night and As You Like It, characters adopt disguises to explore love, identity, and relationships.
- Moral Ambiguity: Macbeth and Hamlet blur the line between good and evil, questioning characters’ intentions and the nature of truth.
6. Revenge
Revenge serves as a driving force in Shakespeare’s tragedies.
- The Revenge Tragedy: In Hamlet, the protagonist seeks to avenge his father’s murder but struggles with inaction and moral conflict, leading to his own demise.
- Cycle of Revenge: In Titus Andronicus, Shakespeare portrays revenge as a brutal and endless cycle of violence.
- Personal Vendettas: The Merchant of Venice explores Shylock’s desire for revenge against Antonio, raising questions of justice and mercy.
7. The Supernatural
Shakespeare often uses supernatural elements to create suspense and explore human fears and desires.
- Ghosts: In Hamlet and Macbeth, ghosts appear to reveal truths, foreshadow events, or incite guilt in characters.
- Prophecies and Magic: The witches in Macbeth manipulate events through their cryptic prophecies, while The Tempest uses magical elements to shape the story’s resolution.
- Mythology: Plays like A Midsummer Night’s Dream incorporate fairies and mythical beings to blur the line between reality and fantasy.
8. Conflict and War
The plays often reflect the societal and personal conflicts of Shakespeare’s time.
- Civil and Political Conflict: The Henriad (e.g., Henry V, Henry IV) dramatizes England’s history of war and rebellion.
- Personal Conflict: Julius Caesar explores the internal conflict of Brutus, torn between loyalty to Caesar and duty to Rome.
- Generational Conflict: King Lear examines the tensions between a father and his daughters, reflecting familial struggles for power.
9. Human Nature and Flaws
Shakespeare deeply analyzes human psychology, exploring both virtues and flaws.
- Greed, Lust, and Pride: These flaws often drive the action in tragedies like Macbeth, Othello, and King Lear.
- Moral Complexity: Shakespeare’s characters, such as Hamlet and Brutus, are often morally ambiguous, reflecting the complexities of human decision-making.
- Redemption: In comedies and romances, Shakespeare often allows flawed characters to grow, repent, and seek forgiveness, as seen in The Winter’s Tale
- .10. Time
Time plays a crucial role in shaping human experience in Shakespeare’s works.
- Fleeting Nature of Youth and Beauty: In his sonnets, Shakespeare frequently addresses the transient nature of beauty and the inevitability of aging (e.g., Sonnet 12).
- Time as a Healer: In plays like The Winter’s Tale, the passage of time allows for reconciliation and renewal.
- Urgency of Action: In tragedies, time often heightens tension, such as Hamlet’s procrastination and Macbeth’s rapid downfall.
11. Justice and Mercy
These themes are central to Shakespeare’s exploration of moral dilemmas.
- Justice vs. Revenge: The Merchant of Venice presents a debate on justice versus mercy, with Shylock demanding retribution while Portia advocates forgiveness.
- Divine Justice: In King Lear, characters suffer due to divine justice or cosmic retribution for their actions.
- Earthly Justice: Plays like Measure for Measure explore the flaws and hypocrisies within human legal systems.
12. Family and Betrayal
Family dynamics and betrayal are recurring motifs in Shakespeare’s works.
- Parental Relationships: King Lear explores the betrayal and redemption between a father and his daughters. In Hamlet, the strained relationship between Hamlet and his mother is central.
- Sibling Rivalry: In As You Like It and The Tempest, sibling betrayal fuels the conflict.
- Friendship and Betrayal: Julius Caesar illustrates the betrayal of friendship as Brutus turns against Caesar.
Conclusion:
Shakespeare’s themes reflect the timeless truths of human experience, exploring universal concerns that remain relevant across cultures and eras. His works continue to resonate because they capture the depth and complexity of human emotions, relationships, and struggles. Shakespeare was versatile genius. He creates great tragedies and many other plays. He also wrote sonnets. I think that when he write drama he use his heart for drama. He was not for one age but for all ages. Shakespeare was universal poet and dramatist. He creates best characters in his plays. All kind of characters we find in his drama. I think almost his plays are best work of Shakespeare, that’s why he was genius dramatist of Elizabethan era.
References :
Khoso, Aijaz. “Shakespeare as a Dramatist:- - Aijaz Khoso - Medium.” Medium, 7 Jan. 2022, comradeaijaz185.medium.com/shakespeare-as-a-dramatist-fdf93dcfb793.
Kumar, Avnish. “SHAKESPEARE THE DRAMATIST OF ALL TIME.” International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts, vol. 9, no. 2, journal-article, Feb. 2021, pp. 485–86, ijcrt.org/papers/IJCRT2102058.pdf.
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