Why it is important to teach Shakespeare in schools

Why it is important to teach Shakespeare in schools Introduction William Shakespeare was an English poet. His exact birth date is unknown but estimated to be 23 April 1564 and he died on 23 April 1616. He is one of the greatest writers of English and the world’s preeminent dramatist. He is also known as â€Å"the Bard of Avon or just â€Å"the Bard†. He wrote most his works well known between 1590 and 1613.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Why it is important to teach Shakespeare in schools specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More He wrote plays, sonnets, poems and narrative poems. His plays are available in many languages and they have been staged several times. His reputation as a writer rose in the nineteenth century. During the twentieth century, scholarship movements adopted his works. Today his works are still very popular and are studied in schools. Importance of studying Shakespeare Studying Shakespeare is important because his works are rich and they ca n enrich a reader’s life in many ways. For instance, his works are very rich in the English language and are a good source of learning the language. Shakespeare contributed many words to the English vocabulary and they are still in use (Forrester 17). The works makes one sensitive to the English language. Moreover, his works are a challenge because they are not very easy but once a person is able to study them and understand there is a feeling of accomplishment. The language is powerful and through it, one experiences the power of drama. Shakespearean works address various ethical dilemmas. The ethical dilemmas help us in becoming morally sensible as they show the consequences of making bad judgments in life. For example in the play The Hamlet, Shakespeare addresses the issue of greed for power. He shows how it causes instability in a country â€Å"or thinking by our late dear brother’s death/our state to be disjoint and out of frame† (Shakespeare (a) 1.2.19-20) . Claudius kills King Hamlet, rises to power, and possesses the former queen Gertrude. Consequently, Hamlet seeks revenge for his father’s death and sadly losses his life. In addition, the play addresses revenge and shows that sometimes the obsession with revenge can lead to one’s downfall. Through his plays, Shakespeare provided sources for debating human conduct. The plays offer good examples of how human beings should treat matters such as power inheritance and shows that there is no shortcut to power as those who come to power illegally do not succeed such as in Macbeth. Their evil deeds are punished as Macbeth noted â€Å"bloody actions return/To plague th’ Inventor† (Shakespeare (b) 1.7. 9-10).Advertising Looking for essay on british literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The messages in his works are relevant even today. He talks of things such as power and shows how corrupting power can be especially to greedy people. He shows how people in power find it difficult to balance their private and public lives and shows how the people in power manipulate the masses for selfish interests. The plays are very good in studying murders and conspiracy. His works explore other issues such as gender, sexuality, love and war among others. These issues show the kind of relationships people have in the society (Forrester 18). In addition, his plays contain wit and humor and are very entertaining besides being educative. Therefore, Shakespeare’s works help college and school students to have a deeper literary appreciation (Lund 1; Forrester 18). His works opens up our imaginations and radical thinking. He addresses issues such as the relationship between rulers and their subjects. He gives us an opportunity to enter the minds of the characters in his plays and thus enlarges our experience. For instance, in Macbeth he lets us see how Macbeth’s conscience dis turbs him for killing King Duncan yet he ignores it and continues to commit murders to protect his throne. The plays carry a universal message and are easy to relate with as they address human issues that one can identity. The universality of the messages in the play and there relevance make the plays important. It means that one can interpret the meaning of the plays according to their context and Terence Hawkers puts it this way â€Å"Shakespeare does not mean; we mean by Shakespeare† (Why study Shakespeare 5). The culture of the English is well documented by the Shakespeare dramas. Through the plays, one is able to know how the society was together with its attitude towards its members. For instance, the play Taming the Shrew shows that men were considered inferior to men during the Elizabethan age but it also shows that the women were powerful in their own way as proved by Kate.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Why it is important to teach Shakesp eare in schools specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Another play like the Merchant of Venice shows the relationship between people from different religions such as the Christians and Jews. The plays also show that the people valued religion as Shakespeare uses biblical allusions in most of his plays to address issues (Lund 1). Shakespeare and modern day drama Shakespeare in his work addressed human issue so articulately with his genius use of words. The works are timeless and form the basis of modern drama. The modern dramas such as The Fences address human issues that affect people in the society such as issue of unwed pregnancies. The modern day dramas differ from the Shakespeare drama because they rely on visuals while the later relied on words to pass messages. Moreover, the heroes in Shakespeare dramas are aggressive unlike those in modern drama (Lukas and Baxandall 150-151). The dramas are not in the same category as Shakespeare who is cl early in a class of his own. Conclusion Shakespeare is relevant today and has stood the test of time. Readers can resonate with the universal message his works pass. The works are a good source for the English literature and thus one cannot claim to understand without understanding Shakespeare. He is the foundation of the English literature and thus it would be unwise to banish him and important for students’ studies. Forrester, Ann. Why teach Shakespeare? Or any other dead white male? Literary Canon, Shakespeare, (1995). A paper presented to the Community Colleges Humanities Association Washington DC Nov. 1995. Lukas, George and lee Baxandall.†The sociology of modern drama.† The Tulane Drama  Review, 9.4 (1965), 146-170. Lund, Norman J. Why study Shakespeare? 11 Jun. 2005. Web.Advertising Looking for essay on british literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Shakespeare, William (a). The Tragedy Of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. n.d. Web. Shakespeare, William (b). The Tragedy of Macbeth. n.d. Web. Why study literature? n.d. Web.

Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 4

Research Proposal Example Worth noting is the fact that performance management systems help organizations with the predictions of performance expectations (Rashidi 2015, p. 213). Researchers have expressed their interests in understanding whether performance management systems have the capacity to boost employee performance. The study will seek to determine whether performance management systems have the potential to register improved performance of employees. Notably, all organizations seek to promote employee performance in an effort to maximize profitability. With the current emphasis on the need for all organizations to embrace performance management systems, it is important to determine whether a performance management system can really have a positive outcome of the performance of employees (Seiden & Sowa 2011, 250). As highlighted above, organizations need to ensure that employees register exemplary performance. Notably, the profitability and financial performance of an organization is directly related to employee performance and productivity. The introduction of Employee Performance Management Systems was in a bid to ensure that organizations have systems in place to plan, monitor, and review the performance of employees. Many researchers have linked performance management systems with the increased performance of employees as well as high levels of job satisfaction. Therefore, this study seeks to analyze the perception of supervisors and managers as well as the perception of the employees on the role of performance management systems in improving performance in an identified organization. According to Rashidi (2015, p. 211), implementing performance management systems has the potential to register positive outcomes on the performance of employees. Rashidi highlights that performance management systems help organizations to identify the specific roles that each employee should play towards the achievement of organizational

Digital Age, Electronic Identity and Nature of Relationships Essay

Digital Age, Electronic Identity and Nature of Relationships - Essay Example Vie makes it clear that every time people upload their photos or participate in any form of communication in the social networking sites, they create an identity for themselves, which their friends at the site will identify them with when they analyze their information. It is not only social networking site that create an electronic identity, but any form of online transaction that requires people to enter their personal information like buying products online (Vie, 17). These transactions leave a trace of information that other internet users will use to identify people. Many of the electronic identities are created unconsciously, but they leave traces of people electronic identity and can be used to refer to them by others. She gives an example of the identities created in the Gmail account, where the system will bring adverts on the right side of the screen based on the information people view in the account. People’s electronic identity can portray information about people that others may use to judge them, which can lead to loss of identity and denial of a private life. However, the electronic identity will help in formation of relationships and connect with people known in the past lives. I agree with Vie’s assertion that the digital age has altered our understandings among social relationships and ourselves. In the digital age, social media have had the most crucial role in the understanding of the relationships people form since it has become part of everybody’s lives. Organizations have also joined in the social media to conduct their operations hence sites like Facebook and twitter just to name a few have become frequently used for communication. People are required to form profiles from which they will post information concerning themselves for others to use. Communication has been made easy since people can communicate globally and meet new people (Harris). From the profiles people create in the social networking sites, they pos t their thoughts on them, and people will communicate back by writing comments. The digital age has helped people to get new friends easily and connect with people they may have lost contacts within the past. For this reason, the digital age has formed an easy way for people to meet and share ideas on different issues in the society and their lives. Vie explains that people need to put a balance on the between the need to meet with people and their personal privacy. She explains that the electronic identity created in the social networking site can be of help and at the same time tamper with privacy of people’s information. This is because the information people post on the sites can be used in the later stages of life to deny people opportunities. Conversations with friends are open for people to see and may be disastrous if not used in the right manner. The American culture is one that people will judge others from the experiences, and it may happen that one can post some s ensitive information on the sites that may be used against them in the future. For example, in job seeking, there have been some reports that employers will look at the potential employees social media profiles, and if there is some compromising information, they may not be employed. For this reason,

Thomas becket Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Thomas becket - Research Paper Example Thomas was born December 21st, 1118 or 1120 in the family of a wealthy and prosperous merchant, a citizen of London – Gilbert Beket. The name Thomas was given to him because he was born on St. Thomas the Apostle’s day. Both Thomas’ parents were of Norman ancestry. Very little is known about Thomas’ childhood. What we do know is that his mother was a righteous and charitable woman, giving him some allowance to give to the poor. That had a great impact on him and played a key role in making him what he became in his adult life. Becket studied between the age of ten and twenty-one, most likely between 1130 and 1141. He studied in a few educational institutions, such as the Augustinian priory at Merton in Surrey, and then in one or more of the grammar schools in London. His student life was spent in Paris. He was not a particularly studious pupil. His mother was the one who encouraged him to study. In fact, when she died, he stopped his education at age of twe nty-one. Frank Barlow says about his education: Thomas’ rather sketchy education caused the biographers some difficulty. They know that, although he was extremely intelligent, he was never much of a scholar†¦ Presumably, because he became an archbishop and then a saint†¦ even if he had been an inattentive schoolboy, in ten years he must’ve gone through the whole curriculum at a modest level and acquired some knowledge of the seven liberal arts†¦ But clearly he had not mastered the subjects†¦ It is also clear that, in youth, he did not proceed beyond the basic curriculum. His legal and theological studies pertain to later periods of his life, to professions which required those special qualifications. (Barlow 21) Thomas’ father, Gilbert Beket suffered financial problems, so Thomas was forced to find a work. He first worked as a clerk for a relative, but later became the agent to Theobald, the then-current Archbishop of Canterbury. He was sent on a few important missions to Rome. He was entrusted with much, and his efficiency paid off. Theobald recommended him to King Henry II for the position of Chancellor. Becket was appointed to this position in January 1155. On this post, Becket showed his political brilliance – he razed castles, repaired the Tower of London, raised, prepared and led troops to war, conducted various diplomatic missions etc. He was completely trusted by Henry II, who, besides a loyal and faithful subject, found Thomas to be a close friend and a great companion. He aided the King in his mission to subject all power into the hands of the monarch, even when his interests were contrary to those of the church. As a Chancellor, Becket lived and traveled in luxury. This strongly contradicted with his status as Archdeacon of Canterbury. Another very serious and contradicting occurrence was the fact that he flatly refused to leave this post, even though he neglected his duties. Theobald disapproved his a ctions greatly, Becket when he was called on, did not appear before the dying Archbishop. This is another fact historians widely criticize. During this time the Gregorian reform had begun to be implemented, spreading from the Holy Roman Empire, Italy and France and started to influence English clerics as well. According to the reform, the clerical posts were appointed by free elections, an issue of free appeal to Rome was implemented, and other such changes, that made the church more independent from secular rule. Henry II

Comparing Mens Assumptions in Susan Glaspells Trifles and Henrik Ibse

Men's Assumptions in Trifles and A Doll House There are many similarities in the relationships between men and women in Susan Glaspell's Trifles and Henrik Ibsen's A Doll House. The conflict in each play is the result of incorrect assumptions made by the males of a male-dominated society. The men believe that women focus on trivial matters and are incapable of intelligent thinking, while the women quietly prove the men's assumptions wrong. In the plays Trifles and A Doll House men believe women only focus on trivial matters. While Mrs. Wright is being held in jail for the murder of her husband, she is concerned about the cold weather causing her jars of fruit to freeze and burst. Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale discuss Mrs. Wright's concern over her canned fruit after finding a broken jar. Mrs. Peters voices Mrs. Wright's concern, "She said the fir'd go out and her jars would break" (Glaspell 1.27). The Sheriff's response is, "Well can you beat the women! Held for murder and worryin' about her preserves" (Glaspell 1.28). The women realize the hard work involved in canning this fruit and understand Mrs. Wright's concern. The men see this as unimportant compared to the trouble Mrs. Wright is facing. Likewise, in Isben's play A Doll House Helmer believes that his wife Nora only focuses on trivial matters. Three weeks prior to Christmas Nora spent every evening working alone. Helmer believes that Nora is making the family Christmas ornaments and other treats for the Christmas holidays. In reality, Nora is working for money to repay a loan that she illegally acquired when Helmer was ill. The house cat is blamed for destroying the nonexisting ornaments. Helmer reminds her of the long hours spent away from the family. Helmer sa... ...n, John S. Ibsen: The Open Vision. 1982. Durbach, Errol. A Doll's House: Ibsen's Myth of Transformation. Boston: Twayne, 1991. Glaspell, Susan. "Trifles." Plays by Susan Glaspell. New York: Dodd, Mead and Company,   Inc., 1920. Reprinted in Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry and Drama.   X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia Eds. New York: Harper Collins Publisher, 1995.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Glaspell, Susan. Trifles. Making Literature Matter: An Anthology for Readers and Writers. Ed. John Schilb and John Clifford. Boston: Bedford / St. Martin's, 2000. 127-137. Ibsen, Henrik. A Doll House (1879). Trans. Rolf Fjelde. Rpt. in Michael Meyer, ed. The Bedford Introduction to Literature. 5th edition. Boston & New York: Bedford/St. Martin's Press, 1999. 1564-1612. Templeton, Joan. "The Doll House Backlash: Criticism, Feminism, and Ibsen." PMLA (January 1989): 28-40.    Comparing Men's Assumptions in Susan Glaspell's Trifles and Henrik Ibse Men's Assumptions in Trifles and A Doll House There are many similarities in the relationships between men and women in Susan Glaspell's Trifles and Henrik Ibsen's A Doll House. The conflict in each play is the result of incorrect assumptions made by the males of a male-dominated society. The men believe that women focus on trivial matters and are incapable of intelligent thinking, while the women quietly prove the men's assumptions wrong. In the plays Trifles and A Doll House men believe women only focus on trivial matters. While Mrs. Wright is being held in jail for the murder of her husband, she is concerned about the cold weather causing her jars of fruit to freeze and burst. Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale discuss Mrs. Wright's concern over her canned fruit after finding a broken jar. Mrs. Peters voices Mrs. Wright's concern, "She said the fir'd go out and her jars would break" (Glaspell 1.27). The Sheriff's response is, "Well can you beat the women! Held for murder and worryin' about her preserves" (Glaspell 1.28). The women realize the hard work involved in canning this fruit and understand Mrs. Wright's concern. The men see this as unimportant compared to the trouble Mrs. Wright is facing. Likewise, in Isben's play A Doll House Helmer believes that his wife Nora only focuses on trivial matters. Three weeks prior to Christmas Nora spent every evening working alone. Helmer believes that Nora is making the family Christmas ornaments and other treats for the Christmas holidays. In reality, Nora is working for money to repay a loan that she illegally acquired when Helmer was ill. The house cat is blamed for destroying the nonexisting ornaments. Helmer reminds her of the long hours spent away from the family. Helmer sa... ...n, John S. Ibsen: The Open Vision. 1982. Durbach, Errol. A Doll's House: Ibsen's Myth of Transformation. Boston: Twayne, 1991. Glaspell, Susan. "Trifles." Plays by Susan Glaspell. New York: Dodd, Mead and Company,   Inc., 1920. Reprinted in Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry and Drama.   X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia Eds. New York: Harper Collins Publisher, 1995.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Glaspell, Susan. Trifles. Making Literature Matter: An Anthology for Readers and Writers. Ed. John Schilb and John Clifford. Boston: Bedford / St. Martin's, 2000. 127-137. Ibsen, Henrik. A Doll House (1879). Trans. Rolf Fjelde. Rpt. in Michael Meyer, ed. The Bedford Introduction to Literature. 5th edition. Boston & New York: Bedford/St. Martin's Press, 1999. 1564-1612. Templeton, Joan. "The Doll House Backlash: Criticism, Feminism, and Ibsen." PMLA (January 1989): 28-40.   

The Clash of Civilizations?

The Clash of Civilizations? It is Samuel Huntington’s opinion that conflict in the post-Cold War world would be caused by cultural differences, conflicts amongst nations and groups of different civilizations. In today’s time, it is more common to group countries in terms of their civilization aspects, such as religion or culture, versus that of their economic systems. Huntington explained how interaction amongst the different civilizations will shape the world we live in and any conflicts will occur amongst the differences of each civilization. Huntington gives five reasons for his beliefs. The first reason is because civilizations are basic.The differences occur amongst traditions, culture, language, religion, etc. Secondly, civilizations are seeing increase interaction so people are becoming more aware of those differences. Third, economic transformation and social change are changing how people view certain civilizations from the way they may have been viewed before. Fourth, the West has caused an increase of more people being familiar of other civilizations. Fourth, the differences and characteristics of civilizations are less changeable; those of one civilization cannot simply become part of another civilization. Finally, there is an increase in economic regionalism.Similar to the second point, there is an increase interaction amongst civilizations. Trade has increased, making people dependent upon other civilizations to lead to their success. Huntington uses the Cold War as the time period where the differences between civilizations would cause conflict, replacing the differences between political or ideological boundaries. Huntington breaks the world into â€Å"major civilizations†, The West, Latin America, The Orthodox, The Eastern World, The Muslim World of the greater Middle East, The civilization of sub-Saharan Africa, â€Å"Lone† countries, and â€Å"Cleft† countries.Huntington explains how the West is a superpower compared to other civilizations and it is often reflected in global decisions, such as that of the International Monetary Fund, going in favor of the West. This allows the West to control the world, not only with their interests, but with their beliefs as well. As a result, there is conflict amongst the West and other civilizations. As we compare this article to today’s world in 2012, I believe that issues that are arising are differences in civilization beliefs.Huntington’s hypothesis, in my opinion has been proven true. For example, The West believes in equality, freedom of speech, human rights, etc. Was that not the entire purpose for entering Iraq, to eliminate the power of Saddam Hussein, who did not have any beliefs of the Western ways? The West is truly a powerhouse who believes the world should operate as they do which I do not believe will change. Civilizations have held strong in their beliefs; especially comparing The West to other civilizations, leaving te nsion amongst them.

Challenges Faced By Progressive College - 803 Words

Progressive College, PC is currently facing some financial challenges. As Vice President of finance and administration creating that environment where the institution, administration and students can thrive is top priority. Working with President of PC and the Vice President of Academic Affairs with developing a four-part financial recovery plan. This four-part financial recovery plan included: 1. Do not increase tuition at a rate higher than inflation 2. Do not use financial aid as a means to reduce price 3. Use adjunct faculty during times of growing student enrollment 4. Eliminate academic programs that no longer response to the need of the market. These four part financial steps are a vital area we felt that would be of great contribution to help address the current financial problem PC is facing. Exploring each step within the recovery plan will provide a clear understanding of how PC administration is expected to put the institution in good financial standing. These financial plans will be successful based on the information that was collected and research conducted throughout the academic year. As noted by Lorin (2014) College prices in the U.S have gain increased faster than the rate of inflation, extending decades long pattern of higher education costs. According to the College Board, a decade ago tuition and fee jumped 10.4 percent for in state students at a four yea-public colleges and 5.8 percent at private schools. The institution had a negative netShow MoreRelatedEssay about 1912 Election1032 Words   |  5 PagesDuring the Progressive Era, Americans faced the challenge of choosing between four strong candidates o f the election of 1912. Each candidate held concrete platforms that would have different effects on progressivism. Americans could chose the conservative presidential incumbent William Howard Taft(R), the New Jersey governor Woodrow Wilson (D), the long-time fighter for social reform-Eugene V. 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