The tragic and heroic in hamlet and othello by william shakespeare = bi kịch và lòng quả cảm trong các tác phẩm hamlet và othello của william shakespeare

The tragic and heroic in society, in literature and in Shakespeare s plays’s plays 2.1.. The tragic and heroic in Hamlet and Othello by Shakespeare 3.1.. The second aim is to know more a

This thesis could not be finished without the assistance of my teachers inforeign language Department, my family and friends

Firstly, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my supervisor_

MA Le Thi Thuy Ha, whose lectures of English literature attracted me so much,led me to the decision of choosing English comments on each single unit of thisthesis, similarly she gave me her indispensable assistance, excellent suggestions,expert advice and detailed comments as well as invaluable encouragement

I own a special debt of gratitude to MA Tran Ngoc Tuong, who helpedinitiate the idea for my thesis, giving me his essential contributions and variedexperience in doing literature research

I would like to express my truthful thanks to all the teachers of English atthe foreign language Department and the directorial Board for giving theopportunity to do this thesis

And finally, I want to thank to my beloved family, my friends who helpand encourage me so much during the process of studying this thesis

Table of contents

Acknowledgement

Table of contents

Part A: Introduction

1 The rationales of choosing the theme

2 The aims of the study

3 Research questions of the study

4 The objectives of the thesis

5 The methods of the study

6 The scope of the thesis

7 The format of the study

1.2.2.1.1 The brief summary of the play

1.2.2.1.2 The source of the play

1.2.2.1.3 The characters in the play

1.2.2.1.4 The setting of the play

1.2.2.2 Othello

1.2.2.2.1 The brief summary of the play

1.2.2.2.2 The source of the play

1.2.2.2.3 The characters of the play

1.2.2.3.4 The setting of the play

Chapter 2 The tragic and heroic in society, in literature and in Shakespeare s plays’s plays

2.1 Definition of the tragic

2.1 Definition of the heroic

Chapter 3 The tragic and heroic in Hamlet and Othello by Shakespeare

3.1 The tragic and heroic in Hamlet

3.1.1 The tragic described in pessimistic and melancholic Hamlet andmiserable and hopeless Ophelia

3.1.2 The heroic reflected in daring and brave Hamlet and chaste, hearted and sympathetic Ophelia

warm-3.2 The tragic and heroic in Othello

3.2.1 The tragic through loss of belief and down- spirited and tragicperson

3.2.2 The heroic through chivalrous and brave Othello and beautiful,courage and believable Desdemona

Part C Conclusion

Reference books

Suggestion for further studies

Part A Introduction

1 The rationales of choosing the thesis

When I was a child, I was very interested in learning Vietnameseliterature, especially when becoming a student, I have a good opportunity toapproach English literature, I feel that this subject is very exciting and it makes

me curious So the study is a lucky chance for me to know and to discover thenew things in the literature deeply

Besides, in the process of studying English, I usually have a lot ofdifficulties in understanding the English literature From this, it is the impetusfor my effort to discover this subject

Moreover, literature is truthful inflection of social life, each period inhistory of English literature is always expressed the society and people truthfullyand objectively in difficult aspects of life by writers I like to study Englishhistory, especially, England in the Renaissance of typical writer- WilliamShakespeare Thanks to his plays, I understand clearly about his Age of sociallife

All the above things are main rationales for choosing my graduationthesis

2 The aims of the thesis

The first aim of my study is to understand more clearly about Englishliterature, especially English literature in the Renaissance

The second aim is to know more about Shakespeare’s life and his career,his attitude and his contribution to English Renaissance literature and understandmore about his famous tragedies- “Hamlet” and “Othello”, including the theme

“tragic and heroic” in the plays

And the last aim is not only to widen my knowledge about literarylanguage but also to improve my English language, too

3 Research questions of the study

- What are the tragic and heroic?

- What characters' features are the tragicand heroic expressed in two plays

"Hamlet" and "Othello"?

- How are the tragic and heroic expressed in each player in these plays?

4 The objectives of the study.

The theme “tragic and heroic” in the plays of Shakespeare will introduce in thisthesis

- “Tragic and heroic” in society and literature

- “Tragic and heroic” in Othello and in Hamlet

5.The methods of the thesis

- Studying documents dealing with the thesis

- Analysis method “the theme and characters of plays”

- Making the best use of lectures on the course of English literature

- Making the best use of help of the supervisor- MA Le Thi Thuy Ha

6 The scope of the thesis

- Studying the Renaissance, England in the Renaissance

- Studying Shakespeare’s life and career

- Studying the theme in Shakespeare’s plays “tragic and heroic” in Othelloand in Hamlet

7 format of the thesis

This thesis graduation consists of three main parts:

Part A Introduction

There are sections in the introduction such as: the rationales for choosing thetheme, the aims, the scope, methods and format of the study

Part B: Development

The Development consists of three chapters:

Chapter 1: “Background; what is Renaissance?; William Shakespeare”

Chapter 2: “The tragic and heroic in society, literature and in Shakespeare’s

plays; definition of the tragic; definition of the heroic”

Chapter 3: “The tragic and heroic in “Hamlet” and “Othello” by

Shakespeare; The tragic and heroic in “Hamlet”; The tragic and heroic in

1.1 England in the Renaissance

1.1.1 What is Renaissance?

According to NguyÔn Xu©n Th¬m (1997), the Renaissance is thetransitional period from the Middle Ages to the modern contemporary time, atime which witnessed to use angel’s words “the great progressive turning pointthat mankind had to far experienced, the time which called for giants andprodured giants, giants in power of thought, passion and character, inuniversarity and learning ”

The Renaissance began in 14th century in Italy then spread to the rest ofEurope, the pregmented feudal society of the Middle Ages, with its agriculturaleconomy and church dominated intellectual and cultural life, was transformedinto a society increasingly ominated intellectual and cultural politicalinstitutions, with an urban, commercial economy and with lay patronage ofeducation, music and art Moreover, in the period, the man was always centraland the freedom of each individual was usually praised, that was essentialdemand of each person, and was also human rights They want to confirm theirability before the Universe

The Renaissance marked the beginning of capitalism through theformation of capital holding companies that engaged in expensive and riskytrade with Russian, the Far East, and other remote trading sites For instance, theMuscovy Company, the East Indian company and West Indian company all.From time to time, provided handsome profits for their investors, So London

became an ideal city for everybody throughout England and during the sixteenthcentury London approximately doubled its size to 200000 inhabitants, theRenaissance most of English population resided in rural areas Cities werecrowded, considered dirty and often dangerous and especially, the greatestproblem was public hygience.

For change in politics, there was also not organized police force as weconceive it today, England was, of course, a monarchy Elizabeth I come tothrone at the age of 25 on the death of the half-sister, Mary in 1558 Elizabethreigned until 1603, when upon her death her cousin, Jame I, who was also king

of Scotland was connected James ruled until 1625 and was succeeded by hisCharles I Both Elizabeth and James were relatively good monarchs Elizabethwas strong and certainly capable of making hard and difficult decision Howeverperhaps she was a woman, she was less functionally arrogant than most of hercontemporary monarchs Although she was Queen of England, she shared some

of her rules with parliament a body made of men chosen to represent withvarious areas of England

The Renaissance was also marked by numberous advancement in what wecould call technology The most important, invention of printing, took place in

1455, over one hundred years before Shakespeare was born, and first came toEngland in 1475, when William Caxton set up a printing press in Westminsternear Westminter Abbey The effects of printing were widespread but not as rapid

as they might suppose The percentage of people who could read and writeslowly, grew books became less expensive and more available This will helpreaders approach new books and many people could read and update news morequickly

1.1.2 What is meant by Renaissance ?“ ”

According to Nguyen Chi Trung (1998), the term Renaissance, meaningliterally “rebirth” in French refers to the “discovery of the world and of man”(Michelet) Jokob Burckhardt (a great Swiss historian) expanded on Michelet’sconception, characterizing the Epoch of Renaissance as nothing less than thebirth of modern humanity and conciousness after a long period of ignorance anddecay First of all “Renaissance” means not only “the discovery of the world andthe man beings” more than that, it implies “the awakening of men’s mind, theawakening of individual spirit and secularism”

1.1.2.1 Renaissance means the revival interest in Greek and human literature.

It is obvious that, in the middle age, people barely read and study Greekand Rome, and the number of readers of the literature, and the number of readers

of these literatures were scholars and literary men because of unavaibility ofbooks However, thanks to printing machine invention, the number of readers ofancient writers increased greatly and the reading and studying of Greek, Romanliteratures became more interested in the amount of printed books waswidespread

1.1.2.2 Renaissance in the discovery of the world and the human beings

New inventions and discoveries in science in the Renaissance in themiddle age, men know little about the world In the Renaissance, however mengreatly discovered for geography and science

In geographical field, Christopher Columbus discovered America AMerigo Vespucci and Vasco de Gama discovered the Phillipines, Magellantraveled around the world and discovered several lands and islands These greatgeographical discoveries opened new horizons and bright prospects for Europeanpeople They longed to discover other continents and people In astronomy,Nicholas Copernicus- a Polish studied the scientific writing of antiquity andobserved the universe- He included that the earth resolves around the sun and thesun is center of the Universe

In the scientific field, Newton discovered “law of gravity” and Galileoinvented to men’s awareness about their position and effect in society (thehuman being in the Renaissance)

The human beings in the Renaissance.

In the Middle Age, men completely lost their values and position Thechurch of Rome taught them that men were symbols of evils and sin, that theywere slaves in this temporary world They lived and waited for theiremancipation from this earthly hopeless life They lived and prepared themselvesfor future life in paradise

In the Renaissance, in contrast, men were reborn They began to acceptthis world with a much more optimistic attitude They enjoyed their present lifeand realized this earth life was beautiful and interesting that men had the right tolive and enjoy everything on the earth

1.1.2.3 Renaissance in the awakening s mind, the awakening of individual’

In the Middle-Ages, men depended on “God” and despised materialisticand sexual desire The role of individual was improved And the development ofsociety depended on human ability They had to discover the natural Universe.And their human being ability, new luxurious life, new economic, political andsocial life all created new will, eagerness in them Spiritually, they began to lead

a revolt against the strict, cramped and austere pattern of life in the Ages

Middle-In this age, there was also a great change in the outlook, the God –centered thought of the Middle- Ages seemed to disappear humanism is greatlypraised Humanists came to look on the world as a good thing in it’s not merely

a place to win salvation Renaissance men were not more subordinated to God.Their own strength and ability to achieve it Men were their own guides to truthand happiness

1.2 William Shakespeare

1.2.1 His life.

William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564 in the small town of theStratford- Upon- Avon about seventy-five miles from London He was thegreatest English playwright and poet of England as well as of the mankind Hewas the son of a well –to do merchant

When a boy, he went to Stratford Grammar School where Latin and Greekwere almost the only subjects, life itself, contact with people and hisacquaintance with the rich English folklore gave him more than the scholarticmethods used at school In these days, Stratford-Upon-Avon was often visited bytraveling groups of actors It is quite possible that some performed plays byactors impressed him

In 1577 he left the school early when his family got into heavy debts.Five years later, at age of 18 (he married Anne) left London then hemarried Anne Hathaway by whom he had three children, Susan (1583), and thetwins Hamlet and Judith (1583) Hamlet, his only son, died and was buried atStratford in 1596

In 1587, we found Shakespeare in London where he soon becomesconnected with stage, at the time, he wrote many for the company of actors whoplayed at the theatre Then the new Globe Theatre was built where Shakespeare’splays were staged These theatres anabled him to become a well- known andwealthy man

In 1613, Shakespeare left London and returned to his native town ofStratford-upon-Avon Three years later, on April 23, 1616, he died and wasburied there.

Only in five years later in London, Shakespeare was well-known inliterary circles He wrote 2 long poems, 37 plays and 154 sonnets only withintwenty years He is regarded as the biggest poet, the playwright of his Age and

of his country Many writers in his same age praised him as “the honey- tonguedpoet” or “Evon river swan” Ben Johnson, an English well-known playwrightconfirmed that Shakespeare belonged not only to his age but also to eternality

Shakespeare was known as a humanist He is the great humanist ofEngland and of the world The outstanding idea that we can see in all his workswas humanity He was the enemy of medieval ideas, religious and racialdiscrimination He always believed in his human being’s ability to conquer theworld In his works, he affirmed the principle of equality, the equal moral value

of people of all clauses and all races His plays are filled with action, hischaracters are believable and his language is thrilling to hear or read Underlyingall this is Shakespeare’s deep humanity He was a profound son and student ofpeople and he understood them He had a great tolerance, sympathy, and love forall people He also praised the value of women in society, he believes in thecapacity of women’s minds to achieve their happiness

1.2.2 His works

Shakespeare is the author of two long poems, 154 sonnets and 37 playsconsists of 15 comedies, 10 tragedies, 10 histories, These dramatic works aredivided into 4 periods:

1.2.2.1 The first period: 1590- 1594

The first period that lasted from 1590- 1594 was remarked by theoptimism- characteristic in history works is very humanist It is best reflected inhis brilliant works:

*The comedies:

- The comedy of Errors (1592)

- The Taming of the Shrew (1593)

- The two gentlemen of Verona (1594)

- Love’s labour’s lost (1594)

*History plays:

- King Henry IV (part II) (1590)

- King Henry VI (part II) (1590)

- The tragedy of King Richard (1590)

1.2.2.2 The second period (1594- 1600)

In this period, Shakespeare wrote the large number of history plays, also hisability was spendidly developed, the main inspiration is still pessimistic Hischronicles was plays written on the subject from national history Shakespeare’schronicle covered a period of more than hundred years of English history.However, the main subjects of the chronicle are not the lives and fates of theking but history itself and the development of the country Like the humanists ofhis time, Shakespeare believed a centralized monarchy to be an ideal form of thestate power He thought it would put to the struggle of the feudal and wouldcreate condition for the progress of the country One of the great achievements

of Shakespeare was that in his chronicles he showed not only the kings, feudal,and churchmen, but the lower classes, too

- The drama: The Merchant of Venice

- The three early tragedies:

Tistus Andronius, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesa

The tragedies show a change in the playwright’s understanding of life,whose approach to reality becomes more pessimistic

1.2.2.3 The third period: 1601- 1608

The main works written by Shakespeare during the third period are somegreat tragedies:

- Hamlet, prince of Denmark (1601)

- Othello, the Moor of Venice (1604)

Also in the period, there are some plays which describe, the gulf between realand ideal, between actual ability and human desire, between human love andlimited life They are:

- Troilus and Cressida (1602)

- Coriolanus (1608)

- Timon of Athens (1608)

And there are two comedies: all the well that ends well (1602) and Measureand Measure (1604) They are reflected by dark moods and skeptical attitudetowards accepted morality without offering solution

In this period, writer’s outlook to life is changed from optimism topessimism The covering of all his mind and heart is full of cloud During theperiod, he wrote great tragedies and bitter comedies which remarked thematurity of William Shakespeare

The tragedies, like the chronicles, are also based on real events but there is

a considerable difference between the two genres The playwright raised greatproblem of good and evil But in the chronicles, they are mostly linked withpolitical themes- the question of the state and public life of period described Inthe tragedies which are central round the life of one man, Shakespeare touched

on cruelty, kindness, love, vanity, and others That is why his tragedies are ofgreat interest of every new generation

1.2.2.4 The forth period: 1609- 1613

This is the period of romantic plays In the time, Shakespeare wrote bothtragedy and comedy but tragedy is dominant But only difference from the plays

of previous period is that their ending is happier the playwright still touches uponimportant social and moral problems But now he suggests Utopian solution tothem

Due to Age, experience of life and writing plays seem to be summed Hiswriting style also has a change in the idea as well as in the outlook of art He stillwrote to criticize the bad habits such as: greed of fame, jealousy but herealized that the problems were too difficult to expel He felt powerless beforethe life full of injustice

In the period, however Shakespeare spent much time writing love storiesand praising on them He always put his belief in the youth Some works writtenare:

1.2.2.1.1 The brief summary of the play

Opening the play is the image of ghost which looks like the late king ofDenmark The first people who see the ghost are sentries at the castle of Elsinorewhich is armed in case of attack from Fortinbras, prince of Norway The sentrieshave informed Horatio, a friend of Hamlet, to observe the ghost’s appearance atevery night, while Hamlet lived in melancholic state, he surprised at his father’sdeath, only one month, his mother remarried with his uncle, Claudius who hasnow become the king, Horatio informs Hamlet the ghost about what they see atthe castle

At Polonius’s house, Laertes advises his sister, Ophelia that she should notrust Hamlet and be seduced by him Then Polonius, an adviser to the king saysgoodbye to Laertes, advising him to remain a loaf from entanglements with hisfellow man Polonius also does not allow Ophelia to meet Hamlet If she meetshim, she has to spy and informs him about Hamlet’s sign of action that whetherHamlet is mad or not That night, the ghost appears again, telling Hamlet thetruth, the ghost states that it is the spirit of Hamlet’s father had been murdered

by his uncle, present king while he slept in his orchard, Claudius poured poison

in his ear and ghost urges Hamlet to set things right It means that he has torevenge for his father and makes his father’s death explicit but to leave hismother’s punishment to heaven

Polonius sends Reynaldon to spy on Laertes in France and orders Ophelia

to observe Hamlet And then he concludes that Hamlet is mad for love forOphelia The king commisions, Resencrantz and Guildenstern, friends of Hamlet

to find out what is troubling him Polonius tries to encourage Hamlet to tell what

is bothering him, and Polonius let two friends of Hamlet interview him whoknow clearly about their truth purpose At the time, there will be troop of actorsperforming for the Royal assenblage, Hamlet arranges the actors to insert theirplaylet aim at seeing the king’s reaction when watching the play He then regretshis unability to act upon his plan of revenge

To prevent Hamlet’s suspicion, the king orders Polonius and Opheliaobserve Hamlet’s action, now Hamlet know who murdered his father but hemediate what course of action he should take, he does not become suspicious ofmost people in the castle, even of Ophelia He does not believe Ophelia’s lovefor him and dismisses her to nunnery The king is worried, so the king sendsHamlet to England and gets rid of him on the way to England

Soon the play is presented Horatio is to observe the king’ reaction to itwhen seeing the scene of play, the king rises and rushes away, Hamlet sees theking at prayer Polonius informs Hamlet that his mother, the Queen wishes tomeet him at the sitting room And then Polonius will spy their conversation andHamlet’s behavior But when discovering the Polonius joins her calls, andHamlet thinking he is the king, kills him with his sword Again Hamlet tells histhought and let his mother know the king’s plan to send him to England to getrid of him.

When Hamlet knows the king’s plot, on the way to England, Hamletexchanges the king’s secret letter Portinbras passes through Denmark to winback the little patch of ground belonging to Poland Hamlet observing thisexpose to death and danger “even for an eggshell” is strengthened into bloodyresolution to revenge his father Ophelia still believes in Hamlet’s love for herand she loves him until her father death She has gone mad and sings incoherently of love and death The king explained Laertes how his father came to

be killed, and incites Laertes to revenge Hamlet The king is to prepare apoisoned drink, which he will offer to Hamlet during the duel The act ends withthe Queen’s report of Ophelia’s death by drowing

Before his sister’s death, Laertes protects that more cites should be said,but the priest refuses because Ophelia’s death was “doubtful” Laertes, unable tocontrol his brief, leaps in grave and Hamlet, finally aware of who had died, alsoleaps in in fifth with sword, Hamlet urged to drink, but does not The Queenunvittingly drinks the poisoned wine, Laertes wounds Hamlet, the swords areexchanged in a scuffle and Hamlet wounds Laertes The Queen dies, Laertesfalls and denounces the king And then Hamlet kills the king with his ownsword Hamlet orders Horatio to tell his story, recommending that Portinbras beelected king and suicides himself later

1.2.2.1.2 The source of the play

Shakespeare’s original source of his play, the tragedy of Hamlet, prince ofDenmark was a play on the same subject attributed to Thomas Kyd andperformed in London The plot of Hamlet borrowed from folk tale in NorthernEurope, written by Saxon Gramticus, a Denish historian It is put together acollection of true stories, legends and fold tales of Northern Europe The story ofHamlet or called “Amlethus” According to Saxon, Amlethus is a legendary herofrom the tenth century who was locked for many years in a brutal struggle with

his enemies His father, Horwen did married to Gerutha, the daughter of king ofDenmark But because of jealousy, young brother of the king, furgon seizes thethrone and marries Gerutha, the son of last king, Amlethus at the time, grows up.

He decides to revenge his father’s murder Before his father’s death and hismother’s remarriage, he pretends to be mad But the king is very suspicious, heorders his close people to observe Amlethus’s action and his suspicious uncledevises several schemes to entrap him but not succeed The king sends Amlethus

to England to get rid of by two false friends but he knows their plan and breakdown their plot, then he escapes from the death

In England, he marries the daughter of the king He then returns toDenmark and revenge his father At the big party, Amlethus waits until thecouries and Furgon were drinken, he attacks the party and kills Furgon,revenging his former father

1.2.2.1.3 The main characters of the play

Hamlet: The prince of Denmark

The king Hamlet: Father of the prince

Claudius: brother of the dead king

Gertruth: Hamlet’s mother

Ophelia: the daughter of Polonius, lover of Hamlet

Polonius: the king trusted council

Laertes: son of Polonius and brother of Ophelia

Rosencrantz and Guidenstern: school friends of Hamlet

Portinbras: prince of Norway

Horatio: Hamlet’s close friend

1.2.2.1.4 The setting for the play

The play was written in complex society in 17th century when morality isnot respected and human rights are trampled

The first thing of the play is the ghost’s appearance at night It informsHamlet about the truth of his father death The ghost wants Hamlet to revengefor him and to set things right

1.2.2 Othello

1.2.2.1 The brief summary of the play

Othello is the great hero in Venice Thanks to a lot of contribution to theircountry He is always respected by Venitian people Iago seems angry andjealous when seeing Desdemona and Othello fall in love He becomes envious of

their happiness To satisfy his jealousy, he makes schemes and concludes withRoderigo to fight against Othello.

Due to Brabanxio’s love for Othello, on time Othello visits him, beingasked to tell his stories about his feat of arm So, his stories makes Brabanxio’sdaughter Desdemona admired Finally she falls in love with Othello, who hasheroic and wild feat Both of them escape to marry each other But unluckily,their love is interviewed by a friend of Othello- Iago He envies their love andwants to split the romantic happiness To gain his aim, Iago concludes withRoderigo, one night, Iago and Roderigo inform Desdemona’s father

Iago spurs Roderigo to alert her father, Brabanxio to the fact that hisdaughter has run off to wed Othello Brabanxio, on hearing so calls out his men

on Othello Also at the time, the news is said that the Vevice empire is going to

be attacked by Turkish army So Othello is summoned by the senate on urgentbusiness to defend their country Desdemona negates what her father says that.She loves Othello truthfully

The following day, Othello is sent to fight off the Turk’s attack on Cybrusand to take over from Montanoas governor and Desdemona, Lado and Roderigofollow Iago develops a plan to displace Cassio from his Lieutananty His plot isthat he lets Roderigo believes that Desdemona is in love which Cassio At oneevening, Cassio is on watch which Iago surprising, Iago invites Cassio to drinkwine But because Cassio doesn’t drink well, Cassio is to drunken, he is then aprime target for Roderigo who provokes him to fight the drunken Cassio doesn’tcontrol his actions Othello disgraces him and demotes him from the position oflieutanant

Cassio is now once the victim of Lago’s villainy and yet comes to him foradmire He wants to restore his Iago makes the use of Cassio’s wishes Iago plans

to make him twice the tool of his treachery He recommends that Cassioapproaches Desdemona, on naive and innocent persistence Meanwhile, Lagoships the idea into Othello’s mind that Cassio is courting Desdemona behind hisback- Lago always creates suitable situation for Othello to see and believe hiswife is betroyed By speaking half –jokingly He convinces Othello to believehis words This idea, born of unspoken inference and delicate direction, grows inOthello’s mind He refuses through the final acknowledgement that he is beingcockolded until he is given “Ocular proof” This is achieved by Lago byprocuring a handkerchief given to Desdemona by Othello This hankerchief

leaves in Cassio’s room where Cassio finds it and gives it to him mistress to

“copy” Not long after Othello is given his “proof” when in his company,Cassio’s mistress returns to Cassio the hankerchief, refusing to copy it At thispoint in the name of honour, Othello resolves to kill Desdemona and Lago offers

to avenge him of Cassio

Meanwhile, Roderigo becomes impatient and threatens Iago that he wants

to approach Desdemona and proclaim his love for her .If his happens ruinLago’s plans for his dishonesty, it would become apparent So he tells Roderigothat the senate has planned to install Cassio as governor of Cyprus and sendsOthello to Mauritania Of course ,Othello brings her with him And Roderigoalso loses her forever to prevent this, he must kill Cassio and that way Othello,Desdemona will remain in Cyprus

To kill both Roderigo and Cassio, Iago incites Roderigo to killcassio While they are fighting, it is Roderigo And not Cassio who is kill Alsokills Desdemona in what he believes to be act of honour on finding her deadmistress Emelia realizes slowly the misapprehension under which Othellolabours and works to explain the truth of Desdemona’s innocence In attempt tosilence her, Lago stabs Emilia Before she dies, the full truth of the story isexposed At that point, Othello is very sorry and judge as to the Cencure of thishellish William, Lago

1.2.2.2 The source of the play.

The play “Othello” is based on the real story about the man named “TheMoor” in Venice written by Italian writer, Xintio

The hero, the Moor respected by brave, experienced and intelligentperson, the senator’s daughter, Desdemona who is very beautiful, falls in lovewith the chap They escapes and are going to get married to each other secretlyvice-lieutenant, Iago who has ever loved Desdemona He slanders her and hesays Desdemona is flortatious girl And the Moor become jealousy and angry,Iago as well as The Moor make plan with each other to kill her

They kill her with boxes of sand until she dies But Lago’s wife realises the truthand she accuses him after he escapes

Obviously, the writer, Xinto tells the extraordinarily jealous story, his wiferealizes both villainy and distingusting Moor and Lago

1.2.2.2 The main characters of the play.

- Othello: The lieutanant

- Brabantio: Desdemona’s father

- Cassio: vice- lieutanant

- Iago: lieutanant

- Roderigo: sick love person

- Emilia: Iago’s wife

1.2.2.4 The setting of the play

The play was written in 1604 in complex situation of society (the story isabout love couple’s romantic story) where skin and racial discrimination stillexists even can lead people to misery and unhappiness And the freedom of love

is not respected The story is about the couple’s romantic love They becomevictims of the crucial society and tragedy of the Ages

In short, the Renaissance has the great meaning in politic, economy, sociallife, especially in England It brings new atmosphere and outlook about theUniverse to man The era similarly affirms human ability, value and subjectdemand In the epoch, there was the appearance of the great English writer,Shakespeare As can be said, the Renaissance Age has deep effect on his opinionand writing style What he says and writes in his works brings deeply socialmeaning He was a great humanist In his works, he affirmed the principles of

equality, the equal value of people of all classes and races So Hamlet and

Othello were They of course, contributed much to his success and fame.

Chapter 2.

The tragic and Heroic in society, literature and in

Shakespeare s plays’s plays

Tragedy is one of the oldest forms of drama: The origin of the tragedy isobscure It comes from the poetic and religious traditions of ancient Greece Itsroot may be more specialized in the chants and dances called dithyrambs, which

honoured the Greek God dinonysus (http://nfs Sparknotes.com/ tragedy in

literature Html)

Tragedy “goat song” is a form of art basing on the human suffering thatoffers its audience pleasure while most cultures have developed form thatprovoke this paradoxical response, tragedy refers to specific tradition of dramathat has played a unique and important role historically in the history in Western

civilization According to Aristotle, a great Greek philosopher, tragedy is animitation of an action He feels puzzled to decide these issues.

As the Uiad noted in the discussion, the word “tragedy” refers primarily totragedy drama: a literary composition written the performed by actors in which acentral character called a tragic potagonist or hero suffers some seriousmisfortune which is not accidential and therefore meaningless, but is significant

in that the misfortune is logically connected with the hero’s action Tragedystresses the vulnerability of human being whose suffering is brought on by acombination of human and divine actions, but is generally undeserved withregard to its hashness The genre however, is not absolutely pessimistic.Although many tragedies end in unhappiness for main characters, there are also

tragedies ending in happiness It makes audience satisfactory (http://nfs.

Sparknotes.com/ tragedy in literature Html)

Tragedy is a word expressing different states in someone’s soul The statemust suffer by something that they can not resolve They become miserable,their action of mediation becomes melancholic and skeptical whether theydecide something correctly or not

In society, tragedy is arousing owe and wonder They are pity and fear in

everyday tragic description According to the Exford English dictionary, tragedy

is described as “a sad event, serious action or calmity” It must not be purely sad

as a person failed in the exam But a “sad event depends entirely on perspective,

as Schopenhauer wrote, you can tell how difficult a person’s life is by plumbing,their job etc, then their life is going pretty well, they focus on the mundaneproblems because they do not have life threatening problems facing them If youcan call failing a driving test for the first time a “tragedy”, then you can not have

nay overwhelming problems facing you (http://nfs Sparknotes.com/ tragedy in

society Html)

Tragedy seems to be a misery of spirit They know what happens but they

do not know how to resolve They seem to be at standstill before the life issue.The solution to their problems is too difficult They fall in melancholic andmiserable state

In literature, tragedy means an abstract concept, it appears in manyliterary works and the issue discussed by scholars when they study in the literaryplays in Renaissance It can be said tragedy in literature is thoroughly exploited

in their works by writers, especially in plays It becomes fairly clear that tragedy

in literature is concerned with the fortunes, misfortunes and disasters the befallpeople of power or position For a tragic figure to be effective, they have to havequalities of excellence that lift them above normal people but in the end notenough to save them from the self destruction or general destruction that isbrought upon them.

Lack of belief and hope is a crucial, and often overwhelming, element inmost tragedies as the playwright, Anouith erote in Anigone (1744), tragedy isrestful, and the reason in that hope, the foul, deceitful thing, has no part in it.Tragedy in literature is a protest against the “petty pace” of life, against god,chance, fate or circumstance against “good thing” happening to good people,they always have to live in horrible state The evil often uses best chance toattack them Their lives may be threatened because bad things still exist everywhere

2.2 Definition of the heroic

Heroic in Greek means mythelogy and folklore, it praises the people withthe beautiful dignity They fight against evils and sacrifice themselves for nobleideals Their deeds are handed down following the time It was originally ademigod, the offspring of a mortal and deity, their cult being one of the most

distinctive features of ancient Greek religion (http://nfs Sparknotes.com/ heroic

in literature Html)

Later, heroic refers to not only a male, but also a female, came to refer tocharacters that, in the face of danger and adversity or from a position ofweakness, display courage and the will for self-sacrifice, that is, heroism forsome greater good, originally of material courage or excellence but extended tomore general moral excellence

In classical antiquity, hero cults are seen in real life with heroes such as:Heracles, Perseus, and Achilles, they played an important role in Ancient Greekreligion Heroes in the myth often are familiar but conflict with the Gods ThusHeracle’s name means “the glory of Hera”, even though he was tormented all his

life by Hera, the Queen of the Gods (http://nfs Sparknotes.com/ heroic in

literature Html)

Hero is appeared in myth and legend He has great strength and courage,favoured by Gods In the legend, he often regarded as a half-god and worshipedafter his death

We can see that hero is strong, great, admired and honest person, he

people Hero has extraordinary will and sacrifices his life to justice withoutthinking about himself but he is still warm- hearted.

In society, when we mention the word “hero” immediately thinking ofsomeone who is strong, intelligent, and daring upon closer examination Manydifficult qualities than become apparent courage, honesty, bravery, selflessnessand the will to try are a few of the overlooked qualities of a hero The definition

of heroism changes with the context and time due to different outlook to life.Heroes of the past are necessary for heroes of present time and vice versa

A person owns heroic as a hero for saving the life of one or of millions.Heroes are not only real people, but also they are fantasy figures They can doanything simple, unless thing they do is meaningful and good for everyone Forexample, children are interested in legendary and fantasy figures because theytake on task such as: difficult journeys, challenges with dragons, discovering losttreasure and the world nature through acts of courage and selflessness Heroesendure much feeling that can take a risk, often the hero learns valuable lessonsabout survival and self-reliance Not only do heroes teach valuable lesson theygive a child a sense of belonging to a child Hero is a person who can change theworld with his extraordinary strength and will but there is nothing preventingthem

As simply heroic is defined that the farmers can become heroes if theylive in the poorest areas of the country, but with their effort high determination

by working hard, they overcome difficulty and challenge in the life as finding anew suitable method applying on producing agriculture, or inventing some

engines for production to enrich themselves and their country (http://nfs.

Sparknotes.com/ heroic in society Html).

The heroic is in a man admired for his achievements and qualities So runsthe most it is said in open-ended dictionary definition of the hero by themeasurement, a person might be led to believing that our world teems withheroes They are always ready to help people regardless difficulty and challenge.Virtue and duty, good and evil, right and wrong do not essentially enter thiscontemporary definition Fame is always respected and is used to define theheroic without regard to virtue and vice For example, in the world Almanac’sSixth annual polling of high school students, those asked to choose theindividuals in public life they admire most awarded Eddie Murphy the highest

hero as “to hero” (http://nfs Sparknotes.com/ heroic in society Html).

Traditionally, according to older definition, heroic stresses courage andnobility as essential traits of heroism The traditional hero lived by a code ofhero marked by a sense of the God According to third definition, a person must

be disposed to value certain things as more important than others, so that he iswilling to take risks and endure hardship for their sake Courage then is thevictory of will, of self-control over physical hardship when he conflicted withdanger and the possibility of death Nobility is always more esteemed Hisdestiny is decided by his opinion of life whether hero consciously concepts, hisfate is based on the statue of dignity, his responsibility is to protest hiscommunity from enemy This is lofty spirit of humanity

In fact, the hero not only performs great deeds but performs them out ofworthy principle renders, his deed even more admirable- the stuff of whichlegends or myths are math

According to another definition, the hero with the great man “the centralfigure in any important event or period”, the opinion of hero is as far different asthe Homeric epic and was associated in the mid- nineteeth He can decide thefate of country that can make the country glorious or not by different ways The

nation absolutely depends on his actions before great event (http://nfs.

Sparknotes.com/ heroic in society Html).

In literature, he is the central male character in a novel, play, poem, etc.with whom the reader or audience is supposed to sympathize or is the centralfigure in any important role event or period, honoured for outstanding qualities

It can be said that the hero is a main character, or a patagonist in the literaryworks He plays a vital role in the work, and can die in the end of the playbecause of lofty idea, he can sacrifice his life for his community, his great deeds,

is well-known everywhere hero always has esteemed character So hero’snobility and admired quality are symbol of people

“Hero” or “heroic” is sometimes used to simply described a patagonist of

a story or a play, which can conflict with more tan human expectation ofheroism, for example, in William Thackerany’s work, Vanity Fair the hero in thework can be understood as main character, also known as hero with great deed,nobility Added to another example in modern movie, hero is often simply anordinary person in extraordinary circumstances, who despite adds being stackedagainst him or her, typically prevail in the end In some action movies, a hero

may exhibit characteristics such as super human strength and endurance thatsometimes makes him nearly invincible Hero likes adventurous life and looksfor to fight against evil, but it is more important that hero is a great strength andcourage, favored by Gods, often regarded as half-God and worshiped after hisdeath with lofty and nobility We can meet the image in the legends or folkloresuch as the heroes: Quaid-E-Azam Granldi, Alikhan and Mother Therasa Thetragic hero in literature is defined as someone who is endowed with a tragic fatalflaw that dooms him to make a serious error in judgment As a result of this error

in judgment, the hero falls from great height or from high esteem, realizing that

he has made an irreversible mistake, then facing and accepting a tragic deathwith honour, evincing pity or fear in fear the audience The fatal flaw is a crucialelement that makes a tragic hero He can die for his ideal life for relative, andeven for community to set things right as characters Hamlet, Othello inShakespeare’s works

As above author has just presented, there are many different ideas fordefinition of the tragic and heroic It refers to mood and it is more important thatthey are described human various states of spirit To help us understand moreclearly about the issue, the tragic and heroic are fully expressed in Hamlet andOthello by William Shakespeare

Chapter 3.

The tragic and heroic in Hamlet and Othello

3.1 The tragic and heroic in Hamlet

3.1.1 The tragic described in pessimistic and melancholic Hamlet and miserable and hopeless Desdemona

The tragic is vividly described in the features of two characters Hamletand Ophelia, especially through pessimistic and melancholic Hamlet andmiserable and hopeless Ophelia

Pessimistic and melancholic are sad states of spirit They exist in person’sbody and mind for long time Opening the play is image of Hamlet filled ofmood As you know, Hamlet, the prince of Denmark was born in the Royalfamily, lives in well- educated and strict family, his life is very flat withoutworry or threat from external And the opening of the play, Hamlet firstly

appears as a student at university of Wittenburg, full of optimistic humanisticideas His belief in man and life make him exclaim:

“What a piece of work is a manHow noble in reason

How infinite in faculty

In form and moving how express and admirable!

In action how life an angel!

In apprehension how life a god!

The beauty of the world! The paragon of animal!”

(Act 2, Sc 2)From the life opinion, Hamlet- the prince of Denmark lives and enjoyshimself with dream and ambition He wants to discover himself the secular lifewith filled with enthusiastic heart, because he believes in people’s ability andstrength that nothing can be not done and men were their own guides to truth andhappiness So Hamlet would like to spend all his love for life and people Hamletbecomes a beloved boy with transparent, natural soul For him, how happy thelife! Because of his happy family and couple love

This is the young man with dream and ambition he pursues He is reallyoptimistic, the secular life in his eyes is the heaven in the earth People aroundthe world are very kind and helpful For example, his father he always respectsand admires because of his nobility and quality

But that is past Hamlet and now everything changes Happiness means todisappear from the prince’s thought The good side of life according to himseems not to exist Instead, evil is everywhere The young prince is too surprisedand grieved after knowing the news of his father’s death, he has a shock anddoes not believe in his eye, because “he is a man, take him for all in completely”(Act 2 Sc 1), his beloved father is often very well He however, leaves his lifesuddenly He turns alone among the pace of indifferent life His sufferingreaches climax when seeing his mother’s hasty remarriage to his uncle,Claudius She becomes different from him, the Queen seems to be cold andregardless to her son On the other hand, nobody shares his feeling, so he islonelier In addition, the more he loves his father, the angrier he turns, informingabout the truth of his father death after the ghost is spirit of the last king He, onthe one hand respects what the ghost said Seeing his mother’s happiness, he haspity for his former father From this contradiction, it makes him miserable and

melancholic His hesitance and mediation is like a complicated person We seethat Hamlet is a person with different qualities At any when he says, he alwaysreveals different thought that makes audience curious His conversation withpeople around is also full of secret Because of his love for the family and hisloyalty for his former father, in his eyes, the world has collapsed So theaudience may see he is always lonely, depressed and insane Hamlet can notshare his feeling with anyone since it is an extraordinary story It is proved, atthe first time, Hamlet does not want to meet the ghost but due to Horatio’sencouragement and his odd, he is determined to see the ghost:

“If it assumes my noble father’s person,

I will speak to it, though hell itself should gap and bid me, hold my peace”(scene II)

Hamlet really has the great love for his father Supposing that we stayfrom home, receiving the news of anyone’s death in our family as father Thissituation is enough to bring disappointment, brief to us, even person with thestrongest will, it is difficult to overcome the misery A prince much less, thesentimental person who has great love for father like Hamlet

All people around in the play, Hamlet is a devoted to the memory of hisbeloved father when the former King died, his life has a complete change Now

he is not the student with dream and ambition He does not think any thing buthis father death All people are busy for the Queen’s wedding and forget theking’s death quickly, especially the Queen, Gerthude Regardless people’sadvice that he should forget the misery for the happy future and stop wearingblack clothes, he still dressed the head to toes in black The present king andQueen hate seeing him look so sad Hamlet also tries to remind them of hisfather death but they want to forget and prepare their new happiness as wedding:

“How is it that clouds still hang on you!

Hamlet: Not so, my lord; I am too much in the sunKing Queen: Good Hamlet, cast thy knighted colour offAnd let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark

Do not for ever with thy vailed lids,Seek for thy noble father in the dustThow know’s st’ tis common, all lives mustPassing through nature to eternity

(Act 1, Sc 2)

His mother says that his grief seems to be common, Hamlet replies:

“Seems, madam? Nay it is, I know not “seem”

‘Tis not alone my inky cloak, good motherNor customary suits of solemn black”

(Act 1, Sc 2)Hamlet shows the grief is usual, his actions are honest and not pretend to

be mad He is completely saddened by is beloved father death She says the word

“seem” pushes him to disappointment and rage Even his uncle ignores Hamlet’sgrief and advises him to give up the suffering for better life:

“This must be so! We pray you throw to earthThis unprevailng woe and thing if us

As of a father, for let the world take noteYou are the most immediate to our throne;

And with no less nobility of loveThan that which dearest father bears his son,

Do I impart toward you…””

(Act 1, Sc 2)But all their advice is meaningless to him, it makes him more determined

to revenge for his noble, beloved father

As I have mentioned Hamlet is a complex character with full of conflictbetween him and outer evil, conflict between in his soul Conflict between himand the outer evil begins with people around the castle Firstly with his motherwhose husband has died within a month, getting married to her brother- in- lawwho killed his brother that is the whole “out of joint” Denish society where he isliving It is worth that when her husband died, she has to be the most miserable,taking care of and comfort his son In contrast, she looks for happiness In hismind, Queen has ever been a gentle woman and brought the primary joys, butnow she is strange and cold to him She forgets all her husband’s great love forher She marries the person, Claudius who murdered her husband She betrayedhim:

“Must I remember! Why she would hang on him

As if increase of appetite had grown

By what it feel on; yet within a month”

(Act 1, Sc 2)

Hamlet feels embittered and grieved when seeing is mother’s hastywedding to his brother- in- law, Hamlet could not but look down on her:

“Frailty, the name is woman” (Act 1, Sc 2)

He becomes suspicious that his mother is the part of the murder to hisfather death

“A bloody dead- almost as bad, good mother,

As kill a king, and marry with his brother” (Act 3, Sc 4)The biggest conflict is between Hamlet and Claudius Claudius killed hisfather and also leads his mother to the sin He can not concept him as fatherbecause he hates Claudius and looks down on his words “A little more than kin,and less than kind” (Act 1, Sc 2)

As can be said, the conflict between Hamlet and Claudius is the fightbetween good and evil, morality and non- morality, between humanity and anti-humanity forces The discord between them is not an individualistic one, it ishistorical and social significance And Claudius is representative for social evilforce Hamlet is for justice, good, noble humanity and courage

Beside it is a conflict in his soul He is also aware that the fight to “set theworld right” to liberate the man from “confines, wards, dungeons Evil is verystrong, powerful in the society It is not only Claudius but many Hamlet isalone, the fight may be a failure, so he thinks a lot of its consequence Hismediation and hesitation is fully reflected in soliloquy “To be or not to be”

He can not believe the hard truth and can not decide himself So Hamletfights against evil himself His mad pretend seem to be suitable Is father suddendeath and his mother hasty wedding urges him to revenge To carry the plan, hehas to sacrifice his private affair He encourages people around that he is mad.His indifference to Ophelia is the clearest evidence when he says to Polonius:

Polonius: Do you know me, my lord?

Hamlet: Excellent well; you are a fis mongerPolonius: not I, my lord

Hamlet: Then I would you were so honest a man

Polonius: Honest, my lord?

Hamlet: Ay sir, to be honest as this world goes, being a goodKissing rarrion…” have you a daughter?

Polonius: I have, my lord