Academic Writings on English

Sample Essay

Shakespeare talks with regards to present times (16^th century for him) comes under scrutiny when he considers whether current generation of inventors have “mended” (Shakespeare 1609) or improved their ways with respect to the former generations. This diction should be read in light of the fact that sonnet 59 was part of a sequence called Fair Youth where Shakespeare is declaring his love for a young man. By inquiring whether men of today have “mended” their ways, Shakespeare may be attempting to contemplate whether this forbidden love is actually a sign of improvement or just a duplication of the flaws that preexisted in men.

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Sample Essay

“What brought about Hamlet’s loss of Innocence” (Shakespeare)

Prince Hamlet was born in a setting of presumed innocence. His father was the king of Denmark, and he, being the only child, became the royal prince. As with regular children, he was sent away to school but by the time he came back, his father had died and Claudius had taken over the throne with all the conviction of an evil power hungry uncle. Part of the quick succession of events, King Claudius also married Hamlet’s mother Queen Gertrude. Whereas once a reserved innocent school going child, Prince Hamlet now found him lodged directly in the midst of not-so-innocent adult circumstances and having to deal with his father’s death and much more importantly, a stepfather successor to the throne in the shape of his uncle.

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