Suffering In Shakespeares Plays Essay -- essays research papers

Suffering In Shakespeares PlaysHow does suffering affect ones actions? Do divers(prenominal) types of sufferingaffect one in different ways? This composition seeks to determine how WilliamShakespeares characters respond to various types of suffering. Suffering after partbe delimit in two ways somatic suffering, in which the character is inflictedwith animal(prenominal) pain and trauma, and aroused suffering, where the charactersuffers an turned on(p) trauma or loss.In The Tempest, the materially traumatized characters, are Trinculo andStephano. They are chased by dogs but their physical trauma has not induced anysign of remorse or guilt. Ferdinand, on the other hand, is overcome byemotional suffering at the "loss" of his son. In King Lear, Lear is plaguedemotionally. He feels that he has lost the dear of his favorite daughterCordelia, and he feels the harsh hatred of his two monstrous daughters. At theconclusion of the play, his sanity is restored but he has suffer ed tremendouslyin an emotional manner at the hands of Regan and Goneril. In Othello, Brabantiogoes through emotional suffering when he must succumb to his daughters wishes.Desdemona also goes through emotional suffering when she is accused by Othelloof cheating on him when he is convinced(p) of this by Iago.In The Tempest, the theme of purification through suffering stick outclearly be seen. Prospero, in his long exile from Milan, has more than attonedfor whatever mistake he might have made while he ruled. Ferdinand must sufferthrough Prosperos hardships and laborious tests in the first place he gage win Mirandashand. Most significantly, Alonso must undergo the suffering that Prospero hasdesigned for him before he is forgiven.Prospero, who is the real Duke of Milan was overthrown 12 years earlierby his young brother Antonio. Prospero was driven out of the island alongwith his daughter Miranda the two were send off out to sea. His suffering hasoccured in a physical and a non- physical way, he is deeply hurt from losing hiskingdom and from being cast out to die. scorn this, he is generous inforgiving. He is not only in control of those around him but he punishes theguilty and demands repentance.When Ferdinand meets Miranda, they instantly declension in love with eachother. "I might call him...a matter divine for nothing natural...I ever saw sonoble." ( Tempest, I, ii, 417-419). He is utter(a) for h... ...ello and Iago agree that Desdemona should be put to death. Out of rage,Othello smothers Desdemona in bed and kills her. "She must die, else shellbetray more men." (Othello, V, ii, 6).In conclusion, there is evidence that Shakespeare designed hischaracters to be affected by different types of suffering in different ways. Thecharacters who underwent emotional suffering, usually ended up purified or atleast in a better state of mind. On the other hand, those who only underwentphysical suffering did not change from their past behaviors an d did not repent.Evidence of this can be seen in the following ways Ferdinand in TheTempest, is struck by emotional pain. Because of this, he is purified throughhis trial and he repents. In Othello, the briny character is caught in anemotional battle- who is he to believe- his loyal servant or his new bride?Unfortunately, Othello does not realize the truth until it is too late and hasalready killed Desdemona. In King Lear, Lear becomes temporarily insane from thepain and turmoil he endures from his daughters. He does not come to terms abouthis mistake until, akin Othello, it is too late and Cordelia has already beenkilled.