Performing Arts

A critical essay on the symbols and images used by Synge, drawing from both classical and Biblical archetypes, in "The Riders to the Sea".

A close analysis of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet prologue, line by line. Explains rhyme scheme and Iambic pentameter in the prologue. Tutorial and video links.

Three sonnets from Romeo and Juliet are in the Act I prologue, the lovers' first kiss in Act I, and the Act II prologue. Each sonnet is analyzed and explained with some tutorial links and review for iambic pentameter and rhyme scheme.

Death of a Salesman's Willy Loman, was really a low man. He led a very sad life, accoplished little, but had big dreams. Here is an analysis of the man behind the story.

About Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet. Benvolio is a member of the Montague household and a good friend to Romeo. Benvolio's advice to Romeo. Benvolio's personality and character traits. Does Benvolio die in Romeo and Juliet?

Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot is a play that presents conflict between living by religious and spiritual beliefs, and living by an existential philosophy, which asserts that it is up to the individual to discover the meaning of life through...

Is The Cherry Orchard a tragedy or a comedy?

An analysis of hidden intentions and true meanings behind actions in William Shakespeare's Macbeth.

This is an analytical essay that examines the racial issues in Shakespeare's play, "Othello." The play ponders whether race is a social fabrication or an innate ugliness of human nature.

The Nurse is a bawdy, overly talkative, and humorous character in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. She teases, but is completely devoted to Juliet. She eventually betrays Juliet's wishes by giving her unkind advice. Even so, the Nurse is completely grief-stricken by Juliet's feigned death.

In the Romeo and Juliet death scene, Juliet is lying in the tomb, under the influence of a sleeping potion that makes it appear that she has died. Romeo finds her in the tomb. Before entering the tomb, Romeo kills Paris in the graveyard.

There has been a long-standing debate over the true definition of tragedy in dramatic literature. Read this discussion of Aristotle's definition weighed against three tragedies written in different centuries.

This article delves into the use of witchcraft as a way to 'get back' at enemies in Arthur Miller's "The Crucible".

Madame Butterfly is one of the most popular operas of all time. But the ending has a twist—the final chord is unusual. So why did Puccini choose to end his own favourite opera this way?

Shakespeare as a master of depicting the subtleties of human nature, provides an unsimplified portrayal of Cleopatra the exquisite Queen of the Nile both as a passionate woman and cunning manipulator.

Analysis of the content and poetic structure of the closing words in Romeo and Juliet.