The Discourse Of Shakespeare s Hamlet ( Rough Draft )

The Discourse of Dance in Shakespeare’s Hamlet (Rough Draft) Alan Brissenden, a noted dance critic and Shakespearean scholar, asserts that â€Å"when Shakespeare uses dance it always contributes to plot, character, or imagery, and sometimes to all of these at one time (â€Å"Jacobean† 249). In the comedies, dance is used in the first few acts of the play to create an atmosphere of dramatic irony: dance, in its fundamental purpose in the Elizabethan and Jacobean theater was to create a sense of harmony and goodwill; when paired with the plot of a tragedy, dance stands in stark contrast to the discord of the final acts. Dance, therefore, makes a â€Å"dramatically relevant comment on the action to follow† (Shakespeare 75). Though extensively covered by academic discourse, little research has been conducted concerning the use of dance and dance imagery in Hamlet. Shakespeare uses the discourse of dance and clowning to define Hamlet’s character. Dance does not inform the action, but rather informs the inaction. It defin es Hamlet’s state of mind and his lack of desire to escape his melancholy. Dance is a means through which he criticizes others, criticism which draws these characters into his own madness. During the Early Modern period, dance had many uses; it was considered a form of medicine, a sign of religious exaltation, and a social necessity. Dance was a popular form of exercise and hygiene, keeping the humors in balance and promoting good health much like hunting, walking,Show MoreRelatedOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 Pagesmanaging, organizing and reflecting on both formal and informal structures, and in this respect you will find this book timely, interesting and valuable. Peter Holdt Christensen, Associate Professor, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark McAuley et al.’s book is thought-provoking, witty and highly relevant for understanding contemporary organizational dilemmas. The book engages in an imaginative way with a wealth of organizational concepts and theories as well as provides insightful examples from theRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  15 73 Pagesand permission should be obtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or likewise. To obtain permission(s) to use material from this work, please submit a written request to Pearson Education, Inc., Permissions Department, One Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458, or you may fax your request to 201-236-3290. Many of the designations by manufacturersRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pagesbuilt-in pretests and posttests, focus on what you need to learn and to review in order to succeed. Visit www.mymanagementlab.com to learn more. DEVELOPING MANAGEMENT SKILLS EIGHTH EDITION David A. Whetten BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY Kim S. Cameron UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN Prentice Hall Boston Columbus Indianapolis New York San Francisco Upper Saddle River Amsterdam Cape Town Dubai London Madrid Milan Munich Paris Montreal Toronto Delhi Mexico City Sao Paulo Sydney Hong Kong Seoul Singapore