Other examples of a more effective selection of aspects of the texts to write about

Example 1

Essay question: 'Tragedies portray societies which are caught between conflicting value systems.' Discuss with reference to one or more plays.

In this essay, the student is writing about Shakespeare, Hamlet:

'If [the Ghost] is a form of the Old Hamlet, a favourable image of him is developed through the other characters’ speeches and descriptions, as he becomes the emblem, as the old King, of the old value-system and order in the Danish court.

'a goodly King.' (I.ii.87)

'noble father...' (I.ii.71)

'a most valiant brother...' (I.ii.25)

[...]

The New Order [which Claudius represents] is therefore one of self - self advantage, self interest and self preservation. Yet, as Old Hamlet would have most probably sent his army to fight for some ‘noble’ cause (echoing Fortinbras later), Claudius uses people, like ants, to turn against their very own, if he can profit from it, and he does.

'At such a time I’ll loose my daughter to him.
Be you and I behind an arras then,
Mark the encounter.' (II.ii.163-165)

Claudius’ influence, as a representative of this new way of thinking and new set of self-orientated values, is to make everyone involved with the court and state into profiteers, exploiters - people turn against and use their nearest, and are even put in conflict with themselves (Hamlet, Ophelia) causing the ‘rottenness’ in the court and in the state.'

Q. Why is this effective?

TUTOR'S REPLY

In writing on tragedy and conflicting value systems, the essayist focuses on central characters in Hamlet, but tries to understand them in terms of the values they appear to hold. They are seen as embodying or representing opposed ideological positions, with Hamlet being caught in between them. The characters are not examined only as unique individuals, but also as having a representative function within the play, contributing to the political theme of Hamlet.

Example 2

Essay question: 'Hamlet, and perhaps Hamlet, is obsessed with female sexuality'. Do you agree that this is a mainspring of the tragedy?

In answering this question, the student examines the possible of 'obsession' with female sexuality of both Hamlet the character and Hamlet the play.

 

Q. Why is this effective?

TUTOR'S REPLY

This essay looks at the aspects of the play which enables all of the critical issues foregrounded in the question to be addressed. It examines the scenes where Hamlet interacts with women (Gertrude, Ophelia) in order to determine whether or not Hamlet the character could be said to be 'obsessed' by female sexuality. It also considers the possibility of the whole play being 'obsessed', by looking at the language of the play in scenes other than those involving Hamlet with Getrude and Ophelia. References/allusions to sex made by other characters and examples of sexual imagery are discussed, and the possible significance of these features within the play as a whole is considered (e.g. is it possible that the whole society shown in the play shares Hamlet’s apparent obsession?). The essay considers Hamlet in broad terms, rather than looking at just the events of the narrative.

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