Elements of Religion in the Renaissance Portrayed in...

Elements of Religion in the Renaissance Portrayed in Hamlet by William Shakespeare Literature of the Renaissance was far different from that of the previous eras. Man was now thought of as the center of life, as opposed to God being the center in earlier times. Also, man was thought to have free will over his life, not being simply a pawn of the Gods. These new ideals were presented in the theaters as well as written literature. The esteemed William Shakespeare incorporated many of these components into some of the greatest performed classics in the history of theater. Shakespeare’s Hamlet contains elements that are derived from the Renaissance way of†¦show more content†¦. .† Here human responsibility is obvious, defining the moral theory of the Renaissance. Act II Scene II contains a speech by Hamlet to Rosencrantz and Guidenstern that outlines the way man was viewed in Renaissance thinking. â€Å"What a piece of work is man! How noble in reason, how infinite in faculty, in form and moving how express and admirable, in action how l ike an angel, in apprehension how like a god- the beauty of the world, the paragon of animals!† Even though Hamlet goes on to say that â€Å"man delights not me†, the speech still shows the Renaissance view on life. This ideal was evident in the work of earlier Renaissance writers such as Pico della Mirandola. In Pico’s Oration on the Dignity of Man, the â€Å"great miracle† of humanity was discussed. â€Å"There is nothing to be seen more wonderful than man. . .man is the intermediary between creatures, the intimate of the gods, the king of the lower beings, by the acuteness of his senses, by the discernment of his reason, and by the light of his intelligence. . .† Also in Act II Scene II, the loveletter of Hamlet to Ophelia is being discussed by Claudius, Gertrude, and Polonious. Although thought of as a ploy by Hamlet to make everyone think he is mad, the first few lines may have some distinctive significance:Show MoreRelatedThe Renaissance and I t’s Affect on William Shakespeare’s Works2369 Words   |  10 Pagesto see William Shakespeare as an amazing literary genius who had a perspective on life that, to simply put it, no one else has ever had. However Shakespeare was the product of the English Renaissance. The English Renaissance was a cultural and artistic movement spanning from the later 15th century until the early 17th century, it is associated with the Italian Renaissance which started in the 14th century. Like most of northern Europe, England did not get the full effect of the Renaissance until aboutRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare: Greatest Playwright of All1554 Words   |  7 PagesWilliam Shakespeare: Greatest Playwright of All William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was a British poet and playwright, he was well known as the greatest writer of all time, he was often called the Bard of Avon.Although many facts of his life remain unknown, his poems and plays are unique and have timeless theme that touch everyone’s heart, and are still widely studied and performed in today’s society. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, England enjoyed a time of prosperity and stability that ledRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare: Greatest Playwright of All1568 Words   |  7 PagesWilliam Shakespeare: Greatest Playwright of All William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was a British poet and playwright, he was well known as the greatest writer of all time, he was often called the Bard of Avon.Although many facts of his life remain unknown, his poems and plays are unique and have timeless theme that touch everyone’s heart, and are still widely studied and performed in today’s society. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, England enjoyed a time of prosperity and stability that ledRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 PagesAssessment 106 Time Management Assessment 107 Type A Personality Inventory 108 Social Readjustment Rating Scale 109 Sources of Personal Stress 111 SKILL LEARNING 112 Improving the Management of Stress and Time 112 The Role of Management 113 Major Elements of Stress 113 Reactions to Stress 114 Coping with Stress 115 Managing Stress 117 Stressors 117 Eliminating Stressors 120 Eliminating Time Stressors Through Time Management 121 Eliminating Encounter Stressors Through Collaboration and Emotional Intelligence