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THEMES
 A theme is
the main idea or the central issue in a work.
It
is different from the subject and the setting and the characters.
A theme is usually a general ideas which does not depend on time
or setting.
For
instance, although Macbeth is set in Scotland in the eleventh
century, its theme is one of ambition.
Shakespeare's
plays deal with the same sorts of general themes as any modern
piece of writing
- Jealousy - Othello
- Family conflicts - Romeo and Juliet
- Ambition - Macbeth
- Murder and intrigue - Richard III
- Revenge - The Merchant of Venice
- Love - Love's Labour's Lost
A
theme will often reveal itself by incidents and events which keep
cropping up in the play.
When
you are studying a play, you should keep a look out for themes
and how they are developed.
STRUCTURE
Most
plays follow a similar pattern of development, and Shakespeare's
plays are no exception.
First,
we are introduced to characters.
Next,
some sort of problem or confusion occurs, and themes are introduced.
Then
the problems or the confusion is developed, and we learn more about
the characters through their actions.
There
may be further development of the theme(s).
At
the climax of the play there might be a tragedy in which
death occurs, or in a comedy confusions are solved and people
get married.
In
most cases, some sort of order is restored at the end of the play. |
