Assignment 2: the drama paper
One of the most talked about threads between the two plays were studying this semester is the concept of fate. How much do we decide of our own destinies? Where is the line between fate and control? How does fate interact with power? For this essay, examine how one character in either play we have read handles the idea of fate. Look at how their fate is outlined in their story, and how much they live up to it. Look at their discussions around fate with other characters. Use what weve discussed about character arcs and development to strengthen your understanding of how the character deals with the hand they have been dealt (or bucks against it).
This essay is a close reading of one character, using the idea of fate as a way in to your argument. Your thesis should go beyond X character deals with fate. It should fall more along the lines of X character deals with the idea of fate through x,y, and z with x,y, and z standing in for specific ways or instances in which the characters story is affected by the idea of fate. You are arguing to show me how, in your reading, you have seen the theme of fate interrupt, change, drive, or inspire a character and their actions in one of the two plays.
A successful essay will
Have a clear, relevant thesis and examination of how one character in a play we have read in class deals with fate.
Demonstrate a clear understanding of the text and the surrounding characters insofar as they influence the main character youve chosen to focus on.
Bring in multiple examples from the text of the character dealing with fate in the story, and provide ample analysis of the selected quotes
Texts you can work with:
Hamlet (William Shakespeare) (Character examples: Hamlet, King Hamlet, Ophelia, Claudius, Gertrude)
A Streetcar Named Desire (Tennessee Williams) (Character Examples: Blanche, Stella, Stanley)
Questions to Consider:
How does the character discuss fate and act upon their own ideas?
What does the character think about fate? Do they subscribe to it, or reject it (on a personal basis or as a whole)?
Where in the play do we see their fate (or ideas of it) affect their actions as a character?
Why might their perception of fate be the way it is?
Basic Requirements:
A relevant, creative title
A clear thesis that you connect to every point you make in the essay
5-7 FULL pages (no shorter than the last line of page 5, not including Works Cited page)
A works cited page with the text of your choosing and proper, MLA formatted in text citations throughout
Size 12 Times New Roman font, one-inch margins, double spaced
This is not a research paperit is a close reading of one character in a text, and therefore no sources outside of the play you choose should be used.
