A Look at Motifts in Shakespeare's Plays

Shakespeare has Witten many plays whether comedy, tragedy, or history. Over the years he has utilized motifs such as violence, trickery and evilness to bring across the effectiveness of his plays. This is evident in a number of his plays which will be discussed in this essay.

Within the play Much ado about Nothing, a comedy by Shakespeare all the motifs are displayed. This play was based on trickery which was very evident in Beatrice and Benedick falling in love. Claudio, Don Pedro, Leonato and Antonio along with the women Hero, Margaret and Ursula conspire to play cupid and make Beatrice and Benedick fall deeply in love with each other. They both disliked each other and wanted nothing to do with marriage but with a hint of betrayal stating that they were in love with each other; they eventually fall in love. The betrayal of Benedick and Beatrice was one that turned out to have a happy end. There was also violence and evilness where Don John’s plan of lies and treachery played out well for on the day of the wedding Claudio did not marry Hero but in fact put her to public shame. The play turns out to be a happy ending but the main plot is based on violence, trickery and evilness.

In Merchant of Venice, the main character Antonio is the victim of trickery where he enters into a contract with Shylock a Jew that stated he would lend him ducats but if he is unable to repay one pound of flesh is to be cut from his heart. Antonio’s ships were wrecked and sea and was unable to repay his debt thus had to be held to his bond. Then there was the violence in which Antonio a Christian displayed to shylock a Jew. The play ends well with Antonio escaping with his life and his friend Bassanio wedding Portia.

Within the tragedies written by Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet was studied and examined. The play starts with a feud between two families The Montagues and the Capulets. Upon an agreement they decided to end the feud. The two (Romeo and Juliet) fell in love but it action continues and the violence arise with the fight between Tybalt and Romeo. Tybalt dies and the feud begins again this result in Romeo being banished. Trickery comes into play when Juliet goes to the friar for assistance. He gives her a sleeping portion to make her seem dead this results in Romeo finding her like this and ends up killing himself.