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_comparing and contrasting _
By: Anonymous
Comparing and Contrasting Settings In comparing and contrasting the settings
of Hamlet and As You Like It I have found that each time a good comparison is
made an example to contrast it is discovered. Elements that are found in the
settings of these plays are scenery and whether the setting is direct or
indirect. In each of these plays both of these elements are alike and
different. In both plays the scenery is simply. This is partly because of the
fact that there were not many props to be used in Shakespeares times. Some
scenes in each play were set in similar places, such as inside castle walls
and the forest. But even these scenes differ because the forest in As You Like
It was welcoming and friendly, yet in Hamlet the forest was an evil place. The
setting in Hamlet was also full of death scenes and tragedy, but in As You
Like It, it was more lighthearted filled with gardens and flowers. In both
plays the castle was a sort of place that represented the evilness of the
kings. The settings in the castle brought bad news or death. The majority of
the scenes in Hamlet took place in this center of wickedness. In As You Like
It not much time was spent in the evil building, but rather in the happy
surroundings of nature. The opening scene of Hamlet and As You Like It sets
the mood by the mentioning of a dead father. In a glimpse this is a comparison
of two young men struggling with the consequences of his fathers death. It is
also obvious that both young men are not satisfied with the men who have taken
over their fathers position. But this is the extent of comparison; in Hamlet
the whole rest of the story is related to this solemn mood, whereas in As You
Like It this mood is not the basis of the story. A courtyard is used in the
beginning of both plays. It seems to bring us news of what was happening in
their lives before we were able to come in. In As You Like It the courtyard is
bright and cheerful leading a reader to believe that it is a happy place
telling of good news. Yet in Hamlet the courtyard is a dark and gloomy showing
immediate sign of sadness. In Hamlet, act five scene two, the setting is of a
two men fencing until their deaths. Hamlet and Osrics battle was a very
dramatic fight held within the palace with spectators. As You Like It begins
with, in act one scene two, Charles and Orlando wrestling in the courtyard.
Both settings had spectators watching these fighting events. They were both on
palace grounds but one was inside the palace and the other was outside. In
Hamlet the event was very horrifying and deadly. Whereas, Charles and
Orlandos wrestling match was funny, humorous, and entertaining. The ending of
the two plays is completely contrasting. The last setting and scene in Hamlet
is full of death and disparity, with a tragic ending. This resulted in the
collapsing of the kingdom of Denmark. As You Like Its final scene is of love,
marriage, and happiness. The end result is of a reunion of the families. From
comparing and contrasting the settings in Hamlet and As You Like It many ideas
come to mind. Most of the comparisons are derived from the simple fact that
the author is the same. Also, many of the scenes are set in similar
surroundings because of the lack of scenery. Shakespeare was able to overcome
this hardship by differentiating the moods of the plays even though the
settings were extremely comparable.
Word Count: 619
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