Some of the reasons for this include the lack of accountability and the general predilection for mischief that Shakespeare attributes to men in general.
In the historical dramas, such as "Henry IV," much more than in the comedy, the characters are prone to making mistakes also because their individual weaknesses as human beings. As human beings, they face not only the external factors and challenges that create the appropriate environment for making mistakes, but also their own conscience and the need to make sensible decisions that actually matter.
One should also point out that in some of the other plays, Shakespeare plays an equal amount of blame on the shoulders of female characters as well. Most notably, tragedies such as "Hamlet" or "Othello" are examples in that sense. Women share the blame and the volume of mistakes that eventually lead to the downfall of the main characters.
Bibliography
1. Shakespeare, William. Henry IV. The Oxford Shakespeare. Oxford University Press. 1987.
2. Shakespeare, William. Henry V. Oxford School Shakespeare. Oxford University Press. 1995.
3. Shakespeare, William. A Midsummer Night's Dream....
William Shakespeare's Othello that support the view that Iago, the chief antagonist and primary arch-villain of the play, has been imbued with and personifies a supernatural malevolence to fuel his hatred of the protagonist, Othello. This interpretation of Iago's characterization, however, is tempered by his all too human reasons for being possessed of such a fury towards his enemy: the former believes Othello has slighted him for a military
She declares that a man who snatches what he desires is actually a true man. Lady Macbeth burdens herself by seducing his husband into committing the murder afterall. Although, initially she has the strength and potential to deal with the task of abetting in a murder and thinks she will be able to forget all about it once she becomes the Scottish Queen but eventually conscience overpowers her vices. She
Shakespeare's Plays: Henry the IV Part I, Hamlet, a Midsummer Night's Dream Henry the IV, Part I Act 1, Scene 1, Lines 78-90. KING HENRY IV: Yea, there thou makest me sad and makest me sin In envy that my Lord Northumberland Should be the father to so blest a son, A son who is the theme of honour's tongue; Amongst a grove, the very straightest plant; Who is sweet Fortune's minion and
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Shakespeare's Measure For Measure William Shakespeare's play, Measure for Measure is considered a problem play because it operates on several levels. Shakespeare explores complex matters of ethics in this play through complicated situations and characters. The complexities of the human psyche are explored in this play, with a focus on the emotions of love, shame, and honor. Shakespeare brings these sensitive issues to the surface with the characters and curious behavior
Reflecting the greater audience sympathy stirred in Five Kings and its cinematic incarnation Chimes at Midnight, the Welles saga ends with Hal pardoning Falstaff for disturbing his coronation, thus showing a more loving tribute to Falstaff than utterly rejecting him, as in the original Shakespeare. Falstaff's potentially seditious views of honor and the importance of the individual's life over sacrificing it for the collective are thus validated very clearly in
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