Themes from Leading Men The act of creating and developing a character called characterization not only establishes a character, but serves as a means for the author to reveal the themes of the play. “A literary character is the invention of the author, and often inventions are indebted to prior inventions”(Kirsch 236). Therefore, through characterization many common themes repeat with in an author’s literary collection. Shakespeare is the inventor of many characters and throughout …showed first 75 words of 1340 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1340 total…The Five Tragedies in Macbeth.” Shakespeare Quarterly 13(1962): 49-61. Kirsch, Arthur. “The Passions of Shakespeare’s Tragic Heroes.” Shakespeare Quarterly 43(1992): 236-237. Paris, Bernard J. “Bargains with Fate: The Case of Macbeth.” American Journal of Psychoanalysis 42(1982): 7-20. Rosinger, Lawrence. “Gloucester and Lear: Men who act like Gods.” ELH 35(1968):491-504. Shakespeare, William. King Lear. New York: Simon & Schuster Inc., 1957. Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc.,1994. Stuart, Betty Kantor. “Truth and Tragedy in King Lear.” Shakespeare Quarterly 18(1967): 167-180.