Suggested Examples for Cardinal Wolsey's EssayRhetorical Analysis: Conduct a rhetorical analysis of Cardinal Wolsey's speech, examining the persuasive techniques and strategies he employs to convey his message effectively. Historical context: Explore the historical context in which Cardinal Wolsey gave his speech and how it influenced the content and tone of his words. Themes and Motivations: Analyze the main themes and underlying motivations within the speech, considering Wolsey's goals and intentions as a character in the work. Character Examination: Examine the ideas of the Cardinal Wolsey character based on his speech, discussing his personality traits, values, and his role in the larger context of the play. Impact and Meaning: Discuss the impact and meaning of Cardinal Wolsey's speech on the audience, other characters in the play, and the audience. general themes of the work. Cardinal Wolsey Essay Example After his dismissal from King Henry's court in William Shakespeare's Henry VIII, Cardinal Wolsey deeply contemplates the circumstances of his sudden downfall. Left alone by the other characters, he proceeds with a soliloquy in which he expresses his true thoughts. The figurative language present in the soliloquy stimulates the numerous shifts in tone that occur as he reflects on his expulsion, suggesting a complex progression of emotions indicated by tone. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Wolsey's flower metaphor and apostrophic references as he addresses his past greatness elicit a bitter tone, indicating his immediate feelings of resentment towards the dismissal. The cardinal directly addresses an apostrophic and ironic "farewell to the little good that [his power] brings him" (1), explicitly saying that "all [his] greatness" (2) is gone; the absolute of "everything" contrasts with the idea that his position does him "little good", signifying his anger and sarcastic attitude towards the situation. Furthermore, he metaphorically compares himself to a plant, a symbol of potential, noting that its “tender leaves of hope” (4) with the ability to “bloom” (4) have been snuffed out by the unexpected “killing frost” (6) of dismissal that permanently “cuts off his root” (8) despite his maturing greatness, illustrating the offended attitude he maintains and which contributes to his bitterness. The initial bitter tone sets the stage for the other tone transitions throughout the soliloquy, thus highlighting the emotional significance of this event for Wolsey. The connotations of Wolsey's simile indirectly characterize him as arrogant and incompetent for his previous role as an advisor, making him realize that he himself is responsible for his downfall, thus illustrating a change in tone from bitterness to embarrassment and shame. He compares himself to “wild kids” (10), does the word “kids” connote naivety? of which he was unaware due to his "full-blown pride" (12). Furthermore, since he was metaphorically “far beyond [his] depth” (12) in “a sea of ​​glory” (11), he was blinded by arrogance which caused his sudden downfall. However, after realizing the implications of his ouster, he feels he must "hide [forever]" (15), the hyperbole of "forever" and the weak connotation of "hiding" emphasizing the eternal shame he feels for being overly proud of a position for which he was incompetent. Therefore, his realization of why he was ousted illustrates his guilt, thus setting the tone for his emotional reactions in the latter part of the poem. Figurative language.