Cardinal Wolsey Quick Essay ExamplesRhetorical Analysis: Conduct a rhetorical analysis of Cardinal Wolsey's speech, examining the persuasive techniques and strategies he employs to effectively convey his message. Historical Context: Explore the historical context in which Cardinal Wolsey delivered his speech and how it influenced the content and tone of his words. Themes and Motifs: Analyze the main themes and underlying motifs of the speech, considering Wolsey's goals and intentions as a character in the play. Character Exam: Examine that of Cardinal Wolsey. character based on their speech, discussing their personality traits, values, and role in the larger context of the play. Impact and Meaning: Discuss the impact and meaning of Cardinal Wolsey's speech on the audience, the other characters in the play, and the overall themes of the work. Cardinal Wolsey Essay Example After his dismissal from King Henry's court in William Shakespeare's Henry VIII, Cardinal Wolsey reflected deeply on the circumstances of his sudden downfall. Having been left alone by other characters, he gives a monologue in which he expresses his true thoughts. The figurative language throughout the soliloquy stimulates the many shifts in tone that occur as he reflects on his ouster, suggesting a complex progression of emotions indicated by the tone. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Wolsey's flower metaphor and apostrophic references as he recalls his former greatness elicit a bitter tone, indicating his instant feelings of resentment towards the dismissal. The cardinal directly wishes an “apostrophic and ironic farewell – to the little good that [his power] brings [him]” (1), explicitly saying that “all [his] greatness” (2) has disappeared; the absolute of “all” contrasts with the idea that his position does him “little good,” signifying his anger and sarcastic attitude toward the situation. Furthermore, he compares himself metaphorically to a plant, a symbol of potential, noting that its "tender leaves of hope" (4) capable of "flowering" (4) were smothered by the unexpected "killing frost" (6). of a dismissal that “definitively nibbles at its root” (8) despite his ripening greatness, illustrating the aggrieved attitude he maintains and which contributes to his bitterness. The initial bitter tone provides the foundation for other tone transitions throughout the soliloquy, thus emphasizing the emotional significance of this event on Wolsey. The connotations of Wolsey's comparison indirectly characterize him as arrogant and incompetent for his former role as advisor, making him realize that he himself is responsible for his downfall, thus illustrating a shift in tone from bitterness to resentment. embarrassment and shame. He compares himself to “dissolute little boys” (10), the word “boys” evoking na?vet? of which he was not aware due to his “total pride” (12). Moreover, as he found himself metaphorically “far beyond [his] depth” (12) in “a sea of ​​glory” (11), he was blinded by pride which caused his sudden downfall. However, upon realizing the implications of his ouster, he feels that he must "[forever] hide" (15), the hyperbole of "forever" and the weak connotation of "hide" emphasizing the eternal shame that he feels excessively. proud of a position for which he was incompetent. Thus, his realization of why he was ousted illustrates his fault, thus establishing the tone of his emotional reactions in the latter part of the poem. Wolsey's figurative language as he.