Innocence Lost

Several of Shakespeare's plays contain a reoccurring theme of innocence or purity lost through the impurity of others. The innocence or purity may only correspond to one aspect of a characters personality or background. For instance, in Romeo and Juliet, it is Mercutio's bloodline that renders him innocent, while in Othello, it is Othello's inexperience with Venetian society that defines his innocence. Shakespeare repeatedly uses the impurity of the surrounding characters to manipulate and withdraw this purity and innocence, sometimes leading to comedy and other times leading to tragedy. This paper draws on five characters from Shakespeare's works, each character is innocent in his own unique way and each time that innocence is lost through the hands of others.…