Troublesome Necessity
This is a reprint of an essay belonging to the “Empty Password Chronicles.”
Huge thanks to the original author.
While reading some of W. Shakespeare’s plays, I made a discovery of patterns. Much as the contents are far from similar, much of his work contains the same basis still, a common denominator so to speak. One out of many examples is the so called “problem maker”. This person’s role is to create a hassle, which is later to be solved during the story. However, where can we find this troublesome intruder? Who is he? Yet, why is he there to begin with?
Firstly, not to have obstacles for the main characters in a story is well known as dull to read about. Despite doing the most predictable as having a villain in the tales, he still surprises us all by presenting the rapscallion in the very beginning. As a rule, uncomfortable situations for fabricated and real people are produced by the people itself and the consequences of their actions. Nevertheless, these choices are rarely made in the beginning of a story or life. Usually, there are first introductions of the scenario. Later, presentations of the characters, and only thereafter, as the story develops all problems and issues that are to be dealt with, get stacked up.
When grasping the reason of existence of our fellow “trouble maker”, the urge of getting to know him expands. Finding him was not difficult, on the contrary, quite easily done. The moment you are searching for it, it appears on its’ own. Examples as Don John (the princes’ brother in “Much Ado About Nothing”), the three witches (in “Macbeth”), and the ghost of Hamlet’s father (obviously in “Hamlet”), are the perfect “problem makers”. They are the ones who practically force the main characters into action, whether they want it or not. “As if a seed of trouble is planted into the life of others, that later grows into weeds and kills the beauty in the flower of life.” – Boris Gribenshjekov.
Finally, the reason, why “trouble makers” do what they do? The answer to that is human deficiency. Prince Don John envied his brother and his privileges, Hamlet’s father pled for avenge out of greed and desperation. Unless, he required vengeance for the own good of his people. Though, it seems doubtful that such goodhearted person would ask such task of his own son. Apart from the three witches in “Macbeth” (with whom it is impossible to know whether they invented the prophecy for their own good, to save others or just out of pure sadism…), every “trouble makers’” reason turns out to be quite pathetic and very human.
Concisely, the patterns that Shakespeare seems to follow are enlightening of misery in the beginning of every story, created out of sentimental reasons by a person who is introduced to the readers. After this statement, you may ask if this knowledge contributes to ones general education or mental wellbeing. – Well, not much…