Thematic Elements in "Hamlet".

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Ashlyn Key

AP Lit

April 23, 2012

Thematic Elements in Hamlet

        Shakespeare’s play Hamlet consists of many thematic elements: vengeance, sovereignty, earthly and godly justice, suicide and the role of providence. Each of these is presented repeatedly throughout the story.

        Vengeance is noticed throughout the play. One example has to do with the queen. The ghost tells Hamlet that he can have revenge on anyone except his mother, who he must leave for Heaven. She dies at the end by drinking poison on accident that was supposed to be for Hamlet to drink, but Hamlet never kills her or wants to kill her even though he is angry at her for marrying his uncle such a short time after his father’s death, a man that she loved so much.

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        The king is viewed as a God’s representative on earth. If the King Hamlet’s ghost was from God, he would not have tried to lead Hamlet into killing Claudius, or getting revenge on anyone. Hamlet believed the ghost was giving him divine instruction when really God would never tell someone to take revenge. Though all these bad things happen, they all happen for a reason. God has a plan. He allows sin to happen so people will have a need for Him. Not always does one’s sin evolve around the central person. Sometimes it is used only so one can ...

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