'The hero in a tragedy must in some sense be superior to the world about him.' Do you find this true of Hamlet? What would the Jacobean audience have felt?
'The hero in a tragedy must in some sense be superior to the world about him.' Do you find this true of Hamlet? What would the Jacobean audience have felt? Helen Williams The tragedy of Hamlet does not lie in the flaw of the hero; the tragedy lies in the nature of the work which is exposed to the hero's contemplation, and the resulting responsibility to the world in which he finds himself. Hamlet is not a man who cannot kill; he is a sensitive man who has a moral outlook onto life. Hamlet towers above other plays of its kind through the nobility of its hero, his superior power of insight and consideration upon his particular situation and his ability to bear the moral anguish that moral responsibility bears. Superiority is of course debatable due to personal preference to reaction or intelligence. To categorise Hamlet as one who delays the action - almost cowardly - is an incorrect understanding of his unusual character. Hamlet's turmoil and indecision are precisely the things which distinguish him from the smooth, sharp plotter Claudius and from the coarse, rash Laertes, as well as from all other common Elizabethan avengers. By delaying his act of revenge, Hamlet is not reckless or imprudent like Laertes, and neither does he stoop to the moral level of Claudius, his opponent. Concerning Hamlet's reaction to his situation, it is deliberated that Hamlet should have
Hamlet has been read by various critics as dramatically a man with a fatal flaw, a misfit in a treacherous world or a weak revenger - In light of this, and using the soliloquies as a starting point,examine how an Elizabethan audience might have understood
Hamlet has been read by various critics as dramatically a man with a fatal flaw, a misfit in a treacherous world or a weak revenger. In light of this, and using the soliloquies as a starting point, examine how an Elizabethan audience might have understood him and how that compares with your reading. Revenge tragedy was a popular theme when Shakespeare began his play writing career. The central feature of each revenge play was a hero who sought to avenge a wrong in a society where the law was unreliable. "Hamlet" is usually described as a revenge tragedy. The revenge in Renaissance drama emerged as a dominant genre. By modifying material sources Shakespeare was able to take an unremarkable revenge story and make it into one with fundamental themes and problems of the Renaissance. The Renaissance is a vast cultural phenomenon that began in 15th century Italy with the recovery of the classical Greek and Latin texts that had been lost in the middle-ages. "Hamlet", by Shakespeare, uses the traditional conventions which an Elizabethan audience would have expressed interest in because of their moral and social implications. Kyd's best known play " The Spanish Tragedy" was the most influential tragedy of the Elizabethan period inspired by the tragedies of Seneca, both of which served up a rich diet of madness, melancholy and revenge. However "Hamlet" has outlived most revenge plays
A study of madness in Hamlet.
A study of madness in Hamlet I think that one of the most poignant themes of Hamlet is the presentation and importance of madness. We first see a glimpse of madness with Hamlet who pretends to be mad, using it as a cunning mask while he battles with his own mind and conscience over the idea of revenge. There is also the character of Ophelia who turns mad with grief when she hears of her father's death. Although while Hamlet is holding up this pretence of madness he slowly becomes drawn into a depression, which is so deep at some points it is unclear whether he is insane or deeply depressed, I would not call this depression madness in any way because the term madness is something more obvious. It is a very blunt expression, which automatically draws one to think so something very stereotypical; similar to how Hamlet deliberately acts. Also there is no actual evidence of Hamlet being insane. However insanity is considered to be the loss of control of ones mind and acting against society. This is almost irrelevant as the society where Hamlet exists is one that he constantly is fighting to go against the normal behaviour because of those in power and control. Hamlet assumes madness as a device while in pursuit of revenge; an aspect of the play I choose to question is whether Hamlet truly ever is mad. In Act 1 Scene 2 during a gathering of the court after the wedding of his
The Dramatic Function of Ophelia in Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'.
The Dramatic Function of Ophelia in Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' In William Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' the character Ophelia performs a very interesting and important role in the elaboration of the plot. Ophelia is a tragic victim, a common component of Shakespeare's revenge tragedies and something that the audience would have come to expect. It is perhaps surprising that a vulnerable and frail character such as Ophelia could have the great impact on the play that she does. Understanding her reactions to the patriarchal society in which she lives through her relationships with the men in her life adds greater depth to the play. Her character is revealed through her interactions with Polonius, Laertes and Hamlet, and their characters in turn revealed through their relationships with her. Ophelia allows better understanding of Hamlet's complex personality. Ophelia also highlights key themes of the play, including corruption, patriarchy and deception. Before her function can be analysed, Ophelia's character must be understood. Shakespeare presents her as a character of weakness, one to respond to with pity and sympathy. She has been read in very different ways- as shown in the greatly varied portrayals of her in different films. The conventional view is that she is a pure and innocent victim, but another reading of her is that she is a clever, sexually experienced but somewhat
In act 3 scene 4, Hamlet has been summoned to his mother's room. Give detailed directions to the actor playing Hamlet.
In act 3 scene 4, Hamlet has been summoned to his mother's room. Give detailed directions to the actor playing Hamlet, you should comment upon: * The delivery of the lines * Actions, gestures and facial expressions * Relevant connections to other parts of the play In the previous scene Polonius has plotted with the king to spy on hamlet whilst he talks to his mother (Gertrude) to asses Hamlet's behaviour. Hamlet has been called to his mother's room as of his manifestation of "madness" during the play within the play, which Hamlet set up so he'd stir up everything and everybody in the court. As a result of his "antic disposition" he's proved (to himself) that Claudius (the King) murdered his father (King Hamlet). Hamlets emotions are tearing him in two. He is the only person who knows the truth of his father's death (apart from Claudius himself). He'd love to tell his mother but he knows it would break her heart to hear it, and one of his father's instructions was not to involve his mother in any way. There is also the fact that Claudius took the throne from Hamlet and married his widowed sister in law. Hamlet should enter the room in a rushed state. He is distraught; he doesn't know what to do next. The line: "Now, mother what's the matter?" Should be said in an expecting empathetic tone as he half knows why he has been sent for. Gertrude's response is: "Hamlet,
With Specific Reference To the Two Soliloquies, Which We Have Studied In Detail, Show How Shakespeare Reveals To the Audience Hamet’S Character, State of Mind and His Problems.
WITH SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO THE TWO SOLILOQUIES, WHICH WE HAVE STUDIED IN DETAIL, SHOW HOW SHAKESPEARE REVEALS TO THE AUDIENCE HAMET'S CHARACTER, STATE OF MIND AND HIS PROBLEMS. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO AN ACTOR PLAYING HAMLET? The first soliloquy appears after Hamlet has been deeply insulted and embarrassed by his uncle saying 'tis unmanly grief' and being told that all he has believed in is wrong and childish, and he has just been told to forget about his fathers death because 'your father lost a father; That father lost, lost his;' The final offense was that Hamlet had been told he can't go back to university, but has to stay home with his uncle and mother. I think Shakespeare has set the scene for the next soliloquy very well because of what has just happened to Hamlet. When the soliloquy comes after the moving scene in the banqueting hall, Hamlet speaks of his disgust at his mother's marriage to his uncle so soon after his father's death. Hamlet also speaks of how he hates his uncle and that he is nothing like his good kind father. He is very upset about his mother and uncle being incestuous because it is against their religion. The final outrage he speaks of is that he believed his mother and father were so happy together, but then his mother marries his uncle not two months after his father had died proving Hamlet wrong. The second soliloquy I am studying appears
Hamlet – English Coursework - Hamlet refers to Claudius as a “Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindles villain!” How far do you share his view?
Hamlet - English Coursework Hamlet refers to Claudius as a "Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindles villain!" How far do you share his view? A villain is usually driven by something, usually power or money. Claudius has two of the greatest motives, power and lust. "My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen" Claudius lists the things he committed the murder for. Crown signalising power comes before queen, Gertrude. Villain's motives are sometimes unimportant. Iago has no real motive to completely ruin people's lives but does it because he enjoys it, only an extremely evil villain would gain pleasure through the suffering of others. Claudius has far greater motives. Firstly he would gain great power, a thing desired by many. He would also then have Gertrude whom he does care for and wants. Claudius has a tremendous talent at controlling and influencing people, whether it is through their views or their actions. Claudius switches Laertes' anger from himself to Hamlet with ease "I am guiltless of your father's death" to do that you would have to be a very convincing liar and be good at deceiving. Claudius then invites in a mad Ophelia to deceive Laertes, and to make him believe Hamlet is the culprit. Claudius' manipulation of Hamlet's feelings is apparent early on in the play showing his true self to be a sly, cunning and extremely clever man. All these qualities are
Explore how and why Shakespeare presents thought and actions in the first two acts of the play.
AS English Literature: 'Hamlet'- A study of the play Jaffar Al-Rikabi 12 - 2 Explore how and why Shakespeare presents thought and actions in the first two acts of the play. "O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!" Hamlet famously pronounces in the second act of William Shakespeare's longest drama, and one of the most probing plays ever to be performed on stage. It was written around the year 1600 in the final years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, who had been the monarch of England for more than forty years and was then in her late sixties. The prospect of Elizabeth's death and the question of who would succeed her was a subject of grave anxiety at the time, since Elizabeth had no children, and the only person with a legitimate royal claim, James of Scotland, was the son of Mary, Queen of Scots, and therefore represented a political faction to which Elizabeth was opposed. The Elizabethan era also witnessed the rise of the Renaissance movement in which many old ideals and beliefs were challenged or rejected. In Copernicus and Galileo's discoveries in Astrology, Sir Walter Raleigh's geographic and trade expansion, Machiavelli's revolutionary ideas in political thought and in the discoveries of chemical cures as medicine, the Renaissance was, in essence, the beginning of the modern world, one which clashed with the Catholic Church and thus was seen as a movement of
At various times, Shakespeare has been seen by critics as presenting Hamlet as a sensitive poet, unable to endure the cruel pressures of the world, a man driven by sexual desires for his mother and a representative to a corrupt political regime.
At various times, Shakespeare has been seen by critics as presenting Hamlet as a sensitive poet, unable to endure the cruel pressures of the world, a man driven by sexual desires for his mother and a representative to a corrupt political regime. Discuss whether his character changes after he returns from exile Hamlet has been regarded as a sensitive poet subjugated by passion. This is projected by his lack of action, decision-making and so displays the image of an indecisive, passive individual, and a romantic incapable of murder. However, Hamlet has never had to deal with treachery or deception of this magnitude and his is at a loss as to how to handle it. His father is dead, his uncle, the present King, killed him, his mother has married the murderer, Rosencrantz and Guilderstern aren't really his friends after all as they have been instructed by the king to spy on Hamlet, Ophelia, Hamlet's lover, seems to be against him too, but only because her father has instructed her to do so. All of these factors combine to drive him to not only revenge, but into an all consuming hatred for Claudius. The character of Hamlet astounds us with many soliloquies all projecting his subjection of passion. Throughout the play, Hamlet speaks of seven soliloquies. These soliloquies all combine, I believe to present Hamlet as a character who is unable to endure the pains of society.
Tom Stoppard has transformed Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, (here on in, written as RAGAD) from Hamlet written by Shakespeare.
Tom Stoppard has transformed Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, (here on in, written as RAGAD) from Hamlet written by Shakespeare. Both Stoppard and Shakespeare have created and presented values and themes related to their times and have been influenced by the social, cultural and historical contexts. The change of perspectives on the themes of death, fate and destiny, appearances versus reality and the use of tragedy and comedy is every present within the transformation of the two plays. Stoppard has transformed his entire play from Hamlet, by altering the focus from the Prince of Denmark to the destiny of two ordinary people. A major transformation within Stoppard's RAGAD is the concept of death. In Hamlet, death was portrayed in a very dramatic theatrical style, involving violence, blood, poisoning and duels. Hamlet also contemplates suicides and human mortality in a very deep and complex manner. Yet Stoppard has transformed death, to be almost amusing and casual in a number of ways as he imagines himself alive in a box, which is a contradiction in itself, creating humour. Ros then concludes, "Life in a box is better than caught alive in a box, becomes a metaphor for Ros and Guildenstern's (here on in, written as Guil) life, as they are trapped on the stage and have no control. But Guil has a very different and blatant perception of death; "it's not gasps and
