Examine how Shakespeare explores the theme of revenge in Hamlet and what the responses of a modern and Elizabethan audience might be to the play.
Will Higgins Examine how Shakespeare explores the theme of revenge in Hamlet and what the responses of a modern and Elizabethan audience might be to the play Shakespeare's Hamlet has a revenge tragedy genre. The play very closely follows the dramatic conventions of revenge in Elizabethan theatre. All revenge tragedies originally came from the Greeks. After them came Seneca who was very influential to all Elizabethan tragedy writers. Seneca created all the rules and ideas for revenge play writers in the Renaissance era, which included William Shakespeare. Hamlet has nearly all revenge conventions, which makes it a typical revenge play. We find out from the start, that the play will involve revenge. Hamlet sees a ghost which is his father, ' I am thy fathers spirit'. He tells Hamlet it was his brother Claudius who killed him and he tells Hamlet to get revenge for him by killing Claudius, 'revenge his foul and most unnatural murder'. Shakespeare portrays Hamlet as an individual with depth, who suffers from insecurity, and a sense of absurdity. As we see him at the beginning of the play he is suffering from melancholy, not only from the death of his father, but also from 'the moral shock of the sudden ghostly disclosure of his mother's true nature'. Hamlet, as a man and as a revenger, shifts from an external struggle for vengeance to an internal one. This is an interesting
Hamlet Commentary.
Laura Canzano IB English A1 Mrs. Narbon 26/08/2002 Hamlet Commentary Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, is one of his greatest tragedy. It is the story of the prince of Denmark, Hamlet, whose father has been murdered by his uncle who now wears the crown. However in Act I, scene iii, there is an interesting contradiction presented by the author. This is the scene where Laertes tells Ophelia to be good while he leaves for college and gives her advice on life. Through this scene one may see three interesting aspects of the characters; the unwanted resemblance between Laertes and his father Polonius, the untrusting relation that they have and the power struggle that Ophelia represents. The way Shakespeare shows these three aspects of the characters in this scene is through the diction, irony , and the symbol that Ophelia represents. The reader may perceive those three eminent aspects of the characters through the diction used by Shakespeare in this scene. In the dialogue between Ophelia and Laertes at the beginning of the scene he uses specific words, and a sarcastic tone that makes the reader understand what type of men Laertes really is. When Ophelia says "Do not as some ungracious pastors do,/ Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven,/ Whiles like a puff'd and reckless libertine/ Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads,/ And recks not his own rede.(
Hamlet - review
Hamlet Coursework There were many factors which affected Shakespeare when he wrote Hamlet, one of which was the fashion at the time were all about revenge tragedies, the audience absolutely loved to watch violence. Shakespeare knew that, so most of his plays were in that category. When this play was written in 1601, Shakespeare's father died and also one of his generous patron and friend imprisoned due to the failure of a rebellion led by Lord Essex. Shakespeare himself had also taken part in the plot by authorizing a performance of Richard II on the eve of the events. Essex's followers compared Elizabeth I to Richard and the scene concerning the deposing of the King was to trigger that of the Queen. However, the theatre did not suffer any retaliation when the plot was exposed. From this year onward the tone of Shakespeare's plays became sombre, sad and bitter. This probably affected the way in which Hamlet was written. During the first 2 scenes of the play, Hamlet's father has died. Although he doesn't know exactly how he died but he suspected there was a murder as the quote 'My father's spirit - in arms! All is not well. I doubt some foul play.' showed. To make matters worse, Hamlet's uncle, Claudius immediately managed to marry Queen Gertrude (Hamlet's mother), which has made Hamlet even more angry and bitter. This has created the hatred deep inside Hamlet's heart
Hamlet's "antic disposition" is feigned. Discuss
Hamlet's "antic disposition" is feigned. Discuss Hamlet has been known as one of the greatest of Shakespeare's plays. This is mainly because the protagonist has confused scholarly minds for centuries on end with his complex personality and muddled thoughts, which in turn leads onto his actions, or rather inaction. His incomprehensibility by many leads me only to conclude that he is mad. His irrational and rational thoughts are forever in conflict due to his state of depression and paranoia; therefore, he chooses to put on an "antic disposition" which serves as a "convenient outlet" to his "sanity slipping away" (Wilson), masking the true nature of his mind, which has become "far gone, far gone". In Hamlet's introduction, we see him portrayed as a weak, melancholic man - as exemplified through his clothes of "nighted" colours. He is consumed by the grief of the passing of his father, the "dexterity" of which his mother re-marries, and her pleasure in entering the "incestuous sheets" with Claudius, Hamlet's Uncle. This melancholic state is shown to be quite serious in his soliloquies, where he states that he wants to "Thaw and resolve [himself] into a dew". This sorrowful talk of suicide clearly shows Hamlet's melancholic mind which can be perceived as mad. In the Elizabethan time, Hamlet's melancholy would have been seen as an imbalance of humour, therefore, although not as
Describe 3 of the deaths in Hamlet and show the ways in which Shakespeare causes the audience to experience horror, pity and fear.
Describe 3 of the deaths in Hamlet and show the ways in which Shakespeare causes the audience to experience horror, pity and fear. Hamlet is a revenge tragedy play, which was a very popular theme at the time Shakespeare was writing. Hamlet was written at the time Shakespeare was writing at his very best. Hamlet was written over 400 years ago and has outlived most other revenge plays but still continues to hold great appeal due to the effect it has on all those who see and hear it As Hamlet is self-titled we know Hamlet will die and this event will bring a close to the play. Because we know how the play will end Shakespeare entices the audience by keeping us on the edge about when, where, how and why it will happen. In this essay I have chosen to write about the death of Gertrude, Claudius and Hamlet. All three characters die in the last Act, Act 5. Hamlet is a play set in Denmark. His father at the start of the play has already been brutally murdered by his (Hamlet's) Uncle Claudius. - brother to the deceased king. The ghost of his father appears to him and reveals how Claudius so cunningly murdered him, and begs Hamlet to avenge his death. Ghost: Revenge his foul and most unnatural murther Hamlet is already furious with Claudius for marrying his mother within such a short time of his father's death. Hamlet: ...for look how cheerful my mother looks, and my father died
Discussing Hamlet.
A ghostly figure in the shape of the recently deceased king has appeared on the castle ramparts at night. It seems to want to speak. The guards and Hamlet's friend, Horatio, decide to tell young Prince Hamlet. The new king, Claudius, announces his marriage to his brother's wife, Hamlet's mother, Gertrude. Hamlet himself is deeply troubled by what he views as his mother's betrayal of his father and refuses to appear cheerful. He is very excited to be told of the ghost and plans to meet with it that night. Laertes bids farewell to his sister, Ophelia, and his father, Polonius, who is a royal counsellor. Both men warn Ophelia against the attentions of Prince Hamlet. Meanwhile, on the ramparts, the figure tells Hamlet that he is his father's ghost, that he was killed by Claudius and that he wants Hamlet to take revenge. Exhilarated, Hamlet swears compliance to the ghost's wishes. A few weeks later, Polonius is arranging to spy on his son when his daughter tells him that Hamlet has come into her chamber, apparently in a state of madness. The King arranges to have Hamlet's fellow students, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, spy upon him. Polonius is keen to prove that Hamlet has become mad as a result of unrequited love and tries to engage the Prince in conversation. Hamlet manages to avoid telling the truth to either party. He persuades an actor to recite a sad speech and then bemoans
Show how Shakespeare presents a disordered and corrupt state of society in Act One of Hamlet.
Show how Shakespeare presents a disordered and corrupt state of society in Act One of ‘Hamlet’. The opening scene of “Hamlet” dramatically evokes the mystery world, the thinly veiled situation of every man, caught between the mundane world of the senses and the wider spiritual world just a shade beyond. Shakespeare renders us to tread on a divide, separating the seen and the vast unseen. On the bleak battlements of a cold windswept night, the setting of the opening scene, we are keenly aware of the divide. The exposition sets the tone and mood of the play. In “Hamlet” it evokes an aura of mystery and a confrontation with the unknown. From the beginning, this sense of suspense and underlying mystery pervades the entire play. The action begins on the stark platform of the castle wall at midnight, in the dark as the sentries struggle to recognize one another. The first challenge is given by Barnardo, the relieving sentry, rather than Francisco, the solider who is still on duty. Not only is the question of “who’s there?” preparing the mood for the arrival of the ghost, but it also demonstrates that the people of Denmark do not seem confident in carrying out their allocated roles, suggesting an atmosphere of mistrust. In a few broken un-rhythmic blank verse line, Shakespeare brilliantly establishes the tone of uncertainty and apprehension, and he maintains this
An Analysis of Hamlets Philosophy of Life and Death in William Shakespeares Hamlet
Takala Siobhan Takala Mr. Hodson English B30H June 17th 2012 A Struggle with Death’s Dominion; An Analysis of Hamlet’s Philosophy of Life and Death in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet Dylan Thomas once wrote “And death shall have no dominion”. William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet, is a provocative play that portrays how a young prince struggles with his philosophy of life and death after the death of his father. Hamlet, the prince, has trouble overcoming his father’s passing as he also has to deal with its aftermath. The first problem Hamlet has to deal with is his mother Gertrude’s marriage to the newly appointed king, Hamlet’s uncle Claudius. Hamlet is disgusted by this, seeing it as “incestuous”(Shakespeare 1.2.162) and begins to contemplate suicide as an alternative to dealing with his problems. His strong angst toward the newly weds grows even more acute when Hamlet is visited by his father’s ghost and becomes aware that Claudius murdered his father. With this, he continues to struggle, asking himself which is easier, “to be or not to be”(3.1.64). After this, Hamlet’s outlook on life and death is continually changing due to a series of events until he comes to the conclusion that people should “let be”(5.2.238) because “there’s a divinity that shapes our ends”(5.2.11).Thus, through Hamlet, Shakespeare presents the idea that
Hamlet's Procrastination : a Study on his Failure to Act
Hamlet’s Procrastination: a Study on his Failure to Act Joseph Busat ENG4U Mrs. Dickson Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School Monday, November 7th , 2011 Hamlet is a play written by William Shakespeare, between the years of 1599 and 1601, under the reign of King James I. The play, set in the kingdom of Denmark, recounts the tragic tale of how Prince Hamlet enacts revenge on his Uncle Claudius, for murdering his father, (King Hamlet), marrying Gertrude, (his widowed mother, King Hamlet’s wife), and succeeding to heir of the throne. The tragic flaw, (Hamartia), of the protagonist Hamlet, is arguably his procrastination in the enactment of his revenge. Throughout the play, Hamlet had many opportunities to avenge his father’s death by murdering Claudius; however, there was always seemed to be something restricting him. There are many reasons as to why Hamlet may have delayed the revenge: be it the fact that Hamlet feared the consequence of killing, maybe he doubted the ghost, it could be that Hamlet didn’t want to hurt his mother, or maybe even the fact that he was a renaissance Prince, and didn’t believe in violence. Hamlet’s procrastination cannot be proved by either one of these theories, but rather, a complex combination of them all. The most notable reasons as to why Hamlet delayed in the killing of Claudius are because he doubted the nature of the ghost,
Links Between Hamlet and Ophelia
Links between Hamlet and Ophelia Hamlet and Ophelia are linked by many common characteristics, not the least of which is their madness. While Hamlet's madness seems to be feigned, Ophelia is truly crazy. The odd thing about their predicament is that they each drive each other more fully into the depths of illness. One of Hamlet's most famous lines is when he tells the Queen: "Seems, madam? Nay, it is. I know not 'seems.'" Hamlet is saying that he does not know what it is to pretend, he only knows what it is to be. This is the main question surrounding Hamlet in the play, is he feigning his madness, or is it real? After confronting the Ghost, Hamlet tells his friends that he is going to act mad in public, and that they should not worry for he is not really crazy at all. There is a common belief in these days that when someone tells a lie and firmly believes it they start to live that lie. Maybe this is true with Hamlet- he acts truly mad in public (even his mother believes it) that possibly he acts mad in private too. After Polonius tells Ophelia to repel Hamlet's letters, Hamlet enters Ophelia's room and looks at her with such a piteous and saddened face that even Ophelia begins to think there is something wrong with him. Shortly after that Hamlet encounters Polonius in a corridor and harasses him and says crazy things. In an aside
