The tragedy of Hamlet is that as a character of an Elizabethan context, in destroying the corruption, Hamlet must destroy himself.

Authors Avatar by caitlinxg (student)

Hamlet is an enduring play, primarily because Shakespeare’s plays touch on the intricacies of the human condition. Although contextual values change, basic human nature to seek answers to the fundamental questions of life has not, causing Shakespeare’s play to speak to us in different ways. Hamlet is not limited by contextual barriers, and therefore suggests that the multiplicities of interpretations are plausible through the text’s ability to be recontextualised because of its complex characterization and universal themes. A contemporary context positions the audience to receive the play as the rebirth of order after chaos, as the world embraces change (with the elections of Kevin Rudd and Barrack Obama). It is my interpretation that the continuous questioning in Hamlet exposes the audience to deception and corruption present in the world, creating a play that explores the concept of truth and appearances which is a theme that is relevant to any context.

By creating the corrupt and unstable world of Ellsinore, Shakespeare reflects the political uncertainty of his period; Ellsinore becomes a representation of the world. LC Knights, a 20th century authority on Shakespearean literature, argues, “The ethos of the place is made up of coarse pleasures, of moral obtuseness, treacherous plotting and brainless triviality.”  The opening scene is a perfect example of the instability present at Ellsinore; the military tension is evoked by the opening line: “Who’s there?” This first scene is dramatically important in establishing the chaos and uncertainty as the scene is made up of questioning and establishing the identities of others. Shakespeare has already introduced the fundamental questioning of humanity, thus introducing the motif of truth and appearances.

Act 1, Scene 2 is an orientation into the complex characterization of Hamlet and the moral dilemma he is governed by, the death of the King and marriage of Gertrude and Claudius. Hamlet has been reinterpreted as a character in many different contexts. Modern interpretations are influenced by the growing understanding of psychology and therefore analyze Hamlet’s intentions, yet Shakespeare’s audience would have characterized him as a hero of the revenge tragedy. Shakespeare characterizing Hamlet as a Renaissance man, a thinker capable of questioning the purpose of existence, allows him to become the one reality among the deceit. As TS Eliot suggests, “the ‘madness’ of Hamlet was feigned in order to escape suspicion” thus making it Hamlet’s duty as the truth teller to restore order to Ellsinore. Through Claudius’ speech in this scene, Shakespeare introduces tension through dramatic binaries, the questioning of the surfaces people adopt and the truths they hide. Claudius’ haughty tone contradicts his apparent intent, remaining unconvincing in his grief: “That we with wisest sorrow think on him together with remembrance of ourselves.” Hamlet shows a keen awareness of the encompassing inconsistency between appearance and reality as expressed in exchanges “Seems, madam! Nay, it is; I know not ‘seems.’” Shakespeare references this theme throughout the play, the repeated words “seems”, “appearances” and “pictures”. This theme of verisimilitude is enhanced by Hamlet’s truth telling, “But I have hat within which asses show, / These but the trapping and the suits of woe” which implies that Gertrude’s grief is superficial – an appearance. Hamlet’s first soliloquy, “Oh, that this too, too sullied flesh would melt,” explore the discrepancies in Ellsinore. Shakespeare uses intense punctuation and fragmented sentences to allude to Hamlet’s passionate frustration and distress at the circumstance of Ellsinore, using rotting imagery, “sullied” “unweeded garden” “rank and gross in nature,” to emphasize the deception present at Ellsinore. This corrupt world is sustained throughout the play, enhancing Shakespeare’s commentary on the deception and corruption present in the world, and the confusion this causes, which speaks to all contexts.

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The use of soliloquies throughout the play exposes the audience to Hamlet’s true thoughts and feelings enhancing his role as th truth teller.  This dramatic technique also enhances the tragedy of circumstance as Hamlet is called for vengeance, a sin that in its original context was known to result in personal damnation. Shakespeare calls on the audience to witness this destruction to offer the audience insight into the consequence of violence on individuals, as Hamlet remains paralyzed by thought, inactive through his inner conflict: to act, or not to act. As Mary Slater suggests, ‘Hamlet’s nature is philosophical. Reflective, ...

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