Hamlet Act 3 scene 4
Act 3 Scene 4, so called the closet scene, is the first time we see Hamlet and Gertrude together alone. In this scene Hamlet releases his anger and frustration at his mother for the sinful deed she has committed i.e. her marriage to her brother-in-law and the murderer. We can see that Gertrude is unaware of her husband's murder when she says `As kill a King?' and it is the first time she confronts her own behavior. There is a conflict between the two; Hamlet gives powerful replies `Mother you have my father much offended' `Go, go, you question with a wicked tongue' Hamlet takes control of the conversation from the very beginning of the scene although it is Gertrude who was meant to be rebuking him and doing much of the talking. Hamlet succeeds in shaming her until the point when she begs him to stop. Hamlet having the upper hand in the conversation, asks his mother to change her ways, which she agrees to and asks for his advice, showing that she has submitted herself to her son. Hamlet does not really show much respect for his mother while reproving her and forcing her to sit down but he does love her. Some critics believe that his love shows sexual connotation and that is a reason why he gets so upset at her remarriage. There is a point in this scene when Gertrude thinks her life is in danger of Hamlet and gets frightened, which shows us that she considers him to be mad
Essay considering how Shakespeare portrays Hamlet's dilemma through the soliloquies.
Essay considering how Shakespeare portrays Hamlet's dilemma through the soliloquies - First Draft The central theme of this play of whether Hamlet should take revenge on his Uncle for his Father's death or not is reflected in both soliloquies (Act 2 Scene 2). Hamlet almost discusses with the audience what his course of action should be, making both soliloquies very powerful and effective, almost the part the audience take away and remember or the famous lines that become common everyday phrases (for example to be or not to be). It's in these soliloquies that we truly see the power of the character Hamlet and begin to become acquainted with him, in an unusually effective depth of emotion and feeling. Shakespeare uses the surroundings to portray a deep, dramatic dilemma through the soliloquies, which gives the play it's strong, tragic genre. Shakespeare wrote in the Elizabethan age 1591 - 1611 a span of 20 years, in which he wrote approximately 37 plays. Most (if not all) of Shakespeare's plot lines aren't of his own creation, but borrowed from other writers. Hamlets story line itself was taken from a man called Saxo Grammaticus who wrote and lived in around the time of 1300. The original real Hamlet title was 'The tragical history of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'. Most of Shakespeare's plays were associated with the harshness and judgemental side of life. They involved trials
Elizabethan Revenge in Hamlet Hamlet is a play written by William Shakespeare that very closely follows the dramatic conventions of revenge in Elizabethan theatre.
Elizabethan Revenge in Hamlet Hamlet is a play written by William Shakespeare that very closely follows the dramatic conventions of revenge in Elizabethan theatre. All revenge tragedies originally stemmed from the Greeks, who wrote and performed the first plays. After the Greeks came Seneca who was very influential to all Elizabethan tragedy writers. Seneca who was Roman, basically set all of the ideas and the norms for all revenge play writers in the Renaissance era including William Shakespeare. The two most famous English revenge tragedies written in the Elizabethan era were Hamlet, written by Shakespeare and The Spanish Tragedy, written by Thomas Kyd. These two plays used mostly all of the Elizabethan conventions for revenge tragedies in their plays. Hamlet especially incorporated all revenge conventions in one way or another, which truly made Hamlet a typical revenge play. "Shakespeare's Hamlet is one of many heroes of the Elizabethan and Jacobean stage who finds himself grievously wronged by a powerful figure, with no recourse to the law, and with a crime against his family to avenge." Seneca was among the greatest authors of classical tragedies and there was not one educated Elizabethan who was unaware of him or his plays. There were certain stylistic and different strategically thought out devices that Elizabethan playwrights
Hamlet - In what way is Act 5 Scene 2 a fitting climax to the play?
NAME OF CANDIDATE: KAMEL AL-HADDAD TITLE OF ASSIGNMENT: HAMLET PURPOSE OF TASK: TO FIND OUT THE WAYS ACT5 SCENE 2 IS A FITTING CLIMAX TO THE PLAY DATE OF SUBMISSION: 29/NOV/2004 STIMULUS MATERIAL: ENGLISH LITERATURE TEXT BOOK ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: FINAL DRAFT Q. In what way is Act 5 Scene 2 a fitting climax to the play? A. William Shakespeare is a man known greatly worldwide as one of the best and most creative writers and playmakers in history, right down to this very day. He was born on 23rd april1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. A man such as he has dealt with all the different aspects of life and death through his heart catching comedic and tragic plays which aroused with outstanding performances, a man who brings alive the ancient form of poetic English as well as a man greatly recognized and loved by the many readers around the world today, is the ideal writer for the tragic play, King Hamlet. Shakespeare has a variety of tragic plays which includes a number of well known all time classics, namely Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Hamlet and so on. Hamlet is a piece full of desire and emotions let alone the spookiness of King Hamlet's ghost it is also filled with great suspense and anxiety as well as giving the audience a touch of mystery. Prince Hamlet was a man with great responsibilities he was filled with courage, determination and last but not least, enormous
Comment on the dramatic significance of any three scenes in Hamlet?
Name: Hussein Class: SR. 4F Subject: Hamlet coursework Q.1 Comment on the dramatic significance of any three scenes in Hamlet? Ans. Hamlet is the most complex but also the most entertaining of all Shakespeare's plays. It deals with the central character Hamlet a young man who is of an intellectual thoughtful and philosophical nature. The play is about how this young man is asked to do an action that is beyond him. The ghost of his beloved father appears to him and enjoins him the sacred task of avenging his murder. This is an action that the morally good Hamlet finds difficult to do. The opening scene in almost all of Shakespeare's plays includes minor insignificant characters whose purpose is to set the tone of the play, to introduce some of the main themes, and to prepare us for the entrance of the protagonist. The scene with its darkness the bitterly cold night the stillness and silence with the "not a mouse stirring" sets an eerie tone which catches the attention of the audience. The imagery of sickness and disease which runs though out the play is introduced when Fransisco complains of being "sick at heart" thus the theme order and disorder and the idea that "time is out joint" is subtly introduced. The scene also provides a sense of mystery, tension and fear which captures the audiences attention. We are not immediately told who or what has been responsible for the
Why is 'Hamlet' seen as such a unique play even though it is part of the English revenge tradition in drama?
Hamlet Why is 'Hamlet' seen as such a unique play even though it is part of the English revenge tradition in drama? (Literary Tradition) Hamlet is arguably one of the greatest plays of all time and it is said that Hamlet is performed around the world every 5-10 minutes. Initially, Hamlet comes across as a typical revenge play of the Elizabethan times but when looked at in more detail Hamlet is a unique play even though it was part of the English tradition in drama. The Elizabethan audience understood the conventions of revenge tragedy at least as well as we today grasp the complicated rules of spy fiction. Once Hamlet raised the suspicion that he knew that Claudius is a murderer he is in danger of not only being killed by the tyrant but of being damned himself, 'Burned by God in hell!' Hamlet decides not to kill Claudius (Act 3 Scene 3) and by failing to kill Claudius, Hamlet comes off the revenge treadmill and becomes hunted rather than the hunter. Hamlet is seen as a revenge play but it has more than revenge, there are themes and messages running through it all. Hamlet and his fathers' relationship is very important in the play. His brother Claudius; who was having an affair with the Queen; killed King Hamlet when the King was asleep by putting rat poison in his ear. As a result of the King being killed Claudius was crowned king of Denmark. Hamlet
Examine critically the character of Hamlet as revealed through his soliloquies.
Examine critically the character of Hamlet as revealed through his soliloquies. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ William Shakespeare (1564-1616) is considered to be one of the greatest playwrights of the 16th century and 'Hamlet' was one of his immortal tragedies that has created most critical and public opinion. His plays offer timeless messages but his attitudes and beliefs are all Elizabethan. All his plays dealt with themes that man could relate to anytime, in any age. That is why Shakespeare's plays are said to be "not of an age, but for all time". The protagonist of the play, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, has a very complex character. He was a scholar prince, and a very meditative and philosophical one. He loved to read, and was planning to pursue further education but fate had different plans for him. He was thrust in a situation, which required immediate action, which he knew he was incapable of. He couldn't be a man of action, which the situation demanded, and that was the heart f the tragedy. To top all that was his mother's hasty marriage to his uncle, which had a psychological effect on him and wounded him emotionally. His disgust for his mother's hasty marriage is clearly seen with his direct reference to sex when he says, "As if increase of appetite had grown by what it fed on." Hamlet
Hamlet essay on his character
Explore how Shakespeare presents and uses the theme of blindness in the play 'King Lear'. In 'King Lear' Shakespeare shows the importance of the theme of blindness by portraying it throughout play. Blindness appears in various forms in both the main-plot and the sub-plot; which Shakespeare shows through the primary characters King Lear and Gloucester. The audience see both of these characters blindness leading them to make bad decisions throughout the play. However, the audience start seeing the characters eventually regretting their bad decision, which is represented through the good deeds, they carry out. Both of these characters aren't physically blind in anyway at the start of the play, but are morally blind because of their wealth and power. In this play Shakespeare shows how, blindness is not only a physical quality, but also a mental flaw some characters possess. The character who is undoubtedly morally blind is to be King Lear; this may be due to his high position in society. Someone in a position of high authority is supposed to be able to distinguish bad from good; however his lack of sight prevents him from being able to do this. King Lear's first act of blindness is immediately grasped by the audience when he reacts bitterly towards his youngest daughter Cordelia due to her refusal to take part in the love test. At this point the audience can see that King Lear
How does Hamlet and Ophelia's relationship evolves throughout the play of 'Hamlet'?
In this essay I will consider how Hamlet and Ophelia's relationship evolves throughout the play of "Hamlet" and whether their love was real and true. I will be looking at Act 2 Scene 1, Act 3 Scene 1, Act 3 Scene 2 and Act 5 Scene 1. I have chosen these scenes because in these four scenes, Hamlet and Ophelia are either talking to each other, or they are talking about the other. I think Hamlet and Ophelia's relationship is essential to the plot because if Ophelia hadn't gone mad and died, along with Polonius being murdered by Hamlet, then Laertes wouldn't have poisoned Hamlet. The poisoning of Hamlet also leads to Claudius, Gertrude, and Laertes dying. In Act 2 Scene 1, Ophelia goes to find her father. She has been frightened by Hamlet, she describes how he came into her room. He didn't say anything, but he was obviously upset. In the lines, "Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other, and with a look so piteous in purport" Ophelia seems worried for him, like she pities him. The way Ophelia describes Hamlet's clothing, "Lord Hamlet with his doublet unbraced, No hat upon his head, his stockings fouled, Ungartered, and down-gyved to his ankle" is the stereotype of the lover that has been cast aside. This indicates that his main objective in visiting Ophelia is to use Ophelia to convince others that his insanity was not due to any mysterious unknown cause, i.e. Old Hamlet's
In the opening two scenes of the play explore how Shakespeare puts you inside the mind and heart of Hamlet himself.
Katie Costaras 'Hamlet' In the opening two scenes of the play explore how Shakespeare puts you inside the mind and heart of Hamlet himself. The opening scenes of a play are always vitally important. They must grasp the attention of the reader, arouse interest and expectation. In Hamlet, the play's beginning is extremely effective, as there is a dramatic purpose to the first and second scene, and this will help us to explore how Shakespeare puts us inside the mind and heart of Hamlet himself. The first scene is dominated by the appearance and reappearance of a Ghost to night watchmen. We are informed that the Ghost is that of Hamlet's father, the late King of Denmark. The night watchmen ask Horatio, Hamlet's friend, to investigate the Ghost's appearance in the hope that he, as a learned man, will have an explanation for the apparition. Horatio witnesses the presence of the Ghost, and decides to relate the event to Hamlet. After the first scene, the reader expectantly awaits Horatio's encounter with Hamlet and events that may unfold in scene two. Shakespeare's effectiveness in enabling the reader to become in harmony with the mind and heart of Hamlet is achieved by the clever use of language. One method of achieving this is by the use of the "aside" and this occurs the first time Hamlet is introduced into the play. His aside follows the comment made by Claudius, who
