"The main action of Hamlet is the attempt to search out and destroy the hidden imposthume which is poisoning the body politic of Denmark." Consider this view.
"The main action of Hamlet is the attempt to search out and destroy the hidden imposthume which is poisoning the body politic of Denmark." Consider this view. In my essay I would like to focus on the actions of the characters of Hamlet and Claudius specifically. I will look at the efforts Hamlet made, both mentally and physically, to search for the truth about Claudius' offences against the state of Denmark, and his father, and his struggles to find a solution to the horrific results of these offences, in order to restore order and to destroy the corruption that is poisoning the body politic of Denmark. Also, I would like to take a look at how the actions of Claudius and the reactions of Hamlet left the state of Denmark at the conclusion of the play. Moral corruption is quite obviously bubbling under the surface in Hamlet. From the outset, there are references to adultery, murder, incest and usurpation, when the King informs Hamlet about what has been taking place at the head of their state. The fact that Hamlet's family also happens to be the Royal family means that it is not just those immediately involved in the situation who have been wronged. The ghost explains, that the actions of the new King have been an offence against the state of Denmark as a whole. The throne was at the centre of political life at this time, and as Laertes put it, the question of
Swept by Passion
Swept by Passion Passion drives people everyday. Sometimes people are suddenly attacked by this emotion to where they will do anything to satisfy it. Passion can take someone as far as to killing someone or destroying one's own life. This tragic result occurs in Home and the World. Trapped by the "purdah", Bimala has seen little of the world. Oblivious to what is going on politically or socially, Bimala lives her life being a servant to her husband, Nikhil. He decides to release Bimala out into the world, wanting her to place her steadfast worship and allegiance somewhere else. Nikhil then introduces Bimala to the British way of life. Through Learning mannerisms, reading and writing, and everyday knowledge, Bimala starts to rise up from her domestic existence. At this time Nikhil has a close friend, Sandip, come over and stay with his family. Sandip is a political revolutionary of the "Swadeshi" and dislikes the English ways amongst the Indian people. Sandip's charisma and passion for stopping English influence sweeps Bimala off her feet. Because Bimala is swept away by passion she creates the circumstances of her tragedy. Nikhil shelters Bimala from the outside world, causing her to be oblivious. From an early age Bimala has been sheltered from everything around her. As a woman in India, she is not allowed to live her own life but must live it fully with her
Examine the presentation of fathers in "Hamlet" with close reference to three key scenes.
"Hamlet" Tom Spooner Examine the presentation of fathers in "Hamlet" with close reference to three key scenes: Claudius, Old Hamlet and Polonius are all fathers and the way in which each is presented by Shakespeare is quite different. On the surface, the play is a revenge tragedy in which a grieving son seeks to avenge the death of his murdered father. However I think it has been very cleverly crafted by Shakespeare around a bleak theme of appearance versus reality that explores the corrupt, sinister region of the human nature that is present beneath the surface of us all. Shakespeare's portrayal of many of the characters in the play and in particular of fathers is as both malevolent and egotistical. Claudius' hypocrisy masquerades as fatherly love and concern; Polonius' obsequiousness and search for position masquerades as service to the King, using his daughter as a pawn in the process; Old Hamlet's torment and manipulation of Hamlet's emotions is passed off as regaining his honour. On the surface fathers are presented by Shakespeare as having to be loved, honoured and obeyed almost without question. However the effect this has on their children is quite catastrophic leading to resentment, repression, bitterness, madness and eventually death. I will examine the way each of these characters is presented with close reference to Act 1 Scene II (Claudius), Act 1 Scene
Justice in Shakespeare's Hamlet
Justice in Shakespeare's Hamlet In today's society, those who have done wrong are taken to court where they go through a long trial before justice can be served - that is if it is served at all. That is not to say that there were no courts or civilized means of punishing wrongdoers in the past, though many people tended to take justice into their own hands. Those who do wrong should be punished and their victims should have some sort of relief. At some times, the villain gets away with his crime, although at other times he makes mistakes which can come back to haunt him. This is the case in Shakespeare's Hamlet. Many of the characters have done wrong to another, the biggest victim being Hamlet. The quest for revenge and justice is very overwhelming for him. As Laertes dies, he says that he is "justly killed". Polonius, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and Claudius all have nemesis visited upon them. Their own wrongdoing backfires, bringing the downfall of each and justice for Hamlet. Polonius, the father of Laertes and Ophelia, has a large tendency to spy. He sticks his nose where it does not belong and he cannot seem to mind his own business. Although his intentions seem fair, Polonius spies on his children quite a bit. With his son Laertes away in France, he sends his servant Reynaldo to see if everything is all right. Before the visit, Polonius wants his man "to
Can we write about the tragedy of Hamlet in any meaningful fashion
Can we write about the tragedy of 'Hamlet' in any meaningful fashion? It is highly problematic to use the word 'tragedy' when referring to Shakespeare's works. 'Hamlet' has long been considered the best example of what one would call a tragedy out of all Shakespeare's plays, yet this generalisation, as it proves to be, is the most troublesome of all. Perhaps the reason for this lies in the unknown extent of Shakespeare's familiarity with what one would call traditional tragedy, whose routes lie in the principles set down by the Greeks and Aristotle. Aristotle, in setting down the so-called rules of tragedy in his 'Poetics' talks of an essential element; 'Hamartia', fundamental in the downfall of the prominent (usually this prominence is reflected in a high up hierarchical figure, perhaps of the nobility)'tragic hero' and which, furthermore the character must recognise. This fall from grace marks a reversal of the character's fortune, placing great emphasis on an element of fate; the 'strumpet fortune' that Hamlet so frequently refers to. Aristotle, echoing the Greek view that tragedy is didactic also talks of a fundamental element, Catharsis, at the tragic hero's downfall where the audience's emotions are purged and purified. Taking this into account, the links between Shakespeare's dramatic works and Greek tragedy are nevertheless unproved and tenuous. It is likely,
Shakespeare's tragic play "Hamlet" conveys several images of both sickness and disease; these images support the theme of political corruption.
Shakespeare's tragic play "Hamlet" conveys several images of both sickness and disease; these images support the theme of political corruption. This theme can be examined by focusing on three distinct aspects of the play. These include: the foreshadowing mood in Act I, the fact that all of the novel's corruption stems from misdeeds of various characters, and Hamlet's wisdom and concoction for vengeance. The foreshadowing images in Act I, which revolve around sickness and disease, help devise the novel's central theme of corruption. Act I is critical in establishing the mood and tone of the novel; more importantly, though, the central theme of both political and moral corruption is evident from the start, and directs the course of the novel. When the ghost of King Hamlet is conversing with his troubled son, he tells Hamlet that "[he] could a tale unfold whose lightest word Would harrow up thy soul; freeze thy young blood...But this eternal blazon must not be To ears of flesh and blood" (I.5.19-25). When the audience or reader is at this point in the play, they are completely taken in. This description is accentuated with the words "flesh," "blood," "freeze," and "soul," which adds to the general image of sickness. Though this "tale" is revealed and no one becomes gravely sick, it foretells the predicament to come, and the intricate situation that will bring
Shakespeare and Film Hamlet
Leeon Graham Shakespeare and Film Hamlet "Hamlet's story is essentially one revolving around the idea of the Oedipus complex - the son/mother relation is at heart of this drama". "Hamlets story is essentially one revolving around the idea of the famous theory of the Oedipus Complex. The critical applications of the famous theory to the tragedy of 'Hamlet' are untold"(www.hamlet.com). Kenneth Branagh makes a wonderful attempt in capturing many film technique's which enhance the underlying heart of the movie which takes place between 'Hamlet and his mother. 'Hamlet' awakens his repressed incestuous and parricidal desires. The disgust which the remarriage of his mother arouses him, as well as the violent behaviour during their confrontation in the Queen's bedroom, are signs of the jealousy which he constantly experiences, even if he is unconscious. Hamlet is absolutely horrified by the thought that his mother could feel desire for Claudius, whom he describes as a 'Murderer an villain,/ A slave that is not twentieth part the tithe/ Of your precedent lord'. "Such an act, that blurs the grace and blush of modesty, Calls virtue hypocrite, takes off the rose from the fair forehead of an innocent love and sets a blister there, makes marriage vows as false as dicers' oaths-O, such a deed as from the body of contradiction plucks the very soul, and sweet
Definition Of A Hero
Jeffery Chappell Writing 101 Instructor: Phillips Definition Of A Hero Most people hear the word "Hero" and they think of a super hero in a comic book leading a secret life. One who might possess super human powers and fly around a city fighting crime. An individual that never makes a mistake in their life, and was destined for fame from the moment they were born. People think a hero will always succeed and maintain a perfect life, but not all heroes are in comic books and have super powers. Unfortunately, there are bad heroes as well as good heroes in this world. In my eyes a good hero has a few simple characteristics, and they use them to benefit others: willingness to help others, courage, quick to think and react, physically and mentally strong and be a good role model. This person's heroism doesn't have to take place everyday or even once a week. It is the effort of that person's actions that counts. Included in this person's actions is a willingness to help others in need of help. Where others would pass a person up in a bad situation a hero would stop to help. They would help a person in a desperate situation without asking too many questions. They have to be caring enough to help others without acting selfishly and make personal sacrifices in order to help others. To act in a manner that would benefit others and not benefit them-self intentionally. A
Endgame" is written in the unique style associated with Samuel Beckett's works- a minimalist, distressing piece of work about isolation, death, and language
546692 EN1021, Reading Literature "Endgame" is written in the unique style associated with Samuel Beckett's works- a minimalist, distressing piece of work about isolation, death, and language. The play is an absurdist drama and has also been described as a comedy, despite the disturbing themes presented in the opening passage, such as the circular and repetitive nature of life and the meaninglessness of human existence. Beckett uses many different devises to make the play extremely effective in a performance such as a simple, bare setting; frequent silences and dark lighting. The plot of "Endgame" is continuous, unbroken by separate scenes or acts showing that the character's lives consist of a long pattern of ceaselessly repeating events. One of the major themes is that life is a circular existence without a definite beginning or ending, and so Beckett creates a repetitive, meaningless existence for his characters. The play's title refers to the final stage in a game of chess, the moves that lead to one player defeating the other, and Clov's blunt statement which opens the play, suggests that some sort of end or defeat is near, "finished, it's finished, nearly finished." His lack of emotion as he dwells on this "end" and his "fixed gaze" clearly shows the character's fragile states of mind. Clov has lost his passion for living and is acknowledging the "finish" as an escape
How far do you support the view if god is dead, or if god is clearly known, the tragedy cannot exist in your analysis of Hamlet?
HOW FAR DO YOU SUPPORT THE VIEW 'IF GOD IS DEAD, OR IF GOD IS CLEARLY KNOWN, THE TRAGEDY CANNOT EXIST' IN YOUR ANALYSIS OF HAMLET? Derived from the influential piece by Aristotle detailing the nuances of tragedy, 'Poetics', many of the commonly accepted characteristics of tragedy transpire as a result of uncertainty, and so the removal of one the greatest uncertainties in all human history, the debate over the existence of a God, would indubitably cause a collapse in the tragic play form, as it is the impossibility of certitude which allows tragedy to unfold at all. The quote in the title comes from one Lucien Goldmann, a French philosopher and a prominent Marxist theorist: a well-known and key fundamentalist Marxist dogma, as stated by Karl Marx himself, is: "Religion is the opium of the people"1. This lends a degree of insight into the precise meaning behind Goldmann's view: he believed that tragedy could only occur when God provides hope for people, a possibility of absolution, but the existence of a God is unknown, thus blinding people with faith to injustices in society, as they live with the hope of some final judgement which they cannot ascertain will occur. This concept is found at the crux of Hamlet, as Hamlet's delicately poised internal battle between his desire for revenge (also at times his nihilistic desire for escape from the world, via suicide - "shuffled off