...great suffering, destruction, and distress. Arthur Miller's essay, 'Tragedy and the Common Man', contributes many different ideas on how he perceived tragedy. Trying to fulfil one's lives and personalities is usually how a tragic story happens. Hamlet tries to get revenge on Claudius when he find out what really happened to his father, starting his tragic story. He feels betrayed and is working hard to get his rightful position back. There is always the possibility that Hamlet is going to succeed in his mission. Tragedy is something that happens to everyone that is trying to fulfill themselves as a person, someone that is on a mission to get what they want. Hamlet starts with the plan of trying to get revenge on Claudius when he find out what the complete truth of what happened to his father. This is explained when he says, "As meditation or the thoughts of love, may sweep to my revenge." (Act 1, Scene 5, lines 30-31). He is a tragic hero, in which he goes on this mission of trying to get revenge for himself and his father, and ultimately succeeds, but then dies. He had a plan throughout the play, had many chances to fulfil the plan, but never went through with it. In Arthur Miller's essay, this is explained when he says "The tragic feeling is evoked in us when we are in the presence of a character who is ready to lay down his life, if need be, to secure one thing--his sense of personal dignity." (Miller, pg 1). Hamlet was doing all of this just for his father and for himself...
Words: 1088 - Pages: 5
...Noor Bhatti Mr. Frank English 12 AP 05 March 2014 The Ghost in Kenneth Brannagh’s Hamlet: A Masterpiece William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a tragedy known for its drama and portrayal of its characters. For many decades, the play has undergone different interpretations as well as criticisms. An important factor of the play that has gone through this criticism is the character of the ghost who appears to be Hamlet’s dead father. After the first encounter between Hamlet and his “father”, it seems apparent that the ghost is in fact Old Hamlet, returning to Earth to have his son avenge his treacherous murder. In spite of this encounter when looking more closely at the text, various signs appear to lead readers to see that the ghost is actually a demon. Joseph Addison in his essay, published in The Spectator 1711 states, “The Appearance of the Ghost in Hamlet is a Masterpiece in its kind…but every Time he enters he is still more terrifying” (Addison 2). Kenneth Branagh’s 1996 production of Hamlet vividly portrays these signs of malevolence, of this being originating from Hell. Baranagh brilliantly depicts the demon that Shakespeare wrote in the early 1600’s from Act I Scenes I and IV/V as well as Act III Scene IV in his movie. As the play begins the first mystery that the characters come across is the “ghost” that embodies their old King. Horatio, Hamlet’s old friend as well as a noble scholar approaches the ghost, commanding it, “By heaven I charge thee, speak...
Words: 1893 - Pages: 8
...Actions always have consequences; an essay about Hamlets obsessions and passions In this essay, the main character Hamlet from the play “Hamlet” written by William Shakespeare will be analyzed to find out what consequences he had to deal with due to his obsessions and passions. In this play, Hamlet’s obsessions and passions represent who he is and what he stands for; moreover, his obsessions with seeking revenge on his father, religion, and love cause Hamlet to have to deal with many consequences due to his actions which leads to his death. One of the main themes in this play is revenge, and Hamlets biggest obsession in this play is seeking revenge on Claudius for his father’s death. Hamlets plot for revenge starts after he speaks to The Ghost a.k.a his father who tells him that his brother killed him (Claudius). The Ghost ““But know, thou noble youth. The serpent that did sting thy father’s life. Now wears his crown.” (Act 1 Scene 5, Line 38 – 40). After Hamlet hears this, he goes insanely mad and becomes extremely obsessed in getting revenge for what his uncle did to his father. This obsession that takes over his life causes him to lose his self-control which leads to his death and other mains characters deaths. During the Elizabethan Era, religion was something that people, as well as Hamlet took very serious. Religion effected a lot of Hamlets decisions, and in Act 3, Hamlet had to a chance to kill Claudius while he was praying but he didn’t because he believed...
Words: 555 - Pages: 3
...Dolabaille ENG 4U Tuesday, July 17th, 2015. Hamlet William Shakespeare's longest play Hamlet is a late 16th century tragedy set in Denmark. It revolves around the son of a deceased king, Hamlet, of which the name of the play is coined. Hamlet is perturbed by the death of his father, and becomes vengeful upon learning the truth about his murder. This play takes a twist by involving the subplot romance between Hamlet and Ophelia, and the dangerous role their love plays in the death of majority of the characters. This play crosses the importance of many of the characters values, the problems ensued, and the consequences. In this essay I will argue that the audience's cultural, economic, and social values do affect their interpretation of the play by using the speech given by the gravedigger. "Her obsequies have been as far enlarged As we have warranty. Her death was doubtful, And, but that great command o'ersways the order, She should in ground unsanctified have lodged Till the last trumpet. For charitable prayers Shards, flints and pebbles should be thrown on her. Yet here she is allowed her virgin crants, Her maiden strewments, and the bringing home Of bell and burial." (V, i, 200-208) Culturally, suicide is considered a sin or an act of blasphemy to a Christian. In Shakespeare's Hamlet the character Ophelia was thought to have committed suicide after the loss of her father, Polonius, and her love, Hamlet. She is denied a full Christian funeral by the...
Words: 685 - Pages: 3
...Ms. Masciantonio AP English Literature 23 February 2012 Hamlet Analysis Essay “It’s is sometimes an appropriate response to reality to go insane”. (Philip K Dick). Hamlet is always questioning himself about his father’s murder, his mother’s guilt and his life. His obsession causes his insanity. Hamlet is depressed, confused, and paranoid the traumatizing events on his life. Hamlet is depressed at his mother’s lustful behavior towards his uncle, so he’s taking his anger out on Ophelia. In doing so, Hamlet was saying mean things that made her feel bad about her especially when he told her “Get thee to a nunnery, why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners? I am myself indifferent honest, but yet I could accuse me of such things that it were better my mother had not borne me,” (3.1. 123-126). Hamlet shows a strange way of loving Ophelia because one minute he loves her the next minute he’s rude to her. These actions prove his instability. Normal people do not love someone one minute and curse her the next because that is just unrealistic. Lidz said, “Perhaps he seeks to hide the meaning of his embittered and melancholic behavior under the guise of being depressed over Ophelia’s withdrawal of her affection, but it seems a cruel and deceitful way to treat his beloved” (Lidz, Theodore). Hamlet is depressed because of Ophelia’s withdrawal even though he is just being manipulative to her. Hamlet is confused and disorientated. He considers killing himself...
Words: 697 - Pages: 3
...Hamlet Essay Nicole Schinke Truth is seen differently through different people, for example in Hamlet people appear as one way, where in reality they really aren't like that (Claudius), as well as others in the play who just hide behind a mask. They differentiate between what is a lie/ fake and what is the truth. Some people think that the truth hurts so they try and avoid it. Other people may think that the truth can set you free. The pursuit of truth is a challenging and satisfying affair. In this play, Hamlet is more looking for the pursuit of truth rather than revenge. He’s been looking for his father’s killer. He wants to know who killed his father just so he can act upon it and get revenge. He ends up finding out that the killer was his uncle who ended up marrying his mother. Truth can cause so much curiosity that can really make or break some people in life. Claudius is a big liar and coward in Hamlet, he is a master of deception. He shows that he is grieving and sad about his dead brother but in reality he is very dark and is the killer. We know since the beginning of the play that Hamlet does not like his uncle being married to his mother which is another reason to get rid of the king. The ghost of Sir Hamlet gives him a plan that seems like a great idea. “ The serpent that did sting thy father’s life/Now wear his crown” (1.5 39-40) This was still at the point where he didn't know the truth that Claudius did kill his father so he waited and didn't jump to the idea...
Words: 1016 - Pages: 5
...In the play Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, the protagonist Hamlet must overcome his internal conflict to live or die. The famous “to be, or not to be” soliloquy by Hamlet reveals that he is contemplating to commit suicide. However, Hamlet’s mind is pulled in conflicting directions, one is the obligation to revenge his father’s death and the other is the motivation to end his life along with his worries. The conflict within Hamlet contributes to the meaning of this play because Hamlet questions the underlying question of what the purpose of life is and what will happen with death. Old King Hamlet had died and Hamlet continues to mourn his father’s death while losing track of time. His father’s ghost who told Hamlet that Claudius killed his father visited him. Hamlet is aware that he must revenge for his father by killing Claudius, the man who betrayed his brother and bed with his brother’s wife. In Hamlet’s soliloquy “to be, or not to be, that is the question…,” we can see that Hamlet faces an internal conflict. Hamlet does not want to live because life is too troublesome and tortuous. If Hamlet were to end his life, then he would be able to end his worries. Hamlet questions if he should live or die. However, if Hamlet chose to end his life, then he would be unable to fulfill his filial responsibilities to his father. Hamlet would be a coward if he selfishly chose to free himself from the torments of life. Although Hamlet wants to end the unhappiness he feels in his life...
Words: 577 - Pages: 3
...March 2014 Does Hamlet feign madness throughout the play or truly struggle with insanity? In William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, the king of Denmark is stripped of his wife, throne, and life by his envious brother, Claudius. The king’s young son, Hamlet, is the only one who properly mourns his death and immediately takes on the mission of avenging his father’s murder. In the process of carrying out this revenge, a troubled and restless Hamlet loses all that is dear to him — his family, friends, but most of all, himself. In the midst of his sorrow and frustration, Hamlet loses sight of his true self and turns into an impulsive, obscure, and seemingly madman. However, many scenes subtly reveal that Hamlet is deliberately feigning these fits of madness in order to disconcert King Claudius and throw the rest of the attendants off track. While Hamlet's "mad" behavior starts out as an "antic disposition," his mental state deteriorates over the course of plotting his revenge so that he ultimately ends up mentally ill and demented. The longer he put on this “antic disposition” act, the more it became genuine madness. In a way, Shakespeare teaches readers that it is impossible to wear an identity without becoming what one pretends to be. Through Hamlet’s madness, Shakespeare exemplifies the idea that “one is what one pretends to be” and the importance of always living a life of authenticity in order to avoid morphing into a false identity. William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet shares with readers...
Words: 362 - Pages: 2
...revengeful and ambitious. The one thing all scholars unanimously agree upon is that Hamlet is a multi-faceted individual who is, while noble, also arrogant, revengeful and ambitious. This is the dilemma that Rosenberg (1992) feels lies behind the drama and puzzle of Hamlet which in turn makes choosing a character that can adequately play Hamlet’s role very difficult: “There have been gentle Hamlets, fierce hamlets, intellectual Hamlets, passionate hamlets, sophisticated Hamlets, naïve Hamlets, melancholy Hamlets; spirited Hamlets, and more” (Rosenberg,1992) each trying to capture and create the perfect Hamlet. Not only must actors adapt Hamlet’s character to their own, and, therefore, the individual perceives Hamlet according to his own image, but the actors themselves have a difficult time interpreting the intent of Hamlet’s actions. Rosenberg (1992) observes that “in every single scene in which Hamlet appears… choices must be made.” Why, for instance, did Hamlet withdraw from killing Claudius in the prayer scene; why do his objectives shift from returning at once to Wittenberg? The diversity of Hamlets character affects his ability to properly rule his country. He needs to not be so focused on his personal life. Hamlet is a very multi-faceted person who is noble but is too proud, revengeful and ambitious. Thus it is his downfall and prolongs his countries turmoil. Different authors have portrayed Hamlet in different ways. Goethe has portrayed him as too delicate for the task of...
Words: 1394 - Pages: 6
...Hamlet Final Essay What do you think makes Shakespeare’s Hamlet such a powerful and enduring play? Thesis William Shakespeare’s Hamlet (1603) explores the intrinsic aspects of humanity creating a powerful and enduring play by subverting the audiences’ expectation of a revenge tragedy play. Shakespeare enables universal anthropological appreciation through the emphasis on the thematic concerns of: the mystery and transcendental nature of death, clouded grey areas in between the dichotomy of good and evil morals, and the twisted manipulative nature of human behaviour. Therefore, through critical study of the play, Shakespeare augments and connects to the audience’s perspective and interpretations. Body Topic sentence 1. Overarching idea i. Point ii. Quote iii. Technique iv. Elaboration Sample Sentence Linking sentence (concluding sentence) Body 1 – Death Death is the inescapable reality of human life as explored in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the fact that the living world is made of death and decay is visible anywhere there is life. 1. Hamlet’s bereavement over his father i. Bereavement is an inescapable reality in which all humans must endure. ii. “But I have more within which passes show – These but the trappings and the suits of woe” iii. Rhyming couplet iv. To reinforce Hamlet’s underlying argument to his grief over the finality of his father’s death. Bereavement is an inescapable reality, exemplified when Hamlet says...
Words: 2776 - Pages: 12
...Mikkel Kristensen. 3.U. 21/9-14. Hamlet I would like to make a few remarks about the Oedipal and existential themes in Shakespeare's play 'Hamlet'. I will do this by looking specifically at three scenes; the conversation with the ghost, the to be or not to be scene, and the scene that takes place in the bedroom of Queen Gertrude. Hamlet is a timeless tale, with timeless meaning and there are countless ways of interpreting the play. From quotes to characters, the play is one of the most well-known in the entire world. In conversation with the ghost a group of guards comes running up to Hamlet, eyes filled with both fear wonder, they tell Hamlet what they have seen. As the wondrous meeting with the ghost of Hamlets late father the king. Hardly able to comprehend what he is hearing, his curiosity gets the best of him, and he decides to follow the guards. As the band of guards and prince Hamlet ventures up on the city walls, the ghost suddenly appears before them. As the ghost starts to leave the group, Hamlet swiftly decides to run after the ghost. When Hamlet finally catches up to the ghost a conversation, which serves great importance to the story, is started. The conversation with the ghost is in some ways, what creates the entire plot of the story. The deceased king tells Hamlet how he died, and why. He also tells him that the murderer is his uncle, who recently married the queen. This scene touches on some interesting things. We get an understanding of how death...
Words: 758 - Pages: 4
...Hamlet: Literary Essay NAME: _______________________________ As part of this unit’s summative, you will be required to write a literary essay on an element related to Hamlet. Here are some points you will need to consider and be aware of: • Your essay will be 5 paragraphs (typed, 12 point font, double‐spaced) • Your essay MUST include specific and direct proof from the play Hamlet • Your essay will focus on ONE of the following topics • Your essay must be proofread and free from grammatical errors • Your essay must follow MLA citations and include a Works Cited list • Follow the guidelines and requirements, as stated in the rubric • Submit a rough copy, polished copy, and rubric on _________________________________________________________ SAMPLE TOPICS: 1. Describe and explain the ways in which Laertes is a foil to Hamlet’s character. 2. Was Hamlet truly mad, or did he fake his madness? Explain fully. 3. Describe and explain the roles played by Rosencrantz, Guildenstern and the gravediggers. Explain the purpose each one of these characters serves in the play, and explain whether or not their roles are vital in the play. 4. Describe and explain the treatment of the female characters in Hamlet. Do these women “get what they deserve”? Explain, using specific details from the text to support your arguments. 5. “Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind.” Defend or refute this statement, using specific details to ...
Words: 453 - Pages: 2
...August 8, 2013 Is Hamlet Primarily a Tragedy of Revenge? The play Hamlet has several occurring themes, romance, sex, madness, suicide, or even death. It is a very famous play written by Shakespeare in the early 1600's, which is also known for the many different perspectives it gives readers. Despite all these themes being present in Hamlet, Shakespeare may have intended another topic to be the prominent theme in this tragedy. The main event which sets the story, is the murder of Prince Hamlet's father, King Hamlet. The ghost of King Hamlet tells his son to seek out his killer and avenge him. The most primary theme in the tragedy of Hamlet is definitely revenge. The idea of “an eye for an eye” revenge is demonstrable in several circumstances in the play, since Hamlet swears to carry out revenge on his uncle Claudius, Prince Fortinbras of Norway vows revenge on the state of Denmark, and Laertes swears revenge on Hamlet. During the onset of the play, a ghost appears to Hamlet, and claims he is his deceased father, and that he was murdered by Hamlet's uncle Claudius in order to steal the throne of Denmark. It is evident the ghost wants Hamlet to seek revenge, since he tells hamlet he must do it by his command: "So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear"(1.5.7). The ghost also reminds Hamlet his purpose on multiple occasions. Hamlet is very distraught at the thought of his mother marrying his...
Words: 905 - Pages: 4
...Humes English IV April 4th, 2013 Hamlets Sanity Is Hamlet mad, is he sane, what is he going to do with his madness or sanity? In this mind twisting play, Hamlet by: William Shakespeare, there are many situations throughout the play that are enough to bring Hamlet to insanity. Take, for example, Act IV, scene II, after Polonius's death. Hamlet's day has been crazy, he finally decides that Claudius has killed his father. The chance to kill Claudius confronts him, and he comes very close to convincing Gertrude that Claudius killed his father. Hamlet accidentally kills Polonius and finally, the ghost of his father visits him. Though at this point these situations create plenty of reasons for Hamlet to be insane, he remains sharp and witty. Hamlet remains in this state of madness, .his intelligence remains clear, but his way of thinking takes a turn for the worse. Hamlet reveals to his friends and his mother of his plans to pretend act insane. He tells Horatio that he is going to “feign madness”, and that if Horatio” notices any strange behavior from Hamlet, it is because he is putting on an act”. (I.v.166-180). Hamlet also tells his mother that he is not mad, "but mad in craft." (III.iv.188-199). In addition to his confessions, Hamlet's madness only shows itself when he is in the presence of certain characters. When Hamlet is around Polonius, Claudius, Gertrude, Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, he behaves in a bad manor. When Hamlet is around Horatio, Bernardo, Francisco...
Words: 632 - Pages: 3
...play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, there is an example of an unhealthy relationship between Gertrude and Hamlet. Gertrude is guided by self-interest rather than motherhood while making decisions, and their relationship is more than an Oedipus complex, it’s incestuous. These two aspects of their relationship give Hamlet a general disgust and distrust towards women, including Gertrude. The relationship between Hamlet and Gertrude in Hamlet is extremely unhealthy. Gertrude makes decisions based on what is good for her, not for Hamlet. She chooses to marry Claudius because it keeps her position of Queen safe. While making all of her decisions throughout the play the audience realizes that Gertrude thinks of herself before others. This is a bad trait to have because Hamlet is hurt by some of the decisions. When Gertrude asks Hamlet why he is so upset, Hamlet says Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief, That can denote me truly. These indeed “seem,” For they are actions that a man might play. But I have that within which passeth show, These but the trappings and the suits of woe. (82-86) Hamlet is upset at his mother because she married his uncle without thinking about what Hamlet wanted. He has grief because Gertrude made decisions based on what was best for her, which is not a good trait for a mother. Their relationship suffers because Gertrude thinks of herself always before anyone else. The relationship between the Hamlet and his mother is incestuous. Hamlet has an...
Words: 657 - Pages: 3
