...Although Shakespeare’s renown tragedy Hamlet is known for its many murders, suicide also plays an important theme throughout the production. While Hamlet does consider taking his own life, he ends up dying at the hand of Laertes. Nevertheless, two of the play’s greatest soliloquies contain Hamlet’s belief on the subject. Only Ophelia, Prince Hamlet’s ex-lover, actually commits suicide —at least in the eyes of the other characters. One must first examine, however, the legitimacy of Ophelia’s suicide. When evaluating Ophelia’s death, one must also consider the surrounding circumstances. After Hamlet killed her father, Ophelia was driven completely insane. Although suicide is usually a choice, did she truly intended to drown herself? Because...
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...over her madness and her death; she is never compensated for her father’s death or her lover’s betrayal. Shakespeare creates sympathy for Ophelia by introducing her to the audience as a women who is too naïve to understand the difference between love and lust and who has no control over her life as both her brother Leartes and her father Polonius dictate her to keep her distance from Hamlet who will only use her for sex and will not marry her (I.iii.5-136). Polonius also plans to “loose my daughter to him” (II.ii.154) to spy on Hamlet just like he is using his servant Reynaldo to spy on Leartes making it clear that Ophelia holds no more importance to Polonius as a daughter than as a servant. Shakespeare amplifies Ophelia’s weakness in Act IV by bringing to light Ophelia’s insanity caused by the grief of her father’s death. While Hamlet is duty bound as a Prince and “his will is not his own, / For he himself is subject to his birth. / He may not, as unvalued persons do, / Carve for himself” (1.iii.17-20), one cannot sympathize with him as he is still a prince, but the fact that being born as a girl robs Ophelia of her basic right to make her own life decisions, begs the audience to direct their sympathy towards Ophelia the most. As the grief of Polonius’ death and Hamlet’s betrayal is too much for the frail Ophelia to handle, she goes insane and in her madness, she is unable to save her drowning self. Shakespeare mentions that Ophelia “willfully seeks her own salvation” and had she...
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...1. “The unwilling bride” I wanted to know why you still married me if you don’t love me, Gertrude. I never felt so much love until I got married to you. Your love to me is a lot different than King Hamlet. He was always busy with state affairs and fights and he never cares about me as much as you do. I wasn’t in love with you when I first got married to you, I have no other choices. What do you mean by “no other choices”? I know that once the King Hamlet is dead, I will lose everything. I will be lacking both strength and power. I won’t stay as a queen forever, because a woman is not allowed to take over a kingdom. I will be a useless woman when I am not the queen anymore. You aren’t doing this for yourself, are you? You were trying to protect Hamlet because he is your only son. You want him to take over the kingdom in the future. I know that’s your purpose, right? You will do everything that could keep you as a queen. Marrying a man that you don’t love, like me! Yes, I first married you because I wanted to protect Hamlet. I wanted him to take over this kingdom in the future; this was always his kingdom and never changed. I didn’t love you at the first place because I suspect you were the one who killed King Hamlet. This thought changed after the death of King Hamlet, you supported and sympathized me and gave me a solution to overcome the situation and grief. You loved me so much and you had been nice to me. A nice person like you won’t kill anybody. I...
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...To Be or Not to Be… Mentally Ill? In Shakespeare’s play: “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark”, the principle character, Hamlet, is a young man who decides to pretend he is mentally ill (“mad”) to avenge his father’s murder. However, Hamlet’s actions, his behavior, and his general persona indicate otherwise and suggest that he is in fact mentally ill. The first part of this play foreshadows Hamlet’s mental stress. As the play unfolds, he no longer seems to be “pretending madness”, as ultimately multiple deaths occur. “Mad as the sea and wind when both contend Which is the mightier. In his lawless fit, Behind the arras hearing something stir, Whips out his rapier, cries, “A rat, a rat!” And in this brainish apprehension kills The unseen good old man.” (IV.i 8-13) This quote in Act IV, scene i is the turning point in the play when clearly Hamlet’s “pretend” madness is no longer an act, but truly indicative of “madness”, leading to the question: Does Hamlet’s “madness”, his ascent from sanity to insanity, result in the tragedy in “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark”? The first part of this play foreshadows Hamlet’s mental decline. He has many of the risk factors for depression such as his age (clinical depression often first occurs in late adolescence or early adulthood), and he has had many life changing events happen in a relatively short period of time such as his father unexpectedly dying (possibly murdered), his mother remarrying shortly...
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...How Much Do Lady Macbeth and Ophelia Have in Common? Although obvious polar opposites, Lady Macbeth and Ophelia are connected, their descent into insanity and eventual demise are their one liking variable. Lady Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s most famously frightening and powerful female characters. At the start of the play, she is a loving wife to her husband but at the same time very ambitious, as shown by her immediate determination for Macbeth to be king. This outcome will benefit her and her husband equally. She immediately concludes that "the fastest way" for Macbeth to become king is by murdering King Duncan. Furthermore, Lady Macbeth knows her husband well. She thinks he may be too kind in order to murder King Duncan. At first Macbeth agrees but later wavers in his decision, but Lady Macbeth assures him that being king is what he really wants and that this is the best for both of them. So, in response to Macbeth's uncertainty, Lady Macbeth manipulates him by questioning his manhood and his love for her. She is successful because regardless of his own conscience, Macbeth carries out their plan of murder, by himself. The almost superhuman strength Lady Macbeth gains for the occasion and her cunning ability are shown through her meticulous attention to detail regarding the murder. However, though Lady Macbeth seems strong in her initial pursuits, she proves her weakness when she is unable to commit the act herself or deal with the consequences of her actions. Lady Macbeth's...
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...more people. It is an eye opener to how intense and severe the bullying scene has become. The children in the film were bullied because they were "different". But who determines the definition of different? Who sets the standard of normal? In reality, no one really has the right to judge someone and proclaim them different or weird. We are all created with unique features that are our own. However, dating back since the beginning of life, the world has attained a class/social system. Over the years, children have watched the separation of society, whether it be through television or in person. This evokes either a sense of superiority or inferiority in a child, becoming the foundation for bullying. With children committing suicide due to bullying, there needs to be serious action taking place to stop and prevent it. I agree with one of the mothers in the film that stated that when she sends her child to school, she should be able to feel that the child is safe and being watched over as if they were home. However, with bullying occurring, a parent is not able to feel safe sending their child to school. If I were a parent, I would not have a sense of security and peacefulness either. After watching the film, it made me wish that I could go back in time to my high school years. I would have stood up for a lot more kids and...
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...Assisted Suicide Pamela Zipfel Herzing University Assisted Suicide Whose life is it anyways? Is the right to die our own decision or does ones fate lie in the hands of someone else? Should a person with a terminally ill disease be forced to suffer in pain? Physician assisted suicide should be a legal option for terminally ill patients; therefore the government, religious groups, and family members should not intervene. In the United States there are only two that support the Death with Dignity Law. These states are Washington and Oregon. These two states allow a physician to prescribe a patient with a terminally ill disease a lethal dose of medication to end their life. If you assist someone to die in any other state you will be prosecuted for homicide. The laws are very strict on this matter, a patient can only have up to 6 months to live and they have to be of sound mind. These laws are being fought strongly by religious groups. The fifth commandment “Thou shalt not kill,” is what we are taught growing up, by our churches and family. Physicians struggle with something that goes against their beliefs and moral ethics when deciding to participate in assisting a patient with suicide. Even though Washington is a death with dignity state it is hard to find a physician to prescribe the medication to assist with death. The Catholics believe that suffering is a critical piece of life. If someone takes their own life they bypass the chance to experience redemption. However...
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...Brady was talking to Brittany when the voices started again. One moment he was discussing the weather with her and the next he could barely understand her because the voices were so loud. This time the voices were telling him that he was useless and that Brittany deserved better. He argued with them that he was perfect for her. Then the next thing he knew Brittany was flirting with another guy and hanging all over him. Brady started screaming at her to stop, but it was as if she could not hear him. Brady collapsed and started crying. What Brady did not realize was that Brittany was still sitting across from him and had never left. Brady was suffering from a schizophrenic episode. He had lost touch with reality and could not see what was actually happening. Definition of Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a psychological disorder. If a person has hallucinations, delusions, disorganized behavior or catatonic behavior and disorganized speech, one may have schizophrenia. In the world, there is approximately one percent that is affected by schizophrenia. Schizophrenic symptoms tend to be universal and similar. Some cultural variations do exist. A person with schizophrenia tends not to be able to interpret reality normally. A person with schizophrenia will tend to start showing symptoms during young adulthood, usually before the age of 19. Some contributory factors have been traced back to genetics, neurobiology, psychological or social processes, and early environment. Prescription...
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...astonishing words in his “To be, or not to be,” soliloquy; it is obvious that Hamlet is conveyed as a troubled character. He is unsure about death. “To be, or not to be, that is the question:” (line 1), proves that Hamlet is troubled because the use of a colon is a sign that he is not only answering his own question, but he is expressing opposing views about life thus leaving him with an unsure decision about suicide. He answered himself by saying: “Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer/ The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune;” (Lines 2-3.) This imagery shows that Hamlet questions the honor of death, and since he is open to death he does not realize whether it would be honorable to go through the act of committing suicide or if it would be considered a sin. This makes him have a troubled state of mind because he has these two opposing views of death floating in the vastness of his thoughts. The first sentence of his soliloquy finishes with: “Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, / And by opposing, end them.” (Lines 4-5.) Hamlet still questions life and suicide, and the imagery of “a sea of troubles” can express the immensity and variety of thoughts that is fumbling around in his mind. By saying: “to take arms” shows that Shakespeare is conveying Hamlet’s mind as violent because it has bloodthirsty imagery and it expresses that Hamlet is in a wreck, thus proving that he is conveyed as very troubled about life and death. Hamlet also views life as...
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...out, nervous or just depressed. Depression is a more serious case of sadness. Depression means negative thoughts and lasts for much longer. Many people commit suicide because of depression so, it`s a dangerous disease that can be treated only through therapy. Few people can actually consider themselves to be really happy. Happiness is a state of mind that can change immediately. Everyone has problems like : money, work, family problems etc. It`s normal to have some issues because life is made of good things and bad things. People get sad because of many reasons, but it`s a long road from feeling sad to falling into depression. Sadness and depression are two different things . Sadness is a state of mind that can pass very quickly once things become better and it`s caused by grief, sorrow, by things that don`t go according to plan, by love and unresponded love. Depression is more deep, it longer and usually gives people suicidal thoughts. The number of people that kill themselves each year has increased over the years . Depression is very dangerous and people that suffer from it, need to make counseling sessions. The problem is that many don`t know they have it. Stress, money, concerns make us worry all the time. Some people make of drinking, a solution. Sadness Alcohol Depression are three things that lead to Suicide. Too much alcohol makes...
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...point in their life. For most, it’s not a big deal, the situation blows over and normal life continues, however, for some ostracism can be life threatening. Increased access and popularity of the internet, especially social sites like Facebook and Twitter make escaping ostracism almost impossible. In the article “Social Exclusion causes Self-Defeating Behavior” by Jean Twenge, Kathleen Catanese and Roy Baumeister, they explain that out of ostracism comes a natural instinct to try to turn a negative feeling into a positive feeling for the victim. Unfortunately, in an attempt to produce a positive outcome, negative ones most often happen. A good example in our society is in the latest media coverage of homosexual males who have committed suicide as a result of extreme ostracism and self-defeating behaviors that arise from feeling alone. I would argue that today’s society is much more accepting and supportive of those who are homosexual, however, although overall society accepts these individuals, there are still many who are not accepting and go out of their way to make people feel “different” and ‘wrong”. In the case of the student at Rutgers University, it was found that not only was he feeling ostracized in school and online, his parents were not accepting or supportive when he shared his sexual orientation with them. Having parents who are not supportive is detrimental to these individuals psychological well-being, and makes them more susceptible to self-defeating behaviors...
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...DEPRESSION AND WORK FUNCTION Throughout the nation and our world people are suffering from this disease.Depression effects people of both genders, all ages, and any background. People once believed that teens never went through any form of severe depression. Some still believe this to be true, but if it were why are teens homicidal and suicidal? This report should give support for the fact that a teen’s depression deserves attention, not the shrug of the shoulders or the turn of a back. Depression is defined as the point or points is ones lifetime when they are mentally unstable and the emotional state marked by sadness, discouragement, and loss that can occur during the teenage years. Depression causes changes in behavior, thinking and especially changes in ones everyday life. “Depression amongst teens generally starts when a child hits puberty, but could possibly begin the day they were born if chemically inbalanced (heredity).” Dr. David Kalkstein, psychiatrist at Penn Foundation. Depression can effect anyone, anytime, and anywhere. Teens, children, and adults are all effected, some even have the same problems in common, the causes too. Depression is experienced mostly by teens even though it is mistakenly classified as an “adult illness”. “Twenty percent of high school students are deeply unhappy or have some kind of psychiatric problem.” The causes for depression in teens are sometimes more harsh than the causes in adults. In a teen’s lifetime they have to face many problems...
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...examine music and social issues. Suicide rates have increased among teenagers, young adults and an epidemic in our military with the prolonged wars. Songs that are composed about suicide and the loss of someone whom has committed suicide has also increased in recent decades. Key words: suicide, music, social problems, demographics and lyrics. MUSIC REVIEW Music is easily accessed today through various media outlets and devices. Music is in automobiles, smartphones, personal audio devices and online. With all these personal devices it has become more common today for people to listen to their choice of music when shopping, traveling on public transportation, working out or virtually any other task at any given time of the day. Music can be an outlet to escape from a situation, isolate oneself or to reflect on something. People can focus in one genre of music, artist or song and repeat that over and over as much as they want. This can be both a good and bad situation. Music can motivate you at the gym when listening to a high beat tempo while conducting a cardiovascular routine. However, music can also keep someone depressed or emotional after a particular event or situation. Suicide has been an increasing problem in young to middle age people over the last decades. This is can be attributed to a number of factors such as wars, financial distress from global recessions and increases in social platforms and information. Committing suicide has become an increasing problem...
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...December 17, 2010 What scene or image from the film stood out to you? Why? The film Dead Man Walking is a very powerful motion picture, one that captures the most natural and deep aspects of the human spirit. Throughout this film there are many powerful scenes. What is most powerful about this film is its ability to evoke thoughts of love and sympathy, for both innocent people and savage killers. Sister Helen exemplifies what it means to be a caring individual throughout this film, and Matthew Poncelet shows why even humans who have done the gravest wrongs are still capable of change, and deserve their dignity. Of all the scenes in Dead Man Walking, the most powerful is the resolution to the film’s conflict, the execution. When preparing for his death in his jail cell, Matthew Poncelet confesses to Sister Helen that he in fact was guilty of rape and murder. The closing scene begins when he is being led by guards into the execution room. Matthew asks for permission for Sister Helen to touch him, and it is granted so. Sister walks with him, reading to him from the Bible. He tells Sister that he is not afraid, and that he knows he is going to be in a better place. Sister tells him that the truth has set him free. At this point, the emotional power this scene carries begin. A man, though about to die, has found comfort in what a nun has preached to him. He has taken faith on the way to his death. The next dramatic part of this scene is when the curtain to the execution room...
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...isolation from family and friends, poor performance at school and work, and suicidal thoughts (teen-depression.info). In the novel, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger, Holden Caulfield, the main character, is suffering from depression and has difficulty dealing with his own life. Holden is depressed because of many things such as: his failure in life and school, his loneliness, and also because of the death of his brother, Allie. As he tells more stories, it is getting clearer that he is suffering from depression. Holden has been experiencing many symptoms, and the 4 major symptoms that Holden experiencing are: he isolates himself from society, low self-esteem, always talking about his traumatic event, and has the thoughts of death and suicide. The first symptom that Holden has been experiencing is isolated himself from society. Holden Caulfield...
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