...To Be, or Not To Be Shakespeare’s tragedy, The Tragedy of Hamlet: Prince of Denmark, paints the life of a hesitant, rightfully crazy prince. In sorrow, Hamlet gives a soliloquy regarding life and its finish. Through the philosophical debate of Hamlet’s soliloquy, Shakespeare characterizes Hamlet’s internal struggle as an indecisive journey, filled with weariness of living. In the first half of the passage, Hamlet finds himself indecisive, unable to decide what he wants more: life or death. The soliloquy opens with Hamlet asking a simple question, “to be, or not to be” (Shakespeare 3.2.64). Society generally prefers life over death, and thus becomes the idea becomes rhetorical when in question. The question appears rhetorical to all but Hamlet,...
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...One of the most unique things about the play Hamlet (with Hamlet playing the main character) is the way relationships between the main and lesser characters have not changed from Shakespeare's time period in which he wrote this play to the modern dilemmas of today. The character Hamlet relates through individualism of self to others in the play and Shakespeare uses this confusion of self and nature thus assuring many types of readers who can relate to his Hamlet characterization. Hamlet portrays himself with all his human flaws, but it is this humanity that makes him distinctive from everyone else in the story. In addition, all of Hamlet's waking hours are preoccupied with his own thoughts thus adding more intensity to his feelings and perceptions about where he sees imperfections, worry and tension as well as confusion, but without a doubt it is these human qualities which makes his situation so impossible for him to resolve easily. Another tragic role of the play is its irony. The irony allows the storyline to show humor as well as the cause and effects of each action taken. There is usually little reason for a tragedy to be funny so Shakespeare has used this type of humor to add more irony to the already tragic events of the play. Pause for thought is in the types of conflict that play a major part in the play and the relationships between Hamlet and the two people who have been closest to him; being Ophelia and the ghost. Hamlet cannot share his strong feelings and emotions...
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...The Role of Magic in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Hamlet, and Macbeth Like many other themes, magic and supernatural elements play a large role in many of Shakespeare’s works. The use of magic interests the audience, plays to the imagination, and adds dramatic intrigue to the story, even when the rest of the plot is comprised of believable events. These themes are most prominent in The Tempest, Hamlet, and Macbeth. In each of these plays, magic and supernatural occurrences not only play a large role in the plot, but also help to communicate various messages and literary value. Shakespeare utilizes magic and supernatural happenings in both positive and negative lights, depending on the purpose it serves in each of the mentioned plays. It is seen as a decision maker, nature, a prophet, a symbol of fate, and an equalizer. Regardless of its specific role in each play and its positive or negative depiction, it serves to move the plot forward through a force which acts beyond the capabilities and power of man, even man himself did conjure it. In The Tempest, we see an example of supernatural power conjured or exercised by man. Prospero, the wielder of this magic, uses magic as a means to set right that which was, in his opinion, wrong in his life and in the universe. In this play, we see magic used as an equalizer. Prospero uses his learned sorcery to reverse all of the supposedly false or unlawful happenings in his life, apparently feeling that these things were...
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...Dramatic Irony in Shakespeare’s Hamlet Dramatic irony is an important aspect of any play or written story. It allows insight to what the character is thinking or feeling, as well as adds to the interest of the play because the audience will know things that the characters on stage do not even know. That is what dramatic irony is, the knowledge of the audience without a character knowing; almost like an inside joke between a character and the audience. Dramatic irony can also be used to create further character development. For example, Hamlet leads many of the characters in the play to believe he is mad. This includes Polonius, Claudius, and Gertrude among those who believe his insanity. However, though Hamlet thinks he has everyone fooled, Marcellus and Horatio knew all along that he was pretending. This creates dramatic irony all on its own. An important bit of dramatic irony in the first two scenes is when Gertrude and Claudius believe that Hamlet is depressed only because of his father’s death. The King says “But, you must know, your father lost a father. That father lost, lost his, and the survivor bound in filial obligations for some term to do obsequious sorrow” (1.2.91-94). This piece of dramatic irony furthers the character of Gertrude and Claudius, they seem to be naïve in a way to think that Hamlet’s father’s death was the only thing depressing him. When in reality, it is Claudius’ marriage to Gertrude that is the real problem, though his father’s death does play...
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...ENG4U Modernizing Allusions in Shakespeare's “Hamlet” Umair Mohammad Mr. Scarrow Would most teenagers understand allusions written in the Elizabethan era, roughly four hundred and fifty years ago? The simple answer is probably not. The mundane lifestyle of the average modern teenager is not similar to that of a teenager that was born and raised during the Elizabethan era. Therefore, the text in many of the Shakespearian plays read in modern high schools should be updated to include modern versions of allusions. Furthermore, an act such as this would inhibit major benefits such as, students gaining a better understanding of the literature as a whole by being able to make connections due to the allusions. Transforming the allusions first made by Shakespeare in the Elizabethan era would not only be rather simple, but it would benefit teenagers. Many allusions created by Shakespeare in his play “Hamlet” can be recreated to suit the lifestyles and languages of modern teenagers. For example, “It out-Herods Herod. Pray you, avoid it.” (III, ii, 14) is an allusion referencing a very old biblical king that is very similar to Claudius from “Hamlet”. The majority of modern teenagers will not have any knowledge of this king, and thus a more modern allusion is in order. It could be done by researching a different person that can be compared to Claudius in this allusion. For instance, we could use Scar in Herod’s stead. This is because Scar is a character in “The Lion King”,...
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...In William Shakespeare's play Hamlet , Hamlet vows to seek revenge for his fathers death however, he procrastinates throughout the play and doesn't seek revenge until the end. Hamlet is stopped in seeking revenge by a number of factors throughout the play. Through the attitudes of the characters, Hamlets high education and Analysis paralysis When his father's ghost came to him and told him to avenge his murder, Hamlet was eager to take immediate action. However before seeking revenge he needs to know if the ghost is telling the truth about his murder. Hamlet feels that if the ghost isn't telling the truth and he acts, he too will become a murderer. In order to determine if Claudius is truly guilty, Hamlet produces a play in which the plot...
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...Throughout William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, it is evident that women play a secondary role. Gertrude and Ophelia are characterised as weak and submissive, and are extremely obedient to the men in their lives. Both female characters play passive roles in a play but are important in displaying the theme of Hamlet’s misogyny; “Frailty, thy name is woman”. Gertrude from the beginning proves to be very wholly dependent on men. Her first husband, King Hamlet, was murdered and yet “within a month”, she was married to his brother Claudius. The relationship between Claudius and Gertrude seems to be for convenience rather than love. It is perceived as good for Denmark to have a politically skilled ruler and Claudius was undoubtedly fit for the role. Gertrude’s...
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...In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, word play is often used, especially by the title character. One example of this is towards the beginning of the play, during one of Hamlet’s first soliloquies: O, that this too too solid flesh would melt Thaw and resolve itself into a dew! Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God! God! How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable, Seem to me all the uses of this world! Fie on't! ah fie! 'tis an unweeded garden, That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature Possess it merely. That it should come to this! But two months dead: nay, not so much, not two, (1.2.129-138) This excerpt is Hamlet expressing his disgust for what his mother and uncle have done, and also him saying how much he just wishes that he would not exist anymore. Hamlet’s father has died...
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...Importance of Hamlet’s Soliloquies in Shakespeare’s Hamlet Shakespeare often has his characters speak in soliloquies during the course of his plays. Soliloquies are essential to the presentation of a story through the medium of a play because they provide the opportunity the chance to tell the audience specific pieces of information which cannot be disclosed through normal conversation. In his work, Hamlet, Shakespeare’s title character is shown to speak in seven soliloquies. Each soliloquy advances the plot, reveals Hamlet’s inner thoughts to the audience and helps to create an atmosphere in the play. The first soliloquy which Hamlet delivers gives the audience their first glimpse of him as a character. Hamlet is reflective and depicts the way he views his own position; he tells of his father’s death and then his mother’s quick remarriage. He says, “It is not, nor it cannot come to good” (I, ii, 163), when referring to the marriage of his mother. This gives the audience a hint of foreshadowing because it is the first time when Hamlet mentions the future. This speech also reveals his thoughts further when he says that his mother is frail because she is a woman, while he also admits that he knows he must hold his tongue. During the course of this speech Hamlet makes several allusions to historical figures and this demonstrates to the audience that he is an intelligent young man. One of these allusions is when he compares the love his late father had for his mother to Hyperion...
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...Laertes, when he thought King Claudius had killed his father, directly confronted the King, but with a mob to back him up. After hearing Claudius side of the story, Laertes began plotting with Claudius to kill Hamlet by treachery. He didn't care about what was right or wrong, he just wanted revenge, even if it meant cutting Hamlet's throat in a church. He didn't bother to hear Hamlet's side of the story. However, just before the fight Laertes did finally hear Hamlet's apology which he would have accepted but he foolishly delayed the opinions of "elder masters". Meaning Claudius and continued the duel against his conscious. Laertes's father had warned him, but Laertes ignored that advice. When plotting to murder Hamlet, Laertes said. "For...
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...As the theme of “madness” runs rapid through the play, Hamlet, many characters suffer from psychological disorders leading to their inevitable end. Ophelia, daughter of Polonius, is among the many characters that suffer from these psychological behaviors. Her mindless behavior was under scrutiny and eventually classified under two categories: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Delirium. These disorders were characterized through both the physical and mental stability of her. At the start of the play, Ophelia was considered to be rather normal. Her responses and actions were of those who would be considered healthy. As the play progressed, she began to slowly lose touch with reality until she finally went ‘mad’. Ophelia’s psychological degradation...
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...Angela Romero 1226344 English IX Tim Keppel An analysis of the characters of Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras from William Shakespeare’s Hamlet In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, revenge is the central topic, which breathes life into the play. As his main objective in life, Hamlet craves to avenge his father’s death, the king of Denmark, betrayed and killed by his own brother. Throughout the play, Hamlet comes across two other main characters in Shakespeare’s tragedy, Laertes and Fortinbras, whose fathers are also murdered. Even though there are differences between these 3 characters, this series of unfair deaths puts them in the same situation and makes them have aspects in common. Thus, the purpose of this essay is to compare and contrast Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras in terms of behavior, the honor for their beloved fathers, the desire to revenge their fathers’ death and their modus operandi of vengeance; as well as to explain the perception they have of each other. On one hand, Hamlet, the prince of Denmark, is characterized by his eloquent behavior, his philosophical thinking, which constantly leads him to questions that cannot be answered easily, such as his famous one “to be, or not to be”. He is smart and lets others think he’s just mad. One of his other characteristics are his constant thoughts about existence and the duties of a man. “What is a man, if his chief good and market of his time be but to sleep and feed? A beast, no more.” “For there are actions...
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...father who worked on various sections of the land they owned. With his Mother Mary Arden who was a member of Noble Catholic Church Community. William married Anne Hathaway when he was only just a teenager, and together they had three children: Hamlet, Susanna and Judith. Shakespeare has written many plays, and some have been re-made into famous movies such as Romeo and Juliet, McBeth and Hamlet. These show us that in today’s modern society, Shakespeare is still relevant, even if his language may not be heard or spoken. Characters We see supernatural characters in many modern movies today, such as Paranormal Activity, Wicked the musical and True Blood. Shakespeare uses Ghosts, Witches and Fairies as main stars of a few of his most famous plays: McBeth, Hamlet and A Midnight Summers Dress. With the use of these...
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...Hamlet and the Two Women In the story Hamlet, the main character is shown to treat women quite terribly. The main character is known as Prince Hamlet, who is grieving over the death of his father, King Hamlet who was killed by Claudius, who became the new king. Hamlet’s emotions lead to his poor treatment towards Ophelia and Gertrude, in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Firstly, his treatment towards Ophelia. Hamlet pretends to be crazy during a big portion of the play. Ophelia loved Hamlet and she even “slept” with him; however, all this changed when she returned Hamlet’s love letters. Hamlet takes offense to this, and starts shouting at Ophelia, (3.1.122) “get thee to a nunnery” and (3.1.123)“why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners?”, basically calling her a whore, then breaks up with her. Hamlet still loves her, and is devastated by her actions so he treats her poorly. Later in the play, during the Murder of Gonzago, Hamlet asks if he can lay on Ophelia’s lap and starts flirting with her, as if him calling her out never happened. Hamlet’s treatment towards Ophelia eventually leads to her death....
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...A tragedy struck Denmark yesterday afternoon. In a sudden act of anger, misunderstanding and confusion, King Claudius, Queen Gertrude, Prince Hamlet and son of the late advisor, Laertes, were slain yesterday during a sparring match in the castle. According to our sources, King Claudius has been revealed as the murderer of the late king Hamlet. King Claudius had been plotting with the kin of the recently passed royal adviser Polonius to murder Hamlet. As far as we know now, both parties involved in the planned murder of Hamlet had different motives. Laertes, the advisor’s son wished to exact revenge on Hamlet for the death of his father, who we now know was murdered by Hamlet for unknown reasons. Laertes also has blamed Hamlet for the death...
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