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On Hamlet
Appearence Vs. Reality In Hamlet
Hamlet, one of Shakespeare's greatest plays, tells the story of a young prince who's father recently died. Hamlet's uncle, Claudius, marries Hamlet's mother, the queen, and takes the throne. As the play is told, Hamlet finds out his father was murdered by the recently crowned king. The theme that remains constant throughout the play is appearance versus reality. Things within the play appear to be true and honest but in reality are infested with evil. Many of the characters within the play hide behind a mask of falseness. Four of the main characters that hid behind this mask are Polonius, Rosencrantz (Guildenstern), the king Cluadius. From behind this mask they give the impression of a person who is sincere and genuine, in reality they are plagued with lies and evil. There appearance will make it very difficult for Hamlet to uncover the truth, the characters hide behind. Polonius the kings royal assistant has a preoccupation with appearance. He always wants to keep up the appearance of loving and caring person. Polonius appears like a man who loves and cares about his son, Laertes. Polonius speaks to his son with advice that sounds sincere but in reality it is rehearsed, hollow and without feeling. Polonius gives his advice only to appear to be the loving caring father. The reality is he only speaks to appear sincere as a politician, to look good rather then actually be good: And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry. This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man. Farewell; my blessing season this in thee! Act 1 Polonius gives his son Laertes his blessing to go away, he sends a spy to follow him and keep an eye on him. This shows his lack of trust for anyone, he gives the appearance of a confident father who trusts his son to go off on his own. In reality he lies about his trust for his son by sending a spy to watch him. His advice he gives his son is rehearsed and only said to give the appearance of a loving father. Polonius further adds to the theme appearance verses reality by ordering Ophelia to stop seeing Hamlet. He lies to her telling her that Hamlet does not love her, he only lusts for her, in truth he does love her: Ay, springes to catch woodcocks. I do know, When the blood burns , how prodigal the soul Through the play Polonius hids behind his mask appearing to be honest loving parent. In reality Polonius lies, manipulates people and eavesdrops on peoples conversation. Polonius helps contribute to the theme appearance verses reality by showing how his appearance is not his true nature, behind the mask there lies someone totally different. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are two of Hamlets childhood friends who when asked by the king, try to find out what is troubling the young prince. Both help to contribute to the theme by showing there appearance of being Hamlets friends. The pair go to Hamlet pretending to be his friends when in truth they are only there because the king asked them to find the truth. There is some irony within the twins, they are asked by the king to find out the truth by hiding within a lie, by pretending to be his friend: A dream is but a shadow Act II. Hamlet knows there purpose for their visit is to dig into his soul to find the real reason for his actions as of late. As the play continues the twins are asked again by the king to go to Hamlet and try again to find the real reason for Hamlets behavior. Hamlet insults them at every chance knowing they are lying to him about there purpose of the visit: Tis as easy as lying; govern these ventages with you finger and thumb, give it breath with your mouth...Act III As the melodrama continues Hamlet goes with the twins to reclaim money that another state owes Denmark. Hamlet is sent by the king to retrieve the assets. In actuality Hamlet is sent off to wither because the king, Claudius knows that Hamlet knows too much and must be killed. The twins show there appearance of being Hamlets friends but in truth they have a hidden reason for visiting with Hamlet. Both show that it will be very difficult for Hamlet to uncover the fidelity hidden within the lies. Claudius the king of Denmark conduct in council gives him the appearance of an Honest and honorable man. In Act one scene two Claudius in the presence of council shows his true skill and ease of manner at speaking. Claudius speaks well of the spent king by showing a general love for him by all his subjects. Claudius show respect for the old sovereign by speaking kind words of him. In reality he cares little for the old king, he speaks kindly only to give the appearance of loving brother. Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death The memory be green, and that it us befitted To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom To be contracted in one brow of woe Act I As Claudius sends Voltimand and Cornelius off to give the king of Norway the message of Fortibras, he thanks and gives them complete trust, in the deliverance of the notation. This shows his trust and caring for his subjects in front of the council, wining even more consent from the council: We doubt it nothing: heartily farewell. Act I Claudius increases his appearance of a honest and honorable man, in front of the council by showing his respect for Polonius. He gives him the power to let his son Laertes stay or leave for Norway. Claudius speaks highly of Polonius giving him thanks and saying the he was responsible for Claudius becoming king: The head is not more native to the heart, The hand more instrumental to the mouth, Than is the throne of Denmark to thy father. What woudlst thou have, Laertes(Act I ii, 47-50) This council would see this as a man who greatly respects his subjects and cares for them. This adds to the difficulty of uncovering the truth for Hamlet later. Hamlet enters the council chamber and speaks with Claudius. The king (Claudius) speaks with Hamlet seeming to be concerned with Hamlet. He gives advice that over grieveing is not healthy, this shows a concern for Hamlets well being. This conduct of Claudius gives him the appearance of being kind in front of council that accepts him even more for his family values: How is it that the clouds still hang on you? Act I Claudius appears to be even more caring when insulted by Hamlet he still shows love and general care for Hamlet. A normal king would have become angry and Hamlet would have gotten into trouble. Claudius shows the council that he is understanding of Hamlet's grief over his father: A little more than kin, and less than kind. Act I . Claudius gives Hamlet advice that over grieveing can be harmful and not healthy. Claudius tells Hamlet that he is a admirable person for grieveing for so long over his dads death. Yet again Claudius keeps putting on the appearance of the honorable man. Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet, To give these mourning duties to your father: But, you must know, you father lost a father; That father lost, lost his; and the survivor bound In filial obligation for some term To do obsequious sorrow; but to persever In obstinate condolement is a course Act I Claudius further makes it difficult to uncover the truth by announcing that Hamlet is next in line for the throne of Denmark. This shows that Claudius would let Hamlet become the next king when he is gone. This reveals a love and care for Hamlet to the council and Gertrude making Claudius appear to be kind, loving person: You are the most immediate to our throne; And with no less nobility of love Act I Claudius final conduct that makes him a difficult truth to uncover, is his care and want that Hamlet remain in Denmark. Claudius is insulted by Hamlet, he asks Hamlet to stay only that his queen Gertrude wants Hamlet to stay. Claudius appears to be concerned with Hamlets well being, Gertrude and council see this ,making Claudius a more deserving person to be king. As Claudius speaks in council he gives the appearance of someone who is a deserving person that should be king. Claudius is voted in as king meaning he is already approved by everyone. Claudius gives respect to his subjects giving the council the impression that he respects them. The king shows general concern for Hamlet, his nephew. This will make it very difficult to prove the truth about Claudius in the future for he has not only, one the love and respect of council (that voted him in). But also has prevented a attack on Denmark (from Fortinbras) proving that he is good king that can protect the state from harm. Claudius makes it very difficult for Hamlet to uncover the truth about the true nature of Claudius in the future. Through the characters within the play all help to show the theme, that being appearance verses reality. Polonius, Rosencrantz (Guildenstern) and the king all appear to be good and honest. As Hamlet finds out, all contain lies and have hidden intentions within them. As each character is presented in the play all appear to be good and honest making it a difficult task for Hamlet to uncover the hidden truth about the nature of each character. As Hamlet best said it somethings is rotten in Denmark That being the lies which have replaced or covered the true state of each character.
Best Hamlet Paper Ever
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 with his mother or his girlfriend and while his mother is literally sleeping with the enemy, Ophelia has chosen the side of Claudius because of her father Polonius. It is especially difficult for Hamlet to talk to Ophelia. The only other woman in his life, Gertrude, has betrayed his father by marrying Claudius. Hamlet may be obsessed with the idea that all women are evil, yet he really does love Ophelia because when he finds out Ophelia has died he cries out, I loved Ophelia; forty thousand brothers could not, with all their quantity of love, make up my sum.(Act V, Scene 1) The ghost provides Hamlet with a dilemma. In Shakespeare's plays supernatural characters are not always to be trusted (think of the three witches in Mac Beth who are instrumental in his downfall). Hamlet does not know whether the ghost is telling the truth or not. If Hamlet had killed Claudius solely on the ghost's advice then he would certainly been tried and put to death himself and there would probably have been a war to choose a new king. Being the humanitarian that he is, and taking into account his responsibilities as a prince and future king, Hamlet most likely would want to avoid a civil war because even though Claudius is a murderer and probably not as noble a king as Hamlet's father was yet he is still the king, bringing order to Denmark. Hamlet does not wish to plunge his country into chaos because of his own personal turmoil and realizes this will happen when he kills Claudius. To add to his quandary Hamlet is unable to combine the spiritual world (in the form of his father's ghost) with the tangible everyday world that surrounds him. There is much irony throughout this play. One occurrence of irony I found particularly striking was the fact that Hamlet effectively maneuvers himself into the same position as Claudius. Claudius had attacked and killed a man who did not have the opportunity to defend himself, but when Hamlet kills Polonius is he not guilty of the same? It is intriguing that both Claudius and Hamlet have killed fathers. It is interesting to see how these two completely different characters deal with the same problem in different ways. Other interesting parallels I found are the numerous deaths by poison. Claudius murdered Hamlet’s father with poison. In the final act the queen is the first to be poisoned by drinking from Hamlet's cup and then the poisoned tip of Laertes’ sword wounds Hamlet. When they change swords Hamlet gets the upper hand and Laertes is poisoned. After the queen dies Laertes explains everything to Hamlet before he dies and Hamlet then kills Claudius before dying himself. It is ironic that as Claudius is poisoned because of his own plotting, he had already signed his own death warrant when he killed Hamlet's father, which is the first tragic action of the play. There are only three people in this play who don't die by poisoning; Rosencrantz and Guildenstern who meet their deaths in England after being outsmarted by Hamlet and the third is Ophelia who drowned. There are three types of conflict I can identify in the play: “man versus man”, “man versus nature” and “man versus himself.” Hamlet's fight with Laertes in Ophelia's grave and the subsequent duel would both easily classify as “man versus man” conflict. Man also struggles with nature in this play, most notably in the form of Ophelia's drowning and Hamlet's crossing the sea to England - although the latter conflict plays more of a background role. The “man versus himself” conflict is most directly exposed in Hamlet's famous soliloquy where he is wrestling with his conscience. The realization he comes to in this soliloquy is that we are afraid to kill ourselves because we do not know what is to be found after death. Another “man versus himself” conflict is Claudius' inability to pray. He cannot really justify his past deeds and for him this is actually another step into darkness. Hamlet may be a thinking man, however, this does not mean he actually likes to think. Although he might have liked to think in the time preceding the play, when the time comes for him to take action he cannot because of this urge to believe. His capacity for thinking becomes a handicap rather than an advantage and this is not even the most painful or tragic part of the Hamlet character because the biggest problem is that he is aware of this. Not only is he incapable of acting without thinking he knows that this is the case, making the burden even heavier. Hamlet does not want to face reality and it is a traumatic experience for him when he has to believe the words of the ghost, but when the ghost starts demanding him to act on this information is too much for him. Hamlet is, however, a man of decision, but he is also contemplative. He needs to think in order to justify his actions and his intellectual characteristics are the major difference between Claudius and himself. Hamlet is very aware of the relationship between action and reaction and realizes that he has to proceed very carefully. In the play Claudius is the decisive character and the man of action. He takes the first action, the action that sets the story in motion - the poisoning of Hamlet's father. He also instigates the final action, the poisoning of the blades and the cup an action that will backfire and cause his own death. In the play, there seems to be a constant shift of action, where only one party can act at any time. These two parties are of course Hamlet and Claudius. When Claudius has taken the action that secures him the throne he allows Hamlet to become the man of action, but Hamlet procrastinates. The only action Hamlet takes is staging the play, which seems more to serve the purpose of establishing Claudius’s guilt for the murder of Hamlet’s father. Hamlet then proceeds to kill the curious Polonius. Hamlet is given the chance to avenge this most unnatural murder when he sees Claudius praying. Hamlet, being a Christian prince, cannot carry out the act of killing Claudius while he is praying, as this would secure Claudius’s place in heaven. Hamlet wants to make sure Claudius will suffer in the afterlife just as Hamlet’s father did. Hamlet leaves just before Claudius gets up, declaring he cannot pray; My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: Words without thoughts never to heaven go (Claudius, Act III, Scene 3). Had Hamlet known Claudius was unable to pray then he could have had his revenge right then and there instead of waiting until the end, taking everyone else with him. Most of the other characters would probably have acted much quicker than Hamlet if they were in his position. Imagine Polonius in the situation Hamlet found himself in. He would not have procrastinated, as much and it would have most likely been off with the head of the murderer! Any other character in the play would not have stayed as quiet as Hamlet does (confiding only in his best friend, and even keeping the truth from his mother until the end of Act III) and these characters might not have come to killing Claudius. Hamlet does not seem to do anything, again, he thinks too much, but why? Hamlet is self-conscious, while the majority of characters that surround him are not and this could explain why he feels inhibited to act. Hamlet resembles a real person more than any other character in the play, which might be another reason why he still remains a subject of discussion and why the play remains so popular. Hamlet is one of the most interesting characters in English fiction because we can identify with him and understand, although not always agree with his actions. Hamlet is also set apart by his elusiveness. Many of the characters in the play can be categorized within minutes of their introduction. I'm not calling them caricatures, but there is definitely a caricature-like side to some of them. The pompous Polonius and the deceitful and thickheaded Guildenstern and Rozencrantz come to my mind, however, this does not hold true for some other characters such as Laertes and Ophelia. The character of Hamlet refuses categorization. Interestingly in regard to this is his love of theater. He is particularly interested in the idea that things may seem different from what they really are, just like the people surrounding him. His mother is no longer his father's wife, but his uncle's, his girlfriend is no longer there for him, and Guildenstern and Rosencrantz are no longer his friends. Also, he is aware that he will have to disguise himself and his real motives and goals in order to attain them and this is why he fakes his madness. It is not until he picks up Yorick's skull in the beginning of Act V that he finds out what is real and what is not. In the end when the truth is revealed and everyone's masks are removed, death is all that is to be found.
Hamet
Your reading of the ghost will deeply affect your understanding of the meaning of Hamlet as a play. Argue for one or another reading of the ghost’s reality and explain what that means in terms of what Shakespeare is trying to say in the play. Authors view and message Hamlet’s is one of the most recognizable work of William Shakespeare. The primary reason for this popularity is that it go so much criticism that any other play of any artist received. People view this play in different perspective. Obsession, revenge, unfaithfulness, adultery, treachery, and evil are some of the adjective that are constantly being in reference to this great play. The first two adjectives are used in reference to Hamlet, unfaithfulness and adultery for Gertrude, treachery for Claudius and evil to represent the Ghost (the individual view point of the Ghost will deeply affect how we see the play and its character). The take home message: William Shakespeare’s Hamlet showed us that how obsession could lead a person to his downfall. It does not matter for whether it was the obsession for the revenge or the fatherly love. Here, two things are different. Revenge and fatherly love. Revenge for his father's murder and love for his father is different. His father died, and he shut his door to his mind. Whatever was in his mind, he just translated in his language. Shakespeare utilizes the Ghost as a mere instrument to let the audience know what is going on in “Hamlet’s mind”. Ghost appeared thrice in the play. It came before the soldiers, and then to Hamlet and third time in front of Hamlet and his mother. Shakespeare left the decision to the audience how to perceive hamlet, the character as a whole. Some people may perceive hamlet as a hero, while some as a villain. While some as a psycho. I do not see him as a villain. Also I do not think the ghost is real. Situation plays the role of villain. The validity of the ghost is the topic that critics have been arguing since long time. There has been three theory postulated on the validity of Ghost in Hamlet. Residual or Archaic theory assumes that the Ghost is real and it is his father’s spirit. It also assumes that prince hamlet’s father was actually murdered by Claudius, which gives Hamlet valid reason to seek revenge. Dominant view assumes that Ghost is real, but it is not his father’s spirit. So whether it was really murder or not remains a question? Was the Ghost trying to ruin Hamlet’s life? Was he directing prince Hamlet in an adverse direction, which would eventually lead to his death? Here we think of Ghost as evil. Emergent view assumes that there is no Ghost. The whole thing was created in prince Hamlet’s mind. I agree with the Emergent view. I do not think there is a ghost or the father’s spirit. One of the most famous phrase in this play is “something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” I think it is symbolizes Hamlet’s mind. It was the imbalance in his mind that created the ghost. From the Play One of the most famous phrase in this play is “something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” I think it is symbolizes Hamlet’s mind. Obsession Hamlet is very much obsessed with the grief of his father’s death and the marriage of his mother and his uncle. Obsession has no boundaries. Ghost Why he believes Ghost? Alternatively, how he comes up with the idea of ghost. Hamlet needed some kind of justification for his act. Why did the ghost called hamlet alone to tell the secret of the murder? If the ghost is real, then the soldier already knew that there is a ghost or King Hamlet’s spirit. First time, the soldiers see the ghost was just the illusion. Second time, only hamlet confronts the ghost and listen the whole story. Why did the Horatio saw the ghost? In the old time, just remembrance. King Hamlet died two months before which is not a very long time. In the olden times, people had a strong belief in Ghost and spirit. The remembrance of King Hamlet was still very fresh in people’s mind. One night Horatio and Marcellus were guarding on the castle. In the Kenneth Branagh's version, there is a statue of King Hamlet where these soldiers gathered. Just because you remember somebody who is dead, its natural that we constantly get the illusion that this person is alive or we hope that he or she is alive. May be King Hamlet was kind and nice to this people. Therefore, the presence of the statue of king Hamlet led them to believe that the King Hamlet actually appears. They all decided to tell this event to Prince Hamlet. Here, on the other side, prince Hamlet was already in the turmoil. He was very upset with the hasty marriage of his mother and uncle (father’s brother), especially when it has not been more than two months since his father died. Therefore, when he heard the narrated “story” of the Ghost appearance, he started making up all sorts of thing on his own. Before he even faces the Ghost, he started thinking that something is not right. By this, Shakespeare means that Hamlet had already placed the idea of “murder” of his father in his mind. Why did the ghost called hamlet alone to tell the secret of the murder? If the ghost is real, then the soldier already knew that there is a ghost or King Hamlet’s spirit. First time, the soldiers see the ghost was just the illusion. Second time, only hamlet confronts the ghost and listen the whole story. If the ghost was real, then why it did not reveal itself to Gertrude? The ghost could have come to Gertrude itself and talk about it. It was the creation of Hamlet’s mind. Background The point here is not that Hamlet is a villain. The play is the tragedy of the prince Hamlet. Hamlet probably did have some hatred against Claudius before the learning of the ghost. Hamlet’s father died before two months. Then his mother married his uncle. Hamlet was upset because he considered this marriage as an incestuous act. He pushed himself into the grief that he was not able to think anything else than Claudius and his mother. The marriage has widened the gap between Claudius and Hamlet’s heart. Movies Kenneth Branagh's version: They have the statue of king hamlet. May be it was just an illusion. Their discussion of using “like” In the “Lawrence Oliver,” when Hamlet confronts the Ghost, we see a “fuzzy screen” which is an indication that Hamlet is putting himself in illusion. Director is trying to interpret the ghost as “Hamlet state of mind”. The Hamlet is one of the most popular play of many Shakespeare’s plays. Word Usage The usage of the word “like”. The word “like” means similar but not same and exact. So when Bernardo says “In the same figure, like the king that’s dead”, we are left to interpret whet Hamlet was not happy with the marriage, which is natural. He loved his father and mother like every child does. His father loved his mother very much. However, soon after his father died, she married to his uncle. This created an imbalance in his mind. The imbalance that led him loses his mind, and trapped him into the world of hatred and anger against women. The death of the father had already made him broke down. His mother's marriage to his uncle tears him into pieces. He accused all the womanhood with the quality of “unfaithfulness”. “Thy frailty is woman.” He was an educated youth. He had rationality. He himself was not happy with this state of mind. He wanted to get out of this hell. Put the story of Hamlet and Horatio here. There is no solid proof of Claudius killing King Hamlet. The mouse trap reaction could be attributed to his incestuous marriage with the widow of his late brother. He might be the culprit or he might not be. Nowhere in the play did Shakespeare explicitly show that Claudius is the murderer. Some argue that Claudius did confess of his guilt. Well, he did not say it explicitly there too. There also it might be the marriage cause.
Hamlet's Maddness
Hamlet appears to be insane, after Polonius’s death, in act IV scene II. There are indications, though, that persuade me to think other wise. Certainly, Hamlet has plenty of reasons to be insane at this point. His day has been hectic—he finally determined Claudius had killed his father, the chance to kill Claudius confronted him, he comes very close to convincing Gertrude that Claudius killed his father, he accidentally kills Polonius, and finally the ghost of his father visits him. These situations are enough to bring Hamlet to insanity, but he remains sharp and credible. Hamlet is able to make smart remarks to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, comparing then to sponges, When he (Claudius) needs what you have gleaned, it is but squeezing you and, sponge, you shall be dry again, (pg 98, 20). This is random and unexpected, as many of his actions, but the comparison makes sense; Rosencrantz and Guildenstern soak up all the kings favors, only to become dry again after they mop up the King’s mess (spying on Hamlet, and getting Polonius’s body). Later, with Claudius, Hamlet tells how lowly a king can be by saying, A man (beggar) may fish with the worm that hath eat of a king, and eat of the fish that hath fed of that worm, (pg 99, 29). This also makes sense, and is not quite as random; when Hamlet confronts Claudius, and the king asks where Polonius is, Hamlet immediatly begins the comparison by telling Claudius that Polonuis is at supper (the worms are eating him for supper, and so on). This proves that Hamlet had some kind of planning for this degrading comment, and that his thoughts are not scattered and he is able to stay focused. There is a question of what being insane really is. Since it is agreeable that Ophelia was crazy, it’s possible to use her as a guide to make this argument valid. Hamlet and Ophelia both shared the trait of having calculated thoughts, Ophelia’s singing and Hamlet’s verbal attacks. They also shared calmness before their deaths. But was Hamlet spraying rude remarks to everyone before he died, as Ophelia had sung floating down the river? No, in-fact Hamlet was the opposite of what he was before. If he were crazy, like Ophelia, he would have remained hectic and random up until the time of (and after) the duel. Hamlet, though, was not—he even reasoned what death for him was, finishing his question of whether life was worth living for. Hamlet can truley be seen to be sane, and not. The facts that Hamlet was smart and swift thinking, and in such a reversal of emotions (from after Polonius died) in the end, leads strongly to the opinion that Hamlet was not insane.
Hamlet, one of Shakespeare's greatest plays, tells the story of a young prince who's father recently died. Hamlet's uncle, Claudius, marries Hamlet's mother, the queen, and takes the throne. As the play is told, Hamlet finds out his father was murdered by the recently crowned king. The theme that remains constant throughout the play is appearance versus reality. Things within the play appear to be true and honest but in reality are infested with evil. Many of the characters within the play hide behind a mask of falseness. Four of the main characters that hid behind this mask are Polonius, Rosencrantz (Guildenstern), the king Cluadius. From behind this mask they give the impression of a person who is sincere and genuine, in reality they are plagued with lies and evil. There appearance will make it very difficult for Hamlet to uncover the truth, the characters hide behind. Polonius the kings royal assistant has a preoccupation with appearance. He always wants to keep up the appearance of loving and caring person. Polonius appears like a man who loves and cares about his son, Laertes. Polonius speaks to his son with advice that sounds sincere but in reality it is rehearsed, hollow and without feeling. Polonius gives his advice only to appear to be the loving caring father. The reality is he only speaks to appear sincere as a politician, to look good rather then actually be good: And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry. This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man. Farewell; my blessing season this in thee! Act 1 Polonius gives his son Laertes his blessing to go away, he sends a spy to follow him and keep an eye on him. This shows his lack of trust for anyone, he gives the appearance of a confident father who trusts his son to go off on his own. In reality he lies about his trust for his son by sending a spy to watch him. His advice he gives his son is rehearsed and only said to give the appearance of a loving father. Polonius further adds to the theme appearance verses reality by ordering Ophelia to stop seeing Hamlet. He lies to her telling her that Hamlet does not love her, he only lusts for her, in truth he does love her: Ay, springes to catch woodcocks. I do know, When the blood burns , how prodigal the soul Through the play Polonius hids behind his mask appearing to be honest loving parent. In reality Polonius lies, manipulates people and eavesdrops on peoples conversation. Polonius helps contribute to the theme appearance verses reality by showing how his appearance is not his true nature, behind the mask there lies someone totally different. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are two of Hamlets childhood friends who when asked by the king, try to find out what is troubling the young prince. Both help to contribute to the theme by showing there appearance of being Hamlets friends. The pair go to Hamlet pretending to be his friends when in truth they are only there because the king asked them to find the truth. There is some irony within the twins, they are asked by the king to find out the truth by hiding within a lie, by pretending to be his friend: A dream is but a shadow Act II. Hamlet knows there purpose for their visit is to dig into his soul to find the real reason for his actions as of late. As the play continues the twins are asked again by the king to go to Hamlet and try again to find the real reason for Hamlets behavior. Hamlet insults them at every chance knowing they are lying to him about there purpose of the visit: Tis as easy as lying; govern these ventages with you finger and thumb, give it breath with your mouth...Act III As the melodrama continues Hamlet goes with the twins to reclaim money that another state owes Denmark. Hamlet is sent by the king to retrieve the assets. In actuality Hamlet is sent off to wither because the king, Claudius knows that Hamlet knows too much and must be killed. The twins show there appearance of being Hamlets friends but in truth they have a hidden reason for visiting with Hamlet. Both show that it will be very difficult for Hamlet to uncover the fidelity hidden within the lies. Claudius the king of Denmark conduct in council gives him the appearance of an Honest and honorable man. In Act one scene two Claudius in the presence of council shows his true skill and ease of manner at speaking. Claudius speaks well of the spent king by showing a general love for him by all his subjects. Claudius show respect for the old sovereign by speaking kind words of him. In reality he cares little for the old king, he speaks kindly only to give the appearance of loving brother. Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death The memory be green, and that it us befitted To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom To be contracted in one brow of woe Act I As Claudius sends Voltimand and Cornelius off to give the king of Norway the message of Fortibras, he thanks and gives them complete trust, in the deliverance of the notation. This shows his trust and caring for his subjects in front of the council, wining even more consent from the council: We doubt it nothing: heartily farewell. Act I Claudius increases his appearance of a honest and honorable man, in front of the council by showing his respect for Polonius. He gives him the power to let his son Laertes stay or leave for Norway. Claudius speaks highly of Polonius giving him thanks and saying the he was responsible for Claudius becoming king: The head is not more native to the heart, The hand more instrumental to the mouth, Than is the throne of Denmark to thy father. What woudlst thou have, Laertes(Act I ii, 47-50) This council would see this as a man who greatly respects his subjects and cares for them. This adds to the difficulty of uncovering the truth for Hamlet later. Hamlet enters the council chamber and speaks with Claudius. The king (Claudius) speaks with Hamlet seeming to be concerned with Hamlet. He gives advice that over grieveing is not healthy, this shows a concern for Hamlets well being. This conduct of Claudius gives him the appearance of being kind in front of council that accepts him even more for his family values: How is it that the clouds still hang on you? Act I Claudius appears to be even more caring when insulted by Hamlet he still shows love and general care for Hamlet. A normal king would have become angry and Hamlet would have gotten into trouble. Claudius shows the council that he is understanding of Hamlet's grief over his father: A little more than kin, and less than kind. Act I . Claudius gives Hamlet advice that over grieveing can be harmful and not healthy. Claudius tells Hamlet that he is a admirable person for grieveing for so long over his dads death. Yet again Claudius keeps putting on the appearance of the honorable man. Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet, To give these mourning duties to your father: But, you must know, you father lost a father; That father lost, lost his; and the survivor bound In filial obligation for some term To do obsequious sorrow; but to persever In obstinate condolement is a course Act I Claudius further makes it difficult to uncover the truth by announcing that Hamlet is next in line for the throne of Denmark. This shows that Claudius would let Hamlet become the next king when he is gone. This reveals a love and care for Hamlet to the council and Gertrude making Claudius appear to be kind, loving person: You are the most immediate to our throne; And with no less nobility of love Act I Claudius final conduct that makes him a difficult truth to uncover, is his care and want that Hamlet remain in Denmark. Claudius is insulted by Hamlet, he asks Hamlet to stay only that his queen Gertrude wants Hamlet to stay. Claudius appears to be concerned with Hamlets well being, Gertrude and council see this ,making Claudius a more deserving person to be king. As Claudius speaks in council he gives the appearance of someone who is a deserving person that should be king. Claudius is voted in as king meaning he is already approved by everyone. Claudius gives respect to his subjects giving the council the impression that he respects them. The king shows general concern for Hamlet, his nephew. This will make it very difficult to prove the truth about Claudius in the future for he has not only, one the love and respect of council (that voted him in). But also has prevented a attack on Denmark (from Fortinbras) proving that he is good king that can protect the state from harm. Claudius makes it very difficult for Hamlet to uncover the truth about the true nature of Claudius in the future. Through the characters within the play all help to show the theme, that being appearance verses reality. Polonius, Rosencrantz (Guildenstern) and the king all appear to be good and honest. As Hamlet finds out, all contain lies and have hidden intentions within them. As each character is presented in the play all appear to be good and honest making it a difficult task for Hamlet to uncover the hidden truth about the nature of each character. As Hamlet best said it somethings is rotten in Denmark That being the lies which have replaced or covered the true state of each character.
Best Hamlet Paper Ever
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 with his mother or his girlfriend and while his mother is literally sleeping with the enemy, Ophelia has chosen the side of Claudius because of her father Polonius. It is especially difficult for Hamlet to talk to Ophelia. The only other woman in his life, Gertrude, has betrayed his father by marrying Claudius. Hamlet may be obsessed with the idea that all women are evil, yet he really does love Ophelia because when he finds out Ophelia has died he cries out, I loved Ophelia; forty thousand brothers could not, with all their quantity of love, make up my sum.(Act V, Scene 1) The ghost provides Hamlet with a dilemma. In Shakespeare's plays supernatural characters are not always to be trusted (think of the three witches in Mac Beth who are instrumental in his downfall). Hamlet does not know whether the ghost is telling the truth or not. If Hamlet had killed Claudius solely on the ghost's advice then he would certainly been tried and put to death himself and there would probably have been a war to choose a new king. Being the humanitarian that he is, and taking into account his responsibilities as a prince and future king, Hamlet most likely would want to avoid a civil war because even though Claudius is a murderer and probably not as noble a king as Hamlet's father was yet he is still the king, bringing order to Denmark. Hamlet does not wish to plunge his country into chaos because of his own personal turmoil and realizes this will happen when he kills Claudius. To add to his quandary Hamlet is unable to combine the spiritual world (in the form of his father's ghost) with the tangible everyday world that surrounds him. There is much irony throughout this play. One occurrence of irony I found particularly striking was the fact that Hamlet effectively maneuvers himself into the same position as Claudius. Claudius had attacked and killed a man who did not have the opportunity to defend himself, but when Hamlet kills Polonius is he not guilty of the same? It is intriguing that both Claudius and Hamlet have killed fathers. It is interesting to see how these two completely different characters deal with the same problem in different ways. Other interesting parallels I found are the numerous deaths by poison. Claudius murdered Hamlet’s father with poison. In the final act the queen is the first to be poisoned by drinking from Hamlet's cup and then the poisoned tip of Laertes’ sword wounds Hamlet. When they change swords Hamlet gets the upper hand and Laertes is poisoned. After the queen dies Laertes explains everything to Hamlet before he dies and Hamlet then kills Claudius before dying himself. It is ironic that as Claudius is poisoned because of his own plotting, he had already signed his own death warrant when he killed Hamlet's father, which is the first tragic action of the play. There are only three people in this play who don't die by poisoning; Rosencrantz and Guildenstern who meet their deaths in England after being outsmarted by Hamlet and the third is Ophelia who drowned. There are three types of conflict I can identify in the play: “man versus man”, “man versus nature” and “man versus himself.” Hamlet's fight with Laertes in Ophelia's grave and the subsequent duel would both easily classify as “man versus man” conflict. Man also struggles with nature in this play, most notably in the form of Ophelia's drowning and Hamlet's crossing the sea to England - although the latter conflict plays more of a background role. The “man versus himself” conflict is most directly exposed in Hamlet's famous soliloquy where he is wrestling with his conscience. The realization he comes to in this soliloquy is that we are afraid to kill ourselves because we do not know what is to be found after death. Another “man versus himself” conflict is Claudius' inability to pray. He cannot really justify his past deeds and for him this is actually another step into darkness. Hamlet may be a thinking man, however, this does not mean he actually likes to think. Although he might have liked to think in the time preceding the play, when the time comes for him to take action he cannot because of this urge to believe. His capacity for thinking becomes a handicap rather than an advantage and this is not even the most painful or tragic part of the Hamlet character because the biggest problem is that he is aware of this. Not only is he incapable of acting without thinking he knows that this is the case, making the burden even heavier. Hamlet does not want to face reality and it is a traumatic experience for him when he has to believe the words of the ghost, but when the ghost starts demanding him to act on this information is too much for him. Hamlet is, however, a man of decision, but he is also contemplative. He needs to think in order to justify his actions and his intellectual characteristics are the major difference between Claudius and himself. Hamlet is very aware of the relationship between action and reaction and realizes that he has to proceed very carefully. In the play Claudius is the decisive character and the man of action. He takes the first action, the action that sets the story in motion - the poisoning of Hamlet's father. He also instigates the final action, the poisoning of the blades and the cup an action that will backfire and cause his own death. In the play, there seems to be a constant shift of action, where only one party can act at any time. These two parties are of course Hamlet and Claudius. When Claudius has taken the action that secures him the throne he allows Hamlet to become the man of action, but Hamlet procrastinates. The only action Hamlet takes is staging the play, which seems more to serve the purpose of establishing Claudius’s guilt for the murder of Hamlet’s father. Hamlet then proceeds to kill the curious Polonius. Hamlet is given the chance to avenge this most unnatural murder when he sees Claudius praying. Hamlet, being a Christian prince, cannot carry out the act of killing Claudius while he is praying, as this would secure Claudius’s place in heaven. Hamlet wants to make sure Claudius will suffer in the afterlife just as Hamlet’s father did. Hamlet leaves just before Claudius gets up, declaring he cannot pray; My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: Words without thoughts never to heaven go (Claudius, Act III, Scene 3). Had Hamlet known Claudius was unable to pray then he could have had his revenge right then and there instead of waiting until the end, taking everyone else with him. Most of the other characters would probably have acted much quicker than Hamlet if they were in his position. Imagine Polonius in the situation Hamlet found himself in. He would not have procrastinated, as much and it would have most likely been off with the head of the murderer! Any other character in the play would not have stayed as quiet as Hamlet does (confiding only in his best friend, and even keeping the truth from his mother until the end of Act III) and these characters might not have come to killing Claudius. Hamlet does not seem to do anything, again, he thinks too much, but why? Hamlet is self-conscious, while the majority of characters that surround him are not and this could explain why he feels inhibited to act. Hamlet resembles a real person more than any other character in the play, which might be another reason why he still remains a subject of discussion and why the play remains so popular. Hamlet is one of the most interesting characters in English fiction because we can identify with him and understand, although not always agree with his actions. Hamlet is also set apart by his elusiveness. Many of the characters in the play can be categorized within minutes of their introduction. I'm not calling them caricatures, but there is definitely a caricature-like side to some of them. The pompous Polonius and the deceitful and thickheaded Guildenstern and Rozencrantz come to my mind, however, this does not hold true for some other characters such as Laertes and Ophelia. The character of Hamlet refuses categorization. Interestingly in regard to this is his love of theater. He is particularly interested in the idea that things may seem different from what they really are, just like the people surrounding him. His mother is no longer his father's wife, but his uncle's, his girlfriend is no longer there for him, and Guildenstern and Rosencrantz are no longer his friends. Also, he is aware that he will have to disguise himself and his real motives and goals in order to attain them and this is why he fakes his madness. It is not until he picks up Yorick's skull in the beginning of Act V that he finds out what is real and what is not. In the end when the truth is revealed and everyone's masks are removed, death is all that is to be found.
Hamet
Your reading of the ghost will deeply affect your understanding of the meaning of Hamlet as a play. Argue for one or another reading of the ghost’s reality and explain what that means in terms of what Shakespeare is trying to say in the play. Authors view and message Hamlet’s is one of the most recognizable work of William Shakespeare. The primary reason for this popularity is that it go so much criticism that any other play of any artist received. People view this play in different perspective. Obsession, revenge, unfaithfulness, adultery, treachery, and evil are some of the adjective that are constantly being in reference to this great play. The first two adjectives are used in reference to Hamlet, unfaithfulness and adultery for Gertrude, treachery for Claudius and evil to represent the Ghost (the individual view point of the Ghost will deeply affect how we see the play and its character). The take home message: William Shakespeare’s Hamlet showed us that how obsession could lead a person to his downfall. It does not matter for whether it was the obsession for the revenge or the fatherly love. Here, two things are different. Revenge and fatherly love. Revenge for his father's murder and love for his father is different. His father died, and he shut his door to his mind. Whatever was in his mind, he just translated in his language. Shakespeare utilizes the Ghost as a mere instrument to let the audience know what is going on in “Hamlet’s mind”. Ghost appeared thrice in the play. It came before the soldiers, and then to Hamlet and third time in front of Hamlet and his mother. Shakespeare left the decision to the audience how to perceive hamlet, the character as a whole. Some people may perceive hamlet as a hero, while some as a villain. While some as a psycho. I do not see him as a villain. Also I do not think the ghost is real. Situation plays the role of villain. The validity of the ghost is the topic that critics have been arguing since long time. There has been three theory postulated on the validity of Ghost in Hamlet. Residual or Archaic theory assumes that the Ghost is real and it is his father’s spirit. It also assumes that prince hamlet’s father was actually murdered by Claudius, which gives Hamlet valid reason to seek revenge. Dominant view assumes that Ghost is real, but it is not his father’s spirit. So whether it was really murder or not remains a question? Was the Ghost trying to ruin Hamlet’s life? Was he directing prince Hamlet in an adverse direction, which would eventually lead to his death? Here we think of Ghost as evil. Emergent view assumes that there is no Ghost. The whole thing was created in prince Hamlet’s mind. I agree with the Emergent view. I do not think there is a ghost or the father’s spirit. One of the most famous phrase in this play is “something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” I think it is symbolizes Hamlet’s mind. It was the imbalance in his mind that created the ghost. From the Play One of the most famous phrase in this play is “something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” I think it is symbolizes Hamlet’s mind. Obsession Hamlet is very much obsessed with the grief of his father’s death and the marriage of his mother and his uncle. Obsession has no boundaries. Ghost Why he believes Ghost? Alternatively, how he comes up with the idea of ghost. Hamlet needed some kind of justification for his act. Why did the ghost called hamlet alone to tell the secret of the murder? If the ghost is real, then the soldier already knew that there is a ghost or King Hamlet’s spirit. First time, the soldiers see the ghost was just the illusion. Second time, only hamlet confronts the ghost and listen the whole story. Why did the Horatio saw the ghost? In the old time, just remembrance. King Hamlet died two months before which is not a very long time. In the olden times, people had a strong belief in Ghost and spirit. The remembrance of King Hamlet was still very fresh in people’s mind. One night Horatio and Marcellus were guarding on the castle. In the Kenneth Branagh's version, there is a statue of King Hamlet where these soldiers gathered. Just because you remember somebody who is dead, its natural that we constantly get the illusion that this person is alive or we hope that he or she is alive. May be King Hamlet was kind and nice to this people. Therefore, the presence of the statue of king Hamlet led them to believe that the King Hamlet actually appears. They all decided to tell this event to Prince Hamlet. Here, on the other side, prince Hamlet was already in the turmoil. He was very upset with the hasty marriage of his mother and uncle (father’s brother), especially when it has not been more than two months since his father died. Therefore, when he heard the narrated “story” of the Ghost appearance, he started making up all sorts of thing on his own. Before he even faces the Ghost, he started thinking that something is not right. By this, Shakespeare means that Hamlet had already placed the idea of “murder” of his father in his mind. Why did the ghost called hamlet alone to tell the secret of the murder? If the ghost is real, then the soldier already knew that there is a ghost or King Hamlet’s spirit. First time, the soldiers see the ghost was just the illusion. Second time, only hamlet confronts the ghost and listen the whole story. If the ghost was real, then why it did not reveal itself to Gertrude? The ghost could have come to Gertrude itself and talk about it. It was the creation of Hamlet’s mind. Background The point here is not that Hamlet is a villain. The play is the tragedy of the prince Hamlet. Hamlet probably did have some hatred against Claudius before the learning of the ghost. Hamlet’s father died before two months. Then his mother married his uncle. Hamlet was upset because he considered this marriage as an incestuous act. He pushed himself into the grief that he was not able to think anything else than Claudius and his mother. The marriage has widened the gap between Claudius and Hamlet’s heart. Movies Kenneth Branagh's version: They have the statue of king hamlet. May be it was just an illusion. Their discussion of using “like” In the “Lawrence Oliver,” when Hamlet confronts the Ghost, we see a “fuzzy screen” which is an indication that Hamlet is putting himself in illusion. Director is trying to interpret the ghost as “Hamlet state of mind”. The Hamlet is one of the most popular play of many Shakespeare’s plays. Word Usage The usage of the word “like”. The word “like” means similar but not same and exact. So when Bernardo says “In the same figure, like the king that’s dead”, we are left to interpret whet Hamlet was not happy with the marriage, which is natural. He loved his father and mother like every child does. His father loved his mother very much. However, soon after his father died, she married to his uncle. This created an imbalance in his mind. The imbalance that led him loses his mind, and trapped him into the world of hatred and anger against women. The death of the father had already made him broke down. His mother's marriage to his uncle tears him into pieces. He accused all the womanhood with the quality of “unfaithfulness”. “Thy frailty is woman.” He was an educated youth. He had rationality. He himself was not happy with this state of mind. He wanted to get out of this hell. Put the story of Hamlet and Horatio here. There is no solid proof of Claudius killing King Hamlet. The mouse trap reaction could be attributed to his incestuous marriage with the widow of his late brother. He might be the culprit or he might not be. Nowhere in the play did Shakespeare explicitly show that Claudius is the murderer. Some argue that Claudius did confess of his guilt. Well, he did not say it explicitly there too. There also it might be the marriage cause.
Hamlet's Maddness
Hamlet appears to be insane, after Polonius’s death, in act IV scene II. There are indications, though, that persuade me to think other wise. Certainly, Hamlet has plenty of reasons to be insane at this point. His day has been hectic—he finally determined Claudius had killed his father, the chance to kill Claudius confronted him, he comes very close to convincing Gertrude that Claudius killed his father, he accidentally kills Polonius, and finally the ghost of his father visits him. These situations are enough to bring Hamlet to insanity, but he remains sharp and credible. Hamlet is able to make smart remarks to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, comparing then to sponges, When he (Claudius) needs what you have gleaned, it is but squeezing you and, sponge, you shall be dry again, (pg 98, 20). This is random and unexpected, as many of his actions, but the comparison makes sense; Rosencrantz and Guildenstern soak up all the kings favors, only to become dry again after they mop up the King’s mess (spying on Hamlet, and getting Polonius’s body). Later, with Claudius, Hamlet tells how lowly a king can be by saying, A man (beggar) may fish with the worm that hath eat of a king, and eat of the fish that hath fed of that worm, (pg 99, 29). This also makes sense, and is not quite as random; when Hamlet confronts Claudius, and the king asks where Polonius is, Hamlet immediatly begins the comparison by telling Claudius that Polonuis is at supper (the worms are eating him for supper, and so on). This proves that Hamlet had some kind of planning for this degrading comment, and that his thoughts are not scattered and he is able to stay focused. There is a question of what being insane really is. Since it is agreeable that Ophelia was crazy, it’s possible to use her as a guide to make this argument valid. Hamlet and Ophelia both shared the trait of having calculated thoughts, Ophelia’s singing and Hamlet’s verbal attacks. They also shared calmness before their deaths. But was Hamlet spraying rude remarks to everyone before he died, as Ophelia had sung floating down the river? No, in-fact Hamlet was the opposite of what he was before. If he were crazy, like Ophelia, he would have remained hectic and random up until the time of (and after) the duel. Hamlet, though, was not—he even reasoned what death for him was, finishing his question of whether life was worth living for. Hamlet can truley be seen to be sane, and not. The facts that Hamlet was smart and swift thinking, and in such a reversal of emotions (from after Polonius died) in the end, leads strongly to the opinion that Hamlet was not insane.
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