Shakespeare’s Hamlet Essays - 1009 Words

In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Laertes and Hamlet both lose a father by unnatural and sudden death. The unnatural death of the father is brought on by someone close to the son. When Laertes discovers that his father is dead, he is outraged. When Hamlet learns from the ghost of his father’s murder, he weeps, and promises action, though he delivers none. Both Laertes and Hamlet grieve deeply for their fathers, but Laertes acts upon this grief while Hamlet carefully plots his revenge and waits for the perfect moment to avenge King Hamlet. Laertes’ unplanned action causes his death by his own sword, while Hamlet’s apparent inaction finally gets him the revenge that Laertes has attempted. Though Laertes’ grief at his father’s death causes his†¦show more content†¦69, 65-68). Laertes has lost all form of conscience because of his anger towards Hamlet, he even wants â€Å"to cut [Hamlet’s] throat i’ the church† which is a gra ve offense that would surely send Laertes to Hell (4.7.127). Hamlet, on the other hand, spends much of his time plotting how he will gain his revenge. He has â€Å"heard / That guilty creatures sitting at a play†¦have proclaimed their malefactions†¦/ Before mine uncle, I’ll observe his looks†¦If ‘a do blench, / I know my course† (2.2.589-90, 593, 597.598-9). Hamlet chooses to show the King a play, very like that of Claudius’ own murderous deed, in order to cause a reaction. When â€Å"the King rises† unexpectedly, Hamlet gains some evidence of the King’s guilt, beyond the word of a ghost. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Laertes and Hamlet each set out to avenge the deaths of their fathers, but they end up committing far worse crimes than those crimes that they were punishing. When Laertes and Claudius invite Hamlet to a duel, they intend â€Å"To cut his throat i’ the church†¦[and] Requite him for [Laertes’] father† (4.7.127, 140). Because the King is afraid that Hamlet might â€Å"by chance escape [Laertes’] venomed stuck†, he decides to prepare â€Å"A chalice for the nonce, whereon but sipping†¦/ Our purpose may hold there† (4.7.162,161,163). Laertes’ pursuit of Hamlet occupies all of his attention, and he does not consider any of the problems that could arise from this plan. He is unaware of the possibility that GertrudeShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeares Hamlet981 Words   |  4 Pagesmeanings are controversial topics of his time period. In Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, the controversial topic that is thr oughout the play is religion and the afterlife. Afterlife plays a big role in Hamlet and is discussed throughout the play. Multiple authors have written on the topic of afterlife and religion in Shakespeare’s play, especially Hamlet. One author that has written on the topic is Paul Dean. 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It has one of the most famous soliloquies ever to be written in theater art, â€Å"To be, or not to be.† At first, reading Shakespeare’s writing seems difficult to understand and be interested in, but as the reader reads on and digs into the roots of the play, it truly grabs the reader’s attention and makes him/her want to know more of the thoughts behind Hamlet. Thus, the story of Hamlet begins and his personality shows throughoutRead More Character of Hamlet in Shakespeares Hamlet Essay1324 Words   |  6 PagesCharacter of Hamlet in Shakespeares Hamlet Hamlet is a man of many discoveries. The tragic hero in Shakespeares Hamlet undergoes many changes throughout the play. His mindset is set deep and far away from the physical world that both helps him and hinders him in his plight for revenge against his uncle, Claudius, and his mother. When Hamlet is first introduced in Act I, Scene II, the reader is shown the depths of his sorrow. The King asks Hamlet How is it that the clouds still hangRead MoreWilliam Shakespeares Hamlet1284 Words   |  5 Pagesretaliation. Shakespeare’s Hamlet contemplates revenge throughout the story. Madness and revenge are similar themes in the movie, The Lion King, where the main character, Simba, is faced with the death of his father, leading him to do whatever it takes to seek revenge. This is where madness usually is introduced as a problem within a character, and this problem leads to the character doing things that they don’t usually do, sometimes dangerous things. The fathers of both Hamlet and Simba dieRead More Shakespeares Hamlet - Hamlet and the Ghost Essay2495 Words   |  10 PagesHamlet and the Ghost      Ã‚  Ã‚   This essay will analyze a very important, non-human character in Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet. This is, of course, a reference to the supernatural creature, or Ghost.    A.C. Bradley in Shakespearean Tragedy discusses the quandary into which the Ghost put the protagonist:    What, it may be asked, was hamlet to do when the Ghost had left him with its commission of vengeance? The King was surrounded not merely by courtiers but by a Swiss bodyguard: howRead MoreWilliam Shakespeares Hamlet1172 Words   |  5 PagesHamlet is a complex story that uses many literary devices to help develop the characters in Hamlet. One dominant device is irony. The main plot of the story revolves around irony. Hamlet is a witty character and loves to use irony. Hamlet’s use of irony displays how he insults people, discovers useful information, and reveals his true character. The use of irony in this story helps to add depth to each character, which is why Hamlet is one of Shakespeare’s most complex stories. There are three typesRead More Comparing Frances Zefferilli’s Hamlet and Shakespeare’s Hamlet530 Words   |  3 PagesComparing Frances Zefferilli’s Hamlet and Shakespeare’s Hamlet I believe Frances Zefferilli’s version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, made in 1990, is one of the best versions of the play to be put onto screen. The film, starring Mel Gibson as Hamlet, and Glen Close as Queen Gertrude, takes a different look to the play. Zefferilli explores the physiological stability of Hamlet very well, especially in Act 3, Scene 4. My interpretation of that scene in the text was different to the one given in theRead MorePerfect Idealism In Shakespeares Hamlet1631 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction The play Hamlet is a fable of how the ghost of a slain king comes to haunt the living with disastrous consequences. A rancorous ghost and a brother s murder, lead the gloomy setting of Hamlet s Denmark. Hamlet story opens with an encounter between young Hamlet, his dad s ghost as well as the prince of Denmark. The ghost reveals to Hamlet that its murderer was his brother Claudius, who then rapidly wedded his widowed queen, Gertrude. As a result, the ghost presses Hamlet to seek vengeanceRead MoreWilliam Shakespeares Hamlet964 Words   |  4 Pagesunsatisfactory situation. In William Shakespeares Hamlet, a characters inability to overcome their weakness due to it being emphasized by their unfortunate circumstance results in their tragic downfall. This is illustrated through Hamlets over thinking, Claudiuss ambition, and Gertrudes naive persona. Hamlets character is one that is very thoughtful and conscious, however some view these qualities as procrastination and over thinking. Even Hamlet himself acknowledges this in his