Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet Comparison
How do any TWO OR MORE plays written between 1580 and 1642 represent the relationships between sexuality, gender and power?
(Using Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet)
’The course of true love never did run smooth’ - This is the answer indeed. As well as this we come to understand that with the roughness of love comes indifferent sexualities, gender conflicts and powered bravados that entwine themselves into one big mess to indeed create the established plays we read today. Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet very much represent the themes of sexuality, gender and power through the relationships of their family, lovers and acquaintances during each of these Shakespeare plays. This will be further analysed throughout the essay with evidentiary support from quotes, comparable and contrasting subject areas involving both of the plays once viewed ‘together’ also.
First, we come to recognise Hamlet. With frustration towards his mother on her new marriage; ‘’She married. O, most wicked speed, to post. With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!’’ (Act 1, Scene 2, Page 6), but can Hamlet truly say anything to his mother? She may be a woman, but his Kin nonetheless. Fear and anger follow from the death of his father caused by a now, ‘King’ Claudius; ‘’Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.’’(Act1, Scene 5. Page 6) suspecting of Claudius killing his father, Hamlet wishes to overthrow his newly found ‘power’ and attempt a vengeful rampage to execute him. And finally, recognising the pugnacious relationship between ‘loved ones’ Hamlet and Ophelia. ‘’I loved Ophelia, forty thousand brothers could not with all their quantity of love make up my sum.’’ (Act 5, Scene 1, Page 12). With the example of this quote especially comes an easy sentiment which is love. Hamlet seems sincerely in love with Ophelia yet throughout the course of the play comes out as an opposite stance of his affections, ultimately driving both of them to a bad place.
Right through Hamlet, it is evident that the
(Using Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet)
’The course of true love never did run smooth’ - This is the answer indeed. As well as this we come to understand that with the roughness of love comes indifferent sexualities, gender conflicts and powered bravados that entwine themselves into one big mess to indeed create the established plays we read today. Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet very much represent the themes of sexuality, gender and power through the relationships of their family, lovers and acquaintances during each of these Shakespeare plays. This will be further analysed throughout the essay with evidentiary support from quotes, comparable and contrasting subject areas involving both of the plays once viewed ‘together’ also.
First, we come to recognise Hamlet. With frustration towards his mother on her new marriage; ‘’She married. O, most wicked speed, to post. With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!’’ (Act 1, Scene 2, Page 6), but can Hamlet truly say anything to his mother? She may be a woman, but his Kin nonetheless. Fear and anger follow from the death of his father caused by a now, ‘King’ Claudius; ‘’Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.’’(Act1, Scene 5. Page 6) suspecting of Claudius killing his father, Hamlet wishes to overthrow his newly found ‘power’ and attempt a vengeful rampage to execute him. And finally, recognising the pugnacious relationship between ‘loved ones’ Hamlet and Ophelia. ‘’I loved Ophelia, forty thousand brothers could not with all their quantity of love make up my sum.’’ (Act 5, Scene 1, Page 12). With the example of this quote especially comes an easy sentiment which is love. Hamlet seems sincerely in love with Ophelia yet throughout the course of the play comes out as an opposite stance of his affections, ultimately driving both of them to a bad place.
Right through Hamlet, it is evident that the
Bibliography: Hamlet: Shakespeare, Play originally written: 1603 (Copy used): ‘New Swan Shakespeare, Advanced Series, Hamlet’ published: 1969 Romeo and Juliet: Shakespeare, Play originally written: 1597 (Copy used) ‘Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet’ ,modern English version side by side to original text, published: 1984