Hamlet Journeys

Mystical Journeys Ending in Death The Tragedy of Macbeth and Hamlet, Prince of Denmark were both written in the 1600’s by William Shakespeare. Both of these plays are one of the most famous works of art in English Literature. With these plays being very similar in the fact of mystical journeys, they are also different in many ways. Mystical events, insanity, and tragic death are all included in these two plays. Both Macbeth and Hamlet encounter mystical events in their plays. In Act 1 Scene 5 lines 10-39 of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, Hamlet is visited by his father’s spirit who reveals that he was murdered by the one who now wears the crown. Macbeth also encounters mystical events when three witches appear before him. The witches
“You know, sometimes he walks four hours together/ here in the lobby” (Hamlet 2.2.160-162). Within this quote, Polonius talks about how Hamlet is going mad. Hamlet and Macbeth both experience a touch of insanity. Macbeth is going crazy over power and hires people to kill Banquo and his family due to being scared of them taking his rule (Macbeth 3.4.1-42). After Banquo is dead, Macbeth sees his ghost on the throne which reveals the mental collapse of the once noble Macbeth. Signs of madness from both Hamlet and Macbeth is the downfall that will lead to blood and death. Macbeth and Hamlet both met their ends in a rigorous battle. In Act 5 Scene 2 lines 319-325, Hamlet talks about dying from being stabbed by Laertes who had a sword with a poisonous tip. This shows how Hamlet ends with bloodshed and death. In Act 5 Scene 8 lines 5-34, Macbeth and Macduff are having a dispute when Macbeth tells him that he can’t die of a man woman born. Macduff then explains how he wasn’t woman born, but rather a C-section, then kills Macbeth by stabbing him. These lines describe how Macbeth was slain at the hands of Macduff. Macbeth and Hamlet both finish their adventures with a tragic