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Shakespeare's play, Hamlet, can be seen as one about duty, in particular Hamlet's struggle with his duty to his father and the possible consequences involved. Hamlet's duty is revealed when he speaks with the ghost of his father who commands Hamlet to "revenge his foul and most unnatural murder." The appearance of the supernatural and the suggestion of a "most unnatural murder" also presents the idea of corruption as it portrays the idea of death against the natural order. Hamlet clearly struggles with this command from his father's ghost, as avenging his father's death would mean that Hamlet himself would have to murder not just another person, but his uncle CLaudius, the new king of Denmark. Therefore, Hamlet struggles to take immediate action but instead he tells the ghost, "with wings as swift as meditation or the thoughts of love may sweep to my revenge." This simile suggests that Hamlet is eager to seek revenge quickly, however his response is paradoxical as "meditation" and "thoughts of love" suggest that he may have to think about the task ahead of him first. This highlights Hamlet's struggle with his duty as while he wants to avenge his father's death, he is also unsure and so cannot…
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The appearance of his father's ghost didn't seem very reliable to him as he began to question his own sanity over what he thinks he should do about the situation. Hamlet deeply contemplates about his soul being damned on actions he was willing to pursue in avenging his father's death. He cautiously plots his act of revenge and waits for the ideal moment to avenge his father's murder. He decides to show King Claudius a play, a similar performance of Claudius' own murderous deed, hopefully seeing some kind of reaction from the king. He says "I'll have these…
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Detail 1: To begin with, Prince Hamlet in “Hamlet” is considered to be a scholar, a thinker, and the kind of person who would not act without thoroughly analysing the circumstances. Hamlet’s flaws as a central character become evident when the intrigue begins to take shape. The intrigue in “Hamlet” shows Hamlet’s father coming to him, as a ghost, and pleads revenge for his death. Hamlet becomes aware that his uncle, Claudius,…
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Throughout the play Hamlet faces many conflicts that an everyday person might not. When the play begins we learn that Hamlet’s fathers had been slain by his own brother. Hamlet’s meets his father’s ghost and…
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William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a famous tragedy that follows the title character Hamlet’s wavering path of revenge. Early in the play, Hamlet encounters his father’s ghost, who tells Hamlet that his brother Claudius murdered him. Throughout the play, Hamlet is torn between his obligation to avenge his father and his uncertainty about this formidable task. Hamlet also experiences this indecisiveness when he contemplates suicide during several points in the play. Though he expresses disgust over Claudius’s inferiority to his father and his hasty marriage with Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude, Hamlet more strongly detests his own procrastination in avenging his father. In order to conceal his insecurities, Hamlet decides to assume an “antic disposition”, which caused much confusion among other characters and led to a cascade of chaos. Hamlet’s indecisiveness, contrary to Laertes’ adamant desire for revenge, and his philosophy on suicide relate death and its uncertain nature to man’s irrationality.…
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“Hamlet” is a play permeated with death. Right from the opening scene of the play death is introduced, where the ghost of Hamlet’s father introduces the idea of death and its consequences. Preoccupation with death is a major theme in this play as shown in the numerous deaths of the main characters of Hamlet, Polonius, Gertrude, Ophelia, Claudius and Laertes.…
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William Shakespeare, The Arden Shakespeare: Hamlet, ed. Harold Jenkins (England: Methuen & Co. Ltd, 1982).…
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However I believe Hamlet is smarter than we all think. He continues to get information from people time and time again throughout the play just because he acts in a different manner throughout the play. He starts off subtly after his father’s death but when he talks to his father’s ghost. Hamlet has some reason to act the way he is acting at the beginning of the play but towards the middle and end it becomes apparent that it has escalated and he has gone completely bananas. While in the midst of Hamlet’s "madness" don't mind me you guys he still attends information and regain sanity after talking with that certain person. Hamlet knows what he's doing and I feel is scamming people throughout the play. Ophelia however, goes into complete madness and loses all…
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However, Hamlet incapable of doing it and proceed to what according to Ghost told him to (Javed 332). This is an identity crisis for Hamlet, as he does not know whether he is acting upon his free will or upon the Ghost words. Killing Claudius is what the Ghost wanted. However, Hamlet is confused whether he want to Claudius or not, hence the delay in his actions. ”Hamlet is too delicate or too subtle for the purpose. A less self-questioning hero would have been a better instrument” (Javed…
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Hamlet does not seem confused by the incomprehensibility of the world, nor does he have trouble making choices or deciding how to act. In fact, Hamlet has a lot of power within the play, as symbolized by his lantern. He lights the scene, then plunges the scene into darkness. His ability to control what viewers see signifies his immense power. He changes and affects people’s lives in ways that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern cannot. For example, he kills Polonius, then disposes of the body. When Hamlet speaks, he frequently confuses other characters with riddles, another sign of his ability to have an effect on people.…
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Hamlet’s mind at first glance is not all it appears to be. One would believe Hamlet to be completely insane with everything that had transpired against him. The loss of his father and his mother’s hasty marriage should have driven his mind to utter desolation and insanity, but on the contrary these events only enhanced the fortitude of his mind and intellect. Hamlet’s ability to form coherent thoughts and his clear use of diction express his sanity; the weight of avenging his father’s death and woes over his mother’s betrayal have affected his emotions, but have not corrupted his mind.…
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The real question is: is Hamlet crazy or is he just acting? In my opinion there are many things throughout the play that make me tend to believe that he is crazy. When Hamlet enters Opheliu's room and she has the question if he is truly mad or if he is just acting. Hamlet is proven to be crazy in this play and statements and actions he days and does are the thing that prove this. <br><br>There are many things that make me tend to believe…
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This can be seen through examining the ways that characters question their ability to fully comprehend deeply tragic or perplexing phenomena, such as death and madness. The primary quote in which this sentiment is discussed is during the scene in which Hamlet and Horatio encounter the ghost and seek to rationalize it by drawing from their earthly experiences. However, Hamlet states “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in our philosophy. (I.v.167-168).” This statement runs counter to the idea that all occurrences can be explained using logic and reasoning. While Hamlet could be showing early signs of insanity, the supernatural could actually be present. This moment of ambiguity is poignant because, regardless of whether the apparition is real or imagined, its appearance still has an immense influence on the play. Another moment that supports this concept is Gertrude’s description of Ophelia’s death;…
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The play, Hamlet, by William Shakespeare is a tragic story about a prince named Hamlet attempting to get revenge for his father's murder. As Hamlet only to slowly destroy his life in the process. As Hamlet attempts to get revenge, he ultimately ends up destroying himself and the people around him. But before his death, Hamlet slowly decides what he wants to do with his life. Hamlet goes from thinking the world holds nothing for him but not wanting to kill himself because he fears god in the first Soliloquy, to living to avenge his father if needed in the second Soliloquy, to fearing death in the third Soliloquy. Hamlet slowly decides what he wants to do with his life, through his first three Soliloquies in the play…
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Contrary to popular belief, ignorance is not, in any shape or form, ‘bliss’, however it is not restricting either. No one can truly live in a constant state of ignorance, because just as time heals all wounds, time also inflicts them. Sometimes not knowing is antagonizing than knowing. However, knowledge can place a person in a situation where they feel that they have no other option but to perform an act of some kind. In the Shakespearean play “Hamlet”, the main character’s, Prince Hamlet, revelations of the sins committed by his uncle, Claudius, adds to the tension that already existed between the two and is the catalyst to the tragic events that take place within the play. The grievances that Hamlet had against his Claudius, now his step-father and King, is the murder of his father, the theft of his crown and Claudius’ hasty marriage of his mother and queen, Gertrude.…
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