Hamlet- Suicide Essay Example

William Shakespeare's Hamlet- Signifying Death Regardless of a person's age or literary preference it is undeniable that William Shakespeare had a flair for composing dramatic tragedies. Tragedy, when evident is a powerful underlining theme which portrays the qualities of the human capacity. In one of Shakespeare's most brilliant plays, Hamlet, tragedy is portrayed through the protagonist's constant contemplation of suicide. Shakespeare often alludes to powerful images of death by using pathos and bereavement in life to be inconsequential. In the play, Hamlet, William Shakespeare produces a tragedy which illustrates the suggestion of suicide and the imagery of death as solutions to problems through Ophelia's demise, the minor characters reflection upon death, and most importantly the protagonist Hamlet.

Firstly, the castle of Elsinore is notable for its evocation of place where it initially begins to shape Ophelia's character and create Ophelia's imagination beyond her life of limitations. It is undisputable the love Ophelia and Hamlet once shared in their past relations. This is clearly evident when Hamlet jumps out from hiding at the graveyard and expresses his feelings for Ophelia proclaiming his love. "I lov'd Ophelia: forty thousand brothers could not, with all their quantity of love, make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her?" (5.2. 270-72) Although Polonius, Ophelia's father, instructs her to never see Hamlet again and to never trust his promises, she continues to honour Hamlet's love and defend him to her father; "My Lord, he hath importun'd me with love in honourable fashion" (1.3. 110-11). Since, Ophelia is dependent on her father, and the men in her life; she now finds herself alone after his sudden death, which causes her grief and unhappiness (4.5.11-13). Ophelia's distracted behaviour gives the impression that some great unhappiness has befallen her (Ibid). Claudius suggests it is a result from her father's death; "Conceit upon her