Relationships can be everlasting, relationships can be life-changing, but relationships will always be ever-changing. No matter how fortified relationships’ walls may appear to be, they will always be subject to the winds of time. Corrosion, erosion, and deterioration among many other things are common during the course of a relationship. William Shakespeare, writer of tragedies, paints this concept of a failing relationship for us in his play, Hamlet. In Hamlet, author William Shakespeare shifts Hamlet and Guildenstern’s relationship from a state of warm amity to a state of fiery tatters by using sarcastic tones, economic diction, and farfetched metaphors to prove that the presence of a powerful and royal being such as Claudius can quickly taint and tarnish even the strongest of relationships. By analyzing, interpreting, and reading beyond the words that Hamlet and Guildenstern share we will see the dastardly results that …show more content…
Through Hamlet and Guildenstern’s dying relationship, it’s very disconcerting as to how a third party character can completely turn any relationship onto its head to barely resemble what it was before. And with a third party person such as King Claudius embodying royalty, fame, and fortune, brings up the larger question of how our own relationships are tested and swayed by not a concrete third party being, but an abstract one. This fictional triangular relationship truly asks us how often our relationships with a certain person are changed by a person or by an abstract idea like greed and jealousy, how we should adapt to these third party intrusions, and just how much we really value our
Horatio holds the seat of honor in Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet, for being the only character among the dramatis personae who is extremely close to the protagonist. Horatio’s emotional bond with the hero is paradoxically closer than that of Hamlet’s mother to the hero. This essay will examine the character of Horatio, Hamlet’s truest friend.
Hamlet’s characterization have had an apparent fluctuation ever since he encountered his father’s ghost. His relationship with the male figures in his life seemed to be the most significant in the play. For example, Hamlet’s hateful relationship with Claudius over the years is the
It is without question that William Shakespeare’s Hamlet teaches us the truth about power and social status and how it can destroy one’s character and current status on the social scale. People are in constant battle and competition with each other, aiming to reach the highest of the highest. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, there are many scandals that happen all at once. One scandal that happens in Hamlet is the unexpected and rapid marriage of King Claudius and Queen Gertrude.
How would it be possible for Hamlet to express or even recognize love, without having a clear definition of what love is? One may define love as a lover’s passion, devotion or tenderness for someone or something. Hamlet perceives love as an emotion that causes loss, devastation and pain. In the play, Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, the main character uses love as a reason for his actions, but never truly loves any of the characters except his father. Hamlet seems to be more of a love story but, truthfully, it is more of revenge then love.
Throughout Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, the revelation of Claudius’ betrayal of the late King Hamlet becomes the causation of a slippery slope of events that revolve around a revenge on Claudius for his betrayal against the late King. Consequently, this key act of betrayal forms the plays overall theme of revenge while also showing the connection between power and corruption and the idea that ‘”what goes around, comes around.”
Always in Shakespeare reading we learn many different themes. The play “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare is a classic published in 1603. The story goes through Hamlet’s everyday thoughts of life, love, people and other ideologies. Hamlet story teaches us throughout the story that he hates King Claudius with a ceaseless passion because he poisoned his brother in order to marry the queen and take the crown. Hamlet is the prince and his mother’s marriage to Claudius causes him to have a deep rooted hatred towards women which pushes him to hate sex. As a result, we see how deeply Hamlet values inner truth and his hatred for deceit. After learning Hamlet’s philosophy of life we see that he would not fit in modern American society. Therefore, Hamlet
Shakespeare’s Hamlet shows a unique mother and son relationship between Gertrude and Hamlet. Stemming from the death of King Hamlet, Hamlet’s depiction of his mother signals a heinous relationship amongst the two. Hamlets and Gertrude relationship looks complicated, but Gertrude still considers Hamlet as her son. After the marriage of Gertrude and Claudius, her affection towards Hamlet is not encountered, excluding for when she questioned his dark demeanor, “Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted colour off, And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark” (I, II, 68-69). Initially in the plot, Hamlet realizes that his mother is completely oblivious and naïve to her relationship with King Hamlet. Her questioning Hamlet’s character indicates that she
In the play, Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the protagonist Hamlet is in a persistent mental battle between his religious, moral values and his desire to take revenge on the one who murdered his innocent father. Throughout the play, the actions that are taken by characters in Hamlet 's life ultimately lead to the demise and dismissal of each person who not only get in the way of Hamlet but go against the actions he takes. As the ghost of the late dead king appears to Hamlet and informs him of the truth behind what occurred that night Denmark lost a king and Hamlet lost a father, you see him embark on a journey of devotion to the father who was murdered by his uncle and everyone who has been caught up in the uncle’s web of lies. The philosophy of commitment and beauty are shown throughout the play through Hamlets vengeful task of revenge and deceit, King Claudius’s task to keep his murder a secret, Laertes commitment to murdering Hamlet, and the failed preservation of God made beauty.
The part of Hamlet that I would like to discuss is the love story theme. I think that it is very romantic how even in today's society we do not view the other aspects of Hamlet like revenge, delay, and madness but view Hamlet as a love story. I like the part of the love story when Hamlet writes that letter to Ophelia. The poem that Hamlet wrote to Ophelia, "'Doubt thou the stars are fire, doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt our love."' I really like this quote because it is very romantic. -Marka Jones
Shakespeare’s Hamlet indicates “There’s divinity that shapes our ends, Rough-hew them how we will” [5,2,10] given that “the devil hath power”. [2,2,188] These comments demonstrate that power is often in the hands of those who will abuse it and yet, the abuse of that power will not necessarily bring desired rewards. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that fate will treat the abuser kindly, and ‘divinity’ is in control of how the characters ends are shaped. This power abuse is demonstrated both through Claudius’ manipulation of Hamlet, Gertrude and Laertes in order to maintain his authority now that he is King; and, through Hamlet and Claudius’ use of their implicit power over women, which is an entitlement granted to them simply because they
Claudius is seen in Hamlets eyes as a horrible person because he convicted murder and incest. Claudius had killed the king of Denmark, Old Hamlet, to obtain the position of the throne. He had been jealous of Old Hamlet’s wife Gertrude and wanted to marry her for her power. Although, such an act would be called incest and considered unnatural he did not care, all he had cared about was the power that he would be stealing from Hamlet and Old Hamlet, Gertrude’s son and husband (R). When Hamlet had talked to his f...
The main concept of the Great Chain of Being is that every existing thing in the universe has its “place” in an outlined hierarchical order. Where it is placed depends on the amount of spirit and importance in society it has. The chain commences at God and progresses downward to angelic beings, kings, princes, nobles, regular humans, animals, plants, and many other objects of nature. According to this theory, all existing things have their specific function in the universe, and causing any kind of disorder on the higher links of this chain courts disaster. In Hamlet, Shakespeare dwells on the idea of a disheveled natural social order which restrains human beings’ ability to live peacefully. The society presented in this play is a society of chaos and anarchy that has no light at the end of the tunnel indicating recuperation. The Great Chain of Being is brutally distraught in Hamlet, and until the very end, there is never a point where it is truly serene.
The path one takes to seek a personal reward may result in the treacherous acts that causes devastation for others. In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the moral corruption that occurs between family members causes animosity that results in their downfall, and eventually their ultimate demise. More specifically, the tainted view of an individual in a family may result in the downfall of the other family members involved. Evidence of the tainted view of a family member causing undue harm can be found in the relationship between Hamlet and Claudius, Hamlet and Old King Hamlet, and Hamlet and Gertrude
After Hamlet’s father passed, Claudius took the opportunity to take over the throne and marry Hamlet’s mother. Through this union, Claudius increased his power and social status. Even though Claudius tried to be on Hamlet’s good side as a ‘father’, Hamlet still classified him as “A little more kin, and less than kind” (1.2.65). The phrase “more kin” stands out significantly because the word “kin” means to cousin. By stating “more kin”, Hamlet implies he still classifies Claudius as an uncle. Hamlet also indirectly jabs at Claudius, stating an opinion on what Hamlet thinks of him. This jab is shown through completely ignoring Claudius and only responding to his mother: “I shall in all my best obey you, madam” (1.2.120). This raises the question whether the irony of Hamlet’s jabs are lost on Claudius. Hamlet’s connection with his biological father exhibited stark contrasts to his relationship with Claudius. He not only continued seeing his father as a role model but could not move past that fact that he was no longer able to rely on his counsel. When given the chance to kill Claudius for his father, it not only shows that Hamlet, as well as his father, are seeking revenge at Claudius but also illustrates how he looks up to his father: “May sweep to my revenge” (1.5.31). The term “revenge” typically adds intensity and depth in a phrase. By using “revenge” it brings up the assumption that Hamlet wants to free his father’s soul but also wants to get back at Claudius even more so than before. Factors such as Hamlet’s power, political and emotional status are what influence his reactions to Claudius and his loyalty to his biological
When considering Hamlet’s generally isolationist and lonesome nature, it is possible to conclude that Hamlet suffers from a mental disorder. Throughout the course of the play, Hamlet tends not to share his inner feelings with others and does not have many close friends. One notable exception is Horatio, Hamlet’s closest and most loyal friend. Horatio is the only character to whom Hamlet expresses his true feelings, and Hamlet welcomes Horatio’s calm level-headedness, providing an insight into the kind of person Hamlet appreciates: “Give me that man / That is not passion’s slave, and I will wear him / In my heart’s core, ay, in my heart of heart, / As I do thee” (3.2, 64–67). If Hamlet’s idea of a friend is any indication as to why he strays away from shar...