How Hamlet Targets The Elizabethan Audience Essay

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How Hamlet Targets The Elizabethan Audience Many people may think of William Shakespeare’s work as very outdated and undecipherable, but in reality, his plays are a work of art. The remarkable Hamlet is one of his best known pieces, especially the famous “to be or not to be” (3.1.57) quote. Shakespeare did not just write Hamlet for entertainment, but to have the audience be able to relate to conflicts, death and overall human existence. Shakespeare targets the Elizabethan audience in a very specific way. The most interesting way that he made the content of this play more appealing was by having young Hamlet say his notorious soliloquies. One of the most important ones in this piece was “How all occasions do form against me” in act 4, scene …show more content…

“Rightly to be great not to sir without great argument But greatly to find quarrel in a straw When honor’s at stake. How stand I then, That have a father killed, a mother stained, Excitements of my reason and my blood, And let all sleep” (4.4.53-58) Hamlet wants to persuade the Elizabethan audience into always making sure they do what they think is right and taking others into consideration. Because of their high status, these people had power over others and whatever they did had a great impact on their people. Others admired them and looked up to them. Hamlet tells them to be good leaders and to know that if the right decision is not made, it could result in leaving others in suffering and pain. He wants his audience to consider others while making decisions, and not always doing things to just benefit themselves. Hamlet was written to target the Elizabethan audience in many ways. Using religious views, showing the cruelness of humans and speaking about the importance of honour shows them how they can change their lives. Hamlet was more of a thinker than a doer, and by contemplating revenge, existence and death, he connected with his

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