In many of William Shakespeare’s plays, the main character is driven to make decisions based ironic situations they are faced with. Oftentimes, these decisions ultimately lead to their downfall. In William Shakespeares, Hamlet, the author uses both situational and dramatic irony to facilitate the downfall of his characters. In this tragedy,Shakespeare exemplifies this irony through Hamlet’s sexual tension for his mother, the irony surrounding the role of Laertes in relation to Hamlet as well as the situational irony surrounding the role of Claudius.
As the play progresses, it is obvious through Hamlet’s jealousy for Gertrudes love of Claudius creates situational irony which drives the plot. He is in love with Gertrude because she is his mother, and in his eyes she can do no wrong. However, this changes when he is forced to compete with Claudius for her affection because he is afraid of his eventual abandonment. He is jealous of their love. Although his actions are innocent in their intent, it is clear that his emotions are manifested in a sexual manner for Gertrude. This sexual tension is brought to fruition through the Hamlet’s reaction to his mother’s marriage. It is argued that, he cannot stand to see Gertrude with another man because in his eyes she is undeserving of anyones love but his own. He is disgusted by this, and it is argued that when,“Hamlet knew of the marriage, his whole soul was filled with nausea at the thought of the speedy hasting to ‘incestuous sheets’” (Dolpher 343). His nausea is a physical manifestation of the jealousy for Gertrude’s relationship with Claudius. Hamlet has a genuine and innocent love for his mother while Claudius desires Gertrude for her physical qualities. This is unacceptable to Hamlet ...
... middle of paper ...
... obvious that the downfall is conveyed through the authors use of irony as well as situations which foreshadow the future of the play.
Works Cited
Anglican, Evalin "The Role of Women in Shakespeare." Shakespearean Reference Library. Ed. Jonothan D. Lavenport, Reference Volume 2. Oxford: UXL, 2012. 413-272. Print.
Anderson, David. "Analysis of Shakespeare’s Characters" Ed. Rutherford,and Leraine. Shalter. Vol.
5: Detroit: UXL, 2004. 244-252.Print.
Dolpher , Crayne. "Emotional involvement in Shakespeare" Shakespearean reference library Ed. K.
Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner.Delaware: Jstor, 2005. 197-199. Web. 15 Jan. 2014.
Evans, Michael. "Shakespeare and the Ego" Literary Analysis Journal of Shakespearean Works Ed.
Miller M.Cambell. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2003. 347-348. Print.
Riverside Shakespeare, 2nd ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1997. 366-398. Neely, Carol Thomas. “Shakespeare’s Women: Historical Facts and Dramatic Representations.”
William Shakespeare, the author of Romeo and Juliet used irony very well. Juliet wants to be with her new secret husband, where as many have told her she has to marry. She does not want to do so, she and the Friar decide that she will fake her death and send a letter to her husband, Romeo, to tell him to get her away from Verona, Italy. Ironically, Romeo does not get this letter and thinks that she really is dead. He then kills himself to be with her. When Juliet awakes from the forged demise, she establishes that Romeo is dead and ironica...
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "dramatic irony (literature)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014. .
Hamlet: Hamlet's Sanity & nbsp; & nbsp; “Great wits are sure to madness near allied, and thin partitions do. their bounds divide.” Though John Dryden's quote was not made in regard to William Shakespeare's Hamlet, it relates very well to the argument of whether or not Hamlet went insane. When a character such as Hamlet is under scrutiny, it can sometimes be difficult to determine what state he is in at. particular moments in the play.
Riddled with ambiguity by its very nature, the text of William Shakespeare's Hamlet has been a commonly debated subject in literary circles since its first performance. The character Hamlet undergoes intense physical and emotional hardship in his quest for revenge against his despicable uncle. This hardship, some argue, leads to an emotional breakdown and, ultimately, Hamlet's insanity. While this assessment may be suitable in some cases, it falls short in others. Since Hamlet is a play, the ultimate motivation of each of the characters borrows not only from the text, but also from the motivations of the actors playing the parts. In most respects, these motivations are more apt at discerning the emotional condition of a character than their dialogue ever could. Thus, the question is derived: In Kenneth Branagh's film adaptation of Hamlet, does the character Hamlet suffer from insanity? Giving halt to the response, this paper will first endeavor to establish what insanity is and will then provide sufficient examples both from the text, film, and Branagh's own musings on his motivations as proof that Hamlet's character, at least in Branagh's version of the play, is not insane.
Blanche's facade of morality is ironic when the reader is informed of the truth, as is her eventual committal to a mental institute when the audience knows about Stanley's rape/sex. Shakespeare incorporates similar dramatic irony into Hamlet through the same technique. Examples include Laertes trusting of Claudius when in fact Claudius couldn't force himself to feel repentant. It is the use of this dramatic irony, based on the discrepancy between appearance and reality, which makes the plays' plots engaging and interesting. Irony is not only employed by the playwright's in the plots, but also in subtle symbolism which allows a multi-faceted portrayal of characters, and the fictional world in which they exist.
There are a lot of flaws in a character which could lead to his downfall, like in the famous movie, Batman, where the craziness of the Joker leads to his downfall. In many movies and even in the real world there are character traits which can lead to someones downfall. Also in the Elizabethan tragedy play Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, there are many persons which have character flaws. Hamlet, known for its exciting action and tragic characters, is about Prince Hamlet whose father is murdered by his uncle. Prince Hamlet tries to get revenge for his father by
Kemp, Theresa D. Women in the Age of Shakespeare. Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood, 2009. Print.
Shakespeare’s Hamlet, shows strong prejudice against woman especially with such characters of Ophelia and Gertrude. Shakespeare created an interesting character with Gertrude; he created a character that sits in the middle of all the conflict and appears to not partake in much of it. However Gertrude does seem intent in defusing it at every possible chance she receives. Gertrude is a central figure in the play. She appears a great deal but doesn’t say much – implying mystery and creating an interesting uncertainty in the audience. Hamlet spends a lot of time dwelling on her marriage to Claudius and Shakespeare leaves many questions unanswered with Gertrude such as did she have an affair with Claudius behind old hamlets back? Why does she drink the poisoned wine that is intended for her son? Does she know it is poisoned? Gertrude is the mother of Hamlet and although they do not have a typical mother son relationship she does love him. Queen Gertrude is often interpreted by many as an adulterate, incestuous woman. Catherine Belsey states that typical interpretations of Hamlet maintain: ‘Gertrude a slut; and Shakespeare a patriarchal bard’ (Belsey,1997:34). Gertrude’s actions throughout the play could be read to show her to be a very passive character, far from a strong independent woman. This is shown with her obedience to Claudius, three times during the play, Gertrude is told to leave and each times she complies without hesitation. In Act 1, scene 2 Claudius says to Gertrude, ‘Madam, come’ (122). Then again, Act 3, scene 1, Claudius says to her, ‘Sweet Gertrude, leave us .’ (28), she complies with ; ‘I shall obey you’ (37). And finally, in Act 4, scene 1, Claudius say, ‘O Gertrude, come away!’ (28). This obedience that Gertrude ...
According to Dr. Shaw of the California Polytechnical Institute, Shakespeare wrote classical tragedies, as described by Aristotle, that included “a protagonist of high estate… who falls from prosperity to misery through a series of reversals and discoveries as a result of a tragic flaw”. This was true of the protagonist Hamlet. One of his tragic flaws is, he is an immense dawdler. Hamlet also wants to be king more than anything ever and would do anything in his power to become king. He is absolutely miserable considering his father died and his mother rushes off and married his uncle, Claudius and he seized the throne.
Shakespeare’s play Hamlet is a complex and ambiguous public exploration of key human experiences surrounding the aspects of revenge, betrayal and corruption. The Elizabethan play is focused centrally on the ghost’s reoccurring appearance as a symbol of death and disruption to the chain of being in the state of Denmark. The imagery of death and uncertainty has a direct impact on Hamlet’s state of mind as he struggles to search for the truth on his quest for revenge as he switches between his two incompatible values of his Christian codes of honour and humanist beliefs which come into direct conflict. The deterioration of the diseased state is aligned with his detached relationship with all women as a result of Gertrude’s betrayal to King Hamlet which makes Hamlet question his very existence and the need to restore the natural order of kings. Hamlet has endured the test of time as it still identifies with a modern audience through the dramatized issues concerning every human’s critical self and is a representation of their own experience of the bewildering human condition, as Hamlet struggles to pursuit justice as a result of an unwise desire for revenge.
Hamlet is a scholar, speaker, actor, and prince. For some reason, Hamlet is not able to avenge his father's death without considerable delay. There is one major flaw in Hamlet's character which causes him to postpone the murder of Claudius. I believe that this flaw is Hamlet's idealism. While his idealism is a good trait, in this case, Hamlet's environment and his...
There are many reasons why Hamlet had his downfall. One being his decision to keeping the murder of his father a secret. Another one being the betrayals of his closest friends. Perhaps if Guildenstern or Rosencrantz had been there for Hamlet, to rely and place trust upon, he might not had to fell so alone. A little sympathy from his girlfriend Ophelia, and even his mother Gertrude would have been nice as well. Unfortunately Ophelia is held back from Hamlet, due to her father. Gertrude marries his uncle Claudius, who is responsible for his fathers death, and is looking to kill him next. And Guildenstern and Rosencrantz are ordered by Claudius to spy on Hamlet, and betray him as a friend.
The tragedy of Hamlet, Shakespeare’s most popular and greatest tragedy, presents his genius as a playwright and includes many numbers of themes and literary techniques. In all tragedies, the main character, called a tragic hero, suffers and usually dies at the end. Prince Hamlet is a model example of a Shakespearean tragic hero. Every tragedy must have a tragic hero. A tragic hero must own many good traits, but has a flaw that ultimately leads to his downfall. If not for this tragic flaw, the hero would be able to survive at the end of the play. A tragic hero must have free will and also have the characteristics of being brave and noble. In addition, the audience must feel some sympathy for the tragic hero.
In writing Hamlet, William Shakespeare plumbed the depths of the mind of the protagonist, Prince Hamlet, to such an extent that this play can rightfully be considered a psychological drama.