Violence In Hamlet

The theme of violence spans across countless works of literature. This theme is seen in the short story “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and in Hamlet by William Shakespeare. In Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper,” the protagonist slips into a state of madness. Her repeated exposure to the same wallpaper drives her insane. While Gilman does not portray physical violence in this short story, she does depict psychological violence. On the other hand, in the play Hamlet, Prince Hamlet of Denmark has just learned his father was murdered. The ghost of his father appears to him and demands he seeks revenge. Hamlet spends the rest of the play plotting to kill his murderous uncle. Hamlet is riddled with scenes of physical violence. While

In Hamlet, Prince Hamlet is free to express his anger and inner violence on those around him. This free expression of anger shapes the outline of Hamlet’s future. Even before Hamlet succeeds in murdering Claudius, he expresses his anger out on Ophelia and Gertrude. Hamlet’s acts of violence lead to his casual murdering of Polonius in later scenes. These depictions of external violence lead to the many murders found throughout the course of the play. By including external violence that leads to murder, Shakespeare shows readers the danger of free expressions of anger. Hamlet’s anger was left unchecked. He was free to release his anger and pain on those around him. His anger never affected him, but it impacted everyone who came in contact with him. At the end of the play, multiple deaths take place. When he learns he is dying, Hamlet lunges at the king and forces him to drink poison. This is shown when Hamlet says, “Drink off this potion. Is thy union here?” (Shakespeare 357). On the contrary, in “The Yellow Wallpaper,” Jane’s inner violence leads to her taking her own life. Because Jane was never free to release her anger like Hamlet, she inflicted her violence on herself. Her slow decent into madness can also be contributed to this lack of release of emotion. While it is debated on whether Jane actually did commit suicide, Gilman writes that “[Jane is] securely fastened now by [her] well-hidden rope” (Gilman). Because of this quote, it can be interpreted that Jane did kill herself. Gilman’s use of inner violence and suicide creates a feeling of discomfort in the reader. Inner violence is hard to stomach. In Hamlet’s case, readers understand why Hamlet yearns for revenge. In Jane’s case, her apparent suicide is shocking. Even though her slow descent into madness is experienced by readers, her finally act still brings with it utter shock. While Hamlet is responsible for the death of many