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The relationship between Hamlet and his father
The relationship between father and son hamlet
The relationship between Hamlet and his father
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Parental Influence A father is often seen as one of the most influential people in a person’s life. When that father returns as a ghost and commands you to seek vengeance for his death, it is understandable that this may cause some psychological issues. This complex relationship between Hamlet and his ghost father that drives a moral student to seek fatal vengeance on Claudius, the perceived source of his family’s suffering. The Ghost is the person most responsible for setting Hamlet down his path of vengeance. To determine why the Ghost was able to accomplish this, the characteristics of Hamlet must first be understood. Is Hamlet, by nature, prone to complete the task set out for him? Does Hamlet accept his fate or question the proof …show more content…
in “In Defense of Hamlet.” Utter claims that “...Hamlet should be thought of more as a hero full of many desirable qualities than as a psychopath or weak-willed, incompetent dreamer” (138). He points to the instances where Hamlet calls into question his mothers remarriage, not based on a selfish conflict but a moral one. He recalls Hamlet’s objections to the heavy drinking of Claudius. Utter also compares the reluctance of Hamlet to commit revenge to the demands for it made by Laertes (140). While Laertes is motivated by a “...desire merely to retaliate in kind for an injury done their fathers,” (Utter 141) Hamlet is seeking to “right the wrong” (141). Hamlet does not just kill Claudius when given the chance, but waits until he himself is dying and Claudius’ crimes are fully exposed. If he had done so earlier, than “nothing would have been righted in any sense of the word; instead, wrongs would have been multiplied” (Utter …show more content…
One consistently displayed trait by the Ghost is narcissism. In “The Woman in Hamlet: An Interpersonal View,” David Leverenz looks at some of these self-centered actions. As the Ghost is relating the horrors of his current condition, Hamlet begins to get upset. The Ghost responds with “Pity me not” (Hamlet 1.5.9) which is a way of “…rejecting the empathy he has just solicited” (Leverenz 298). Leverenz also observes that the Ghost is in purgatory “not because of his heroic or virtuous strength but because of “the foul crimes done in my days of nature”” (298). The Ghost’s love of Gertrude is also summarized as being more of a “public ritual” than as an actual
Hamlet grants himself the opportunity to momentarily direct himself, yet it remains unknown as to whether he directs a representation of truth or a falsity. He exemplifies madness so well, as the sight of "a damned ghost" (77) insanely induces his imagination and comfortably transforms his identity to one of lunacy. This role he acquires is one he portrays so explicitly well as an actor that he easily utilizes it as the foundation for his players. He instructs the players:
At first Hamlet is weary to kill Claudius, but he soon realizes that in order for his father to be avenged he needs to kill Claudius. “Let not the royal bed of Denmark be/ A couch for luxury and damned incest/ But howsomever thou pursues this act” (Shakespeare I.v.82-84). In this scene Hamlet is talking to his father’s ghost, he does not know whether he should trust the ghost or not because it could be representing the devil. After Hamlet sees the ghost, he is fearful that the ghost is not his father, because he has a stable relationship with his father we is willing to try. “They (boys without a father figure) call attention to their pain, getting into trouble, getting hurt, doing things that are bad for them, as if they are calling for a father to come take them in hand and straighten them out or at least tell them how a grown men would handle the pain” (Pittman). Family therapist, Frank Pittman proposes that kids who do not have fathers present in their life tend to get out of control. When Hamlet no longer has a father, he starts to act crazy, he is very rude to Ophelia and his mother, he starts to talk to himself, and have suicidal thoughts. Many emotional problems come into play when a stepfather does not have a relationship with his stepson. “That it should come to thus:/ But two months dead-nay, not so much, not two-/ So excellent a king, that was to this/ Hyperion to a satyr” (Shakespeare I.ii.137-141). Hamlet describes his father as a Hyperion, which is the ancient Greek sun god, Hamlet had a sound relationship with is deceased father, but now that he is gone Hamlet has to deal with his stepfather Claudius; who Hamlet calls a Satyr, which is a mythological creature, associated with drunken lust. Hamlet has an unsteady relationship with his stepfather, he
The Ghost of Hamlet’s father, was in way another brick of burden for Hamlet to carry, and did nothing but add confusion and anger to his already disturbed mind. After this I believe hamlets madness to grow, he his blinded by bitterness and anger towards his uncle so much that he loses sight compassion for life and love.
In Hamlet, William Shakespeare presents the main character Hamlet as a man who is fixated on death. Shakespeare uses this obsession to explore both Hamlet's desire for revenge and his need for assurance. In the process, Shakespeare directs Hamlet to reflect on basic principles such as justice and truth by offering many examples of Hamlet's compulsive behavior; as thoughts of death are never far from his mind. It is apparent that Hamlet is haunted by his father's death. When Hamlet encounters the ghost of his father, their conversation raises all kinds of unthinkable questions, for example murder by a brother, unfaithful mother, that triggers Hamlet's obsession. He feels compelled to determine the reliability of the ghost's statements so that he can determine how he must act. Ultimately, it is his obsession with death that leads to Hamlet avenging the death of his father by killing Claudius.
Despite the fact that Hamlet was uneasy with Claudius’ gain of power prior to encountering his father’s ghost, it didn’t cause him to act impetuously. Aware of the grave situation Hamlet decisively chose his methods to discover whether King Claudius was his father’s murder.
The Ghost of King Hamlet William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a heavily debated character within the play. Although the Ghost calls Hamlet his son there’s no proof the Ghost is in fact the spirit of King Hamlet. Which brings into question the nature of its character and motives. The Ghost of King Hamlet is clearly evil based on its willingness to jeopardize Hamlets soul for revenge against Claudius.
Hamlet: Comparing Father and Son. In the play, Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, Hamlet was a man that looked up to his father throughout his life, during and after his father's death. The younger Hamlet tried to follow in his father's footsteps, but as much as they were alike, they were very much different. The man named Hamlet had a son named Hamlet and after everything was over, that is one of the few things that they had in common.
Although they may exhibit some similar traits, all fathers and sons are individuals. They are, or will become, their own man. This development is based on life experience, which is never the same for any two people. In the case of King and Prince Hamlet, this also holds true.
King Hamlet loved his son like any father does. Hamlet looked up to his father like all children do and his life was greatly changed when he learned of his fathers death. After hearing the news of his father’s death, Hamlet felt as if a part of his life was ripped away from him, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. During an encounter with his father’s ghost, King Hamlet, Hamlet learns that his father was murdered. It was not the news that his father was murdered that shocked Hamlet into reality, it was the fact that the one who murdered him, was in fact his own loving brother, Claudius. After killing his own brother, Claudius believes that he can go on with life like nothing has happened. Hamlet does not understand how someone can murder somebody, who is not only the King, but their own brother, and go on with life like he did nothing wrong.
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
The ghost wants retribution and he wants Hamlet to recover his kingdom in his name, but what he really needs is pity. I feel sympathetic towards this character because he was taken from this world without the chance to regret his sins, so unfortunately he now has to suffer in purgatory for all of eternity.
“Hamlet is another of the great creations of tragic poetry…What is it that inhibits him in fulfilling the task set him by his father’s ghost?...Hamlet is able to do anything—except take vengeance on the man who did away with his father and took that father’s place with his mother, the man who shows him the repressed wishes of childhood realized. Thus the loathing which should drive him on to revenge is replaced in him by self-reproaches, by scruples of conscience, which remind him that he himself is literally no better than the sinner whom he is to punish.”- Sigmund Freud
Once Hamlet has learned of his father’s death, he is faced with a difficult question: should he succumb to the social influence of avenging his father’s death? The Ghost tells Hamlet to “revenge his foul and most unnatural murder” (1.5.31) upon which Hamlet swears to “remember” (1.5.118). Hamlet’s immediate response to this command of avenging his father’s death is reluctance. Hamlet displays his reluctance by deciding to test the validity of what the Ghost has told him by setting up a “play something like the murder of (his) father’s” (2.2.624) for Claudius. Hamlet will then “observe his looks” (2.2.625) and “if he do blench” (2.2.626) Hamlet will know that he must avenge his father’s death. In the course of Hamlet avenging his father’s death, he is very hesitant, “thinking too precisely on the event” (4.4.43). “Now might I do it…and he goes to heaven…No” (3.3.77-79) and Hamlet decides to kill Claudius while “he is drunk asleep, or in his rage, or in th’ incestuous pleasure of his bed” (3.3.94-95). As seen here, Hamlet’s contradicting thought that Claudius “goes to heaven” (3.3.79) influences him to change his plans for revenge. Hamlet eventually realizes that he must avenge his father’s death and states “from this time forth my thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth” (4.4.69). From this, Hamlet has succumbed to the social influence and has vowed to avenge his father’s death.
In traditional and modern, ghost reflects death and fear, and it never change. In Hamlet, the ghost is a symbol of Hamlet’s father who is killed by Claudius. Its propose is to demand Hamlet to avenge its death. Although the ghost only appears three times in front of Hamlet, it is a specify role to develop the whole story and plot. Through Hamlet, the ghost is the motive to make Hamlet kill Claudius, and the ghost plays a critical role to influence Hamlet.
The conversation between the ghost and hamlet serves as a catalyst for Hamlet's last actions and provides us with insights into Hamlet's character. The information the ghost reveals insights Hamlet into action against a situation he is already uncomfortable with. It must be noted, that hamlet is not quick to believe the ghost. He states that maybe he saw a devil that abuses him due to his meloncaully. We are thus subjected to an aspect of Hamlet's character. Hamlet next encounters the ghost in his mother's room. The ghost wets hamlets appetite. Hamlet is now convinced of the ghost and listens to it. The question many ask is did the ghost mislead hamlet?