How Does Hamlet React To Macbeth

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In William Shakespeare’s plays, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark and The Tragedy of Macbeth, the main characters are visited by supernatural beings. These beings share with Hamlet and Macbeth insights of life-changing events. Macbeth immediately starts planning his actions. His obsession for power begins after seeing the three witches. Hamlet reacts in an opposite manner. He has an inability to make decisions and even contemplates suicide, after seeing the ghost of his father. Both characters are presented with life changing news, but their actions and pursuits differ greatly. Both Macbeth and Hamlet make life-changing decisions after being visited by spirits, but each character reacts to their encounter differently; Macbeth takes …show more content…

Macbeth learns that he will become the king. “All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis! /All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee thane of Cawdor! / All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!” (Macbeth 1.3.7.48-50). Macbeth is driven into action by the temptation of becoming king. “Macbeth chooses to force the pace, to bend time to his will, by his decision, man of action ever, to take the life of the king” (Tonkin). He takes direct action and plots the murder of Duncan the king. He is able to follow through with his plans. “I have done the deed” (Macbeth 2.2.14). After this, he becomes power hungry and fears that the second part of the witches’ prophecy will come true. The witches address Banquo saying, “Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none”. Naturally, Macbeth cannot let this happen, he has Banquo and most of his family successfully killed; there is only one survivor, Fleance. When this life altering prophecy is told to Macbeth, he is not indecisive when taking action; he is not afraid to get his hands …show more content…

Hamlet struggles when he is placed under the pressure of carrying out actions. “A heavy deed is placed on a soul which is not adequate to cope with it (Von Goethe). Hamlet indirectly takes action by creating a play in a play. He plans to act out the murder and see how his uncle reacts to the play. Hamlet is not willing to directly confront his uncle until late in the play. Even though Hamlet knows that is father cannot rest until his murderer is dead, he still has trouble diving in and conquering his

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