Literary Analysis Of Hamlet

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The Strategy of the Tragedy Throughout the story of Hamlet, Shakespeare uses multiple themes and moods to develop plot, character development, and ideas. Some of these themes include, jealousy, forgiveness, revenge, death, truth, madness, and fear. While some themes may seem obvious to their significance, others become subject to debate and questioning. The beauty of a Shakespeare novel is that no matter how many times one may read it they are always picking up on new and interesting facts. Many of the monologues and soliloquies featured are very arguable to the true meaning of them and can be interpreted many different ways. Hamlet starts off with Claudius in full control of the Castle of Elsinore with King Hamlet already dead. Claudius is …show more content…

Shakespeare made sure that these comparisons were not only noticed by the other characters in the play but by the audience as well. For starters, Hamlet and Fortinbras are both heir to the throne by their fathers which are ironically named Hamlet and Fortinbras. Another key comparison is the duel in Act V between Laertes and Hamlet where they are both destined to avenge their fathers. This leads to the theme of revenge. Revenge gives the characters a sense of payback towards another that previously committed wrong. Revenge is one theme present in Hamlet that over rules all the other themes. Revenge is one of the stronger themes present and serves a higher importance than the other themes such as jealousy or fear and can lead to violent or regretful acts. Hamlet and Laertes are both able to avenge their father's by directly and indirectly killing their father’s murderers. Laertes is successfully able to murder Hamlet by a stab of the poisoned foil to the chest however Hamlet is not able to murder Laertes. Ironically, Laertes still dies from his own poisoned foil. As a result of Hamlet’s urge for revenge he stabs Claudius in the chest with no hesitation with the following quote “now follow death as you did to my mother” (Shakespeare V,II, 77, …show more content…

Very much like telling someone to “ have a taste of your own medicine “ some characters were unfortunate enough to meet that fate. Certain characters died by what they threatened another or killed another with. For example, Polonius was well known in the Castle for being snoop and spying on others. He even sent spies to France to see if Laertes was actually studying there (Shakespeare II,II,14,78). As a result of this Polonius suffered a stab to the chest while trying to listen in on Gertrude and Hamlet’s conversation. Much like how Claudius poisoned king Hamlet and suffers a stab to the chest by a poisoned sword and is forced to take a drink of the poisoned wine he accidentally killed Gertrude with. As well as the duel between Hamlet and Laertes how Laertes aimed to stab Hamlet with the poisoned sword but instead is stabbed with his own poisoned

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