In Act II Scene II during Hamlets “O, what a rogue” soliloquy Hamlet goes on about how much he sucks and begins to question the ghost he has seen in Act I. Hamlet states, “The spirit I have seen/ May be the devil: and the devil hath power” (II.II.596-597). In this statement, Hamlet basically says, “Maybe the ghost of my Dad I saw was the devil.” If I were put in this situation I would have been more skeptical than Hamlet was, even though he was grieving. I wouldn’t take such rash actions of planning on murdering my uncle just because some ghost told me to do so. Be that as it may, I can understand why Hamlet would believe it is his father's ghost and can only imagine how sincerely mad that would make a person. I feel as if Hamlet and his Dad …show more content…
didn’t get any closure over his death, which is why I feel Hamlet feels the need to help his Dad get closure. Although, I believe the “devil” is a bit far fetched I do think Hamlet is having a some-what rational thought process, which is what he should have had from the start.
Hamlet may have been in such a depressed, emotionally unstable state that he completely convinced himself he talked to his deceased father who tells him to kill his uncle. Maybe this ghost could be Hamlet's subconscious thought of his feeling towards his uncle and he’s in such a state of distress that he pins these subconscious thoughts on a ghost. I believe the devil Hamlet is talking about is his deep hatred towards his uncle and his uncles relationship with his mother. It is his subconscious which is trying to persuade him to sin, and I think he needs to avoid this altogether. When Hamlet says, “To assume a pleasing shape; yea, and, perhaps/ Out of my weakness and my melancholy,” (II.II.558-559). Hamlet’s own self has planted his sins on his Dad, whom he loves very much, so Hamlet can justify his future actions with his …show more content…
uncle. I believe Hamlet is right in the way he should have questioned what he saw but it isn’t too late to lay back and think about what has happened rationally. Hamlet is risking having a life full of consequences and punishments for a future sin he may do without knowing fully if he actually saw his father. I’d react in a more civil way to avoid multiple people getting hurt during my (Hamlet’s) grieving period. Hamlet could have stopped an entire tragedy if he can deal with his emotions in a way that will cause for no one to be in distress over his actions. If Hamlet is a man of words he should use them to talk his problems out with his uncle and his mother. ACT III LOGS Act III Scene I & Scene III Problems One of the biggest problems I have towards this play is Claudius, plain and simple everything about his character bothers me.
During Claudius’ guilt speech two specific points I can outline for Claudius’ corrupt nature is when he says, “How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience!” (III.i.51) and, “O heavy burden!” (III.i.55). These lines he says give me chills because Claudius can use actions to physically kill his brother, take his throne and steal his wife and feel no remorse, but when someone speaks about horrible crime coming from the most natural things he finally confesses guilt. What is it about words that trigger Claudius’ guilt? Another major problem I have with Claudius is he admits to murdering his brother but does it without anyone around. Once he admits his guilt everything is still normal until the next time he is alone. Claudius says, “O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven; It hath the primal eldest curse upon’t,” (III.iii.37-38). Yet again Claudius is a coward and will not admit his wrongdoings to the public. He’s even relating what he’s done to a bible story Cain and Abel to show the degrees of his awful offence. Jealousy over another brother is shown in Cain and Abel and I believe even Claudius knows he killed his brother over materialistic things, power and fake love. Claudius abstains from telling people about what he’s done because he likes what he has and doesn’t want it taken away. Not owning up to something will make you powerless in
the end, because if someone finds out they can hold it over your head or expose you. Claudius is a coward and his targeting Hamlet because he is afraid of losing everything he has. Above all he may feel guilty for his sins but he never asks for forgiveness because Claudius says, “Words without thoughts never to heaven go” (III.iii.99). He may have some respect for not lying that he likes what he has, but Claudius is a jealous human and doesn’t obtain any of the attributes fit for a king and should have never been put into power. Overall, it still aggravates me that Claudius can be deceitful and not want public forgiveness for what he’s done. Act III Scene II & IV If That Were Me In this act, specifically the mousetrap scene, I think Hamlet devised a scholarly plan to figure out if his “father’s ghost” was actually telling the truth about what Claudius did. In my opinion, although Hamlet did get out of line a few times throughout the scene, like when he said, “for, look you, how cheerfully my/ mother looks, and my father died within these two/ hours” (III.ii.122-124). I still believe the plan carried out by Hamlet was his smartest move yet. In Hamlet’s position I still would have instructed for the first player to put on a show that outlined what I thought was my father’s death, because it was a brilliant idea to figure out if Claudius was guilty or not. If I could give any advice to Hamlet, not specifically just in this scene, but overall, it would be - if you’re going to kill your uncle, you shouldn’t make your hate for him so obvious, because then everyone will know you are the guilty suspect. If from the start, Hamlet could have acted normal and kept to himself about knowing what Claudius did, he could have still avenged his father while staying out of prison. Also, during the play I think Hamlet was smart when he asked Horatio to watch his Uncle too just incase he missed anything and can insure that what they saw actually happened. By executing the mousetrap scene with the added crazy comments the other people in the theatre were more distracted by Hamlet's craziness rather than the king running out of the play. Obviously Hamlet’s main reason for the play was to see Claudius’ reaction, but it could have been more effective if the people surrounding the king noticed the abnormal acknowledgement to the play too. If Hamlet were to take my advice, following Claudius’ reaction and not acting mad during the play, Hamlet would have an upper hand and be able to talk some sense into Queen Gertie. Hamlet could have also told his Mother what he thought happened to his father from the beginning and she would have been more understanding to his actions. In the closet scene, Queen Gertrude doesn’t seem to trust what Hamlet says because of his past actions. Hamlet loses trust in numerous characters, because who would actually believe and listen to a “mad-man”? Act III Scene I & IV Why They Do What They Do Throughout the entire act Hamlet treats the people he loves cruelly and coldly. But, does he only treat the ones he loves with such disdain when other people are around or spying? When Hamlet suspects someone of spying the vulgarness of his speech increases as when he tells innocent Ophelia, “Get thee to a nunnery,” (III.i..137) and “you jig, you amble and you lisp” (III.i.145). Hamlet wasn’t being very nice to Ophelia prior to him thinking someone was spying but as soon as he suspected it his words turned to daggers. Hamlet knows he is a man of words and not actions and he choses to play up on them. Another instance when Hamlet treats someone he loves crudely is when he is in the theatre surrounded by the public. Hamlet publicly humiliates his Mother by spewing out harsh comments such as, “O heavens! Die two months, ago, and not forgotten yet?” (III.ii.127-128). Hamlet is talking to Ophelia outloud and making a sarcastic comment on how it seems his mother has already forgotten about her old husband. I can’t decipher whether or not Hamlet is so mean to the people that he loves because of the famous quotation, “we hurt those who we love the most” or just to accentuate his own crazy acting. If I had to focus on one reason he treats the people that have been there for him so badly I would say it’s because he is in so much distress about his Father’s quick death and the fact he has had no closure because his mother moved on so quickly. A grieving soul has so many phases it needs to go through before it can be fixed again. Hamlet is desperately seeking his mother’s attention and is being stipped of it because of his uncle. This is why I believe he is constantly attacking his mother’s and Claudius’ relationship because it is interfering with his calls for help in his time of distress. I don’t think Hamlet truly means to attack the ones he loves, but why can’t he just talk to them instead of hurting them and creating barriers? Hamlet seems to get a response out of his mother is when he speaks rationally and not mad, so why does Hamlet feel the need to verbally attack people who don’t entirely deserve it? ACT IV LOGS Act IV Scene Patterns, Entrances & Exits Act four is framed by lies, which is quite a common theme in Hamlet. The first scene in act one is Queen Gertrude lying to her husband Claudius. Gertrude tells Claudius, “Mad as the sea and wind, when both contend, Which is the mightier: in his lawless fit,” (IV.i.7-8). Gertie is covering for her son Hamlet by putting on a false front to her husband and acting like he is still completely mad. If Claudius found out that Hamlet's craziness was just an act, he would feel even more threatened because Hamlet is capable of great things. Gertrude understands that there could be major consequences for tell Claudius the truth, but she doesn’t lie without a good reason. Gertrude is lying for a reason, and I believe that reason to be to protect her son. Moving on to the end of the fourth act, Claudius says to Gertrude, “How much I had to do to calm his rage” (IV.vii.194). Claudius is telling the Queen that while talking to Laertes, he had to calm him down, when that is not what happened at all. Claudius lies for his own personal gain and for an evil reason. By telling Gertrude that he was calming down Laertes to try and prevent a rebellion, it makes their private talk not seem so suspicious. Claudius knows if the queen were to find out any detail of his conversation with Laertes, it would ruin their plan to end Hamlets life. By the act starting and ending in a lie, it contrasts the two types of lies: lying to protect someone you love and lying for the mere results of your own selfish needs. Not only does this contrast the two types of lies, but it contrasts the two types of people in the play, the selfish and the selfless.
The tone that is portrayed before line 51 is beseeching because Claudius attempts to ask for redemption from God. The tone shifts to dismal because Claudius starts to realize there is no way to be pardoned for his crime. Although Claudius’ offense was in the past, he uses a rhetorical question and asks heaven what kind of prayer can forgive someone for murder. Claudius is aware of how ludicrous it is to ask God to forgive him for a foul murder. At this point, Claudius realizes that he cannot ask for such a vast favor from God. Claudius conceded that he has benefitted from his brother’s death by acquiring the crown and his wife. Claudius is in conflict because he wants to be forgiven and also wants to maintain the benefits he has gained by murdering King Hamlet. Claudius shows that he is in conflict with his ego because he is greedy enough to want to keep the crown and his queen, while also wanting to be pardoned for his crime. Claudius’ eyebrows should be raised to express confusion as he tries to decide between what he has acquired by murdering or gaining repentance. Claudius uses a personification by giving offense a human attribute, a gilded hand, in line 58. Claudius indicates how the desire for wealth, social status, and personal desire can cause someone to commit crime, ultimately pushing morality aside. Although in a corrupt world where one can find their way to break the law, Claudius is aware that in heaven, everyone is forced to face the truth of their actions. Claudius realizes that one must own up to every crime that is
Hamlet wonders whether to live or die, to suffer or take arm. Given to the pain he feels at his father's murder, and his mother's hasty remarriage to his uncle, to the murderer. he wonders if it is nobler to bear his grief, or to take action. His dad’s ghost has told him what really happened at the night his father died and told him to revenge. Now Hamlet has another choice to make. To trust the ghost or not. When Hamlet made the choice to listen and believe the apparition of his dead father, he willingly buys into the spirit's claim that he has been murdered by Claudius. This decision has huge repercussions for the rest of the play.
Throughout the play Hamlet is in constant conflict with himself. An appearance of a ghost claiming to be his father, “I am thy father’s spirit”(I.v.14) aggravates his grief, nearly causing him to commit suicide and leaving him deeply disgusted and angered. Upon speaking with his ghost-father, Hamlet learns that his uncle-stepfather killed Hamlet the King. “The serpent that did sting thy father’s life Now wears his crown”(I.v.45-46) Hamlet is beside himself and becomes obsessed with plotting and planning revenge for the death of his father.
Many believe that Hamlet does not take immediate action because Hamlet 's character is one of contemplation and unhappiness; not action. Because of these traits, Hamlet needs evidence and assurance that Claudius really has killed Old Hamlet. Hamlet 's philosophical nature allows him to question the Ghost 's existence and collect evidence before acting which delays Claudius ' death. Hamlet 's initial response is to trust the Ghost and act quickly when he says that “from the table of [his] memory [he will] wipe away all trivial fond records,/ And [the ghosts] commandment all alone shall live within the book and volume of [his] brain” (Shakespeare 1.5.100-106). Hamlet is clearly comfortable with the situation. However, he later is filled with doubt and whether “The spirit that [he has] seen may be the devil, and the devil hath power t 'assume a pleasing shape. Yea, and perhaps Out of [his] weakness and my melancholy, As [the Ghost] is very potent with such spirits, abuses [him] to damn [him]” (2.2.561-567). It is shown that the Prince is concerned to whether he should believe what he is being told, or if it is possible that it is the Devil and he may be taking advantage of Hamlets weakness. The play which Hamlet wishes to be performed is one involving a murder similar to that which the ghost described, and he decided that "The play 's the thing wherein I 'll catch the
The Mel Gibson version of Act I, scene 5 gives the most accurate representation of the ghost’s purpose to use Hamlet as a result the actors’ movements and manners of speaking. In this film clip, the ghost is calm and sure of himself, speaking softly, as ghosts do, yet with conviction of his own authority. He is also mobile in the scene, moving ever closer to a Hamlet who appears to be paralyzed with fear. This motion establishes an unequal power dynamic between the father and son, making it clear that the late King Hamlet is in control of the situation. Although the ghost still tells Hamlet to “taint not [his] mind, nor let [his] soul contrive against [his] mother aught,” the line is delivered as an ominous warning rather than fatherly advice.
A great chain of events in "Hamlet", Shakespeare's great revenge tragedy, leads to Hamlet's own demise. His necessity for subterfuge allows him to inadvertently neglect is main objective, revenge. So much so that the ghost of his dead father appears to stipulate Hamlet's reserved behavior towards his fathers revenge. "Do not forget. This visitation is to whet thy almost blunted purpose," (83-84) says the ghost in a motivational manner which almost suggests a lack of faith on Hamlet's behalf.
All throughout the play Hamlet mourns the loss of his father, especially since his father is appearing to him as a ghostly figure telling him to avenge his death, and throughout the play it sets the stage and shows us how he is plotting to get back at the assassinator. Such an instance where the ghost appears to Hamlet is when Hamlet and his mother are in her bedchamber where the ghost will make his last appearance. Hamlet tells his mother to look where the ghost appears but she cannot see it because he is the only one who that has the ability to see him.
Claudius feels guilty about killing his brother. We can see Claudius;s remorse when he is talking to God and gives his monologue about his his murder. Therefore, Claudius says, "My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent(pg.165)." This quote proves that Claudius realizes that he made a mistake and he also realizes that he cannot put everything behind him as mich as he wants to. Everything reminds him about his brother, the kingdom, the queen and the crown.
At first, Hamlet sees the ghost of his dead father and vows to avenge his death. “Christianity forbids followers to seek out spirits for advice or communication” (Ja) Hamlet has his faith tested because he is unsure about what his father is telling him. If the truth is that Claudius is the one who murdered Hamlet’s father then Hamlet will need to commit murder himself in order to fulfill his promise to his father’s ghost. “Hamlet, after the shock of his discoveries, becomes virtually another person and re-evaluates the situation in accordance with his religious views. Perhaps the ghost is just an illusion or mental disorder making him imagine this tale, and the murder of his father is illusory because he is not able to accept this kind of marriage and he wants to justify his crimes.” (****) Hamlet wrestles with his feelings and decides he must arrange for Claudius to admit to the murder instead of murdering Claudius himself. He is aware of the moral dilemma he finds himself in, if he kills Claudius then he, Hamlet may go to hell. If he refuses to kill Claudius then his father may be sent to hell. Hamlet knows from his religious background that murd...
William Shakespeare's “Hamlet” is one of the most tragic plays ever written. It is about a young prince trying to keep his word to his dead father by avenging his death. Hamlet procrastinates when avenging his father’s death, which is his tragic flaw. Hamlet appears to be a coward as well as depressed. He finds himself questioning his own ambitious motives such as revenge and hatred toward his murderous uncle. Hamlet tells Horatio, his friend that he is going to fake madness as he loses his determination. It is Hamlet’s hubris that makes me begin to believe he is mad. Hamlet does at one point have doubt concerning the honesty of the ghost. His various reasons for delay in seeking revenge is that he wants to make sure his uncle Claudius is one hundred percent guilty and at the same time does not want to hurt his mother. He has too much Oedipus complex, love for his mother.
Hamlet is conflicted throughout most of the play like when he debates if killing Claudius is morally right or a trap set by the “devil” to coerce him to commit a terrible act. Hamlet puts on the play in front of Claudius to assure himself the ghost of Hamlet Sr. is not the devil, as said in the line “May be the devil, and the devil hath power // T' assume a pleasing shape. Yea, and perhaps // Out of my weakness and my melancholy, // As he is very potent with such spirits,”. The play turns out to be a success for Hamlet, as it exposes Claudius as a murderer.
The core of the play then unfolds from the actions and words of this ghost. Hamlet's revenge against his uncle is certainly fueled by the ghost's words, but the ghost seems to serve a more subtle and internal part here. In the famous "To be or not to be" soliloquy (III.i.55-88), Hamlet makes it clear his is not only unsure of what action to take, but unsure of himself as well. It seems his father's aberration confuses Hamlet ...
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?
A common motif in Shakespeare’s many plays is the supernatural element, to which Hamlet , with the presence of a ghost, is no exception. The story of Hamlet, the young prince of Denmark, is one of tragedy, revenge, deception, and ghosts. Shakespeare’s use of the supernatural element helps give a definition to the play by being the catalyst of the tragedy that brings upon Hamlet’s untimely demise. The ghost that appears at the beginning of the play could possibly be a satanic figure that causes Hamlet to engage in the terrible acts and endanger his soul. The supernatural element incorporated into the play is used as an instigator, a mentor, as well as mediation for the actions of the protagonist that ultimately end in tragedy, with the loss of multiple lives, as well as suscept Hamlet’s soul to hell. Shakespeare’s portrayal of the ghostly apparition causes a reader to question whether the ghost is a demonic force on the basis of its diction, conduct towards others as well as Hamlet, and it’s motive to kill.