Power And Power In Hamlet

Social Class and Power Used to Control and to Disrupt

William Shakespeare was one of the first to introduce many to the distinct divide in social class and those who where in power. Some of Shakespeare 's most famous literatures & playwrights tell the stories and air the dirty laundry of people associated high in power and social class. In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet Shakespeare gives many examples of social class and power and how they both can destroy and disrupt when greed and unrighteousness gets in the way. He also proves how both social class and power can break, manipulate, and ruin individuals caught up in the dramas of social class and power. It is without question that William Shakespeare 's Hamlet teaches us the truth about power

Those who are in power and high in social class dirty laundry can be seen anywhere on the news, the internet, and other sorts of media daily. The media reveals to us how some people that are high in status and power can go through some of the craziest scandals known to man. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet there are many scandals happen all at once. One scandal that happens in Hamlet is the unexpected and rapid marriage of King Claudius and Queen Gertrude. This union between the King and Queen nearly drives poor Hamlet crazy to the point where people think he has really lost his mind. Hamlet is caught in total disbelief when this is brought to his attention by his mother and uncle. In Act 1, Scene 2 Hamlet sates that, “She married. O, most wicked speed, to post with such dexterity to incestuous sheets! It is not nor it cannot come to good: But Break, my heart; for I must hold my tongue” (I.i.156-159). Hamlet is in so much shock and depression of all that has went on during the past few months leaving people to question his excessive mourning. However, Hamlet knows that he must continue to keep his cool until he finds the answers he is searching

Hamlet displays many differences in social class that is very similar to the social class systems in America. In Hamlet you have the Royal Court which consists of King Claudius, Queen Gertrude, and Prince Hamlet. They are the most high in power in Demark and everyone else in the country falls behind their ranking. Close to the Royal Family are Polonius and his children Laertes and Ophelia. Both of the families are fond of each other have the highest social status in Demark. Hamlet and Ophelia are in love but because of the difference in their social status and power they are forbidding to be with each other because they cannot marry. Ophelia’s father and brother instruct her to cut off all relations with the Prince of Demark because if any word about there affairs were to get out it would most likely ruin their family reputation in the land. Laertes explains to Ophelia that, “Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister, And keep you in the rear of your affection, out of the shot and danger of desire” (I.iii. 33-35). Laertes takes the time to discuss with Ophelia the importance of why she should cut off the dangerous relationship with Prince Hamlet. He explains to her how there is no possible way the two could ever truly be with each other due to the difference in social status and power he warns her to clear out before she gets caught up and things get too