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Shakespeares presentation of claudius
Spying and surveillance in hamlet
Claudius in hamlet
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Hamlet Formal Essay
It all started out with the tragic murder of Hamlet's dad, who was killed by his own brother Claudius. Hamlet not knowing the history behind his dad's death was later notified by his dad's spiritual Ghost figure, asking Hamlet to take revenge on Claudius. After the death of King Hamlet, Claudius was positioned to be king along with getting engaged with King Hamlet's widow, Gertrude. Now throughout the book of seeking revenge, Hamlet killed his dad's nemesis Claudius along with emotionally hurting his friends and family. Along with the add up of the revenge, the theme spying plays a big role in Hamlet. The characters and the settings of play led you to hint out the characteristics of each individual character in the book.
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As we go in depth of the book, we figure out most of the characters had deception and were constantly spying on each other. With the book starts out with “Who’s There", created an open end discussion for the readers to determine who was there and who was not. At the beginning of Act II, Shakespeare introduces one of Polonius's characteristics spying into the book.
We know this because Polonius ordered Reynaldo to spy on his son Laertes in Paris. Polonius also told Reynaldo to fool Laertes with money and letters as a way for Laertes to invoke his emotions out in order for Reynado to see, (under the command of Polonius) and report back to Polonius Laertes emotions. "Observe his inclination in yourself" (Act 2,1). As we assumed it, Polonius's actions will haunt him and blame him for spying. During Act III Polonius was hiding behind a curtain and decided to spy on Gertrude and Hamlet's conversation (Act 3,2) "My lord, he's going to his mother's closet. Behind the arras I'll convey myself to hear the process". As Polonius was overhearing Hamlet's struggles, he soon realizes that every character’s opinion in the book about Hamlet was right, Hamlet was going insane at the time. At the very moment, Hamlet heard someone's body movement behind the curtains. Hamlet took action and went to the curtains to jab his sword straight through the curtains, and not knowing stabbed Polonius. Hoping it was Claudius that was spying on him and Gertrude, Hamlet was shocked as moments later Polonius was found dead. The death of Polonius was just the starting point of the whole death crisis which later darkly foreshadows many characters in the book like one of his child,
Ophelia. Not only Hamlet is the main character of the book, he is the main victim of every disaster that had happened ( besides King Hamlet's death). Everything Hamlet does from then on was to spy on Claudius and nitpick every mistake he makes to prove him guilty for the death of Hamlet's father, rather than just simply take physical revenge. Known as "play within the play" The Murder of Gonzago was Hamlet's idea of gimmicking his view of the world to the play into showing what Claudius did to kill King Hamlet. Hamlet states at the end of Act II (Act 2, 2) "I'll have grounds more relative than this. The play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king" that the way he set up the play was to get reactions and emotions out of Claudius as a way to prove Claudius guilty. Hamlet not only wants to get revenge of Claudius but wants Claudius to also suffer it emotionally. As a plan Hamlet will pretend to be mad after Claudius's death into saving his ideal imagery of having a heart for the dead. But there's a catch. Hamlet's empathy started to show as he felt sad for taking revenge on Claudius and feels the need for forgiveness. The thought drives Hamlet insane and "madness", "Though this be madness, yet there is method in ’t Will you walk out of the air, my lord?" (Polonius 2.2). All this trouble almost caused Hamlet his life as Laertes stabs him with a poisoned pointed sword. All the things Hamlet made made his friends and family doubt his future actions. For example his friends Guildenstern and Rosencrantz tried to put Hamlet to his death. Hamlet simply can not be trusted anymore and everything seems to fall out of order of getting revenge for his father. Without the death of King Hamlet, none of this would have ever happened. Without the temptation of Claudius wanting to become king, none of this would have ever happened. At the end of the book, Claudius uses the theme spying and continue the murder extravaganza. Claudius would spy on Hamlet and plan out Hamlet's death many times over and over (Claudius 4:7) "As make your bouts more violent to that end, and that he calls for drink, I’ll have prepared him a chalice for the nonce, whereon but sipping, ff he by chance escape your venomed stuck, our purpose may hold there.—but stay, what noise?" In the end not only he kills Hamlet, but also kills Gertrude, Laertes, and himself. Hamlet maybe the whole reason why things got corrupted but the fact that he wants to seek revenge for his father King Hamlet is a typical sympathy of a father son situation. If my uncle killed my dad and married my mom and no one knew about it except me, I would have also gone insane and got revenge. If you think about it Hamlet isn't actually considered mental until you were one actually him, or two his friends and most of his relatives that knew nothing his past. The spying situation also led to many disagreements and mix thoughts between each one of the characters. If it wasn't for Claudius deaths, drama, and broken relationships would have not occurred.
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by William Shakespeare is a play about a man's revenge for his father's murder and all the tragedy that comes along with it. The play takes us through the emotions and doubts Prince Hamlet finds within himself after speaking with the presumed ghost of his father, the former King of Denmark. Through Hamlet we meet Horatio, a friend of Hamlet's and a fellow student. When reading [ref] the conversations between Hamlet and Horatio, it becomes clear how Hamlet feels about his father's murder and his plans to avenge this murder. We also meet Laertes, son of Polonius and sister to Ophelia. Through interactions with Laertes we see another side to Hamlet. The similarities and the differences between them both help to show off more of Hamlet's personality and feelings about the revenge. Through both Horatio and Laertes we see not only Hamlet's plan for revenge but also some of his feelings of doubt and confusion between what he thought he wanted and what he was actually capable of.
When Laertes finds out his father, Polonius, died he acted without hesitation whereas Hamlet avenged his fathers’ death by slowly plotting in a step by step manner. During Act 3 Scene 4 (1-9 pg.1), Polonius and Gertrude talk to each other and tells Gertrude to talk to Hamlet while he spies on him. “Lord Polonius: He will come straight. Look you lay home to him: Tell him his pranks have been too broad to bear with, And that your grace hath screen 'd and stood between Much heat and him. I 'll sconce me even here. Pray you, be round with him. Hamlet: [Within] Mother, mother, mother! Queen Gertrude: I 'll warrant you, Fear me not: withdraw, I hear him coming.” As Hamlet and his mother Gertrude talk they have a little argument and Hamlet says he is upset that she married Claudius. So Gertrude went on to say we shall talk to others as well about this. At this point Hamlet doesn’t want it to be discussed out of the room and when Gertrude tries to leave Hamlet would not let her budge. Gertrude goes on scream help and when Polonius hears he does the same behind the tapestry. Hamlet already had presumed the rat was Claudius and without hesitation killed the rat with his sword and then later finding out he accidently killed Polonius. Act 3, Scene 4 (28 pg.2) “Hamlet “Nay, I know not: Is it the king?” The news reaches Laertes and as he returned from France he assumed it was Claudius who killed his father and attempted to take revenge immediately. “Laertes: To hell, allegiance! Vows, to the blackest devil! Conscience and grace, to the profoundest pit! I dare damnation. To this point I stand That both the worlds I give to negligence. Let come what comes, only I’ll be revenged Most thoroughly for my father.” Act 4, Scene 5 (105-110 pg.7). He later finds out it was Hamlet who killed Polonius. Through these points we can see how Laertes is a foil to Hamlet, because he acts without knowing reasons.
Hamlet’s character changes reflect on him about how wise he was at handling the whole situation. His character was so diverse, that every time we saw him it was like meeting a new character. Hamlet has many traits, and there is always more to Hamlet than anyone understands. Hamlet was a round and dynamic character throughout the play. Hamlet would not forget his father while all the others resumes their happy lives. Everyone understands Hamlet differently, and Hamlet himself saw the evil and corruption in human life. Claudius married Hamlet’s mother and Hamlet did not like the idea of his mother marrying so soon especially since it was to his uncle. He starts realizing the bad things that people do in their life, and how certain things don’t
When Polonius decides that he wants to know what his son is up to in Paris, he hires Reynaldo to spy on Laertes. His suggestion is that Reynaldo should say he has “some distant knowledge of him, as thus: ‘I know his father and his friends, and, in part, him’” (2.1.14-16). Polonius wants Reynaldo to lie about his friendship with Laertes in order to gain information on him. When Hamlet accidentally kills Polonius instead of Claudius, his mother tells Claudius that Hamlet “whips out his rapier, cries, ‘A rat, a rat!’” before stabbing Polonius behind a curtain (4.1.11). Gertrude swears to her husband that Hamlet had no intention of killing any human. While she is lying to Claudius, she is attempting to protect her son from harsh
Hamlet Act 2 starts with a conversation between Polonius and Reynaldo, his servant, about how Reynaldo is to find out about the behavior of Laertes, Polonius’ son. This event foreshadows the Queen and King’s conversation with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern about how Hamlet’s two friends will uncover the reason for Hamlet’s recent behavior change. In their conversation, Polonius tells Reynaldo that he is to ask random people about Laertes and to tell the people about how Laertes, in his youth, gambled, was intoxicated and got into fights. He then tells Reynaldo to spy on Laertes. Through these actions, Polonius shows that he will do almost anything to control his children and their reputations. Throughout this Act, one general theme is revealed. This theme is the scheming of characters to
The first way that deceit leads to the eventual downfall of Hamlet is Polonius' spying. In Act III, scene iii, Polonius decides to help the king by spying on Hamlet and his mother when he says, "My lord, [the king] he's going to his mothers closet. Behind the arras I'll convey myself to hear the process." (III; iii; 28 - 29) In Act III, scene iv, Polonius gets his chance and listens to a conversation between Hamlet and his mother, hoping that Hamlet would confide something in his mother that could be used against him. Unfortunately for Polonius, Hamlet hears him behind the curtain, and (thinking that Polonius is actually a spying King Claudius) immediately stabs and kills him. This event contributes to Hamlet's downfall because Claudius is able to use it as an excuse to send Hamlet away to England. Officially, the king sends Hamlet away, "for thine especial safety," (IV; iii; 37) with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern because the murder might earn him some enemies. Privately though, Claudius plans to have Rosencrantz and Guildenstern go with Hamlet to convey a message to the King of England that Hamlet is to be executed. In addition, by sending Hamlet away, Claudius is protecting himself because Hamlet is, "loved of the distracted multitude [the public]." (IV; iii; 4) So, if Hamlet were to show the people that Claudius had killed Hamlet's father, then they might believe him, and as a result, overthrow and kill Claudius. Thus, the downfall is that Claudius wants Hamlet dead. In addition, if Claudius' plan works, then Hamlet dies and his father’s death would not be avenged. So, if Polonius had not spied on Hamlet and Gertrude, Hamlet would not have killed Polonius and thus, Claudius would not have a good enough excuse to send Hamlet away to England.
This belief leads to the death of Polonius, and furthermore to the death of Hamlet. In the next scene, Hamlet's fate is sealed. Polonius, the "Wretched, rash, intruding fool", (81) was up to his old tricks, while Hamlet accidentally slays Polonius mistaking Polonius for Claudius. Later on, Laertes returns to avenge his father. "How came he dead?" (99) asked
Paying particular attention to Act 3, scene 1, in which Polonius and others discuss keeping watch over Hamlet, write an essay which makes a case for why surveillance is so important in this play.
Because of William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, I am more aware of my surroundings. Throughout Hamlet, the theme of surveillance reveals the true motives of characters. For instance, when Claudius and Gertrude are in Elsinore Castle’s Great Hall talking about Hamlet, Claudius pleads Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to “draw him on to pleasures, and to gather / So much as from occasion you may glean”(II.ii.15-16). The arrival of Guildenstern and Rosencrantz not only symbolizes the introduction to the theme of surveillance, but also highlights Claudius suspicion with Hamlet. Claudius’ true intentions are revealed, because he is worried that Hamlet may be uneasy with the sudden death of his father. Hamlet is unaware of what is going on behind his
Following the performance of “The Mousetrap”, Hamlet is summoned to his mother's chamber. Upon arguing with Gertrude over the intentions of his play, and his reasons for wanting to distress the king so openly, Hamlet kills Polonius. “How now? A rat? Dead for a ducat, dead (III.iv.27-28)! Perhaps Hamlet did not know whom he was killing. “Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell! / I took thee for thy better”(III.iv.38-39)! Perhaps Hamlet thought he was killing the king.
As you begin to read and understand the tragedy of Hamlet, you should begin to see how the many characters affect what happens as the story progresses. The further you get into the plot, however, it is quite clear that there is one strong supporting character that shapes the role of the main character of the story. When Prince Hamlet, the main character learns that his uncle Claudius was the person who had killed his father, Prince Hamlet becomes enraged by this and vouches to honor his father's death by slaying his uncle for his wrongdoing. Prince Hamlet is further enraged and disgusted by the acts of his mother, Queen Gertrude who has most hastily agreed to marry the brother of the former king of Denmark. When this occurs, we begin to see the mental constitution of Prince Hamlet unravel. As the play progresses, we further see the toll that all of this plays on the main character when he begins to doubt whether or not the apparition that he is seen is really that of his father or not and begins to think that the specter is possibly evil in some way or another.
One main theme that arises in the Hamlet is the power struggle between Hamlet and Claudius. The main problem is between Hamlet and Claudius; they are in an ongoing battle throughout the play to see who will rise with the power of the throne. Claudius is the antagonist in the story and has multiple people under him that follow his every rule (Innes). He is a manipulative character who seeks revenge on Hamlet through other people he knows. On the other hand, Hamlet is the protagonist of the story, he is very unhappy after finding out the news of how his father had been killed (Innes). He is overtaken though by the ghost of his father, Old Hamlet, and is seen to become mad as a consequence. Although Hamlet seeks revenge against his new stepfather he procrastinates killing him. Hamlet has also considered killing himself beforehand because of the struggle of power between his stepfather and himself. In the last scene of the play the power struggle that had been between Hamlet and Claudius comes to a conclusion as Gertrude, Laertes, Claudius and Hamlet die. Throughout the play Laertes, Horatio and Gertrude choose a side to be on, either between Hamlet’s and Claudius’s who both are trying to obtain the utmost power.
... the only way to honour his father Polonius is by killing Hamlet. In addition, as Claudius reads the letter from Hamlet to Laertes he says “'Tis Hamlet’s character. “Naked” And in a postscript here, he says “alone.” Can you advise me?” (IV, VII, 52-53). This shows that Claudius takes advantage of Hamlet’s return alone as an opportunity for Laertes to kill him. Through Claudius’s actions the readers observe how he deceives Laertes into killing Hamlet for his own benefit without getting blood on his hands. Furthermore, Claudius’ desperation to kill Hamlet leads to him losing sight of what is important, which is being the king of Denmark, what he originally wanted, instead the lies he told and the manipulation he spread is now taking over. To conclude, it is evident through the play that the words and actions of Claudius have only lead to the spread of deception.
There are many plots and schemes throughout Hamlet but one that is very obvious is found in Act I, Scene 5 of the play. Hamlet seeks revenge for his father's death,he decides these actions after visiting his father's ghost.When Hamlet sees the ghost of his father, the ghost describes something very shocking to Hamlet. The ghost reveals how his Father was actually murdered, hew as murdered by his own Uncle, Claudius. Hamlet also finds out from the ghost that he should seek revenge on Claudius. Hamlet believes that's exactly what he should do, therefore sets out to seek revenge. In Act 2, scene 2 Hamlet analyzes Claudius's reaction to the the tale of Pyrrhus and Priam, which is when his fathers murder is revealed on stage for everyone attending
Hamlet by William Shakespeare focuses on the title character plotting vengeance against Claudius for his father's murder to capture the Danish crown. The new king is also Hamlet's uncle and now stepdad due to the marriage with his mother, Gertrude. Through a sequence of events, the protagonist eventually avenges his father, although both his mother and himself fall to a tragic fate as well. Throughout the course of the play, the relationship between Hamlet and Gertrude changes from strained to a disrespectful and mistrustful to a bittersweet ending.