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Essays on history of hamlet
Essays on history of hamlet
The significance of hamlet in the 21st century
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There are many topics deeply hidden in the works of William Shakespeare. One of his greatest pieces of works is the story of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Not only are the words of Shakespeare meaningful, but there are also many follow up pieces of literature that contain important interpretations of the events in this play. These works about Hamlet are extremely beneficial to the reader. I have found four of these works and will use them as sources throughout this essay. The first source is “The Case of Hamlet’s Conscience,” by Catherine Belsey, and it focuses on the topic of Hamlet’s revenge in the play. The second source is “’Never Doubt I Love’: Misreading Hamlet,” by Imtiaz Habib, and it explains a lot of information about Hamlet’s “love” for Ophelia. The third source is “Shakespeare’s Hamlet, III.i.56—88,” by Horst Breuer, and it talks in depth about the issue of suicide in Hamlet. The fourth and final source is “Shakespeare’s Hamlet 1.2.35-38,” by Kathryn Walls, and it describes the significance of the role the Ghost plays throughout Hamlet. There are many different confusing parts in Hamlet and the best way to fully understand the play is to understand all of these parts. By understanding every miniscule detail in the play, it creates a different outlook on the play for the reader. In this essay, I will explain these confusing topics, as well as explain why the sources are helpful and what insight they can bring. At the end is this essay, the reader will have a complete understanding and appreciation of the play Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.
Let’s begin by talking about how Shakespeare uses other characters in the play as foils to Hamlet’s character. There are three distinct characters that are used as...
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...been poisoned. Finally, Hamlet dies because of his own inaction to revenge his father’s death (V.II.) All of these characters died in some manner because of suicide. Suicide is a difficult subject to discuss because it relies heavily on personal opinions. Shakespeare effectively uses this subject throughout the play and the reader can understand the information that is delivered.
To continue on the subject of suicide, I will bring in some information from my last source, “Shakespeare’s Hamlet 1.2.35-38,” by Kathryn Walls. (Gather information from source and relate to the book).
Hamlet is much more enjoyable when everything that is read, is understood.
Works Cited
Shakespeare, William. “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Ed. Edgar V. Roberts. 9th Ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2009. Print
Hamlet is self centered and irrational throughout most of the play. He goes through various stages of suicidal thoughts that all revolve around a multitude of selfish reasons because he can not deal with his problems. His outbursts, mood swings, and constantly changing character have led to a multitude of reasons for his decisions to not kill himself. Think of this, it is much easier to die for a cause than to live for a cause, and yet all Hamlet wants to do is take the easy way out. There are three major soliloquies that Hamlet has that prove as major turning points of his emotions. Hamlet’s suicidal thoughts ring loud and clear for most of the play, however they do change constantly and play key pieces that provide well written and thought provoking soliques.
Suicidal tendencies play a huge role in Hamlet by forming character relationships, adding suspense to the plot and storyline. “Ah, I wish my dirty flesh could melt away into a vapor, or that God had not made a law against suicide. Oh God, God! How tired, stale, and pointless life is to me” (Hamlet 1.2.130-134). This quote by Hamlet Junior in act 1 really embodies the
Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmark With New and Updated Critical Essays and a Revised Bibliography. Ed. Sylvan Barnet. New York: Signet Classics, 1998. Print.
Works Cited Shakespeare, William. The. “Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. Eds. X. J. Kennedy, Dana. Gioia.
Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Ed. Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine. New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 2012. Print.
But this article proves otherwise, “Someone may be more likely to attempt suicide if they have a mental health disorder” (Kahn). This article displays that mental health disorder are more likely the key that trigger a person to commit suicide than family matters. But the main characters in Hamlet that were involve with the idea of suicide were stressed with recent situations in the family. A daughter in depression and a son in madness of their own father’s death. Especially for Hamlet, “The play makes it amply clear that Hamlet’s gloomy state of mind is not an old complaint but something brought on by recent events (Bloom)”. The loss of a loved one turned Hamlet into a miserable man. The belief that he did not have a mental health disorder but he is unable to cope with the loss of his father and the betrayal of his
The way we see ourselves is often reflected in the way we act. Hamlet views himself as different to those young nobles around him such as Fortinbras and Laertes. This reality leads us to believe that over time he has become even more motivated to revenge his father's death, and find out who his true friends are. How can you be honest in a world full of deceit and hate? His seven soliloquies tell us that while the days go by he grows more cunning as he falls deeper into his madness. This fact might have lead Hamlet to believe that suicide is what he really wants for his life's course.
Hamlet’s anger and grief- primarily stemming from his mother’s marriage to Claudius- brings him to thoughts of suicide, which only subside as a result of it being a mortal and religious sin. The fact that he wants to take his own life demonstrates a weakness in his character; a sense of cowarness, his decision not to kill himself because of religious beliefs shows that this weakness is balanced with some sense of morality. Such an obvious paradox is only one example of the inner conflict and turmoil that will eventually lead to Hamlet’s downfall.
Shakespeare, William. “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Ed. Edgar V. Roberts. 9th Ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2009. Print
Upon examining Shakespeare's characters in this play, Hamlet proves to be a very complex character, and functions as the key element to the development of the play. Throughout the play we see the many different aspects of Hamlet's personality by observing his actions and responses to certain situations. Hamlet takes on the role of a strong character, but through his internal weaknesses we witness his destruction.
In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, suicide is treated differently on the aspects of religion, morals, and philosophical views. Suicide is the act of deliberately killing yourself in contrary to your own best interests. In today’s society suicide is highly looked down upon. But Shakespeare used suicide and violence in almost all of his most popular plays. Many of his tragedies used the element of suicide, some accomplished, others merely contemplated.
Throughout the play, Hamlet, the main character, Hamlet, is at war within himself. Fighting against two demons: one named insanity, the other, suicide; Insanity, the state in which one is seriously mentally ill, and suicide, the aftermath of being insane. Is it better to live or to die? Is it better to put up with the bad things we know in life than to fall away into a mind full of madness? Hamlet is not only talking to himself but to the audience as well, questioning the existence of humanity. He is no longer fascinated with the thought of death but with the knowledge of mortality. That our world is made of death and decay. If insanity is the cause of suicide Hamlet must find a way to deal with both.
Hamlet is the best known tragedy in literature today. Here, Shakespeare exposes Hamlet’s flaws as a heroic character. The tragedy in this play is the result of the main character’s unrealistic ideals and his inability to overcome his weakness of indecisiveness. This fatal attribute led to the death of several people which included his mother and the King of Denmark. Although he is described as being a brave and intelligent person, his tendency to procrastinate prevented him from acting on his father’s murder, his mother’s marriage, and his uncle’s ascension to the throne.
One of our first encounters with Hamlet early on in the play we see him contemplating suicide. Distraught by his father’s death, and mother’s hasty marriage to his uncle he wishes that he could end his life. (I.ii.135). Shakespeare does this for us to sympathize with Hamlet as he has this inner struggle with himself and his own life. Hamlet does not end up killing himself because he says you cannot self-harm which is in alignment with many Christian denominations views on suicide
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among teens. (Hogarty 1) Suicide is a painful conversation to have because when you lose someone to suicide, it affects more than just that person. In Hamlet, both Hamlet and Ophelia are battling depression and discuss suicide in great lengths. If people talk about suicide, it could be avoidable.