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Character analysis in hamlet by William Shakespeare
Character analysis in hamlet by William Shakespeare
Character analysis of hamlet
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In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare Claudius directly and indirectly led some of the characters such as King Hamlet and Hamlet to their deaths. Some would say that, Claudius was not the cause of some of the characters death in Hamlet because he did not kill Ophelia. This may convince some people; but, it is not supported by all the evidence. Thesis: In the play Hamlet there is one character that is responsible for almost all of the deaths of the characters in the play Hamlet.
Argument Paragraph 1: Claudius was the person who directly killed King Hamlet. The Ghost told his son Hamlet how he died when he said, "Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother's hand, of life, of crown, of queeen,at once dispatched; Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin, unhouseled, dissappointed, unaneled; No reckoning made, but sent to my account With all my imperfections on my head - Oh horrible, oh horrible, most horrible"(I.iv.74-80). This quote is showing the moment when King Hamlet which is the ghost was telling his son Hamle who was the person that killed him. When he was explaining this moment to him he said that his brother killed hm by pouring a poisonous liquid in his ear when he was sleeping. In other words, Claudius was the person that led to
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King Hamlet's death. Argument Paragraph 2: Hamlet's death was indirectly caused by Claudius when he had heard that Hamlet was coming back from England.
Claudius said, "Under the which he shall not choose but fall, And for his death no wind of blame shall breathe But even his mother shall uncharge the practice And call it accident"(IV.vii.65-68). This quote is showing when Claudius heard the news that Hamlet was going to return from England and come back to Denmark. Once Claudius heard this news he decided to plot out a way that he was going to kill Hamlet once he came back to Denmark. Claudius did not want Hamlet to come back to Denmark and be the king of the area his father had been the King of. As mentioned earlier Hamlet was indirectly killed by
Claudius. Objection Paragraph (supports the antithesis) It might appear that one character was behind the death of the characters in the play Hamlet but, some people say otherwise. Example Gertrude was telling Laertes that, “Her clothing spread wide, And mermaid-like a while they bore her up, Which time she chanted snatches of old lauds As one incapable of her own distress, or like a creature native and indued Unto that element. But long it could not be Till that her garments, heavy with their drink, Pulled the poor wretch from her melodious lay To muddy death” (IV.vii. 174-182). Explanation Claudius did not Kill everyone in the play since he did not kill Ophelia. Claudius was not there when Ophelia died Gertrude had told Laertes how she died so Gertrude could have been there when it happened she died. Ophelia could have drowned herself inside of the river. Also, Claudius was not around for the whole play to kill most of the characters.Transition As previously noted, Claudius could not have been the person who killed almost all of the characters in the play since he was not around when Ophelia killed herself and he was also not around for the whole play he was killed before the end of the play.
Claudius greedy intentions take him to his murderous action. Claudius says, “The whole kingdom/to be contracted in one brow of woe”. (Shakespeare1.2.3-4) Claudius killing old king Hamlet knows that was the only way to have the kingdom. He gives the kingdom a new start under his new government and things that favors him but he still has those devious ways. He also gives the people a speech to represents how good of a ruler his is going to be and he even acknowledges his brother’s death. He gets to maintain the country affairs in his own way. The
“ If by direct or by collateral hand/They find us touched, we will our kingdom give,/Our crown, our life, and all that we can ours,/To you in satisfaction” (4.5.203-206). Claudius recognizes that he killed the King Hamlet, but is confident enough nobody will prove it. This risk is lethal because, when someone has the evidence that he killed Hamlet, Claudius has to do as he promised. Hamlet does not dive straight into risk taking and takes time to think through the problem, unlike Claudius. Hamlet enjoys taking risks, but also has to be put back on track or hesitates before doing.
Ophelia ignored him when he would’ve really needed some one to talk to about his future actions on a personal level; she later committed suicide which made him feel more emotional. Claudius was really the reason for everything happening; he killed his brother, King Hamlet Sr. in a plot to marry Gertrude quickly enough that he could steal the throne from Hamlet and become king. When Hamlet finds this out it causes him to become more emotionally distressed and many people are killed in the end. Although his mother and father were mostly the reason why he became emotional and a vengeful killer, there were other people that play a smaller part in his actions as well.
... His desire to obey his dead father’s request and exact revenge on Claudius warred against his qualms and doubts of killing another human being. When he finally accepted the role Fate plays in the lives of mankind, Hamlet could proceed to “accept the necessity of killing Claudius. [because] he would simply be acting as the instrument of divine justice at work in the world.” (Ahlman)
Furthermore, it is possible to propose that Shakespeare merely uses this scene to provoke irritation and consequently suspense from the audience. If Hamlet wasn’t given this opportunity to kill Claudius we would have not this insight into Hamlet’s indecisiveness, possible cowardice and inability to kill Claudius in cold blood. It is probable to suggest that through this soliloquy we are shown that Hamlet’s initial passion for revenge after the Ghost’s visitation has faded as the play progresses to merely thinking about killing Claudius.
His death may have come before Hamlet's at the end of the play, but he put up a good fight and made sure that Hamlet would die as well. He was clever enough to devise a plan to kill the king, he had spies all around, and he found a way to become king. Claudius was a worthy adversary for Hamlet.
After several attempts to kill Hamlet fail, Claudius teams up with Laertes and tries to murder Hamlet once and for all. Each of these plans directly or indirectly caused Hamlet’s death. After Hamlet talks to the ghost of his father, he finds out that Claudius killed him to gain the throne of Denmark. Hamlet has to get revenge by killing Claudius. To do this, he must act insane to draw away suspicion from himself. Hamlet says to Hortaio "How strange or odd some’er I bear myself as I perchanse hereafter shall think meet to put an antic disposition on,"(I;v;170-172).
William Shakespeare's Hamlet is a play that tells of a young man, Hamlet, who wanted revenge for the death of his father. After speaking with his father's spirit, Hamlet was led to believe that the person who murdered his father was his uncle, Claudius. Claudius kills his brother mainly because of jealousy, the crown, the queen and a hatred of his brother. Therefore Claudius is guilty of the murder of his brother.
With his thinking mind Hamlet does not become a typical vengeful character. Unlike most erratic behavior of individuals seeking revenge out of rage, Hamlet considers the consequences of his actions. What would the people think of their prince if he were to murder the king? What kind of effect would it have on his beloved mother? Hamlet considers questions of this type which in effect hasten his descision. After all, once his mother is dead and her feelings out of the picture , Hamlet is quick and aggressive in forcing poison into Claudius' mouth. Once Hamlet is certain that Claudius is the killer it is only after he himself is and and his empire falling that he can finally act.
...m to put his life in danger to find out more information about Hamlet, which ultimately leads to his death. Claudius also planted the idea of murdering Hamlet into Laertes’ mind, and this became the main goal of Laertes towards the end, which leads him to his death. Hamlet has hurt the women that he loves, both Ophelia and Gertrude die. Claudius and Hamlet also die, which is ultimately how the corruption of the nation of Denmark ends, through this it can once again be the great nation that it once was.
Claudius is one of the main characters responsible for his own death in the play because he portrays himself to be untouchable; not thinking clearly of the consequences to his actions. He starts off by killing his own brother and marrying his queen, Gertrude, only because he lust power and sex. His cold-hearted actions make him the antagonist of Hamlet and most deserving of death. Through all of his malicious actions, he plans a duel between Laertes and Hamlet assuring Hamlet’s death as well by poisoning a drink and the end of Laertes’ sword. He definitely got a taste of his own medicine because he died a rightful death by the sa...
Both Claudius and Hamlet are similar in many ways. They both have trouble taking action and are very indecisive. This can be seen when Claudius wants to pray and repent for his sins but has trouble praying because he does not want to give up everything that he has gained from that sin. He refuses to let everyone know that it was in fact him that killed the king and deal with the consequences that would follow, like him losing the power and respect he gained from being king. This indecisiveness can also be seen in Hamlet when he has trouble deciding whether to avenge his father’s death or if Claudius even killed his father. Even though the ghost of his father came to him and told Hamlet that Claudius poisoned him to take his position as king, Hamlet has trouble acting
Hamlet was told by the ghost of king hamlet to get back at Claudius for his death, or his soul will travel on earth forever. Even before hamlet knew about Claudius killing his father he had problems. It made hamlet mad that his mother would marry so fast and with his uncle. What Claudius did was an outrageous, back stabbing, and unbelievable thing. It was clearly an act of jealousy for his brother's throne and the wife. Claudius did pay back for his actions. Claudius lost his wife, his messenger, and died and even after his death kept loosing because he lost his castle to Fortinbras.
In addition to this internal struggle, Hamlet feels it is his duty to dethrone Claudius and become the King of Denmark. This revenge, he believes, would settle the score for his mother’s incestuous relationship and would reinstate his family’s honor. These thoughts are solidified in Act I, Scene 5, when his father’s ghost appears and informs Hamlet that is was Claudius who murdered him, and that Claudius deprived him “of life, of crown, and queen” (line 75). This information leads to Hamlet’s promise to kill Claudius, while not punishing his mother for their incestuous marriage. His statement, “thy commandment all alone shall live within the book and volume of my brain” (lines 102-103), demonstrates his adamant decision to let nothing stand in the way of his promise for revenge.
Claudius killed Hamlet’s dad and then married his mom to become the leader of Denmark. Later in the play, Hamlet sees his dad’s ghost and is informed of the horrific act committed by his uncle. Hamlets’ dad’s ghost says, “Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder” (I. V. 25). Hamlets’ dad says this to Hamlet so that his uncle could get retribution for his actions. Hamlet has many opportunities to kill Claudius, but is unable because of the wrong timing.