William Shakespeare's Hamlet

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Emotions
Far too often we see men and women with noble causes lose their motive because of their emotional behavior. Their emotions cause them to lose track. We see no finer example of a man with a noble cause whose emotions cause him to lose sight of his noble cause: the character of Laertes in the play Hamlet. Laertes has a vendetta against Hamlet for killing his father. Although Laertes meant well in avenging his father’s death, his emotional behavior overtook him in the process. If we look at other characters in the play, we find a similar struggle between a noble goal and one’s emotions. Hamlet fights the same battle as Laertes does; however, Hamlet is better able to control his emotions. To maintain a noble goal without faltering, one must be able to rid one’s self of emotions that lead to undesirable actions.
To understand Laertes’s erratic behavior, we must first establish his proper motive. The play Hamlet takes place in Denmark around the medieval times. Laertes’s desire to avenge his father’s death is an honorable trait in his society. In the play, the fathers put on a role as the giver of values. Laertes’s father, Polonius, gives Laertes certain values on living life: “Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice;/ Take each man’s censure, but reserve thy judgment”(1.3.72). Polonius instructs Laertes how to behave properly in life. Laertes needs his father’s opinions to make decisions in life. Laertes asks permission from Claudius to go to France only after Polonius has given his consent to go. Laertes did not ask to leave until his father agreed. Laertes values his father’s opinion so much that he does not wish to disobey it. Polonius tells the king that Laertes was persistent in seeking his permission: “By laborsome petition, and at last/ Upon his will I sealed my hard consent”(1.2.61). Laertes could have easily left for France on his own, yet he waited until he had his father’s approval. As Laertes embarks for his journey to France, he delights at a second chance to say goodbye: “Occasion smiles upon a second leave”(1.3.58).
Ophelia, sister to Laertes, also receives advice on behavior from Polonius. Polonius advises Ophelia to make herself less available to Hamlet. When Ophelia is confused as to how to behave, she asks her for advice: “I do not know, my lord, what I should think”(1.3....

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... stake”(4.4.55). Hamlet’s emotions fall apart here because Hamlet finally realizes that one must act when one’s time in called. Hamlet now knows that his emotions are interfering with his purpose of vengeance.
Hamlet’s ultimate battle with his emotions happens right before the fencing match with Laertes. With just one phrase, Hamlet defeats the emotions that have been plaguing him not to act: “Readiness is all…Let be”(5.2.221). These two words signify Hamlet’s preparedness to exact revenge for his father’s murder. Before this quotation, Hamlet’s emotions were impeding his actions. Now that his emotions are gone, Hamlet is ready to act.
Hamlet’s ability to eradicate his emotions allows him to pursue his noble cause in a proper manner. Although he and Laertes both had noble causes, Hamlet’s control over his emotions allows him to exact his revenge without any regrets or treachery. The play Hamlet, contrasts the characters of Laertes and Hamlet to show how deleterious emotions can be to a noble cause. For many people, a high level of emotions obstructs them in their daily actions. Only by conquering one’s emotions, much like Hamlet accomplished, can one pursue a noble cause properly.

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