In the play Hamlet, we see characters that are looking to seek revenge for the murder of their fathers. In the end though, the resolution of each vengeance highlights the inadequacy of the act. Hamlet stood anticipating for the perfect moment to kill King Claudius because he wanted to murder him during a sin. During the majority of the play, it is this inner struggle to seek revenge that ultimately corrupts his self-being. After the players perform their act, Hamlet talks to himself when he says “O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I! Is it not monstrous that this player here, but in a fiction, in a dream of passion, could force his soul so to his own conceit that from her working all visage waned, tears in his eyes, distraction in his aspect, a broke voice, and his whole function suiting with forms to his conceit—and all for nothing” (2.2.577-584)! This shows how Hamlet is upset with himself for his inability to kill Claudius. He connects himself to the players and states that actors can cry for a fictional character with which they have no emotional ties, but he cannot even seek revenge for the murder of his own father. This demonstrates that Hamlet is unable to advance his actions by killing Claudius. He instead hesitates waiting for the ideal moment, which in turn is slowly corrupting his life.
When I was in eighth grade, basketball was very competitive. Everybody was preparing for high school and boys were starting to develop into strong players. As my season progressed, I noticed that kids started getting more aggressive. In the playoffs that season, we were playing Field Middle School and their center was six feet tall. In the second quarter, he threw an elbow that connected with my teammates jaw. After the game, some of the players were talking about how they should get revenge. The challenge was that we did not want to promote any dispute between the teams, but we did want to teach the center a good lesson. This connects to Hamlet because in both situations the person seeking revenge contemplated the affects that would occur once the revenge has been completed. The difference is that Hamlet kept instigating his revenge and in return, his personal identity. My team and I understood the problem and handled the adversity in a positive manner. This illustrates how when you let revenge bottle up inside of you, it festers and can make you do things you would not normally do.
Hamlet had his mind set on getting revenge for the murder of his father throughout the entire play and finally at the end, he got his revenge. Hamlet is talking to himself while he talks about young Fortinbras when he says “How stand I, the, that have a father killed, a mother stained, excitements of my reason and my blood, and let all sleep, while to my shame I see the imminent death of twenty thousand men that for a fantasy and trick of fame go to their graves like beds, fight for a plot whereon the numbers cannot try the cause” (4.4.59-66). This illustrates Hamlet’s anger that has built up in him throughout the play. He now understands the lack of action that he has taken to revenge such a meaningful cause, while Fortinbras is having thousands of men die for a stupid piece of land. Hamlet has diminished who he is because of the amount of time he spent deciding how to seek revenge. It is this that emphasizes the defectiveness of revenge.
After experiencing the episode between Field Middle School and us, my team and I ended up doing the right thing instead of possibly getting ourselves into a problem. The next time we faced Field Middle School, instead of trying to be physical back, we used the strength of forgiveness. Our intention was not to hurt the center, but instead to let him know what he did was wrong and that he lacked good sportsmanship. This would show the center that our intention is not to fight, but rather to make peace. Hamlet, on the other hand, had many emotions and anger built up from the murder and getting revenge would
Rollin Luis November 25, 2014 Hamlet For this essay we are going to be talking about William Shakespeare’s famous play Hamlet. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, is visited by the ghost of his father and told that his uncle Claudius, who is now King, was responsible for his murder. Hamlet is torn about trying to avenge him, and ends up pretending to be insane. He hires actors to do a play about a man who kills his brother to become king to see Claudius' reaction. Hamlet confirms that Claudius was responsible…
Essay On Hamlet The story of Hamlet brings out interesting character with interesting characteristics that are shown throughout the tragic story. Many characters have their own motives and goals that they ultimately want to accomplish by the end of this story. These motives can have somewhat of malicious or o innocent intent as each character is only doing the things they do in benefit of themselves. Whether it be for more power or just happiness these characters cunningly scheme their way to their…
Mrs. Manley ELA 12 16 January 2015 Hamlet Comparison/Contrast Essay Kenneth Branuagh and Mel Gibson have two different takes on the film Hamlet. While there are not so many similarities, there are many differences. Because both films take different takes of the text I believe both films are effective in their own way. The two films many be very different but the have some similarities, the setting, plot and little things like Hamlet wears black clothes in both or Ophelia sings after she goes insane…
John Dover Wilson once wrote a book entitled, What happens in Hamlet. Of course, nothing happens in Hamlet, as anyone who has read the play will know. The play is a study in Hamlet's hesitation, his inability to act, his inability to "force the moment to its crisis." Most of the significant action in the play takes place before the play begins, or takes place off stage (such as the suicide of Ophelia) or occurs in the final scene, when Hamlet avenges the death of his father. Perhaps the only occasion…
Hamlet Essay Ophelia’s role in William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Hamlet is quite confusing. Throughout the play, Ophelia is portrayed as gentle, loyal and obedient, but hides in the background like a supporting actress. She is intended to be Hamlet’s love interest, yet he doesn’t include her in any of his life-changing plans. Ophelia has no major qualities, yet her life and death have an incredible influence on most characters, especially Hamlet. Throughout the entirety of the play, Ophelia…
Jaymar Golveo Hamlet Spiritual Poison Evidence: “O, from this time forth, my thoughts be bloody” Act 4, Scene 4 Delaying in his pursue to avenge the death of his father, this caused Hamlet to be disgusted with himself, and at this moment, he results to bloody violence to fulfill his revenge. Hamlet is poisoned by the thought of violence and revenge. He begins to taste the toxic poison by stating that he is ready to result to “bloody” action. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Spiritual Poison Evidence:…
November 2012 Deceit in Hamlet In one of William Shakespeare’s most well known plays, Hamlet, Prince Hamlet is determined to find out the truth regarding his father’s death. After Hamlet’s father is found dead, it is assumed it is an accidental death, after misleading information and finally learning the truth, Hamlet has to decide what is real and what is not. Throughout the play there is persistent confusion on what is real and what is just an act. Besides Prince Hamlet himself, several characters…
Hamlet Essay Prompt 3 The desire for revenge or a determination to redress a wrong can always interfere with one’s responsibilities. It interferes because he or she is so concentrated on satisfying that desire and you don’t take notice on how you are behaving. Hamlet would be an example of this desire because he is determined to avenge his father’s death that it interferes with his responsibilities being a prince and lover. Hamlet’s passion becomes a conflict throughout the play and that’s what…
Essay Topic #3 A girl without freedom, a mind of her own, a mother, a father, a boyfriend, or anything that mattered; Ophelia had no life at all. Ophelia is a character from the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare. She is the daughter of Polonius, sister of Laertes and lover of Prince Hamlet. Although she had three people there for her, they truly weren’t there for her own interests. Her father Polonius, is too busy getting people to like him by using Ophelia. Her brother…
Revenge As A Theme Of Hamlet In the play “Hamlet,” by William Shakespeare, the main theme is that followed through plans of revenge lead to tragedy. Throughout the play, several different people want revenge on somebody. Hamlet, the prince of Denmark, wants revenge on the current King of his country, his uncle, who killed Hamlet’s father, the original King, in order to take the crown and marry the Queen. When trying to revenge his father by killing his Uncle, Hamlet accidentally kills Polonius…