Hamlet- brutal like his uncle?

A detailed Summary of Hamlet- brutal like his uncle?

'Having to enter and act in the brutal world of his uncle, Hamlet becomes a creature of that world.'

To what extent is this an accurate assessment of the character of Hamlet by the end of the play?

Hamlet, by the end of the play, had become a creature of his uncle's brutal world to a certain extent. However, he was only born into this nature through the visitation of his father's ghost, Hamlets knowledge of the murder and his fathers demand for revenge. In this Shakespearian tragedy, revenge is the main theme explored among many others and deflects the Elizabethan society, its values and beliefs about revenge. In Hamlets course of revenge, Shakespeare juxtaposes him with the two characters Laertes and Fortinbras, attempting to show the differences in achieving revenge, revealing Hamlet as the weaker avenger. 'Brutal' refers to a person as being savagely or coarsely cruel, merciless and harsh. Hamlet was merciless particularly in killing Polonius, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. However, he was not savage or fierce, nor was he severely cruel and harsh. Claudius on the other hand was harsh, merciless and savage going to any lengths to be in and stay in power by killing the king, marrying the queen and plotting to kill

When relating Hamlets 'mission' to that of Laertes, we see that Hamlet is rather weak as an avenger compared to Laertes' thoughtless, raged actions. It can also be seen that Hamlet never intended to be brutal, rather he just wanted to fulfil his fathers request for revenge. Unlike Hamlet who bides time to discover Claudius' guilt, Laertes rushes in to avenge his fathers and sisters death and is prepared to act regardless of the consequences in his life and the after life. "That both the worlds I give to negligence, /let come what comes, only I'll be revenged/ most thoroughly for my father." Hamlet however is concerned about the possible consequences of his actions, particularly in the afterlife, and so justifies his procrastination. "But that the dread of something after death, / the undiscovered country from whose bourn/ no traveller returns, puzzles the will, / and makes us rather bear those ills we have/ then fly to others that we know not of?" Therefore Laertes is portrayed to be an avenger with a narrow sense of purpose, basically acting on impulse - quite different to Hamlet who procrastinates and establishes a broader sense of purpose. Hamlets dilatoriness can be viewed as him taking into consideration or doubting the moral rightness of killing for revenge, coming to a conclusion that in his circumstance it may be deemed acceptable. "He that hath killed my king and whored my mother, / popped in between the election and my hopes, / thrown out his angle for my proper life, / and with such cozenage - is't not perfect conscience/ to quit him with this arm?" Laertes on the other hand does not question his or societies morals in taking revenge, he merely acts without due consideration as when asked by Claudius, "What [he] would undertake/ to show [himself] in deed [his] father's son/ more than in words," Laertes replied, "To cut his throat I'th'church." This statement opposes Elizabethan region, values and law. Hamlet and Laertes are very distinguishable in their approach to revenge with the character of Laertes proving Hamlet to be less 'brutal' than him.

The Elizabethan society believed revenge to be a crime against the state and a sin against their Christian faith; nonetheless, Shakespeare used the idea of private revenge through the character of Hamlet, as the revenge tragedy was popular with the audience due to its violence, action and suspense. Hamlet is a play that explores the nature and consequences of revenge. "I am very proud, revengeful, ambitious, with more offences at my/ beck than I have thoughts to put them in..." Hamlet speaks to Ophelia of his sinfuln

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Approximate Word count = 1759
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English