hamlet interpretation
Hamlet is one of the most popular plays of William Shakespeare. It has been enjoyed by audiences throughout its existence, and also criticized by critics. Since the time it was written, critics have been trying to explain Hamlet's odd behavior, and the apparent lack of explanation for the absurdities of the play have caused some critics to denounce the play as a failure. This is far from the truth. The basic explanation of the play, which solves many problems associated with the play, is that Hamlet is depressed. T.S. Elliot says the play is a failure because Shakespeare's fails to impart to the audience how one would feel in Hamlet's situation. The fault is not Shakespeare's, but the audience's. The audience often fails to understand that Hamlet at the opening of the play, is not in his normal state, but is Hamlet depressed because of the death of his father. We see Hamlet change throughout the play, as he is starts out depressed, and grows in a natural progression. !As he exits depression, he realizes the need for revenge, and he feigns madness to help him achieve this. Hamlet's depressed state in the beginning helps to explain many of the actions, and perceived failures of the play.
Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc. 1999 Goddard, Harold. "Hamlet: His Own Falstaff" Modern Critical Interpretations. Ed Readings On Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc. 1999 Wright, B Louis and Virginia A. LaMar. "Hamlet: A Man Who Thinks Before He Acts" Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1986. Readings On Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc. 1999 Wright, B Louis and Virginia A. LaMar. "Hamlet: A Man Who Thinks Before He Acts" Cantor, Paul A. "Hamlet's Christian Beliefs Stifle His Heroic Impulse" There is an explanation for the lack of action of Hamlet in the opening scenes. The reason is Hamlet's intellect. Louis B. Wright and Virginia A. LaMar say, "He has been at the University of Wittenberg, where he has engaged in the subtleties of intellectual speculation"(Hamlet: A Man Who Thinks Before He Acts, p.64). Hamlet is a man of reason. One who has been trained to carefully think and analyze every situation completely before he should act. It is for this reason that Hamlet was slow to action. He was carefully analyzing the situation of his father's death, and all the possibilities, and it wasn't until he was completely sure of himself that he was actually moved to action. A third factor, which cannot be ignored when trying to understand Hamlet's lack of action, is his Christian beliefs. Paul A. Cantor believes "The complexity of Hamlet's stated view of the world-and above all the way it brings together classical and Christian elements in an uneasy fusion-may well be responsible for the fact that he cannot respond to the ghost's challenge in a simple and direct way." (Hamlet's Christian Beliefs Stifle His Heroic Impulse, pg. 122) Readings On Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc. 1999 pression, which is a feeling of loneliness, suicidal thoughts, and great feeling of being upset. At the time of the fifth soliloquy, we see Hamlet finally exit his depressed state. The depression no longer controls his emotion, and he is back to normal. He is now the prince he used to be before the play started. He is sure of decisions, and has a cunning wit. Hamlet has evolved throughout the play.
Some common words found in the essay are:
Hamlet Hamlet, God God, TS Elliot, Critics Hamlet, University Wittenberg, Hamlet Knowing, William Shakespeare, Hamlet's Christian, Hamlet Ophelia, Safe Haven, christian beliefs, hamlet ed don, don nardo san, nardo san diego, hamlet ed, nardo san, ed don, don nardo, greenhaven press, san diego, san diego greenhaven, diego greenhaven, throughout play, press inc, readings hamlet ed,
Approximate Word count = 1774
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
