Hamlet
In play, Hamlet, William Shakespeare uses Hamlet's dynamic character in order to justify his procrastinate behavior. The reader gets to know what has been called the "two Hamlets in the play," the first is considered to be the sensitive, intellectual, able to express himself through poetry and who comes across as being dedicated to truth. The other side of Hamlet, barbaric side, treats Ophelia cruelly and with no empathy, slays Polonius and speaks of dragging his guts into another room, and who sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to their deaths without any remorse. However, dispite these "two Hamlets", most interpreters of Hamlet see him as a "tragic hero" with a clear and sacred obligation to kill Claudius but due to his being a victim of great external difficulties, is unable to do so right away. Shakespeare purposely makes Hamlet out to be a procrastinator for one very important reason, if Hamlet would have quickly pursued this revenge, Gertrude, Polonius, Ophelia, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Laertes, and of course Hamlet himself would have survived and Shakespeare would not have achieved tragedy in this play. There are many explanations for Hamlet's long delay, some of which include the physical act of being unable
Most of these issues are simply due to Hamlet's over analysis of morals. When Hamlet sees how promptly Pyrrhus acted towards the death of his father in scene II, he promptly denounces himself as a coward and cries out for vengeance: "Bloody, bawdy villain! Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain! O, vengeance!7" It is at this point where Hamlet reveals his plan to "catch the conscience of the King." Again, however, even though he vows to sweep to his revenge, weeks pass and he has not even made an attempt. Perhaps it is because of Hamlet's disbelief in the honesty of the Ghost, which causes such hesitation in Hamlet's actions. Hamlet is called upon to execute private vengeance, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, even though this is contrary to all Christian teachings. Hamlet therefore, gets erratic because he is a man that believes in heaven and hell and whose ideals tell him that any man who defies divine ordinance ultimately must face judgment. Hamlet's fear does not play a vital role in the procrastination of taking revenge. The only major fear in Hamlet is that of being discovered. For this reason he plays the role of a madman so that whatever words flow from his lips will be easily disregarded. He must even convince Ophelia of his insanity in order to make sure nothing is foretold. "You should not have believ'd me, for virtue cannot So innoculate our old stock but we shall relish it. I loved you not." Hamlet's fear drives him to explain how all of man is corrupted. Since the fall of Adam and Eve, no one can escape corruption. This fear drives him to obtain what he feels must be obtained; revenge. Fear is also what prevents him from acting upon the Ghost's wishes. He is afraid that if he acts too quickly, he will be
Some common words found in the essay are:
Guildenstern Laertes, King Hamlet, Shakespeare Hamlet's, Shakespeare Ghost, Rosencrantz Guildenstern, Adam Eve, II Hamlet, Dane Hamlet's, Ghost King, , kill claudius, hamlet, scene ii, fascination death, revenge hamlet, fear drives, hamlet makes, king father, rosencrantz guildenstern, hamlet's fear,
Approximate Word count = 1180
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
