Over the years Hamlet by William Shakespeare has been analyzed, referenced, and taught in schools all over the world. The famous play demonstrates a well developed, intricate, and deep plot line that establishes irony and a sense of what life was like in the early 1600s. However, what if Hamlet was transplanted into 21st century America and was forced to adapt to the new, technological age of mankind? His thought process and the strategies he uses to work through situations would not align with what he would be presented with in the world today, and would reflect a dislike of modern ideas and practices in America. Ultimately, I believe if Hamlet were to live in modern day America he would be driven mad by the new found power women have over men, the lack of censorship of outward sexual expression in society, America’s willingness to pursue war and sacrifice the lives of our soldiers, and the ignorance of American citizens who disagree with the governments protective deception.
On August 18th, 1920 the 19th amendment of the United States Constitution was ratified guaranteeing all American women the right to vote. As American history has progressed women have gained more and more freedom to make their own choices without the consent of men. In the 21st century American women hold positions in the government, large cooperation’s, and several other important jobs that keep the economy moving while contributing insightful knowledge that influences the world in many great ways. Ophelia, on the other hand, is surrounded by three powerful men: Polonius, Laertes, and Hamlet whom of which control her life and make decisions for her. Polonius encourages Ophelia to keep clear of Hamlet because his only desire is to have sex with her....
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...im to become the leader of their people. While our culture and society have leaped through several hoops that established more equality throughout our nation, we still face problems that Hamlet struggles to overcome in his journey. With much room to improve, just like Hamlet, the American people will continue to attempt to better the environment in as many ways possible just as Hamlet did when he lost his father to a corrupted human being. His yearning to establish justice for his father’s death is a clear representation of what many human beings try to overcome in their everyday lives, whether it is death, illness, or love. The species of man-kind will continue to prevail just as Hamlet did by protecting others through his death, for people just like him carry a good heart seeking love, purity, and justice in the minds of all.
The play Hamlet Written by Shakespeare, was set in the late middle ages. Often women in Shakespeare’s plays have a very significant role, Ophelia herself did not have a very significant role in the plot but she did have an effective influence on some characters. During this time period women were oppressed by the dominant sex. This had a very negative effect on women in that society. Because of male dominance, Ophelia was brought to madness which eventually lead to her death.
Hamlet was written to target the Elizabethan audience in many ways. Using religious views, showing the cruelness of humans and speaking about the importance of honour shows them how they can change their lives. Hamlet was more of a thinker than a doer, and by contemplating revenge, existence and death, he connected with his
In the time Wiliam Shakesphere acting was considered to be a man profession, women roles were played by men. Women were not given the opportunity until the late 1600s. Gender inequality is a predominant issue in Hamlet as the two leading women’s are used as tools of manipulation by the male figures in their lives. Ultimately, Shakesphere illustrates a sympathetic image of Gertrude and Ophelia as their downfall can be blamed on how narrow minded and sexiest men are. Gertrude’s weakness enables her to place her emotions ahead of moral righteousness and reverence. Which she married Claudius, whom is her dead’s husband brother, with this situation it initiates Hamlet’s sexiest view on women; which all women are flawed. Where Ophelia is a lack of freewill, she has no voice in any decision making. She listens attentively to Polonius and Laetres and agrees with their requests with up most respect even if it may seem wrong. For example she spyed on
Hamlet’s quote from his famous soliloquy “To be, or not to be?” (3.1.56) has been included in thousands of even the most unlikely modern media pieces. Sesame Street dedicated an entire segment of the show to the phrase to teach children the letter B (Soliloquy on B). Faber-Castell cleverly broadcasted the quote to sell pencils (Faber-Castell). It has even been used in the beginning of a Beyoncé song (Knowles). Shakespeare’s timeless works are often presumed to be affiliated with high culture, but if Shakespeare supposedly wrote such high-brow literature, then why are the works often quoted in low-brow modern media such as The Simpsons, Star Trek, and every other romance novel? Some artworks are heavily based on Hamlet, such as the Lion King.
Mack, Maynard. “The World of Hamlet.” Twentieth Century Interpretations of Hamlet. Ed. David Bevington. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1968.
Queen Gertrude is the first woman in Hamlet's life and as such she remains the yardstick by which Hamlet measures the other sex. Undoubtedly we have read the references made to his mother's infidelity and how this has made Hamlet bitter toward the prospect of marriage and children (3.1. 120-139). So, for Hamlet, Gertrude proves to be a pivotal representation of what a woman becomes when she is left to her own devices. Hamlet's displacement of his mother's actions falls then on the next woman in his life - Ophelia!
Our personal response to William Shakespeare’s play ‘Hamlet’ (1603) is informed by our knowledge of the composer’s contextual and political milieu which aids to highlight aspects of the human condition which permeate not only Elizabethan England but also that within our modern context. Shakespeare utilises a variety of dramatic and language techniques, to delve deeply into elements of human nature, thus through the play’s textual integrity, Shakespeare is able to strike a chord with contemporary audiences as we too consider the perilous nature of human attributes such as deception, corruption, and mortality.
William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet is a complicated story, which involves revenge, madness, and murder. The tale uses different styles to highlight concepts and complications. This essay will reveal the meticulous explanation of the complex images of a woman, which helps to understand the tales of Ophelia and Gertrude. Throughout the entire play, the misogynistic images of women in Hamlet’s life inform the readers about different opinions associated with the characters of the production. The women in the play have power to challenge the patriarchal society and figure out their own identities, which were much different from Hamlet’s perspective.
...ke every human being, Hamlet is caught up in a choice—a grave and far more serious choice than what to eat for lunch—but a choice nonetheless. Through diction and form, Shakespeare manages to bring the tortured spirit, the angry yet doubtful mind, the horribly bitter soul of a man trapped in a choice that he shouldn’t have to make, to life. He shows how we wrestle with the best and worst in every choice and the uncertainty inherent in all important decisions. It is this theme that makes Hamlet real. It is this...humanity that drives in the point. Life is full of options, some bad, some good, most a mix of both. All we can do, like Hamlet, is do the best we can in each situation and wrestle with the doubt when it comes.
In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Ophelia has a limited social role because she is a woman in a man’s world. In other words, she is a powerless young woman whose actions are determined by the men around her. Ophelia has no female alliances to protect her when these men subjugate her chastity. This presents a problem because the men around her are driven by the misguided assumption that her chastity will allow them to reap benefits for themselves. Her lack of individual decision-making and selfhood thus provide the foundation for her emotional unraveling. By underestimating Ophelia’s capability to make decisions for herself, the characters in the play place emotional strains on her, causing her to contemplate where her loyalties lie—to her family or
Young Hamlet, though seemingly mad, used his cunning and intellect to set this country on the right path to restore it to its former glory. Without him, we would be subject to the humiliation of living in a kingdom ruled by a bibulous, arrogant man.
The first thing that begins to frustrate Hamlet is his learning on the death of his father and learning that instead of becoming king himself, his mother instead decided to marry his uncle. Making him King. First of all, there is there the issue of, “To be, or not to be . . . ” But as an even more important standard to measure
Sitting in Mrs. Gibson’s class during the last 2 weeks of my senior year reading Hamlet has caused me to ponder the question: Why is literature from the late 1500’s and early 1600’s still deemed so important in 2018? More importantly, how and why is Shakespeare's Hamlet so relevant in today’s society? As a student, I ask myself this question about most topics I learn about in school because I personally believe that it’s beneficial to focus on work that could relate to and benefit me as a student. This play does prove relevant because of its repeating characteristics of the human condition within the plot between characters. Therefore, since the human condition can connect readers with it’s universal properties (birth, growth, emotionality,
In Elizabethan times, Ophelia is restricted as a woman. She is obedient to the commands of the men in her life although she often attempts to do the right thing. Polonius, Laertes, and Hamlet all have a grasp on Ophelia and who she is. She does not have the freedom to change her fate as Hamlet does. Shawna Maki states, “Ophelia’s life is determined by the whims of men who control her” (1). Polonius takes advantage of his relationship with Ophelia by using her to achieve a better relationship with Claudius. Polonius and Laertes teach Ophelia how to behave, therefore, abusing their power in allowing Ophelia to become who she wants to be (Brown 2).
Many have wondered why Hamlet, a work from around 400 years ago is relevant in modern society. One would think a piece of work written at the time based on a true story would eventually die out as it became irrelevant. That isn't the case of Hamlet and other works by Shakespeare simply because of how Shakespeare is able to wonderfully address the human condition and the fact that the human condition simply does not change within 400 years. As said by Craven a professor at UTSA, “Humans still experience love, loss, betrayal, war, humor and tragedy, which gives Shakespeare a foothold in modern times,”Due to this, Hamlet is still relevant today because its major themes such as love, betrayal, and tragedy are major forces that we as a species still have to deal with. These themes heavily resonates with us and can be seen in popular contemporary works that exist today such as Game of Thrones, The Hunger Games and the Twilight Series which shows us how Hamlet is relevant today because of its portrayal of human traits.