Rosencrantz And Guildenstern And Juxtaposition In Hamlet

602 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Hamlet's mental state

In William Shakespeare’s play “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark”, though the protagonist Hamlet pretends to be mad as he seeks revenge for the murder of his father, he is suffering from depression and a barely contained rage towards the people closest to him as revealed in his treatment of Gertrude and Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and Polonius and Claudius. The barely concealed rage he feels towards his mother, lover, friends and uncle leads to their death and his own. This bitterness towards everyone makes his conversations with other characters seem to be very cold, especially towards his mother, Gertrude, and Ophelia.
Hamlet’s behavior towards Ophelia and Gertrude shows his contempt and distrust of women. Though Hamlet …show more content…

Yet instead of comforting Hamlet in his time of sorrow, they seek to gain favor with Hamlet’s Uncle Claudius, the King. Both Guildenstern and Rosencrantz agree to Claudius’ request that they spy on Hamlet in order to glean what “unknown afflicts him” (1333). This betrayal is due to, as Guildenstern tells Hamlet, they are not the “very button” on “Fortune’s cap”, meaning that they are ambitious to gain wealth (1339). Hamlet angrily informs Guildenstern that he is not a “pipe” to “play upon” (1362). Rosencrantz and Guildenstern agree to accompany Hamlet to England by order of Claudius where Hamlet is to be put to death. Hamlet finds the letters ordering his death. He changes the letters to have his former friends killed instead. Hamlet refuses to feel guilty for their deaths, he states, “They are not near my conscience” (1397). He convinces himself that they deserve their fate for their betrayal of him, yet, the greatest betrayal is that of Claudius.
Hamlet’s Uncle Claudius killed Hamlet’s father, “whored” his mother, and stole Hamlet’s crown, his “proper life” (1398). Confusing Polonius for “thy better”, Claudius, Hamlet kills him with little feeling of remorse (1367). After killing Polonius Hamlet advises Claudius to search for the hidden body of Polonius “i’the’other place”, essentially telling the King to go to hell

Show More
Related

  • How Was Hamlet Manipulated

    1305 Words  | 3 Pages

    In William Shakespeare 's Hamlet, there are many characters that allow themselves to be manipulated and be consumed by their own emotions. The way that this type of irrational behavior occurs is when Claudius killed Hamlet Sr, this causes a chain reaction of unfortunate events. Gertrude and Claudius plan to immediately marry after the death of the king. On going with the repercussions of the event; Hamlet is later visited by the dead spirit of his father. This happening caused Hamlet to realize that he needed to avenge his dead father by killing Claudius and rightfully taking the throne back after the ghost of his father told him to do so. Along with all the supernatural things that occur Hamlet is faced with technicalities in the Kingdom of Denmark. His love for Ophelia is rebuffed do to Polonius and Laertes insisting to her that Hamlet only wants to be with her for her only for lust. Claudius hires people to spy on Hamlet and report his every move to him. Hamlet attempts to

    Read More

  • Tough Love in Mel Gibson's Hamlet and Branagh's Hamlet

    767 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of the most emotional and moving scenes in William Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet is in Act III, Scene I lines 90-155 in which the title character becomes somewhat abusive toward his once loved girlfriend Ophelia. It is interesting to examine the possible motives behind Hamlet's blatant harshness in this "Get the to a nunnery" scene toward the easily manipulated and mild mannered girl. While watching Kenneth Branagh and Mel Gibson's film adaptations of the play, the audience may recognize two possibilities of the many that may exist which may explain the Prince's contemptible behavior; Kenneth Branaugh seems to suggest that this display of animosity will help the troubled man convince his enemies that he is in fact demented, whereas the Mel Gibson work may infer that Hamlet's repressed anger toward his mother causes him to "vent" his frustrations upon Ophelia, the other female of importance in his life.

    Read More

  • Aggressive Behavior In Hamlet By William Shakespeare

    240 Words  | 1 Pages

    Hamlet displays aggressive behavior towards others because he had no remorse for murdering his girlfriend’s father, and forcefully attacks all women in his life with words. The moment Hamlet realized that it was Polonius he killed, he reacted with “ Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell. I took thee for thy better. Take thy fortune. Thou find’st to be too busy is some danger.” This quote proves that Hamlet did not care about murdering Polonius, even though Polonius was his girlfriend’s father. He did not know who he murdered, which meant he was okay with murdering anybody. Also, Hamlet did not think twice about his actions which proves that he is impulsive and doesn’t know what he is doing. Another instance when Hamlet aggressively

    Read More

  • Free Hamlet Essays: Deception in Hamlet

    1041 Words  | 3 Pages

    Deceit, misleading information, and spying on others can lead to their demise, intentionally or accidentally. The misleading and deceitful instances in the play are indirectly responsible for Hamlets’ death. Claudius misleads Hamlet when he shipped him off to England under the guise of a restful retreat and when he realizes that the new king has lied to not only him, but the people of Denmark about the death of the former king. Hamlets’ deceit comes from his mother, believing that she has betrayed his father’s love by not mourning for long enough after his death, and by marrying Claudius. Spying also causes problems for Hamlet down the line since it leads to the killing of Polonius, and the deaths of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

    Read More

  • Hamlet's Immaturity in Shakespeare's Hamlet

    744 Words  | 2 Pages

    A second example of Hamlet’s immaturity, which stems from his plotting against Claudius, can be seen in his treatment of Ophelia, the daughter of a court advisor. Hamlet himself gives cause for belief that he is in love with Ophelia. He writes to her informing her that she is his “…soul’s idol…” (Polonius 2:2). How ever when Hamlet affects insanity he treats Ophelia in a very ribald manner. After a litany of insults directed at Ophelia because of Hamlet’s belief that she is in league with Polonius in trying to trap him he goes so far as to proclaim “I loved you not.” (Hamlet 3:1) Hamlet used Ophelia quite cruelly in order to strike a blow at her father and Claudius. Instead of acting like a man and telling them directly what he thought of them he abused a trusting, loving, girl in order to deliver his message of loathing.

    Read More

  • The Power Of Heroism In Shakespeare's Hamlet

    1175 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hamlet is vicious to the women in this play. He orders Ophelia, to “get thee to a nunnery!”(III.i.121), and he tells his mother Gertrude, “Frailty, thy name is woman,”(I.ii.146) even though Hamlet is not very strong himself. Heroism does not always involve taking heroic actions. Hamlet’s inaction is his own form action. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Claudius has and uses power, Hamlet has power but mostly chooses not to use it, Polonius has less power than he imagines himself to have, and Ophelia and Gertrude have no power.

    Read More

  • Gertrude Hamlet's Mistreatment Of Ophelia

    158 Words  | 1 Pages

    As well as proposing the notion of female frailty through Gertrude, Hamlet’s mistreatment of Ophelia is another way in which the play of Hamlet could be considered a strongly misogynistic one. This is seen in particular through Hamlet’s verbal taunts directed at Ophelia’s intelligence, as he sneers that she is accustomed to “jig and amble and lisp” and that she makes her “wantonness” her “ignorance.” Indeed, Ophelia is depicted as being fragile, neurotic, and generally futile, with Polonious further calling her a “baby”, and a “green girl.” Polonius seeks to hold complete control over Ophelia, and she is presented to us as being unintelligent, mute, and unable to make her own decisions; for example, when Polonious warns her to stay away from

    Read More

  • Misogyny In Hamlet Essay

    1133 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hamlet is one of the most controversial characters from all of the Shakespeare’s play. His character is strong and complicated, but his jealousy is what conduces him to hate women. He sees them as weak, frail, and untrustworthy. He treats Ophelia, the women he loves, unfair and with cruelty. Similarly, he blames his mother for marrying her dead husband’s brother, who is now the King of Denmark. Hamlet’s treatment for women stems from his mother’s impulsive marriage to his uncle who he hates and Ophelia choosing her father’s advice over him.

    Read More

  • Destroyed by Sexuality

    990 Words  | 2 Pages

    In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, women are oversexualized, and are given no role other than to be the item of a man’s desire. The promiscuity of the only two women in the play, Gertrude and Ophelia, detracts from their power and integrity, and allows Hamlet a certain amount of control over them. Gertrude’s sexual lifestyle is often mentioned by her son, Hamlet, and Hamlet uses his knowledge of Gertrude’s sexuality as a means to criticize her. Ophelia’s sexuality initially appears to be controlled by Laertes and Polonius, and Hamlet takes advantage of the naive image that she is required to keep. However, in her later madness, Ophelia taints this image by revealing that her innocence is feigned. By exposing the sexual natures of both Gertrude and Ophelia, Hamlet strips these women of any influence they may have had, and damages their once-honourable names.

    Read More

  • Hamlet: Masks We Wear

    1108 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...e murder of his father, Hamlet Sr. After Hamlet killed Polonius, and stored his body, when first asked of him the location of Polonius' body, and Hamlet replied with a riddle; "The body is with the King, but the King is not / with the body. The King is a thing-" (Hamlet - 4.2.27-28). This riddle strange in itself was evidence to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern of Hamlet's insanity. Once the King banished him to his death in England, Hamlet replied with "Farewell, dear mother." (Hamlet - 4.4.58). Shocking to the King, being his father and or uncle, and Hamlet forgave an explanation to the King of why he called him his mother; "My mother. Father and mother is man and wife, / Man and wife is one flesh, and so, my mother" (Hamlet - 4.4.60-61). Hamlet's mask of insanity had fooled the King, the Queen, Ophelia, Polonius, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Though he had fooled these people he always kept a full grasp of reality and his true convictions.

    Read More

  • Irrational Anger In Hamlet

    251 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the story Hamlet, there was very much unnecessary bloodshed because of his (Hamlet’s) irrational anger towards Claudius who killed his father to become king himself. The king came back as a ghost and commanded Hamlet to avenge his death by killing Claudius who conspired against him. Hamlet, out of both anger and defence, killed not only Claudius, but Polonius, which resulted in the death of Ophelia, Laserates, had a part in the death of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and even his own mother! I guess you could say he avenged his father… Sevenfold?! (wink)

    Read More

  • Hamlet's Oedipus Complex

    685 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hamlet’s attachment to his mother was quickly made evident within the first act of the famous tragedy. Hamlet, who sulks around wearing black clothing to mourn the death of his father, first speaks in the play to insult his stepfather. He voices his distaste at his new relationship with his uncle by criticizing that they are, “A little more than kin and less than kind” (I.ii.65). He believes that it is unnatural for his uncle to also be his father, and eagerly jumps at an opportunity to offend Claudius. However, Hamlet acts entirely different towards his mother, despite his poor attitude....

    Read More

  • Role of Women in William Shakespeare's Hamlet

    1159 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hamlet’s sense of betrayal by Gertrude, although briefly taking him off course, ultimately infuriates and intensifies his urge for revenge. Because of Gertrude’s refusal to acknowledge her sins, Hamlet becomes even more personally motivated to kill Claudius for revenge. Queen Gertrude, though ignorant, has a huge impact on the play because her betrayal and abandonment motivates Hamlet to get revenge. When writing Hamlet, Shakespeare created a complex play that relies on the roles of two important women to aid the progression of the plot. Although Queen Gertrude and Ophelia rarely speak, they function as a way for the men to become informed about Hamlet’s mental state and motives for madness.

    Read More

  • Conflict in William Shakespeare's Hamlet

    2442 Words  | 5 Pages

    Old Hamlet is killed by his brother Claudius. Only two months after her husband’s death a vulnerable Gertrude marries her husband’s brother Claudius. Gertrude’s weakness opens the door for Claudius to take the throne as the king of Denmark. Hamlet is outraged by this, he loses respect for his mother as he feels that she has rejected him and has taken no time to mourn her own husband’s death. One night old Hamlets ghost appears to prince Hamlet and tells him how he was poisoned by his own brother. Up until this point the kingdom of Denmark believed that old Hamlet had died of natural causes. As it was custom, prince Hamlet sought to avenge his father’s death. This leads Hamlet, the main character into a state of internal conflict as he agonises over what action and when to take it as to avenge his father’s death. Shakespeare’s play presents the reader with various forms of conflict which plague his characters. He explores these conflicts through the use of soliloquies, recurring motifs, structure and mirror plotting.

    Read More

  • Comparision Of Hamlet With Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead

    1314 Words  | 3 Pages

    Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (R and G…) by Tom Stoppard is a transformation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet that has been greatly influenced due to an external contextual shift. The sixteenth century Elizabethan historical and social context, accentuating a time of questioning had specific values which are transformed and altered in Stoppard’s Existential, post two-world wars twentieth century historical and social context. The processes of transformation that are evident allow the shifts in ideas, values and external contexts to be clearly depicted. This demonstrates the significance of the transformation allowing new interpretations and ideas about reality as opposed to appearance, death and the afterlife and life’s purpose to be displayed, enabling further insight and understanding of both texts. Shakespeare’s Hamlet was written in the sixteenth century Elizabethan historical context, where certainty was questioned and there was a growing importance of individuals and their choice as opposed to fate.

    Read More

More about Rosencrantz And Guildenstern And Juxtaposition In Hamlet

Open Document