Analysis Of The Hecuba Scene In Hamlet

704 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The role of the ghost in Hamlet

One may conclude that the Hecuba scene is among the most pivotal parts of the play. Hamlet formed the plan to expose the guilt in Claudius by putting on a play that reenacts King Hamlet’s murder. This idea is inspired by the deep emotional and powerful speech recited by the First Player.
The speech tells a gruesome story about Priam, the king of Troy, and his queen Hecuba. Pyrrhus, the son of Achilles has come after Priam to avenge his father’s death, which is very similar to what Hamlet will do by the end of the play. Pyrrhus snuck into Troy by hiding in a wooden statue of a horse. Killing anyone in his path, Pyrrhus finds Priam and Hecuba defenseless. Pyrrhus at first attacks Priam, but stops himself in the middle of the act. However, Pyrrhus changes his mind and kills Priam anyway and proceeds to cut him into pieces in front of Hecuba. While she watched this horrific scene, Hecuba screams and cries hysterically.
Hamlet showed obsession with avenging his father earlier in the play, after the ghost revealed King Hamlet’s murder. He showed much interest in this speech even though it wasn’t very popular, possibly because it reminded him of his own situation. Both Pyrrhus and Hamlet had a similar goal to exact revenge for their …show more content…

Hamlet was frustrated with himself for contemplating when and how to exact revenge on Claudius, because he wasn’t sure of the ghost’s true intentions. There was the question of the ghost being a demon and only wanted to use Hamlet for evil. The speech reassured Hamlet that he couldn’t just sit around anymore, he had to do something. In fear of being damned to hell, Hamlet decided he would test the authenticity of what the ghost said. He concluded that he would use the powerful emotion of the players on Claudius. By watching a reenactment of the murder he committed, Claudius would be overwhelmed with emotion and show that he was

Show More
Related

  • A Raisin In The Sun And Hamlet Character Analysis

    957 Words  | 2 Pages

    Claudius feels much guilt about the death of his brother he also faces the desires of power. The guilt of his brother death drives Claudius to be on his toes around the kingdom. He remains very scared that someone like Hamlet Jr. might avenge his father’s death. Hamlet Jr. chooses to use a play to test Claudius’s guilt. He rewrites parts of the play to replicate the story voiced by the ghost. Hamlet Jr. watches Claudius carefully during the performance, and the king leaves during it (Gale). Claudius gets up and leaves because he cannot bear to see the reenactment of how he killed his own brother. The internal conflict of the guilt about his brother eats Claudius up and he goes to repent for the corrupt act he has done: “My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent,/ And like a man to double business bound,/ I stand in pause where I shall first begin,/ And neglect; what if this cursed hand,/Were thicker than itself with brothers blood” (3.3.40-45). Claudius repents but knows his words will mean nothing to the heavens because Claudius is an insincere being whom

    Read More

  • An Analytical Essay Of The Tragedy Of Hamlet, Prince Of Denmark

    1156 Words  | 3 Pages

    During the first act, Prince Hamlet meets the ghost of his father, King Hamlet. His father's ghost tells Hamlet that Claudius poured poison in his ear while he slept. The spirit also explains that he wishes for Hamlet to avenge his death, but not to punish Queen Gertrude for marrying Claudius. He tells Hamlet that she will have to answer to her conscience, and eventually God for her incestuous actions (absoluteshakespeare.com 1 of 4). It was believed during these times that when a person died, especially in such a tragic fashion, that their spirit lingered about while suffering in Purgatory. This could cause a normally virtuous person's spirit to become filled with malevolence and begin to meddle in living men's affairs (en.wikipedia.org 4 of 9). This belief caused Prince Hamlet to want to investigate his father's spirit's claims to ensure that they were indeed true. In order to do this, Prince Hamlet feigns madness in order to remain hidden from members of the court's suspicions while he plots his revenge on King Claudius (www.sparknotes.com 1 of 3). He also takes advantage of a group of actors who come to Elsinore Castle to perform by rewriting a play to recreate the scene of his father's murder. He does this with the hope of flushing a confession out of Claudius' guilty conscience. When Claudius sees the play, he stands up and leaves the room (en.wikipedia.org 5 of 9). After many more events, Claudius' guilt becomes more obvious. Claudius then begins to change his focus towards killing Hamlet, as he is beginning to become aware of the Prince's plans to kill him. Claudius then arranges a fencing match between Hamlet and Polonius' son Laertes and has Laertes poison the blade of one of his swords to be used in the match (Hamlet).

    Read More

  • Shakespeare's Hamlet was an Overthinker and Complex Philosopher

    641 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of Hamlet’s flaws is that he over thinks things a lot and it is first shown the most at the prayer scene with Claudius. Once Hamlet sees how Claudius reacts to the play he knows that Claudius killed his father and that the ghost was right, he has a chance to kill him and doesn’t take it . His only proof was the ghost and even though others saw the ghost no one else heard it talk except Hamlet. Hamlet was also considering a lot of other things at this time, like how if he killed Claudius now Claudius would be free of sin and would go to heaven. He was also thinking if his father didn’t get to die free of sin it wouldn’t be fair for Claudius to die free of sin either, which shows how vengeful Hamlet’s character is. At the same time, Hamlet has morals and understands the consequences so that’s why it’s harder for him to perform the act . After a l...

    Read More

  • Turning Points in Hamlet

    1034 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the players’ scene, Hamlet revises the play of The Murder of Gonzago, adding in a scene that hints at the murder of King Hamlet. When Claudius reacts to Hamlet’s trap and makes a sudden exit, Hamlet now knows that the ghost’s story is true and will “take the ghost’s word for a thousand pound.” He now has no reason not to act. Prior to witnessing Claudius’ reaction, Hamlet has been debating with himself over the legitimacy of the ghost and its story. He has been questioning himself and whether he is a coward, because all he has done is talk, not having taken any action. Now that Hamlet knows the murderous sin Claudius has committed, Hamlet feels no guilt in avenging his father’s death. The plot takes a turn, as Hamlet becomes more of a man of action than a philosopher.

    Read More

  • Hamlet, by William Shakespeare

    988 Words  | 2 Pages

    Pyrrhus who plays a deeper and personal meaning into the story has his fathered killed by Paris and seeks to avenge him by slaying someone just as dear to Paris, his own father Priam. However with the great walls of Troy blocking his advance there is little he could do, but madness drives him and they build a great “Trojan” horse as a transport to fool the superstitious Trojans. To make it believable they even stage like they abandoned the siege by having all of their ships sail away from the island off on the far end to avoid attention, and leaving the horse there as if it were a gift from the gods. The Trojans seeing this as a great victory happily took the horse into Troy and threw a great feast, and drunk themselves to sleep. Then in th...

    Read More

  • David And Hamlet

    1453 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hamlet does not take the opportunity to slay Claudius as he prays because he believes it will save his soul. His contemplative nature takes over regarding the ghost’s revelation and he decides to devise a play to pique Claudius’ conscience and make sure he is really guilty.

    Read More

  • Father and Son Relationship in Shakespeare's Hamlet

    558 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout the play Hamlet is in constant conflict with himself. An appearance of a ghost claiming to be his father, “I am thy father’s spirit”(I.v.14) aggravates his grief, nearly causing him to commit suicide and leaving him deeply disgusted and angered. Upon speaking with his ghost-father, Hamlet learns that his uncle-stepfather killed Hamlet the King. “The serpent that did sting thy father’s life Now wears his crown”(I.v.45-46) Hamlet is beside himself and becomes obsessed with plotting and planning revenge for the death of his father.

    Read More

  • Indecision, Hesitation and Delay in Shakespeare's Hamlet - Needless Delay?

    684 Words  | 2 Pages

    The question of why Hamlet delays in taking revenge on Claudius for so long has puzzled readers and audience members alike. Immediately following Hamlet's conversation with the Ghost, he seems determined to fulfill the Ghost's wishes and swears his companions to secrecy about what has occurred. The next appearance of Hamlet in the play reveals that he has not yet revenged his father's murder. In Scene two, act two, Hamlet gives a possible reason for his hesitation. "The spirit that I have seen / May be a devil, and the devil hath power / T' assume a pleasing shape" (2.2.627-629). With this doubt clouding his mind, Hamlet seems completely unable to act. This indecision is somewhat resolved in the form of the play. Hamlet comes up with the idea of the play that is similar to the events recounted by the ghost about his murder to prove Claudius guilty or innocent. Due to the king's reaction to the play, Hamlet attains the belief that the Ghost was telling the truth the night of the apparition.

    Read More

  • Free Hamlet Essays: An Eye for an Eye

    569 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hamlet was told by the ghost of king hamlet to get back at Claudius for his death, or his soul will travel on earth forever. Even before hamlet knew about Claudius killing his father he had problems. It made hamlet mad that his mother would marry so fast and with his uncle. What Claudius did was an outrageous, back stabbing, and unbelievable thing. It was clearly an act of jealousy for his brother's throne and the wife. Claudius did pay back for his actions. Claudius lost his wife, his messenger, and died and even after his death kept loosing because he lost his castle to Fortinbras.

    Read More

  • Claudius' Speech

    1144 Words  | 3 Pages

    Claudius’ first speech effectively reveals his character to the audience. Shakespeare’s use of diction and doubling suggests Claudius’ façade conceals his true intentions. Claudius’ artful yet manipulative use of language and his diplomatic foreign policy, prove him to be a commanding politician. This speech sets the stage for the rising action of the play. It plays a major role in revealing plot elements key to an understanding of the play and enables the audience to make an impression of Claudius and decide for themselves his possible role in King Hamlet’s death.

    Read More

  • Hamlet Acts Morally, Harms Others by his Actions, and Realizes his Tragic Limits

    1017 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hamlet is Shakespeare’s most famous work of tragedy. Throughout the play the title character, Hamlet, tends to seek revenge for his father’s death. Shakespeare achieved his work in Hamlet through his brilliant depiction of the hero’s struggle with two opposing forces that hunt Hamlet throughout the play: moral integrity and the need to avenge his father’s murder. When Hamlet sets his mind to revenge his fathers’ death, he is faced with many challenges that delay him from committing murder to his uncle Claudius, who killed Hamlets’ father, the former king. During this delay, he harms others with his actions by acting irrationally, threatening Gertrude, his mother, and by killing Polonius which led into the madness and death of Ophelia. Hamlet ends up deceiving everyone around him, and also himself, by putting on a mask of insanity. In spite of the fact that Hamlet attempts to act morally in order to kill his uncle, he delays his revenge of his fathers’ death, harming others by his irritating actions. Despite Hamlets’ decisive character, he comes to a point where he realizes his tragic limits.

    Read More

  • Hamlet's Hesistation to Kill Claudius

    1500 Words  | 3 Pages

    Furthermore, it is possible to propose that Shakespeare merely uses this scene to provoke irritation and consequently suspense from the audience. If Hamlet wasn’t given this opportunity to kill Claudius we would have not this insight into Hamlet’s indecisiveness, possible cowardice and inability to kill Claudius in cold blood. It is probable to suggest that through this soliloquy we are shown that Hamlet’s initial passion for revenge after the Ghost’s visitation has faded as the play progresses to merely thinking about killing Claudius.

    Read More

  • Nature of Revenge

    960 Words  | 2 Pages

    Claudius killed Hamlet’s dad and then married his mom to become the leader of Denmark. Later in the play, Hamlet sees his dad’s ghost and is informed of the horrific act committed by his uncle. Hamlets’ dad’s ghost says, “Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder” (I. V. 25). Hamlets’ dad says this to Hamlet so that his uncle could get retribution for his actions. Hamlet has many opportunities to kill Claudius, but is unable because of the wrong timing.

    Read More

  • Hamlet Scene Analysis

    1382 Words  | 3 Pages

    In reality Hamlet is not actually mad he is just acting for various reasons. One main reason is to prove that Claudius actually killed his father. In an earlier scene the ghost tells Hamlet that Claudius killed his father and Hamlet has trouble believing him. He stages this play for the sole purpose of getting a reaction from Claudius. If Claudius is indeed guilty he will react in a way that reveals the truth. Hamlet is convinced that “The play is the thing Wherin I 'll catch the conscience of the King” (pg 119). He is certain the actors will bring out the truth. During rehearsal, Hamlet repeatedly looks over at Claudius to see if he reveals any signs that he is guilty. Normally Hamlet would be perceived as crazy for believing what the ghost said about Claudius or even just believing he could be speaking to a ghost. There is a possibility that Hamlet 's subconscious is being mistaken for a ghost. In the back of his mind Hamlet truly believes that Claudius is a murderer and that the ghost is his way of explaining it. He does not tell anyone about the ghost because that would add onto his insanity to an extreme level (idk if i want to put this in). This could be one main reason as to why Hamlet feels he needs to prove Claudius guilty before acting on it. He wanted to put on this play to validate his suspicions about Claudius 's guilt. Another possibility for Hamlet to put on this play is to show to the public

    Read More

  • Christianity in Shakespear's Hamlet

    1137 Words  | 3 Pages

    At first, Hamlet sees the ghost of his dead father and vows to avenge his death. “Christianity forbids followers to seek out spirits for advice or communication” (Ja) Hamlet has his faith tested because he is unsure about what his father is telling him. If the truth is that Claudius is the one who murdered Hamlet’s father then Hamlet will need to commit murder himself in order to fulfill his promise to his father’s ghost. “Hamlet, after the shock of his discoveries, becomes virtually another person and re-evaluates the situation in accordance with his religious views. Perhaps the ghost is just an illusion or mental disorder making him imagine this tale, and the murder of his father is illusory because he is not able to accept this kind of marriage and he wants to justify his crimes.” (****) Hamlet wrestles with his feelings and decides he must arrange for Claudius to admit to the murder instead of murdering Claudius himself. He is aware of the moral dilemma he finds himself in, if he kills Claudius then he, Hamlet may go to hell. If he refuses to kill Claudius then his father may be sent to hell. Hamlet knows from his religious background that murd...

    Read More

More about Analysis Of The Hecuba Scene In Hamlet

Open Document