Free Hamlet Essays: Complex Hamlet

623 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Hamlet's influence

Complex Hamlet

There are many factors that lead Hamlet into putting himself in a difficult position. There are many incidents where it’s not Hamlet’s poor attitude that gets him in trouble, but his great ambition to uncover the truth. Once Hamlet discovers that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are spying on him, he never lets them out of his sight. Hamlet suspects that his mother, Gertrude, was an accomplice for the murder of his father. Polonius was slain by Hamlet who had mistaken him for Claudius. His pretense of madness drove Ophelia to her death. All of these incidents show that its Hamlet’s great ambition to uncover the truth that gets himself in difficult positions.

Hamlet would not show mercy even when confronted by his best friends from his childhood. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were sent by the King and Queen to spy on Hamlet to discover the reason for his disturbing behavior. Hamlet isn’t fooled by their sudden arrival and gives them a chance to show their loyalty to him by admitting they were sent by the king. "That you must teach me. But let me conjure you by the.... be even and direct with me whether you were sent for or no." (II-ii.274-278) Hamlet is aware of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s alliance with the king. He sends them to England, replacing the letter that they carried with a forgery of the king’s seal stating that the bearers of the letter should be killed. He felt no guilt or remorse for the sudden loss of his two best friends. "They are not near my conscience; their defeat does by their own insinuation grow." (V-ii.58-59)

Hamlet’s curiosity caused him to not only suspect his mother, but also kill poor Polonius. He believed Gertrude was an accomplice in the murder of his father.Hamlet has violent outbursts towards his mother. His anger increased as Gertrude misinterpreted the situation. She believed that she was in danger of being assaulted and therefore cries out for help. Hamlet, who was full of rage, runs his dagger through the arras and kills Polonius, mistaking him for Claudius. "O me, what hast tho done/Nay, I know not. Is it the king?" (III-iv.27-28) Hamlet's passion was furiously aroused, and his words to his mother grew increasingly bitter and sharp. His words acted like daggers that shattered Gertrude's peace of mind. "Nay, but to live in the rank sweat of an enseamed bed, stewed in corruption, honeying and making love over the nasty sty.

Show More
Related

  • Free Hamlet Essays: Hamlet Interpreted

    517 Words  | 2 Pages

    It is clear Hamlet can be interpreted from a multitude of perspectives on numerous levels. I cannot quite grasp Mr. Bloom's contention that this is a work of near biblical importance nor can I accept his allusions to Jesus or the Buddha. "Hamlet remains apart; something transcendent about him places him more aptly with the biblical King David, or with even more exalted scriptural figures."(Bloom, 384). My immediate response is that when Mr. Bloom shuffles off this mortal coil, I don't believe Billy Shakespeare will be waiting with a pint of ale.

    Read More

  • Free Hamlet Essays: Deceit and the Downfall of Hamlet

    1033 Words  | 3 Pages

    The first way that deceit leads to the eventual downfall of Hamlet is Polonius' spying. In Act III, scene iii, Polonius decides to help the king by spying on Hamlet and his mother when he says, "My lord, [the king] he's going to his mothers closet. Behind the arras I'll convey myself to hear the process." (III; iii; 28 - 29) In Act III, scene iv, Polonius gets his chance and listens to a conversation between Hamlet and his mother, hoping that Hamlet would confide something in his mother that could be used against him. Unfortunately for Polonius, Hamlet hears him behind the curtain, and (thinking that Polonius is actually a spying King Claudius) immediately stabs and kills him. This event contributes to Hamlet's downfall because Claudius is able to use it as an excuse to send Hamlet away to England. Officially, the king sends Hamlet away, "for thine especial safety," (IV; iii; 37) with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern because the murder might earn him some enemies. Privately though, Claudius plans to have Rosencrantz and Guildenstern go with Hamlet to convey a message to the King of England that Hamlet is to be executed. In addition, by sending Hamlet away, Claudius is protecting himself because Hamlet is, "loved of the distracted multitude [the public]." (IV; iii; 4) So, if Hamlet were to show the people that Claudius had killed Hamlet's father, then they might believe him, and as a result, overthrow and kill Claudius. Thus, the downfall is that Claudius wants Hamlet dead. In addition, if Claudius' plan works, then Hamlet dies and his father’s death would not be avenged. So, if Polonius had not spied on Hamlet and Gertrude, Hamlet would not have killed Polonius and thus, Claudius would not have a good enough excuse to send Hamlet away to England.

    Read More

  • Free Hamlet Essays: The Great Actor in Hamlet

    639 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hamlet is sane, not insane.  He is putting on an act making people think that he is really insane when he is really just acting.  Hamlet was ordered to avenge his fathers death by his father's spirit.  The spirit told Hamlet that how he died.  The spirit said that he was sleepong in his garden when the uncle came and poured poison into his ear.  The spirit told Hamlet to avenge his death by killing his uncle.   Hamlet wanted to prove that his uncle really killed his father.  His uncle married his mother shortly after the murder of Hamlets father.  I think Hamlet is crying inside beacuse he suspects what really happened.

    Read More

  • Free Hamlet Essays: Little Control in Hamlet

    804 Words  | 2 Pages

    Even though Hamlet is a prince, he has little control over the course of his life. In that time many things were decided for the princes and princesses such as their education and even who they married. This was more or less the normal way of life for a child of the monarch. But in the case of Hamlet, any of the control he thought he had, fell away with the murder of his father. Having his father, the king, be killed by his own brother, sent Hamlet into a state of feeling helpless and out of control. Cooped up in a palace with no real outlet, he tries to control at least one aspect of his life. Hamlet deliberately toys with Ophelia's emotions in order to feel in control of something since he cannot control the situation with Claudius.

    Read More

  • Hamlet Fishmonger Research Paper

    1740 Words  | 4 Pages

    He knew that he had to pretend being mad to get his uncle to not think he was suspicious. The king is a very manipulating man and he calculates everything. Hamlet became very obsessed with getting revenge and planning. He was full of contradictions and would most of the time be hesitant. He is like a teenager other times because he is impulsive and lashes out. He does not think before he does sometimes and he has to try and backtrack.

    Read More

  • Free Essays - Human Nature in Hamlet

    592 Words  | 2 Pages

    The play, Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, shows human nature to be greedy, self-involved and vengeful. Claudius is driven by his greed to commit murder. Polonius is always looking out for himself, currying favor at the expense of anyone in his way. Hamlet thinks only of vengeance from the moment he finds out about Claudius murdering his father. Human nature has been all of these things, but it has also evolved through the ages. We can be base and cruel, but we can also show great compassion and kindness.

    Read More

  • Free Will in Shakespeare's Hamlet

    566 Words  | 2 Pages

    Following the performance of “The Mousetrap”, Hamlet is summoned to his mother's chamber. Upon arguing with Gertrude over the intentions of his play, and his reasons for wanting to distress the king so openly, Hamlet kills Polonius.  “How now? A rat? Dead for a ducat, dead (III.iv.27-28)!  Perhaps Hamlet did not know whom he was killing.  “Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell! / I took thee for thy better”(III.iv.38-39)!  Perhaps Hamlet thought he was killing the king.

    Read More

  • Are Cell Phones a Harmful Distraction to Society

    1446 Words  | 3 Pages

    Social relationships are essential for one to function properly within today’s society. Cell phones have affected social relationships by changing them from social conduct to contacting someone through a text message. “ Research in human interaction using communication technology like text messages and phone calls could deepen an understanding on how society manages their everyday life” (Rippen). Cell phones have become such a necessity in everyday life that cell phone users rely on a device to manage their everyday social relationships. Cell phone users can manage their social relationships with the touch of a screen. The user can access facebook, send a tweet, send an email, text, or call anyone anywhere in the world. As of lately cell phone users seem to be driven by their own need to be connected to anyone with in seconds. Some people find it overwhelming when it comes to manage their social relationships and have issues when confronted with human contact.

    Read More

  • Essay On Cultural Anthropology

    1093 Words  | 3 Pages

    The American Anthropological Association 's (AAA) aim is to offer guidelines and promote education and discussion. American anthropologists do this often by speaking and interacting with individuals living and experiencing the culture. Truly understanding, learning, and becoming accustomed to a new cultural environment takes a significantly long period of time, perhaps even years of exposure to the culture in order to truly understand traditions, morals, and customs. For instance in the Shostak`s study on the !Kung people, it was important for the researchers to say words correctly, at appropriate times, and in a culturally accepted manner, in addition, in order to interview individuals, specifically women, the anthropologist would ask one to “enter work” with her and they would talk for an hour or a day, or over a long period of time, perhaps two weeks. When studying another culture, American anthropologists include host country colleagues in their research planning and when requesting funding, establish true collaborative relationships, include host country colleagues in dissemination, including publication, and they also ensure that something is given back to the host. When studying other countries, the process is done carefully and thoughtfully, in order to end the study with new information on a culture and to establish new connections

    Read More

  • Free Essays - Hamlet as a Tragic Hero

    1445 Words  | 3 Pages

    Webster’s dictionary defines tragedy as, “a serious drama typically describing a conflict between the protagonist and a superior force (such as destiny) and having a sorrowful or disastrous conclusion that excites pity or terror.”  A tragic hero, therefore, is the character who experiences such a conflict and suffers catastrophically as a result of his choices and related actions.  The character of Hamlet, therefore, is a clear representation of Shakespeare’s tragic hero.

    Read More

  • Social Media Essay

    1149 Words  | 3 Pages

    Mobile phones have become a staple of our society, with everyone from school kids to senior citizens owing at least one. Although mobile applications and texting have made our lives easier, same questions the impact they have had on the relationships we have with one another (Laura Jerpi, 2014). One of the most technologically prevent influence over the past decade has been the mobile phone. Mobile phone appeared as one of the defining technologies of our time ( Rainie and Keeter,2006) and is having an impact on our society in terms of creating an informative ,connected, culturally innovative, and converging society and on personal life of users in many ways including time use ,privacy issues, emancipation, safety, individuality , status and confidence ,competence in communications and connectedness, hilarious ,discretion, planned life , time management ( Rainie and Keeter, 2006). The mobile phone has rapidly become a critical and essential communication tool that is being used in the whole world.

    Read More

  • Advantages Of Sales Analytics

    762 Words  | 2 Pages

    By leveraging sales analytics, sales management can effectively recognize, understand and respond to emerging trends in sales cycles and markets. Successful sales analytics positioning delivers competitive rewards in improving agility, and exploiting opportunities quicker than competitors.

    Read More

  • The Impact of Cell Phone Usage on Our Social Life

    1604 Words  | 4 Pages

    Cell phones have changed from an item of luxury to an everyday necessity for some people. Twenty five years ago, a phone was just a way to contact someone. Mobile phones have become one of the most common tools of communications for both young and old. Cellular devices have redefined relationships and social conduct, and transformed the daily lives of many individuals. Cell phones no longer function just as a communication device. Today it has many other uses. Cell phones are used for games, calculators, texting, calendars, social sites, and pictures. In addition, there are many apps that one can download on a phone. Mobile phones help us keep track of our lives.

    Read More

  • Cross Cultural Differences In Anthropology

    828 Words  | 2 Pages

    The anthropological approach makes a huge difference because of its credibility, validity, reliability and relevancy.

    Read More

  • Free Essays - Antiheroism In Hamlet Hamlet essays

    840 Words  | 2 Pages

    Antiheroism has always been an interesting aspect of a character that authors have chosen to illustrate. In literature, there has been countless antiheroic characters, from Randle McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Allie Fox in The Mosquito Coast, to others as famous as Robin Hood and ... By literary definition, an antihero is the "hero" of the play or novel, but has negative attributes which separate him or her from the classic hero such as Superman. Such negative aspects may include a violent nature, use of coarse language, or self serving interests which may inadvertently depict the protagonist as a hero since the result of serving those interests may be the betterment of society or an environment. In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, the protagonist, Hamlet, is depicted as an antihero. One main factor which gives Hamlet such a label is that he draws sympathy, as well as admiration, from the reader since Hamlet feels the pain of losing his father along with the burden and obstacles in avenging his murder. Act four places a special emphasis on Hamlet's intelligence. In scene two, Hamlet is very insolent and rude towards Rosencrantz and Guildenstern with such phrases as, That I can keep your counsel and not, mine own. Beside, to be demanded of a sponge, what replication should be made by the son of a king? (IV, ii, 12-14) The reference to the sponge reflects the fact that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are easily ordered by the king and do not have minds of their own. Hamlet does not like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern since they are servants of the Claudius, Hamlet's mortal enemy. The reader does not like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern either which causes the reader to side with Hamlet.

    Read More

More about Free Hamlet Essays: Complex Hamlet

Open Document