Hamlet, The Prince Of Death
analytical Essay
1600 words
Mel Gibson says that all of the deaths during the play result from Hamlet's decision to not kill Claudius while he is praying. Agree or disagree and explain why.
Hamlet, The Prince Of Denmark, one of the most well known plays written by William Shakespeare, it's a tale of tragedy, revenge, greed, and love. Surely one would think it to be disturbing, and perhaps even a little on the gory side, but why did William Shakespeare write suck a terrible and gloomy play? He could have been inspired by a certain event in his life, maybe he simply enjoyed leading on his audience, one thing is certain Shakespeare made every incident inside the play happen for a exact, and specific reason. Mel Gibson, a famous actor, once said that the reason that so many people die inside the play all leads back to Hamlet not killing Claudius, because Claudius was praying. This is much so an agreeable statement.
"To take him in the purging of his soul, when he is fit and season'd for his passage? No!" This is what Hamlet says when he finds his uncle kneeling in prayer, the man who killed his father, took over the kingdom, and corrupted his mother Gertrude. Hamlet can't find it inside himself to kill a man who is praying for forgiveness. When in reality Claudius isn't praying for forgiveness of his sins, for his murder, but he is asking to keep hold of the things he has gained from his murderous past. Hamlet not knowing of
the circumstance, lets his murderous uncle live another day in hopes to find his sinning again so he can take his revenge. This is where Mel Gibson makes his point. If Hamlet would have killed his uncle while in prayer, he could have saved many lives. Those lives include Polonius, Ophelia, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Laertes, Gertrude, and Hamlet himself. Seven lives could have been saved if Hamlet only had the courage and the rage needed to slay his uncle when he had the prime chance to.
Hamlet could have salvaged the life of Polonius, even though one could imagine that Polonius had death coming to him by the way he staged himself, his life still could've been spared. Polonius was a mole, a deceiver, and he was loyal to King Claudius, but even knowing all of this Hamlet wouldn't have killed him, if he would have known who was really behind all the curtains in the room of his mother Gertrude.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how laertes seeks revenge for his father's death by mistake, but claudius fills him with lies that make him enraged.
- Opines that hamlet could have saved claudius's life if he hadn't wrathfully concluded that there was truth in the tale of murder. gibson is accurate in saying that the lives of so many were taken only because of his squeamishness.
- Introduces shakespeare, william, and hamlet, prince of denmark, in michael meyer's the bedford introduction to literature.
- Analyzes how hamlet's decision to not kill claudius while he was praying led to many deaths, including polonius, ophelia, rosencrantz, guildenstern, laertes, and gertrude.
Related
- analytical
- The Hamlet in Meanalytical essayHamlet, a seventh century story put to life through the amazing writing of Shakespeare, is a play that shows how meticulous and well thought out plans will bring about the desired result. The plays main character, Hamlet, is a Renaissance man that struggles with the corrupt world around him. He must deal with such issues like "blood for blood revenge" when his own uncle kills his father and takes his place as king. A ghost king appears to Hamlet and catalyzes the events that follow in the play. Hamlet must devise a plan to take revenge for his father and bring to justice all the people who have marred the situation.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how hamlet, a seventh century story put to life through the amazing writing of shakespeare, shows how meticulous and well thought out plans will bring about the desired result.
- Analyzes how hamlet tries to find the worst fate for his devious uncle. he decides to kill his uncle when he commits a sin, so that his soul may be as damned and black as hell.
- Analyzes how hamlet devises a well-thought-out plan of exposing the king's fault in the death of his father. the king storms out of the performance due to his own guilt and wrong doings.
- Analyzes how hamlet's well-thought-out plans give him revenge but also bring the consequence of death by the treachery he creates through the story. spontaneous thinking can bring undesired and sometimes deadly results.
642 wordsRead More - Hamlet: One Of The Four Great Tragedies In Shakespeare's Hamletanalytical essayHamlet is seeking revenge for the death of his father and believes he has found the perfect time to stab Claudius. However as Hamlet is spying on his stepfather and about to pull out his sword, he sees him “praying”. Hamlet then decides that if he kills Claudius in this moment the new king may be forgiven for his horrible actions and go to heaven. However, this is only “what seems” to be going on, and rather than asking for forgiveness Claudius is giving a fake prayer. Claudius even says, “A brother’s murder. Pray can I not,/ Though inclination be as sharp as will,/ My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent” (3.3.38). This simple contrast between reality and appearance keep Hamlet from successfully carrying out his mission. However, William Empson wonders if there is another reason for Hamlets delay of action or is he simply acting. Empson says, “wonder why he delays, just as he himself wonders. No other device could raise so sharply the question of ‘what is theatrical behavior?’” Although Hamlet does not know the truth, as an audience we pity him because we can see both sides of this event. We are able to hear this distinct contrast between reality, or in this case a prayer, and fantasy when Claudius says, “O, what form of prayer/ Can serve my turn?” (3.3.51) Surprisingly, Claudius does not want forgiveness because he
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how shakespeare establishes "madness" to confuse the audience. hamlet's internal struggle to fight with words, rather than physically, causes him to delay his actions.
- Analyzes how shakespeare used contrast to show claudius and hamlet's true character and motives.
- Analyzes how the contrast between truth and fantasy is crucial to the tragic ending of the play.
- Analyzes how shakespeare produced a tragedy through his use of contrast between actuality and fantasy. this blurred line allowed shakespeare to end the play with the death of each character.
- Analyzes shakespeare's play hamlet, which uses unearthly characters to instill fear, and foil characters, to show the possible outcomes for the protagonist. the difficulty in achieving this task comes from the ironic reality that the murderer is his uncle.
1245 wordsRead More - Hamlet: The Man behind the Madnessanalytical essayAfter his meeting with the ghost, Hamlet becomes obsessed with death. It is obvious that Hamlet is wrestling with the idea of whether or not he can commit the act. At this point he is capable of reasoning, but prior to this he was wily enough to invent his false madness. He has not lost his ability to discriminate right from wrong; therefore, he is not mad. To be mad a person loses total reasoning. Still he is determined to discover whether or not Claudius did really murder his father. So, Hamlet organizes a play that reveals the truth about his father’s death. This play serves as a strategy to force Claudi...
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how hamlet's obsession with death turned on him, to the point where he considered taking his own life.
- Analyzes how hamlet is the most complex character of the play. he is not mad, but a part of everyone.
- Describes shakespeare's "the tragedy of hamlet, prince of denmark" in literature: an introduction to reading and writing.
- Analyzes how hamlet feigns madness after learning of his father's murder, but becomes mad later on in the play. he can't back away from what he is meant to do.
- Analyzes how hamlet's madness is found in ophelia, his true love. he is arduously struggling toward the emancipatory future of absolute consciousness.
1015 wordsRead More - Hamlet, by William Shakespeareanalytical essayIn the end, King Claudius received everything he wanted, but it was short lived. Hamlet did avenge his father’s death by killing the king, but it took extreme measures and many unnecessary deaths to accomplish this. There was no need for all the other deaths in this play, but all the treachery, deceit, and lies caused the death of two families.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that laertes' assessment was right and wrong. all the characters in this play are guilty of deception, lies, and spying. king claudius did not act alone, but he was the cause for the majority of it.
- Explains that rosencrantz and guildenstern were childhood friends of hamlet, who wanted to show loyalty to the king.
- Explains that king claudius was not worried about rosencrantz and guildenstern not reappearing, but about saving himself and wondering how to get rid of hamlet.
- Analyzes how the king's idea to have a challenge between hamlet and laertes was perfect for getting him killed and making it look like an accident.
- Analyzes how laertes was ready to take revenge for his father's death when he realized it was not the king who killed hamlet.
- Analyzes how polonius wanted to be involved in everything. he sent his servant reynaldo to spy on laertes, but he didn't tell the king that love was the cause of hamlets craziness.
- Analyzes how hamlet was upset when he realized his love was gone. he avenged his father's death by killing claudius, but it took extreme measures and many unnecessary deaths to accomplish this.
1170 wordsRead More - Hamlet And Hamlet Comparisonanalytical essayHamlet’s actions left him dead at the end of the story. Not only did he die but his mother and several others all to take down one person’s evil ways. As a result, not just one life ended, eight others died as well. All in an effort to exact revenge so many lives were ended.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that shakespeare's hamlet isn't a story they were interested in reading as an adult. the movie that stared one of their favorite actors, mel gibson, and the poem by johnson were enjoyable.
- Describes hamlet, the young prince of denmark, as a peculiar character grieving the untimely death of his father the king. disappointment in his mother consumed him.
- Narrates how hamlet was in love with ophelia. the castle was haunted by the ghost of the deceased king of denmark.
- Narrates how hamlet tried to convince his mother that claudius was responsible for his father's death without success. he then heard a story, and had the production put on in the presence of the new king.
- Analyzes how hamlet tried to speak to his mother in private, killed a spy, but did not know the spy was ophelia’s father, polonius.
- Narrates how the king ordered hamlet to leave the kingdom and advised his guards to have him killed once they reached their destination.
- Analyzes how hamlet returned to find that ophelia had died. even though he treated her awfully before leaving denmark, she knew that.
- Narrates how king claudius convinced laertes to challenge hamlet to a friendly duel. the poisonous sword was stuck, and the king was dismayed.
- Analyzes how samuel johnson's short story was a chronicle of prayers he made, over 32 years, regarding his feelings of grief after his wife passed away.
- Explains that samuel's only way to cope with his loss was by praying to his lord. he asked for strength to lead him down the correct path and help him from all the horrible things that were going through his mind.
- Opines that johnson never looked for anyone else because he loved his wife that much. his prayers were for peace, which never seemed to obtain within those 32 years.
- Opines that hamlet's way of thinking was to make someone pay for the untimely death of his father with their own life, like in deuteronomy 19:21.
- Analyzes how hamlet's actions left him dead at the end of the story. his mother and several others all died in an effort to exact revenge.
- Opines that johnson was still alone at the end of his story and still in the same state of mind. he was a faithful man but did not try to find other things to occupy his time.
- Concludes that hamlet and johnson had nothing in common but death of a love one and grief.
985 wordsRead More - Laertes And Hamlet Comparisonanalytical essayAfter thoroughly examining his uncle’s guilt during the play Hamlet is convinced that the man who married his mother, his own uncle and newly appointed step-father, has murdered his father and finally Hamlets thirst for revenge spurs him to accidentally kill Laertes father Polonius. Even though he let Claudius live while thinking that he prayed for redemption. Hamlet refused to kill him because then he “goes to heaven” (Act 3, Scene 3, Line 2357) if he should die while praying or in any other way that can give him a kind of redemption and decides to do it while he is “drunk asleep, or in his rage, or in the incestuous pleasure of his bed” (Act 3, Scene 3, Line
In this essay, the author
- Compares laertes and hamlet's reactions to their fathers' deaths and opines that they are completely opposites in the way they handle them.
- Analyzes how hamlet is melancholy and mourning the death of his father who died two months past. he is distraught and confused over his mother's "o'erhasty marriage" to his uncle.
- Analyzes how hamlet begs the ghost of the late king to speak with him and tell him why he has risen.
- Analyzes how the ghost king begs hamlet to take revenge for his untimely death by a man who was his own blood, but to leave the queen alone.
- Analyzes how hamlet is furious with the insight to his father’s murder and conclusively want revenge, but he has high morals and an honor that clings to.
- Analyzes how the arrival of the actors turns things around for hamlet and he seizes his chance to determine if the ghost was a lying demon from hell or in actual his father’s spirt.
- Analyzes how hamlet's methodical and patient route is an honorable feat as he waits to be completely sure of his uncle’s treachery before acting out his revenge.
- Analyzes how laertes reacts to the accidental death of polonius in hamlet's furious temper. he confronts king claudius from france wasting no time for trivial matters other than the revenge of his father
- Analyzes how claudius and laertes devised a plan to exact his revenge on hamlet.
- Analyzes how hamlet apologizes for murdering polonius and laertes refuses his forgiveness for the moment. he gets the first strike and is offered the cup but declines again.
- Analyzes how laertes announces that the king had poisoned the cup meant for hamlet and that his death was his punishment.
- Compares how hamlet punished claudius for his treason, while laertes held no qualms about his own fate. he rushed headfirst into the kingdom and made a pact that ended up taking both their lives.
- Concludes that the main difference between hamlet and laertes is that one is patient and the other charges head first. while both characters fates ended up the same, hamlets seemed honorable.
1082 wordsRead More - Hamlet's Death In Hamletanalytical essayHamlet is a well known play by William Shakespeare and it is full of love, revenge, tragedy, and death. There are a lot of different characters in this play. The main focus is obviously Hamlet, who is the protagonist. The antagonist of this story is Claudius who is married to Hamlet’s mother Gertrude, the Queen of Denmark. Polonius is the father of Laertes and Ophelia who is in love with Hamlet. The last main character I would recognize is the ghost, who is believed to be Hamlet 's dead father. This play is about Prince Hamlet, who is leaving school in Germany to go home to Denmark to attend his father 's funeral. When he returns home he finds his mother has remarried. The Queen has married Hamlet 's Uncle Claudius, the dead kings brother. Hamlet wishes to avenge his fathers death, but doesn’t take action for a long time. Do all of the deaths in the play result from Hamlet’s decision to not kill Claudius while he is praying?
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how hamlet is a well-known play by william shakespeare and it is full of love, revenge, tragedy, and death.
- Analyzes how hamlet finds his uncle praying and can't bring himself to kill a man who is praying for the forgiveness of his sins. claudius prays to keep hold of the things he has obtained while sinned.
- Analyzes how a life that could have been salvaged if hamlet killed claudius is the life of polonius.
- Analyzes how hamlet kills rosencrantz and guildenstern to save his own life. he discovers the letter that was originally supposed to only be seen by them.
- Analyzes how ophelia took her own life due to the madness and grief that had overcome her. she was driven to insanity because she lost hamlet and her father.
- Analyzes how laertes is like hamlet in that he is overwhelmed with the thought of revenge because of his father's death.
- Opines that claudius is the only man who truly deserved to die. if hamlet had not let him off easy while he was "praying for his sins," the lives of many important people in his life would've been saved.
1049 wordsRead More - The Theme Of Death In Hamletanalytical essayThe theme of death is abundant throughout William Shakespeare play “Hamlet”, and even more evident in Laurence Olivier’s movie Hamlet. At the start of both the play and the movie there two soldiers Bernardo and Marcellus along with Horatio (Hamlets friend) who see a ghostly figure. In the movie this scene is portrayed as very dark, and cold, and is a similar scene throughout the movie. The next person to die is Lord Chamberlin Polonius, who was killed by Hamlet. The deaths continue with Ophelia’s (Hamlets true love) suicide. Then in a remarkable sword fight that lead to Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude and Laertes all dying from poison. William Shakespeare wrote Hamlet in a time when people were unsure about death, the afterlife and Shakespeare did
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the theme of death is abundant throughout william shakespeare's play "hamlet", and even more evident in laurence olivier’s movie hamlet.
- Explains that the issues of ghost, witches or anything demonic were a problem that effected the english especially during elizabeth’s time.
- Analyzes how the ghostly figure appears late at night and disappears when asked to speak. the men believe it is hamlets deceased father, king hamlet, who fought in war.
- Analyzes how shakespeare was trying to shed light on the problems that england has had over accession and queen elizabeth i not having an heir.
- Analyzes how hamlet is taken back by the appearance of his dead father and follows the ghost until they are alone. the ghost describes a place catholics would assume is purgatory, and the protestants did not believe in it.
- Analyzes how hamlet's fear of death is similar to his fascination with death. he contemplates killing claudius while he prayed. the king overcome with guilt or fear heads to the altar where a statue of jesus is at the center of this altar.
- Analyzes how hamlet contemplates suicide with the quote, "to be, or not to be? that is the question." in the catholic religion, a person commiting suicide doesn't receive rights or be buried on holy grounds, and they're not admitted into heaven.
- Analyzes how shakespeare created hamlet's fascination and fear of death for the people of england. the play was used as a podium that allowed the concerns of the common english people to be heard.
1243 wordsRead More - Compare And Differences Of Banquo Vs. Macbethanalytical essayKing Hamlet was beyond annoyed that Hamlet had done what every child does when their parent asks them to do something, and did the exact opposite. Not only had Hamlet spoken to his mother about her poor choices, but he also had yet to kill Claudius. In Hamlet’s defense he had a good reason for why he hadn’t killed his uncle yet (definitely a good conversation to have over the holidays) and had half of Shakespeare’s characters taken the time to make sure things are done right then there probably wouldn’t be so much tragedy. Hamlet had waited to kill Claudius because he wasn’t certain about the ghost being his father and so he did not want to commit a sin that was not necessary. However, he still failed because he entertained King Hamlet’s ghost and that is a sin in and of its own. In order for Hamlet to decide whether or not he can trust the ghost of his father he decides to put on a play for his mother and uncle that was based around his father’s murder. As the play took place, Hamlet kept a close watch on Claudius and all of his emotions and that is how Hamlet knew that the ghost was not an evil spirit, but was definitely his beloved father. Once Hamlet comes to terms with the fact that he’s letting down his father even after he’s passed Hamlet is able to come up with a plan to kill Claudius so that he can suffer the same way that he has made
In this essay, the author
- Compares the views of banquo and macbeth, who are religious and eats up the words of the three witches as if it were the finest chocolate they've ever tasted.
- Analyzes how shakespeare's take on hamlet was different from macbeth, but in the religious aspect of things the two plays were like night and day.
- Analyzes king hamlet's decision to leave the fate of gertrude up to "the heavens" as saint peter waiting at the pearly gates to grant an eternity of bliss to the most holy souls.
- Analyzes how king hamlet's ghost appeared to him while he was in gertrude’s closet. he had spoken to his mother about his poor choices and had yet to kill claudius.
1129 wordsRead More - Revenge Tragedy In Hamletanalytical essayIn most stories the hero does not stop before his actions to contemplate the aftermath, however Hamlet does this. He puts thought into what he does so that his soul does not go to hell, “He must consider whether his actions will lead him to be saved or damned. The fact that an eternity is at stake in his deeds gives him good reason to consider their consequences” (Cantor 38-39). This quote from Cantor’s critique brings to light Hamlet’s thoughtfulness in acting on his revenge. Hamlet is very concerned with making sure his soul does not go to hell, he wants to make sure that he is not dammed by avenging his father, and almost does not commit the act because of this concern. The first time Hamlet got the chance to kill Claudius he does not take it, “Now might I do it pat, now ‘a is a-praying; And now I’ll do it - and so ‘a goes to heaven, And so am I reveng’d. That would be scann’d: A villain kills my father, and for that I, his sole son, do this same villain send To heaven” (III.iii.71). Here Hamlet is saying that if he kills Claudius while he is praying there is a chance that his soul could go to Heaven. He does not want to take that chance because then Hamlet would be doing the opposite of what his father had asked, yes he would be dead but he would be in heaven instead of spending eternity in hell. These thoughts of Hamlet’s delay him from what he is trying to do. If Hamlet would have
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how shakespeare expanded the revenge tragedy by giving his main character many different sides, not just making him two-dimensional. hamlet's subplots distract him from completing what he needs to do.
- Analyzes how the different subplots throughout hamlet serve as distractions for the main purpose.
- Analyzes how the subplots, this one in particular, extends the revenge play into having not one but many actions of revenge.
- Analyzes how hamlet's revenge plot starts when the ghost of his father visits him from the dead. he questions the integrity of the ghost, which gives him depth and thought.
- Analyzes how hamlet is smarter than most characters in a revenge play. he deceives the rest of the characters to get them to believe he is mad.
- Analyzes how hamlet's christianity separates him from many other avengers. he contemplates whether his actions will lead him to be saved or damned.
- Analyzes how hamlet's belief in christianity sets him apart from anyone else in his quest for revenge.
- Analyzes how shakespeare based his play on revenge but added his own spin to it. he adds depth and struggles to create a much more dynamic play.
1988 wordsRead More