Prince Hamlet Research Paper

1220 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Character and characterization of hamlet

Prince Hamlet the Detective
More often than not, William Shakespeare's Hamlet is looked at as a Greek tragedy, a story of murder, complexity, and revenge. But one less common view is that it is a story of crime, mystery, and subtle detective work. Mistakes are made by many parties, and death after death continue to occur, both murderous and accidental in nature. Throughout the play, Prince Hamlet struggles to identify the ghost haunting the castle, who turns out to be the ghost of his father, the late King Hamlet. He tries to obtain evidence to prove King Claudius's guilt in the murder of King Hamlet, obtain a confession, and avenge his father's death by slaying King Claudius. When examining the play through this point of view, Prince Hamlet …show more content…

However, his plans for proceeding are where he begins to depart from the average detective. Most detectives, when following a case, are compelled to uphold the laws of justice, and most often they do this by trying their suspect in a court of law. Prince Hamlet, however, decides to obtain justice in his own way - he looks to avenge his father's murder by "getting King Claudius back", in an eye-for-an-eye kind of way - he wants to murder King …show more content…

Prince Hamlet declares, "Now might I do it pat. Now he is a-praying. And now I'll do 't. And so he goes to heaven. And so am I revenged.-That would be scanned. A villain kills my father, and, for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send to heaven" (Hamlet, Act III, Scene 4, lines 74-79). He uses his detective-like style of thinking to realize that, although he could kill King Claudius the moment he saw him, King Claudius would go to heaven because he had prayed for forgiveness for his sins. Prince Hamlet uses that detective-like frame of mind and ultimately comes to decide that he should not kill King Claudius, because he would go to heaven (since he had already confessed his sins), but that would not truly bring about any justice because the late King Hamlet did not have the opportunity to pray for forgiveness of his sins. Again, this is consistent with the frame of mind that most detectives have - their plan is usually to uphold truth and justice, and Prince Hamlet is doing his best to do so in a way that he sees

Show More
Related

  • Changes in Hamlet

    1202 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hamlet sees a ghost of his father and learns that he was killed by his own brother, Claudius. This is when Hamlet falls into an ocean of thought. The philosopher devises ways to unmask his step father to his mother and Denmark and obtain justice and revenge for his father’s smeared death.

    Read More

  • Hamlet And Claudius Research Paper

    695 Words  | 2 Pages

    An interesting comparison between King Hamlet and Claudius is a biblical reference between Cain and Abel. Cain was the first person to be born and Abel was the first person to be killed. Cain was jealous of his brother who was younger yet he became a shepherd while he was a farmer. Whenever they would give offerings to god, Abel’s offering would be accepted while Cain’s offering wasn’t. Cain was jealous of his brother and angered that he was allowed such a better life than him. Besides being a shepherd, Abel’s wife which was decided for him was much more beautiful than Cain’s wife. On one fateful day. Cain invites Abel to the fields and then there Cain murders his brother. This biblical story is commonly associated with Hamlet. One brother takes the life of the other brother because they think that they are more deserving than the other brother. In both cases, the murderous brother is left to walk to their doom in the future and in a sense gets justice inflicted upon them.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of To Be Or Not To Be Soliloquy

    868 Words  | 2 Pages

    However, Hamlet does not act hastily, his intellectual qualities are displayed when he gingerly conceives a plan to witness Claudius confessing for the death of his father. Hamlet unlike Macbeth does not allow supernatural beings to deceive him, Hamlet is not clouded by what he wants to hear, but seeks the truth. If Hamlet witnesses Claudius confessing to his guilty conscience Hamlet will not hesitate and he will assassinate whoever is responsible for the death of his father. Hamlet’s moral philosophy is gradually deteriorating, as he no longer believes that justice should be in the hand’s of god or the universe. He finds a new sense of purpose in life that he must intervene to discover the truth of his father’s death, where his mentality finds nothing left to question and evoke motivation to undertake revenge in order to restore honor and

    Read More

  • Hamlet's Immaturity in Shakespeare's Hamlet

    744 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hamlet is given reason to believe that his Father was murdered. A ghost bearing the “…same figure like the king that’s dead.” (Bernardo 1:1) informed him that the old King’s death was “Murder most foul…” (Ghost 1:5). When Hamlet eagerly inquires as to the meaning of the Ghost’s words he is told that “The serpent that did sting thy father’s life/ Now wears his crown.” Upon hearing this Hamlet immediately knows that his Uncle Claudius, the new king and his new step-father, is the guilty party. A mature person upon hearing news like this would, most likely, also have gone slightly insane with anger. How ever a mature person, upon regaining some control of his or her faculties, would have taken steps to punish the murderer in a just fashion. These steps would have included informing to populace and the Queen of the New King’s treachery against the old. Hamlet does not do this, instead he schemes and plots ways to kill his Uncle as opposed to giving him the opportunity to exculpate himself. Had Hamlet acted with maturity and expressed his concerns about his uncle the lives of many people would have been spared.

    Read More

  • Hamlet Analysis

    1629 Words  | 4 Pages

    Once Hamlet stumbles upon his uncle praying he says: “Now might I do it pat now a is praying. / And now I’ll do’t, / and so a goes to heaven, / And so I am revenged. That would be scanned. / A villain kills my father, and for that / I, his sole son, do this same villain send / to heaven” (3.4.73-77). Hamlet had the perfect opportunity to commit regicide here yet instead of going to Claudius and killing him Hamlet stays back and once again begins to ponder the possibilities of whether or not this is really a good time to do it. Hamlet’s religious beliefs surely play a strong role here because he starts to question what will happen if he kills his uncle while he is praying. Hamlet does, as the quote reveals come to the conclusion that if he were to kill his uncle now he would go to heaven, and not hell where the ghost claimed to have to return to “My hour is almost come. / When I sulph’rous and tormenting flames / Must render up myself” (1.5.4-6). Hamlet did prove that the ghost was his father so knowing that his father is suffering because of his uncle hamlet has no desire to kill Claudius while he is in a position to go to heaven. Normally religious arguments are based on pure speculation however this is not the case for Hamlet; because he has seen the spirit of his late father who did confess to Hamlet that there was in fact a hell to go to because he has to

    Read More

  • Turning Points in Hamlet

    1034 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the prayer scene, Hamlet misses his best opportunity to kill Claudius and avenge his father’s death. With no guards around, Claudius is alone and he is unaware that Hamlet is lurking in the shadows. The scene is set for Hamlet to take vengeance for his father’s unsettled spirit. However, Hamlet does not kill him, because Claudius is repenting for his sins, allowing him to go to heaven when he is to die. As one’s religion often dictated the afterlife of one’s soul, King Hamlet is doomed to an eternity in purgatory. Hamlet does not feel it is fair for Claudius to go to heaven, while his father is at unrest, so he decides instead to kill Claudius while he is doing something sinful. This is ironic because Claudius says he is not really praying; he is just going through the ...

    Read More

  • Hamlet by William Shakespeare

    321 Words  | 1 Pages

    Hamlet understands himself and uses this as a strength for his revenge. He feels very strongly about his father's murder and hopes to seek a confession from King Claudius. "i'll wipe away all trivial fond records, all saw books, all forms, all pressures past that youth and observation copied there" <act one, scene five> this is when hamlet becomes determined to carry out the revenge after he speaks to the ghost. He shows strong signs of a studious nature and plans to carry them out against claudius. which he does, but not by blantent confrontation. He's wise enough to know claudius would never admit his sin that "is rank, it smeels to heaven", so he divises the mousetrap play. This plan shows he thinks straight but will not act too quickly on this. He gives this plan great thought and makes careful decisions. Hamlet's understanding of others helps discover the murderer of his father. His quick instincts tell him that the childhood friends Claudius wanted him to reunite with were spies. By asking them simple questions, Hamlet found Rosencrantz and Guildenstein weren't who they said they were.

    Read More

  • Free Hamlet Essays: Weak and Pitiful Hamlet

    844 Words  | 2 Pages

    With countless opportunities neglected, Hamlet’s ability to take any action against his father’s death is questioned. “Now might I do it pat, now ‘a is a-praying, and now I’ll do’t. And so ‘a goes to heaven, And so am I revenged. That would be scanned. A villain kills my father, and for that I, his sole son, do this same villain send To heaven.” [Act III, iii l. 173-180] Hamlet contemplates killing Cladius while he prayed for forgiveness, but then backed out as he learned he’ll send him to heaven for the loyalty Cladius showed towards the Lord. Hamlet once again debates the possibilities put before him by the ghost he swore to avenge.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Hamlet

    1053 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hamlet does not become a typical vengeful character. Unlike most erratic behavior of individuals seeking revenge out of rage, Hamlet considers the consequences of his actions. What would the people think of their prince if he were to murder the king? What kind of effect would it have on his beloved mother? Hamlet considers questions of this type which in effect hasten his decision. After all, once his mother is dead and her feelings out of the picture, Hamlet is quick and aggressive in forcing poison into Claudius ' mouth. Once Hamlet is certain that Claudius is the killer it is only after he himself is and his empire falling that he can finally

    Read More

  • Theme of Revenge in "Hamlet"

    894 Words  | 2 Pages

    If Claudius does not feel guilty and has no reaction to the play, Hamlet will not act because logically Claudius was not to blame. Subsequently, Hamlet discovers that Claudius is guilty and commits himself to taking his life, but when Hamlet approaches Claudius and sees him praying he thinks to himself, he shouldn’t kill him there saying, “That would be scanned:/ A villain kills my father, and for that, / I, his sole son, do this same villain send/ to heaven.... ... middle of paper ... ...

    Read More

  • Hamlet: Fate vs Free Will

    1003 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... His desire to obey his dead father’s request and exact revenge on Claudius warred against his qualms and doubts of killing another human being. When he finally accepted the role Fate plays in the lives of mankind, Hamlet could proceed to “accept the necessity of killing Claudius. [because] he would simply be acting as the instrument of divine justice at work in the world.” (Ahlman)

    Read More

  • Free Hamlet Essays: Essay on Hamlet the Hero

    1080 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hamlet the Hero There are various ways to define a hero. There is an endless amount of people who are heroes. A hero can be, "one who exhibits courage and/or daring," a hero can be, "one who is supremely noble or self-sacrificing," a hero can be a champion or a winner. A hero can save the day, or even save your life.

    Read More

  • Free Hamlet Essays: Hamlet's Inability to Take Action

    593 Words  | 2 Pages

    As illustrated through his speeches and soliloquies Hamlet has the mind of a true thinker. Reinacting the death of his father in front of Claudius was in itself a wonderful idea. Although he may have conceived shcemes such as this, his mind was holding him back at the same time. His need to analyze and prove everythin certain drew his time of action farther and farther away. Hamlet continuously doubted himself and whether or not the action that he wanted to take was justifiable. The visit that Hamlet recieves from his dead father makes the reader think that it is Hamlet's time to go and seek revenge. This is notthe case. Hamlet does seem eager to try and take the life of Claudius in the name of his father, but before he can do so he has a notion, what if that was not my father, but an evil apparition sending me on the wrong path? This shows that even with substantial evidence of Claudius' deeds, Hamlet's mind is not content.

    Read More

  • Free Hamlet Essays: Hamlet's Numerous Problems

    1059 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hamlet's problem is not exact; it cannot be pinpointed. In fact, Hamlet has numerous problems that contribute to his dilemma. The first of these problems is the appearance of King Hamlet's ghost to his son, Hamlet. Hamlet's morality adds a great deal to his delay in murdering the current king, Claudius. One of Hamlet's biggest drawbacks is that he tends to think things out too much. Hamlet does not act on instinct; however, he makes certain that every action is premeditated. Hamlet suffers a great deal from melancholy; this in turn causes him to constantly second guess himself. The Ghost is the main cause of Hamlet's melancholy. Also, Hamlet's melancholy helps to clear up certain aspects of the play. These are just a few of the problems that Hamlet encounters throughout his ordeal.

    Read More

  • Hamlet Procrastination Analysis

    1004 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hamlet draws his sword and whispers, “Now I might do it… and now I’ll do’t” (3.3.74-75) but he does not act. Hamlet, much like the Elizabethan audiences of the day, is very religious. From Hamlet’s point of view King Claudius has taken a knee to pray and to ask forgiveness. Although this is untrue, Hamlet has taken it upon himself to ensure that King Claudius goes to hell. Hamlets moral fortitude and his sense of honour do not allow him to finish the task when he knows Claudius will go to heaven. Hamlet whispers to himself, “Why this is hire and salary, not revenge” (3.3.79), proving his belief that if he kills King Claudius, the task will not be valid as he will go to heaven. Delaying the step-patricide and ensuring King Claudius’s position in hell is another senseless detour in Hamlet’s given quest, and furthering the depth of procrastination that has plagued Hamlet from the first scene of the play.

    Read More

More about Prince Hamlet Research Paper

Open Document