Hamlet and Humanism William Shakespeare, Hamlet, demonstrates human nature to be gluttonous, self-involved and merciless. Claudius is determined by his greed to commit murder. Polonius is always watching out for himself, without a care of the expense of anyone that gets in his way. Hamlet ponders only of retaliation from the second he finds out about Claudius murdered his father. Human nature has been several things throughout time, but it has also changed throughout the years. People can be immoral and cruel, but they can also show great empathy and kindness. Renaissance humanism scholars recognize that “Hamlet contains a vital critique of humanism” (Renaissance) throughout the play. The author, William Shakespeare, was from a period of Elizabethan age that “coincided with the culminating period of humanistic literary expression” (Renaissance). Shakespeare’s surroundings at that time period help shape his views and thoughts of the politics that were happening all around him. Shakespeare took from his own human responses and interactions and intertwined them into Hamlet. Claudius “is the most modern character” that “has no reservations” (Hamlet, Tragedy) when he murders his own brother so that he may gain the crown and the queen. He removes of a great and honorable king to please his greed. He removes his brother, the good of the country, and the pleasure of many to satisfy his own ambition. Claudius only cares about himself. Realizing it or not, most individuals, at one point or another, will be motivated by gluttony. Most, however, will not have the willpower and anxiety that Claudius shows. This is partially because of the alterations of the times. In the historical time that Shakespeare wrote the play, killing was profoundly ... ... middle of paper ... ... Cairo Press, 2004. pp. 93-120 . 20 February 2009. Kreis, Steven. “Renaissance Humanism.” 07 November 2008. The History Guide: Lectures on Modern European Intellectual History. . 20 April 2009. Levin, Harry. “General Introduction.” The Riverside Shakespeare. 2nd ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1997. Shakespeare, William. “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.” The Riverside Shakespeare. 2nd ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1997. Walley, Harold R. “Shakespeare’s Conception of Hamlet.” PMLA, 48.3. Modern Language Association, 1933. pp. 777-798 . 19 February 2009. "Renaissance Humanism." Shakespearean Criticism. Ed. Michelle Lee. Vol. 101. Detroit: Gale, 2006. Literature Resource Center. Web. 21 Apr. 2014. Document URL http://go.galegroup.com.lscsproxy2.lonestar.edu/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CH1410001783&v=2.1&u=nhmccd_main&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w&asid=e5e947871b917bcc258bc6e4cb017f43
Shakespeare, William. “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Ed. Edgar V. Roberts. 9th Ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2009. Print
An understanding of William Shakespeare’s philosophies reinforces the meaning of the human condition found in the play Hamlet. The revenge tragedy is an example in the exploration of good versus evil, deceit, madness, inter-turmoil, and utter existence. Shakespeare, fascinated by the human mind and human nature, clearly and completely illustrates the meaning of “self.” Hamlet is a drama that examines one’s personal identity. From the beginning of the story atop the castle when the guards enter the platform to the conclusion of the performance as Hamlet lies, dying in Horatio’s arms every characters’ psychological type is
Shakespeare, William. “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Ed. Edgar V. Roberts. 9th Ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2009. Print
In the book Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption written by Stephen King, Andy Dufresne becomes wrongly imprisoned in Shawshank State Prison for the murder of his wife and her lover. Andy becomes engulfed in the prison life as he makes friends. As the book, as well as the movie, transpire you see Andy becoming one of the prisoners. The movie describes it perfectly when Andy says: “On the outside, I was an honest man, straight as an arrow. I had to come to prison to be a crook.” Andy and the other inmates are all locked up metaphorically as well as literally, hiding from themselves. Shawshank uses the isolation to submerge their prisoners to be unable to function past the prison walls.
Let us look at Claudius. Claudius is devious and intelligent, but also selfish. Claudius kills his brother, the King, to gain social, political, and economic power. “Of those effects for which I did the murder: My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen.” (3.3.Lines) Claudius from a Marxist point of view would be looked at as a figure who was been corrupted in his craving for political power. In fear and to protect his power, Claudius convinces Hamlets friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, to spy on Hamlet to make sure he goes to England. “By letters congruing to that effect, The present death of Hamlet. Do it, England, For like the hectic in my blood he
Spencer, Theodore. “Hamlet and the Nature of Reality.” Journal of English Literary History (December, 1938): 253-77.
Claudius kills his own brother so that he can claim the crown and the queen. He disposes of a good and noble king to satisfy his greed. He sacrifices his brother, the good of the country, and the happiness of many to fulfill his ambition. He cares only for himself. Knowingly or not, most humans, at one point or another, will be driven by greed. Most, however, will not have the determination and desperation that Claudius displays. This is partly because of the differences of the times. In the time period that Shakespeare wrote the play, murder was heavily frowned upon as it is now. Greed is part of all people. They see something they want and they tell themselves that it is only what they deserve. It is inescapable, but we can control it to a certain degree.
Shakespeare, William. The New Cambridge Shakespeare: Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Ed. Philip Edwards. Cambridge: Cambridge U P, 1985.
How are the perceptions of human nature conveyed by individuals subject to the influence of
Shakespeare, William. “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Ed. Edgar V. Roberts. 9th Ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2009. Print
With The Tragedy of Hamlet, Shakespeare was able to take a revenge tragedy and use it to portray problems and fundamental themes of the Renaissance. The Renaissance was a large cultural movement that began in the fifteenth-century and was driven by an idea known as humanitas. This was the idea that all the capabilities and virtues unique to human beings should be studied to their furthest extent (Nardo, 1999). Renaissance humanism, as the movement is now known, caused a new interest in human experience and an unwavering optimism about the extent of human understanding to develop. The purpose of the movement was to gain a better understanding of how to act, and the hope was that this understanding would lead to great benefits for society (Nardo,
Shakespeare, William. “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Ed. Edgar V. Roberts. 9th Ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2009. Print
As the play’s tragic hero, Hamlet exhibits a combination of good and bad traits. A complex character, he displays a variety of characteristics throughout the play’s development. When he is first introduced in Act I- Scene 2, one sees Hamlet as a sensitive young prince who is mourning the death of his father, the King. In addition, his mother’s immediate marriage to his uncle has left him in even greater despair. Mixed in with this immense sense of grief, are obvious feelings of anger and frustration. The combination of these emotions leaves one feeling sympathetic to Hamlet; he becomes a very “human” character. One sees from the very beginning that he is a very complex and conflicted man, and that his tragedy has already begun.
Corum, Richard. Understanding Hamlet: A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 1998. Print.
...World of Hamlet.” Yale Review. vol. 41 (1952) p. 502-23. Rpt. in Shakespeare: Modern Essays in Criticism. Rev. ed. Ed. Leonard F. Dean. New York: Oxford University P., 1967.