Something and Nothing in Shakespeare's Hamlet

1726 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Psychological reading of Hamlet

Can nothing be something? Or can something turn into nothing? Shakespeare would have the reader believe both are possible. A person can be something and "nothing" as exemplified when Ophelia asks Hamlet "What is my Lord?" and Hamlet replies "Nothing."(3.2. 109,111) Shakespeare uses "nothing" multifariously in his tragic play "Hamlet." "Nothing" becomes a way for the reader to draw parallels between Young Hamlet, and his slain father. Young Hamlet's use of the word "nothing," consistently borders on the realm of something. Still, "nothing" is more than a mere lack of something, "nothing" is the catalyst that enables the reader to see the coalescency that exists between Hamlet, and his father.

The first mention of "nothing" is in a conversation between Rosencrantz and Young Hamlet. Young Hamlet explains to Rosencrantz why he feels Denmark is a prison, "Why then ‘tis none to you; for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so; to me it is a prison."(2.2. 246) King Hamlet believes that Claudius killed him to take his throne. Young Hamlet's father is in a "prison." Therefore, Shakespeare suspends King Hamlet in a place somewhere between a living being and heaven; he walks the earth as an apparition. The Hamlets think it and therefore to them "it is so." Both Hamlets have lost their thrones and now seek revenge. Likewise, both King Hamlet and Young Hamlet have thought their perceptions into reality.

The next time "nothing" appears, Young Hamlet is referring to a player's ability to falsify anxiety. Young Hamlet exclaims surprisedly that the actor can emote such anguish out of "nothing."

A broken voice, and his whole function suiting

...

... middle of paper ...

... New Cambridge Shakespeare edn, edited by Philip Edwards. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Vickers, Brian. 1993. Appropriating Shakespeare: Contemporary Critical Quarrels. New Haven and London: Yale University Press.

Watson, Robert N. 1990. 'Giving up the Ghost in a World of Decay: Hamlet, Revenge and Denial.' Renaissance Drama 21:199-223.

Wright, George T. 1981. 'Hendiadys and Hamlet.' PMLA 96:168-193.

Shakespeare, William. The Tradegy of Hamlet Prince of Denmark. New York: Washington Square Press, 1992

Weiten, Wayne. Psychology: Themes and Variations, Fourth Editon. Boston: Brooks/Cole Publishing Co., 1998

Fowler, Alastair. 1987. 'The Plays Within the Play of Hamlet.' In 'Fanned and Winnowed Opinions': Shakespearean Essays Presented to Harold Jenkins, edited by John W. Mahon and Thomas A. Pendleton. London and New York: Methuen.

Show More
Related

  • Changes in Hamlet

    1202 Words  | 3 Pages

    People all around the world are familiar with the “To be or not to be” speech. Although some might not realize it is a speech by Hamlet, they do realize how powerful those lines are. Those lines show the mark of a great philosopher, and this is precisely what Hamlet is. Because Hamlet is such a fantastic philosopher at the start of the play, it leads him to what some believe is his downfall. The fact that perhaps he thinks too much on the people and incidents surrounding him is really what pulls him down. He spends an excessive amount of his day thinking about every aspect of every event.

    Read More

  • MPAA Rating System

    1578 Words  | 4 Pages

    The MPAA rating system was once a good source for people to find out whether a movie would contain immoral or violent images; currently the system has grown to become ineffective in today’s society. Society changes as well as movies; content and subject matter has changed for movies of this generation. If the system is not changed it will not help parents to know what movies will be appropriate for their children to watch. Because of the influence and prevalence of movies in our society and culture today a rating system is important, if that system fails to do its duty the negative influence that the movies can have on the children and youth of tomorrow will be great.

    Read More

  • Free Hamlet Essays: Teaching Deception and Selfishness in Hamlet

    1079 Words  | 3 Pages

    on young Hamlet, something that he proves unable to accomplish until the very end of the

    Read More

  • Loss of Innocence in Hamlet

    1261 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hamlet is a character that we love to read about and analyze. His character is so realistic, and he is so romantic and idealistic that it is hard not to like him. He is the typical young scholar facing the harsh reality of the real world. In this play, Hamlet has come to a time in his life where he has to see things as they really are. Hamlet is an initiation story. Mordecai Marcus states "some initiations take their protagonists across a threshold of maturity and understanding but leave them enmeshed in a struggle for certainty"(234).  And this is what happens to Hamlet.

    Read More

  • Crawling Inside the Mind of Shakespeare's Hamlet

    1720 Words  | 4 Pages

    Watson, Robert N. 1990. 'Giving up the Ghost in a World of Decay: Hamlet, Revenge and Denial.' Renaissance Drama 21:199-223.

    Read More

  • The Living Dead of Afghanistan

    1904 Words  | 4 Pages

    Travesties are committed against women every day, in every country, in every city, town and home. In Afghanistan women are not only discriminated against, they are publicly reduced to animals. Women are deprived of basic human rights: they are not allowed to travel outside their homes without being completely covered by the traditional shroud-like burqa; they are not allowed to speak or walk loudly in public; they are not allowed to laugh or speak with other women; they are not allowed to attend school nor work; they are expected to be invisible; they are the ghosts of what were once educated, notable, and successful women. With their ruthless and extreme laws, the Taliban have effectively removed the physical presence of women in Afghanistan. The Taliban have stolen the very souls of these women and have turned them into the “living dead” of Afghanistan. The Taliban’s harsh restrictions and extreme religious laws have tainted the freedoms and basic human rights of the once valued and prominent women of Afghanistan.

    Read More

  • Foreign Policy Essay

    1319 Words  | 3 Pages

    When the Declaration of Independence was signed July 4th, 1776, the United States of America was born. From then on, things have never been the same. For example, the country was no longer under the control of Great Britain; we became our own democracy away from monarchy rule of Great Britain. One policy of America that has changed dramatically over the past 200 years, and will continue to change in the coming years, is foreign policy. The idea of foreign policy has gone from the Roosevelt Corollary to the Truman Doctrine, to the Domino Theory, just in the 20th century.

    Read More

  • Antigone

    652 Words  | 2 Pages

    Following the story line I was extremely impressed by what I thought was courage and family loyalty on the part of Antigone to risk death just to bury her deceased brother. I wondered if I, faced with the same situation, would choose the same. I tend to think that I would be more like the timid Ismene who did everything she could think of to dissuade Antigone from what she was destined to do. I can't be sure though because I don't believe in or worship the same gods Antigone did.

    Read More

  • Hamlet And Self In Shakespeare's Hamlet Vs. Self

    1090 Words  | 3 Pages

    When asked about his depressed appearance and demeanor by Gertrude, Hamlet replies, "Seems, madam? Nay, it is. I know not "seems" (1037, line 76). This relates the idea that Hamlet is 'what he appears to be '. Later, he clearly makes a statement about his mental health when he commits himself to avenge his father 's murder. This quote allows the reader to follow Hamlet 's train of thought in regards to his role as student, mourning son, and Prince to the throne: "I 'll wipe away all trivial fond records, All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past That youth and observation copied there, And thy commandment all alone shall live Within the book and volume of my brain" (1054, line 100). Hamlet is stating his commitment to nothing short of revenge of his fathers ' death. There is little doubt about his state of mind at this point of the play. He can only talk about all of these plans to himself. He gets stuck in his head and therefore starts to argue these ideals with

    Read More

  • Drug Resistance Essay

    664 Words  | 2 Pages

    Malaria is a disease that is caused by parasites. It is transferred from one person to another by the infected female Anopheles mosquito. Malaria has been a serious health problem nowadays. WHO has provided the information that approximately 660,000 people died from malaria globally during 2010. Also, after estimating, there are 219 million cases of malaria infection in 2010 worldwide. In sub-Saharan Africa, being one the country that has the high rate of HIV, AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, had 90% of the people that...

    Read More

  • Fortinbras as Foil for Shakespeare's Hamlet

    1032 Words  | 3 Pages

    Rose, Mark. "Reforming the Role." Modern Critical Interpretations: Hamlet. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York City: Chelsea House Publishers, 1986. 117-128

    Read More

  • Ares: The Ancient Greek God Of War

    1101 Words  | 3 Pages

    Ares possessed crucial powers that influenced Greek mythology, and was often symbolized in everyday Ancient Greek life. Ares was the god of war, violence, destruction, rage and manliness. His powers made him one of the most powerful Greek gods in mythology. He was believed to be in charge of when are where wars would happen. He was thought to watch over the battlefield during combat and direct the troops strategy. This differs from Athena, the goddess of war strategy, who controlled how the troops actually fought (“Theoi Project”). This means that Ares was assumed to be in control of the outcomes during major wars. With the ability to control lives and wars, Ares was worshipped as the god of war by the Ancient Greeks. Additionally, Ares had a few objects that represented him and his personality. Ares was symbolized in Ancient Greeks by a spear, battle armor and the scrappy, bloodthirsty vulture. Many Ancient Greeks felt that a spear symbolized him because of its relation to battle and death. Both things that Ares was known for (“Theoi Project”). They believed that the battle armor did not only represent his thirst for conflict, but also his cowardliness. Although Ares was the god of war and manliness and was immortal, he

    Read More

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

    2788 Words  | 6 Pages

    ...g.” Modern Critical Interpretations: Hamlet. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1986. Rpt. from Tragic Form in Shakespeare. N.p.: Princeton University Press, 1972.

    Read More

  • Hamlet Vs. Much Ado About Nothing

    1746 Words  | 4 Pages

    While Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing have the same author they both have similarities and differences in themes. Some people live their life looking for love and never finding it, it is often said that you will find love when you least expect it. Both plays have common beliefs of love, marriage, however, death is viewed very differently.

    Read More

  • Narcissism

    869 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...rd Henry would appreciate Waterhouse’s painting for its honesty and self-appreciation it depicts. Lord Henry and especially Dorian would appreciate the fact that Narcissus is admiring himself— seeing as the two men admire themselves quite often. The painting is definitely true to the Aesthetic movement at the time.

    Read More

More about Something and Nothing in Shakespeare's Hamlet

Open Document