The Domino Effect in William Shakespeare's Hamlet

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The Domino Effect in William Shakespeare's Hamlet

If there is one game that turns the gears in the mind of a child, it is dominos. The excitement that builds as one carefully sets up each domino at a time, being sure not to tip any of the pieces over until he or she creates a marvelous maze with curves and zigzags swooping side to side. Finally, after diligently finishing his or her masterpiece, the big moment arrives. The excited child slowly reaches over to the very first domino that he or she has set up, and taps it. The youth watches in awe as a chain reaction occurs right in front of his or her eyes. The child thinks to itself, "Wow. I cannot believe that one action can affect so many of the other dominos." The chain reaction of a domino set relates with the complex events that occur through out William Shakespear's tragedy, "Hamlet". When King Claudius murders his brother at the beginning of the play, he "taps the first domino" in a series of murders that eventually revenge him to his own death. By tracing the domino effect that Claudius begins after killing Hamlet senior, the theme of revenge becomes prominent through the play.

The play's plot begins when King Claudius pours poison into his brother's ear. There are many reasons that cause Claudius to take his brother's life. Obviously, Claudius envies everything that Hamlet senior owns. As a character, Claudius presents himself as a greedy, self-absorbed person. He will go to extremes in order to obtain whatever he desires. He certainly reaps the benefits with his cheap sin by receiving the thrown to Denmark and the lovely queen's hand in marriage. His manipulative style fools many people while he poses as the rightful king; that is until Hamlet meets his father's ghost and learns of his stepfather's ungodly sin. The ghost plays a crucial part in the play by sharing King Claudius' dirty secret with Hamlet. At this point the initial theme of revenge is set into motion. Hamlet lays low until he is certain of Claudius' guilt, which is proven during the play "Mousetrap." Although Hamlet's idea concerning the play works brilliantly, he also makes a terrible mistake acknowledges Philip Burton, the author of The Sole Voice.

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