A son’s tragedy, a brother’s betrayal. A story of responsibility and revenge is that of William Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet. The theme in the play Hamlet is one that is great in age and remains present even in today’s entertainment. A modern story which shares this theme is
Disney’s The Lion King. The characters Simba and Hamlet are the main characters in both stories and both share many similarities. Treachery from within the family was the cause of both character’s losses, and the initial conflict of the entire story. Along with major characters, the stories also share similar secondary characters. The characters
Rosencranz and Guildenstern can be compared to the
Disney characters Timon and Pumbaa. The Lion King and
Hamlet share a common theme and reflect one another.
The Prince of Denmark, the Prince of the Pride Lands,
Hamlet and Simba are the main characters of both stories and share similar situations and traits. Both characters think highly of their fathers and share a close bond of love with them. "With all my love I do commend me to you"( II I 184
), proving that Hamlet not only loves his father but also respects and obeys his wishes. "I was just trying to be brave like you." Simba says this to his father showing how much he looks up to him. Hamlet and Simba delay their action of revenge over their father’s death. The loss of the fatherly figure leaves Hamlet extremely depressed, and
Simba with feelings of guilt and without a teacher. Each character runs from their responsibility, although they both know what must be done inside. It is remarkable that such similarities exist in the conflicts and actions of both characters. Hamlet and Simba are betrayed by their uncles whom murder their fathers in order to fulfill their own ambitions. Scar and Claudius were both the brother of the proclaimed King. They both lived in their older brother’s shadow and were envious of their success. Claudius and
Scar’s envy led them to kill their brothers which allowed them to seize the throne. "The serpent that did sting thy father’s life/Now wears his crown. ( I V 38,39 )" "Here’s my little secret, I killed Mufasa." To keep their newly claimed throne Scar and Claudius had to guarantee that there would be no interference from their nephews. Both
Hamlet and Simba were led astray from their home by their uncle, therefore guaranteeing no interference. "The associates tend, and every thing is bent/For England."( IV
III 45,46) "Run away! Run away and never return!" In
Hamlet and The Lion King the main characters were betrayed by their uncle by the murdering of their father and
King Hamlet must have been a good father for his son to be so devoted and loyal to him. It almost seems that the Prince made an idol of his father. In Prince Hamlet's first soliloquy he described his father as an excellent king, a god-like figure and a loving husband. It is strange that the Prince did not convey information about being a loving father. It is left for us to infer that there must have been a special bond between father and son for the Prince to be so willing to carry out retribution against his father's murderer. Hamlet describes his father in this way:
William Shakespeare composed the play Hamlet, around 1600-1601. This play, named after his only son, in my opinion is one of Shakespeare’s best works. The play shows the literal as well as the realistic sides of people during this culture as well as those generations to come. During the play, Hamlet’s character went through several different transitions. In the beginning he was shown as a child, by his actions and curiosity, but towards the end of play his manhood begins surface and he begins to be aggressive at getting what he wants.
In Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, protagonist Hamlet, experiences many rises and falls throughout the play that have a major impact on his mentality decline. The way in which readers interpret the character, Hamlet, can vary in many ways. For instance, Hamlet delivers many soliloquies throughout the work, giving readers a better insight of his state of mind. Additionally, two significant soliloquies in both Acts II and III show a clear view of Hamlet’s mental and emotional state.
In Lesson 19 of the videotape “Literary Visions';, the actor performs two interpretations of the monologue, “To be or not to be';. As said in the video, there are many ways that an actor can choose to interpret that particular speech in Hamlet. Many actors relish the opportunity to perform Hamlet, because of that particular speech. In a play, the actors’ interpretation of the character is what gives the audience the background and insights into the characters’ feelings, since there is not a narrator, like in a short story. Each actor’s version of Hamlet is different, and therefore the interpretation by the audience will be different. There is not a right or wrong interpretation, but a change in the actor’s tone of voice or facial expressions, can transform the meanings of the words. As seen in the video, the actor’s two interpretations of “To be or not to be'; from the video are very different from each other.
Ecclesiastes 7: 17 said “Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time?” Suicide is an important part in the bible. It is one of the things that is considered a sin in Christianity. The bible has lessons and commandments for Christians to follow and those lessons are represented in books. In the early 1600’s religion was an important part of people’s lives and writers incorporated it into their writings. William Shakespeare wrote Hamlet in the early 1600’s and he wrote about religion while he was writing about a prince’s revenge on his uncle. His uncle killed his father and he was prepared to take revenge. Hamlet and Christianity are both about the good, the bad and the afterlife which makes Hamlet a Christian play.
Hamlet none other than the underlying thought of doubt, shape the play and its characters in such a dramatic way. In fact the plays main questions and events all come about due to some doubt and uncertainty from any multitude of characters. Although a common theme for many no other one character portrays this literary theme and crippling condition then the stories main focus and protagonist, prince Hamlet. Hamlet struggles with believing the evidence brought to him of his fathers death, and goes through much indecision and pondering about life, death and his future endeavors before he eventually fufils his purpose. Hamlet even after he’s chosen his path is crippled by his chronic indecision and failure to act, and in the end is brought down by it. Through Hamlet we are clearly shown that doubt and thought have there place, but too much can and in hamlets becomes his downfall.
The main characters in both The Lion King and Hamlet are perceived in the same way by the audience as they share many of the same character traits and personalities. The original
William Shakespeare is seen to many as one of the great writers in history. More specifically, the characters in his plays are reviewed and criticized and have been so for nearly four centuries. The character that many have revered Shakespeare for is perhaps the greatest such character ever in literature, Hamlet from Shakespeare's Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. The commentary and response to this legend of literature is of wide array and opinion, though most, such as Pennington, believe him to be a truly magnificent character: "Hamlet is perhaps the cleverest hero ever written, the subject of the first European tragedy, a form of genius. A type Shakespeare despaired of writing thereafter, having perceived that the heroes of tragedies must be sublime idiots" (185). However, despite his clear gifts and aura, Hamlet was a doomed character from the beginning: Hamlet is dominated by an emotion that is inexpressible. It is thus a feeling he cannot understand, he cannot objectify it, and it therefore remains open to poison life and to obstruct action" (Eliot 25). Thus, Hamlet, while possessing the traits of no other men of his time, a true Renaissance man, was doomed from the beginning of the play partly by forces he could not control, and also partly by his own character. It leads to a slow but definite ending to one of literature's great characters, one that he could not control. In the end, Hamlet was out of place in his environment, he was simply not meant to be.
Why do people crave power, fortune, and lust when all it leads to is corruption, greed, and/or death? In the play of Hamlet by William Shakespeare, one character's greed for power and fortune leads to tragedy. First, Claudius murders King Hamlet and attempts to kill prince Hamlet inorder to keep the crown to rule Denmark. Secondly, Claudius sets up a plan that involves putting a poisonous pearl in the winner's victory cup that eventually Gertrude drinks. He also puts poision on the tip of the sword that eventually kills Laertes in the duel. Lastly, Claudius sends Rosencranz & Guildenstern to escort Hamlet to England to secretly be killed so that he can keep the crown. One may object that Polonius' death was not the fault of Claudius' greed because Hamlet killed Polonius. However, Hamlet was obsessed with killing Claudius because he wanted to seek revenge for his father. Claudius' Greed for power is to blame for all the tragedies in the play Hamlet.
The Shakespearean play of Hamlet captures the audience with many suspenseful and devastating themes including betrayal. Some of the most loved characters get betrayed by who they thought loved them most. The things these characters do to the people they love are wrong, hurtful and disappointing. These examples lead to the destruction of many characters physically and emotionally. The characters in the play who committed the act of betrayal end up paying for what they have done in the form of death, either from nature, their selfishness, disloyalty and madness. The act of betrayal truly captures and displays the play of Hamlet as a sad tragedy.
In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the theme of revenge is very palpable as the reader examines the characters of Hamlet himself, as well as Laertes, son of Polonius, and Fortinbras, prince of Norway and son of the late King Fortinbras. Each of these young characters felt the need to avenge the deaths of their fathers who they felt were untimely killed at the bloody hands of their murderers. However, the way each chose to go about this varies greatly and gives insight into their characters and how they progress throughout the play. Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras are similar in the fact that each had love, or at least respect, their fathers. Enough to make an attempt to wreak revenge upon their fathers murderers at the risk of their own reputation, freedom, and souls.
Throughout William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, Hamlet’s behavior and actions cause readers to question his sanity. Hamlet’s character can be interpreted in many different ways. It could be said that he is indeed insane, or it can be disputed that he, as he made known, is simply putting on a good act. The complexity of knowing Hamlet’s true character derives from the fact that we, as readers, are unable to read Shakespeare’s or Hamlet’s minds. Therefore, judgments could be made solely by reading and interpreting his behavior and coming up with a satisfactory conclusion. Taking into consideration incidents such as Polonius’ murder and Hamlet’s contemplating suicide, it is natural for individuals who perform such acts to be categorized as crazy. Ignoring Hamlet’s actual actions, and paying keen attention to what altered his character, one can debate that Hamlet is not at all insane. It is important to consider the situations which triggered Hamlet’s different actions. By giving discreet thought to Hamlet’s position and what he endures, one will realize that he is not demented, but he is actually an angry, betrayed and emotionally devastated fatherless son.
In the famous tragedy Hamlet, William Shakespeare writes a mournful, bloody tale about the downfall of the Danish Monarchy. After the murder of the former King Hamlet by his brother, Claudius, Hamlet is overwhelmed with the desire to seek to revenge for his father's death by killing his uncle. What he does not anticipate is to be part of the cause of the downfall of everyone he holds dear. Hamlet plays a hand in the unintentional deaths of Laertes, Ophelia, and Polonius due to his character flaws. Hamlet's hesitancy to kill, his excessive consideration of religious morals, and his inability to foresee other characters' reactions lead a domino effect of tragic events to occurs and Hamlet's own self destruction.
In Hamlet, Shakespeare follows regular convention for a large part of the play. In the beginning, Shakespeare sets up the scene, having a ghost on a dark night. Everyone is working and something strange is happening in Denmark. It is as if Shakespeare is saying that some kind of foul play has been committed. This sets up for the major theme in the play which is of course revenge.