William Shakespeare’s Hamlet
analytical Essay
1183 words
William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a tragic story that captures the audience’s emotions. The story wraps around the protagonist, Hamlet, whom finds out his father has been murdered by his uncle. Filled with hostility, Hamlet tries to organize a plan to seek his revenge. His hunger for vengeance only grows stronger as Hamlet experiences treachery, despair, sorrow, and animosity. The famous play by William Shakespeare portrays absolute and fabricated madness—from the overbearing grief to complete mania—and delves into the themes of sarcasm, suicide, and procrastination.
Throughout the play, William Shakespeare uses sarcasm to add humor into his works. With the use of sarcasm, the audiences are able to interpret the character's true feelings and thoughts. In Act I, King Hamlet has died, and his brother Claudius, has married the widowed queen of the king. The son (also named Hamlet) has been depressed, lately, about the death of his father and is aggravated at his mother for marrying Claudius (his uncle) less than two months since his father’s death. Many characters in the book (especially Hamlet) use sarcasm, which gives insight to what they truly think about the other characters of the book. In line 179-180, Hamlet states, "Thrift, thrift, Horatio! The funeral baked meats did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables" (I.ii.179-180). Hamlet uses sarcasm to suggest that his mother has gotten married so quickly after the death of his father and how much he disapproves of this matter. Moreover, in line 65, Hamlet comments "A little more than kin and less than kind" (I.i.65) when Claudius talks about the family ties between them. The sarcastic response to Claudius shows Hamlet's true feelings toward his uncle by giving him attitude. Hamle...
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...certain people and situations presented in the play. Furthermore, Hamlet’s procrastination plays a huge role in the play. Because of Hamlet’s procrastination he causes many unnecessary deaths throughout the play. The examples of madness, sarcasm, suicide, and procrastination mentioned earlier shows what kind of person Hamlet is. However, Hamlet’s procrastination/indecision was a fatal flaw. Since Hamlet took ages to take his revenge, he gave Claudius to make plans of his own—Claudius’s own plan to have Hamlet killed. Hamlet is an interesting character throughout the play with his contemplative and philosophical personality, however his rash and impulsive behavior causes a great deal of dilemmas during the play.
Works Cited
Shakespeare, William, Barbara A. Mowat, and Paul Werstine. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. New York: Washington Square, 2002. Print.
In this essay, the author
- Summarizes shakespeare, william, barbara a. mowat, and paul werstine's the tragedy of hamlet, prince of denmark.
- Analyzes how shakespeare's hamlet captures the audience’s emotions. the play portrays absolute and fabricated madness and delves into the themes of sarcasm, suicide, and procrastination
- Analyzes how shakespeare uses sarcasm to add humor to his works.
- Analyzes how the theme of madness is established in act ii of hamlet.
- Analyzes how the theme of suicide is played throughout the play, hamlet. he has always wanted to commit suicide because of the death of his father.
- Analyzes how hamlet's hunger for revenge has deteriorated since the start of the play due to his cognitive nature.
- Analyzes how shakespeare's depiction of madness, sarcasm, suicide, and procrastination throughout the play hamlet shows how hamlets grows as the protagonist.
Related
- analytical
- opinion
- Hamlet Personality Essayanalytical essayHamlet goes through numerous obstacles from the start of his fathers death until he contemplates life. He is never quite sure of his decisions and his thoughs, though his actions cause us to think more in depth about his intention. Hamlet gives us a sense of present insanity. He is unclear whether these actions and words are on purpose, but they cause us to create a way in which his mind thinks. Hamlet presents us his personality through his sarcasm, his sanity, his suicidal tendencies, and procrastination and indecision.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how hamlet goes through numerous obstacles from the start of his father's death until he contemplates life. he gives us a sense of present insanity.
- Analyzes how hamlet uses sarcasm to release his anger and show his newly brewed disgust for his family.
- Analyzes how hamlet shows signs of insanity through his actions, his statements, and his conversations.
- Analyzes how gertrude observes hamlet speaking to nothing, adding to her suspicion of his loss of sanity. even though he shows signs, his logic and decisions prove otherwise.
- Analyzes how hamlet shows self-depreciation and suicidal tendencies through his dialogue of speaking, belittling himself, and referring to suicide.
- Analyzes how hamlet shows signs of self-deprecation when he states "you cannot, sir, take from me any think that i will more willingly part withal—except my life."
- Analyzes how hamlet expresses his personality of indecision through his actions, his thoughts, and his words.
- Analyzes how hamlet shows us his trait of procreation through his words. he believes that he needs to kill claudius to honor and avenge his father.
- Concludes that hamlet's actions, thoughts, and words help us describe his complex personality. he develops his personality through his sarcasm through words, suicidal tendencies through actions and indecision.
1479 wordsRead More - Sanity In Hamletanalytical essayOne of the most popular characters in Shakespearean literature, Hamlet endures difficult situations within the castle he lives in. The fatal death of his father, and urge for revenge leads Hamlet into making unreasonable decisions. In William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, Hamlet’s sanity diminishes as the story progresses, impacting the people around him as well as the timing and outcome of his revenge against Claudius.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how hamlet, one of the most popular characters in shakespearean literature, endures difficult situations within the castle he lives in. the fatal death of his father, and urge for revenge leads him into making unreasonable decisions.
- Analyzes how hamlet loses his sanity after his father's death and his mother’s hurried marriage to claudius.
- Analyzes how hamlet's insanity rises during the play, and he makes unjustifiable decisions.
- Analyzes how hamlet's feigned madness becomes the touchstone for an illumination of the mysterious nature of sanity itself.
- Analyzes how hamlet struggles to act on impulse, and suffers to react quickly in crucial situations, such as the murder of polonius.
- Analyzes how hamlet doubts if the ghost is telling the truth, which is why claudius is eager to send him to england.
- Analyzes how hamlet's lack of action had a major impact on the lives of his close friends and family.
- Analyzes how hamlet could have easily avoided the deaths of his close friends if he would have acted sooner.
- Analyzes how hamlet's sanity diminishes with the story progressing, impacting the people around him as well as the timing and outcome of his revenge against claudius.
2032 wordsRead More - Changes in Hamletanalytical essayHamlet by William Shakespeare is one of the world’s most revered literature. The main character, Hamlet, is arguably one of the most intriguing characters the playwright ever developed. Hamlet is daring, philosophical, mentally unstable at times, and clever. Throughout the play though, these characteristics change and/or diminish as Hamlet is put through a plethora of unfortunate events. His father is murdered by Claudius, his mother soon after marries Claudius, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern betray him, and his girlfriend most likely commits suicide. While Hamlet is incredibly philosophical, indecisive, and full of resentment in the beginning of the play, he becomes violent, instinctive, caring and sympathetic towards the end of the play.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how hamlet is one of the most intriguing characters the playwright ever developed. he is daring, philosophical, mentally unstable at times, and clever. these characteristics change and/or diminish as he is put through unfortunate events.
- Analyzes how hamlet's "to be or not to be" speech shows the mark of a great philosopher, and this is precisely what he is.
- Analyzes how hamlet sees a ghost of his father and learns that he was killed by his own brother, claudius. the philosopher devises ways to unmask his step father to his mother and denmark and obtain justice and revenge.
- Analyzes how hamlet realizes that what is considered good and bad are only norms set by society and nothing more. the real question that most likely arises to him is whether his action is right and justified.
- Analyzes how hamlet puts his actions before his words, enabling him to fulfill what he was planning at the beginning, making sure his father was avenged.
- Analyzes how hamlet sets a new tone for the story. he ensures the audience that he will have no mercy when it comes to fulfilling his now innate desire to kill and unmask claudius.
- Explains that hamlet was a wonderer in the beginning, but by the end he became instinctive and powerful.
- Analyzes how hamlet realizes the emotional and impulsive nature of his mother. he carries on these feelings towards women in general.
- Analyzes how hamlet's mother betrayed him and took sides with king claudius. the mother-son relationship ended when she was the only blood relative left for him.
- Analyzes how hamlet had an unbreakable love for his father and at times it drove him insane. he was being crazy deceitfully to advance his plans, but he was mentally ill in some scenes.
- Analyzes how t.s. elliot wrote that hamlet's levity, repetition of phrase, puns, were not part of a deliberate plan of dissimulation. it provided some humor for himself.
- Analyzes how hamlet blames his "madness" for the killing of polonius. although there is no legitimate excuse for his action, he was beyond stressed and depressed.
- Analyzes how hamlet loses focus and sanity in the middle of the play. he asks laertes if he can forgive him for his crime.
- Analyzes how hamlet is a model philosopher because his thoughts go to depths many others fail to reach. he dwelled on the problem for too long and was not able to execute his plan accordingly.
1202 wordsRead More - William Shakespeare's Hamletanalytical essayOphelia: A Victim of Circumstance. In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the character of Ophelia is the most tragic of all characters. Ophelia is a victim of her life’s circumstance. Having no mother to guide her, she lacks a sense of self needed to navigate the rough waters of relationships.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that if she acts on her own accord she will " tender [him] a fool."
- Analyzes how she promises laertes not to disclose the role given to her at the time.
- Analyzes how identity leaves the story. she seems to now need the directives of the men in her life.
- Opines that the silenced voices are too much for her to deal with.
- Explains that she now has a vehicle by which to express her pent up anger and rage.
- Analyzes how ophelia has existed in a role of silence all her life, and is now demanding an apology.
- Analyzes how ophelia is a victim of her life's circumstance and lacks self-confidence to navigate the rough waters of relationships.
- Analyzes how hamlet is in a constant search for the approval of the men in her life. she is engaged in the struggle between her loyalty to her father and her love for
- Analyzes how motherless and limited by the men in her life, she has been shaped to abandon her own desires in order to appease the desires of men.
- Analyzes how laertes tries to teach ophelia about the dangers of the advances of men. hamlet wants to take her.
- Analyzes how laertes can return to france without a chastity in ellsinore and even agreeing to deny herself the act of sleeping to write to him.
- Analyzes how polonius uses ophelia as an angel in the eyes of laertes to advance his cause.
- Analyzes how ophelia becomes a willing instrument for her father to gain stature with.
- Analyzes how the woman chooses between her loyalty to her father, or her own conviction. she lies to hamlet, and he denounces his feelings for her.
- Analyzes how the woman begins to express herself in song. she sings about the trials of her life and of the events around her.
- Analyzes how hamlet's song, about her love and desertion, told the depth of emotion and the pain of abandonment she truly felt.
- Analyzes how ophelia sought acceptance and the audience she wanted to be heard by. she lived most of her days for others, never developing a sense of who she was until the end.
976 wordsRead More - William Shakespeare's Hamletanalytical essayHamlet vs Laertes Both Laertes and Hamlet both have similar and unique personality traits. These two characters are essential parts to the structure and theme of this play. Laertes tends to be possibly, in my opinion, an earlier version of Hamlet. Laertes has a positive outlook on life and seems to make the best of his life. Hamlet on the other hand looks at life only for its negative qualities and it almost seems that Hamlet wants to have more bad things to look at and have a reason to be depressed about.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how laertes and hamlet have similar and unique personality traits. both have positive and negative outlooks on life.
- Analyzes how laertes' character, unlike hamlet, seems to get along with his family. he is a younger version of the hero, and exemplifies his negative characteristics.
439 wordsRead More - William Shakespeare's Hamletanalytical essayIn Act III of Hamlet much of the plot begins to take it’s turn. It shows to King Claudius that he is found out, he will no longer be able to go on as if he did nothing.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how hamlet's plot begins to take its turn in act iii, when king claudius is found out, he will no longer be able to go on as if he did nothing.
- Analyzes how prince hamlet asked the players to act out "the murder of gonzago" because it was parallel to what actually happened with his father and uncle, claudius.
- Analyzes how the players began the prologue of the play, which was brief, but to the point. the player king asked the player queen if she would ever remarry
- Analyzes how ophelia's reaction to the play was that the lady protests too much. hamlet replied with one of his smart remarks, "o, but she'll keep her word."
- Describes how the castle went into a state of panic and confusion except for hamlet, who was perfectly calm and happy.
427 wordsRead More - William Shakespeare's Hamletopinion essayWilliam Shakespeare's Hamlet When first introduced to Hamlet he is a character full of pain and confusion, still mourning his father’s death, ‘But two months dead-nay, not so much, not two’.[1] The punctuation here highlights Hamlet’s anguish. Significantly, Hamlet is already portrayed as a misfit, as no one else within the court but Hamlet is wearing mourning clothes; in Shakespeare’s time it would have been worn for at least a year following the death of a king. This gives an immediate and striking indication of the character’s isolation, his alienation and the power Claudius has already obtained within the court.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that within the court he can be seen as a misfit, unhappy with the outcome.
- Analyzes how the more she was with him, the less she wanted him.
- Opines that the irony of this is that when he finally seems to act, in a moment.
- Opines that reveng’d, to take him in the purging of his soul, when he is fit and satisfies.
- Analyzes how the actor made himself feel ashamed in act ii scene 2.
- Opines that the name of the person is the only profit.
- Opines that when he says to the king ‘your worm is your only emperor for diet,’ we eat it.
- Opines that he is damned to a life in hell, which seems revolutionary.
- Analyzes how hamlet can be seen as a misfit at the end of the play.
- Opines that claudius was not born out of loyalty or duty to his father.
- Analyzes how hamlet can be seen as a weak revenger and misfit in the end.
2481 wordsRead More - William Shakespeare's Hamletanalytical essayWilliam Shakespeare's Hamlet There are enough conceptions, and thus misconceptions, about the melancholy Dane to fill volumes. However, while none of them has proved entirely acceptable, some of them, such as the diagnoses that Hamlet simply “procrastinates” or “cannot make up his mind” prove utterly unsatisfactory under careful scrutiny of the play and, perhaps more importantly, Hamlet himself. Indeed, it appears as if there are certain points in the play in which Hamlet comes to reversals as he eventually counters each one of his own arguments and concludes each of his struggles, until, in his return from England, he is someone quite different from the self-loathing, melancholy, emotionally torn man in the “inky cloak” (I.ii.77) to the one who proclaims “This is I,/ Hamlet the Dane” (V.i.258). One theme throughout Hamlet is a desire for suicide, a self-loathing that prompts him, time and time again, even after he receives a vocation from his dead father to “revenge his foul and most unnatural murder” (I.v.26), to consider taking his own life and, in so doing, allow him to escape from the world, a prison, “A goodly one, in which there are many confines, wards, and dungeons, Denmark being one o’th’ worst” (II.ii.246-248).
In this essay, the author
- Opines that there are enough conceptions and misconceptions about the melancholy dane to fill volumes. however, some of them, such as the diagnoses that hamlet simply "procrastinates" or "cannot make up his mind," prove utterly unsatisfactory under careful scrutiny of the play.
- Analyzes how hamlet's famed melancholy is at once apparent and understandable: his father is dead under questionable circumstances, his mother, the essence of "frailty"
- Analyzes how prince hamlet is woken from his depression by his friend horatio from wittenberg and the news he brings of his ghost.
- Analyzes how hamlet's soliloquy at the end of act ii, and his testimony about his changing the notes to horatio, flies completely in the face of the argument that he would have resigned himself to his death.
- Analyzes how hamlet is torn between the calvinist and lutheran theology he has been filled with at wittenberg and a sort of nihilistic existentialism
- Analyzes how hamlet was an existentialist in conversation with rosencrantz and guildenstern. his fatalistic nihilism led him to kill claudius.
- Analyzes how hamlet represents both halves of the sin of wrath as viewed by medieval catholic theology: rage and sullenness.
- Analyzes how hamlet is bold, assertive, and proud, but his anger is unjustifiable. it is integral to tragedy that the tragic hero has some hamartia.
- Analyzes how the theme of madness is seen throughout other works of shakespeare, notably king lear, and even throughout history through the pretended madness of the roman emperor claudius.
- Argues that hamlet is the creation of shakespeare's attempt to tackle a problem which was too great for him.
2390 wordsRead More - William Shakespeare's Hamletanalytical essayWilliam Shakespeare's Hamlet There were many factors which affected Shakespeare when he wrote Hamlet, one of which was the fashion at the time were all about revenge tragedies, the audience absolutely loved to watch violence. Shakespeare knew that, so most of his plays were in that category. When this play was written in 1601, Shakespeare's father died and also one of his generous patron and friend imprisoned due to the failure of a rebellion led by Lord Essex. Shakespeare himself had also taken part in the plot by authorizing a performance of Richard II on the eve of the events.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the quote 'my father's spirit - in arms! all is not a murder.
- Quotes the quote 'your noble son is mad. mad call i it, for to define true.
- Analyzes how the play also showed a sense of doom of denmark.
- Explains that the only way to tell the audience was to act or say it.
- Analyzes how hamlet spyed on him to find out what he was up to. he was also cunning and greedy and that was what set him out on to the murdering of the
1743 wordsRead More - William Shakespeare's Hamletanalytical essaySummary: Hamlet is upset with his mother’s hasty marriage to his King Uncle Father, Claudius following his father’s death. He suspects foul play which is later confirmed by the ghost of his father. Now, Hamlet is set on avenging the death of his father as a favor to him. At the same time, he must figure out who is more at fault, his mother or uncle-father. This completely messes with Hamlet’s mind and he is confused entirely on his situation.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how his reaction to her marriage in the first place sent him into deep depression.
- Analyzes how hamlet is related to the subject of the "oedipus complex".
- Analyzes how this shows gertrude as a vixen and suggests that she is
- Opines that she is one of the most crucial characters in the play because of her love and/or anger.
- Opines that the woman is more of an innocent sex object manipulated by her husband and son.
- Opines that the posession of her is one of the results--of the murder of old hamlet.
- Opines that despite his love for her, he will not stop her from falling in love with him.
- Analyzes how hamlet is set on avenging his father's death as favor to him, while he must figure out who is more at fault, his mother or
- Opines that while few of us have murdered fathers to avenge, and not so many adulterous mothers to shame us, there will be hardly any man in any audience to whom that word "madness" has not at one time or another come dreadfully.
- Analyzes how hamlet rages at gertrude, but the compassion stirred in him soon hardens to irony. he has cleft her heart in twain.
- Explains that claudius orders hamlet off repeatedly, both to protect her from his guilt and to confer with her about how to deal with him.
721 wordsRead More