Revenge In Hamlet Analysis - 988 Words

Murder, incest, revenge! This is Shakespeare’s Hamlet. If lovers of literature are asked to make a list of some of the greatest works of literature, undoubtedly, Hamlet would be near the top. Hamlet, an intriguing and complicated character, has been studied by lovers of literature and psychologists alike. It is an interesting examination of human behavior. To set the scene, prince Hamlet’s father has been slyly murdered by his uncle. His father’s apparent ghost comes to him and asks him to avenge his death, and so begins Hamlet’s struggles with himself over not being able to carry out the quest. Hamlet’s apparent delay in seeking revenge for his father emerges from the fact that he struggles with many internal distractions that make him†¦show more content†¦He thinks that out of his â€Å"weakness and my melancholy, as he is very potent with such spirits, Abuses me to damn me†(2.2.630-632). Hamlet would like to please his father, but the fact that he may be taking commands from the devil, who just wants to bring him to ruin, understandably gives him pause. The ghost also brings to Hamlet’s mind that â€Å"Foul deeds will rise, through all the earth o’erwhelm them to men’s eyes† (1.3.279-280). While Hamlet dangerously considers murder, he is torn because he knows that crimes and sins cannot be hidden forever. God knows and people will find out. His spiritual beliefs keep Hamlet from following through. Furthermore, Hamlet’s cowardice causes him to delay avenging his father. Fear can cause a person to be inactive and unable to follow through and such is the case with Hamlet. He admits that he is â€Å"A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak like a John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause† (2.2.593-595). He is frozen in his self-admitted cowardice, and unable to perform the deed. A short time later Hamlet expresses his despair over losing his father and he shows his frustration with himself when he says, â€Å"That I, the son of a dear father murdered, Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, Must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words And fall a-cursing like a very drab, A stallion! Fie upon ‘t! Foh! About my brains† (2.2.612-617)! Readers feelShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Traditional Revenge Tragedy In Hamlet1819 Words   |  8 PagesTraditional Revenge Tragedy. This article is written by Poonam Valeria. In her review of Hamlet, the play, she starts off by giving a lightly detailed background of Shakespeare. Then continues to apply the six characteristics of a traditional revenge tragedy and their application to Hamlet. The first characteristic is that the plot has to start off with a crime of some sort, in Hamlet that would be the death of King Hamlet. 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In addition, Hamlets word-choice begins to exhibit the blind passionRead MoreWilliam Shakespeares Hamlet as a Revenge Tragedy Essay1233 Words   |  5 PagesWilliam Shakespeares Hamlet as a Revenge Tragedy Revenge Tragedy was a genre which lasted from 1590 until 1615. The genre appealed to the Elizabethan audience’s desire for blood and violence without emotional depth. ================================================================== Revenge tragedies originated in the writings of the Roman Seneca (4BC-AD65) whose plays heavily influenced Elizabethan dramatists. Seneca’s tragedies, using stories derived from mythologyRead MoreHamlets Irresolution and Downfall in Shakespeares Hamlet Essay991 Words   |  4 Pagesthe most famous tragedies written by William Shakespeare around 1600, Hamlet, the prince of Denmark seeks revenge on his uncle, who murdered the King and married Hamlet’s mother, the Queen. Hamlet is considered to be well versed in both polite letters and martial arts. I believe Hamlet is a tragic hero because his irresolution becomes his fatal flaw and it eventually brings him to his downfall. The first appearance of Hamlet is in Act I- Scene 2, he is mourning his father’s, the King’s death.ButRead MoreHamlet, Madness or Sanity Essay953 Words   |  4 PagesHamlet, Madness or Sanity Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, is about a young prince who wants revenge when he learns about the murder of his father. As the play begins, Hamlet’s character appears to be a normal, sane person. Moving through the acts Hamlet’s personality changes from normal to depressed. There are hints of insanity that try to convince people Hamlet is â€Å"mad†. Others might say that Hamlet is faking madness to pursue his goal of revenge. First, he sees a â€Å"ghost† that tells Hamlet whoRead MoreAnalysis of Hamlet’s Behavior through Minor Characters1280 Words   |  6 Pagescommitted, the line between avenging and revenging becomes unclear. This is seen in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The deceased king’s son, Hamlet, embarks on a quest to avenge the death of his father, who was murdered by his uncle. Throughout the play, and the progression of his quest, it is apparent that Hamlet is a complicated character. As the play progresses the rea der is able to see that Hamlet has an inability to take action, portrayed through his failed attempts at murdering his uncle to avengeRead MoreComparing The Ghost Character in ‘Hamlet’ and ‘Snow in Midsummer’1797 Words   |  7 Pagesmost famous drama which was written by Guan Hanqing. Hamlet, one of the four famous tragedies which is written by William Shakespeare from between 1599 to 1602. This drama tells the story of his uncle Claudius murdered Hamlets father, usurped the throne and married the kings widow, Gertrude. In order to get back the throne, Prince Hamlet He was determined to avenge for his fathers murder from his uncle. In all the works of Shakespeare, Hamlet is probably the most controversial film, which is alsoRead MoreHamlet Relationships And Madness Essay1246 Words   |  5 Pagesthe characters within the play Hamlet showed signs of madness. The characters went mad due to the antagonizing relationships they had with other characters; the madness within the play created a chain reaction among the characters. In the end, the characters’ madness led to their own and others untimely demise. Claudius’ jealousy of Hamlet senior began his downward spiral to madness. Claudius’ lust for Queen Gertrude, his brother’s wife, led to him killing Hamlet senior. â€Å"Pray can I not, Though