Resources for Studying Hamlet
February15
Greetings seniors,
There are virtually countless resources for studying Shakespeare’s plays, so please don’t view this as a complete list. Also, remember that in college it is expected that you will be doing research and bringing your ideas to the class discussion.
- Please select one or more of these resources to read and discuss
DIAGNOSING AND TREATING THE OPHELIA SYNDROME
Essay on Hamlet as a Tragic Hero
The Tragedy According to Aristotle
Folger Theater Hamlet Overview
Questions the play Hamlet asks
2. Which ideas from the above resources specifically has shaped your understanding or interpretation of the play?
3. Provide a comment on this post with specific references to the resource and to specific examples from the play
4. Reply to one or more of your classmates’ comments.
Due: Monday, February 20th @ 8pm
The language in this play The Tragedy of Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark is quite hard to fully understand. Although it is quite amusing how Hamlet uses many Greek metaphors trough his dialogue. The way in which Shakespear developed the protagonist, Hamlet, is quite amusing. Not only is he the ‘Prince’ who might be entitled with Denmark one day but Shakespear also makes him act as a child from time to time. I am also amused with how the playwright was also able to incorporate issues that were going on such as, “what would happen if the royalty line ended?” As well as the differences in Social classes. In this play it is represented in the change of language. It is a clear difference especially between the conversation of Hamlet and the Grave digger. However, I would not recommend the written version of this play to anyone. The Visual version is much better. The language may be hard to understand as well. HOWEVER, the story line and the way the whole play was developed was amazing 10/10 for that one.
I found “The Tragedy According To Aristotle” especially fascinating for it explains how a tragedy is created. Aristotle’s explanation puts the topic of Tragedy into the simplest of terms. His idea of how a tragedy is created revolves around the experience of catharsis. According to Aristotle, catharsis is an experience involving four major parts. We must sympathize with the tragic hero, the hero must have a tragic flaw, the hero must suffer a tragic end, and fate must participate in the tragic hero’s end. These four important things must be included in a tragic in order for the experience of catharsis to occur.
In the tragic play, “Hamlet” written by the British playwright William Shakespeare, we sympathize with Hamlet for he was a normal person with an attractive moral as Aristotle mentioned. Hamlet had a good morale and made us feel like he was the good guy. As Aristotle stated, “they must be morally good, but not so good that we don’t like them or are jealous of them.” William Shakespeare created this invisible lining to hook us in, start the experience of catharsis in the first place.
However, alongside the good morale, Hamlet has a small but fatal tragic flaw, which is one of Aristotle’s stated requirements of catharsis to create a tragic story. Hamlet’s fatal tragic flaw was his indecisiveness. Hamlet’s indecisiveness costed him time and more importantly, his life. Aristotle stated, “The tragic flaw must be a quality that is bad enough to make it believable that it could cause the hero’s tragic end, yet not so bad that it compromises our sympathy for the main character.” This statement explains that a tragic flaw must be realistic and believable for the experience of catharsis to occur. Hamlet’s tragic flaw of indecisiveness can be relate-able and it seems small enough to be believable. This tragic flaw that Hamlet has works alongside the last two requirements to create the experience of catharsis to develop a tragic story.
The last two requirements according to Aristotle were that the tragic hero must have a tragic ending and an outside force has to participate in this tragic end to make the end even more of a tragic and create an unfair situation. In the play, Hamlet met his tragic end by being so indecisive as to give the Claudius enough time to devise a plan with Laertes to eliminate Hamlet. Hamlet’s fate was unfairly chosen for him before Hamlet really realizes his tragic flaw and his fate was to die a tragic death along with everyone he ever knew and loved…or hated. According to Aristotle, “The hero must suffer a tragic end because that is the key experience for the catharsis.” this passage explains we must sympathize with the tragic hero in order to get the full experience of catharsis, creating a tragic ending. 😀
The language in the play was amusing and understandable to an extent however I do not wish to read it again. The character development was outstanding. I’m able to clearly distinguishable each character based off of pure character traits and a list of behavior. The playwright was flawless and I appreciate Shakespear’s choice to have the higher class and lower class talk with different dialogues.
I’m up at 12:15 am… I am going to sleep in class. Anyways, I also enjoyed the language in the play and found it quite amusing as well. It fit the setting and everything so perfectly. If the language were set to the modern tongue, do you think the tragic play, “Hamlet” would be the same? 🙂
My understanding of the book would be not very well the language of the book is unfamiliar and hard to understand even when picking out words that’s I know the meaning and still less of a understanding
The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark is one of William Shakespeare’s British playwright during the sixteenth century. This playwright focus on the protagonist, Prince Hamlet, and his responsibility of revenging for his father’s death. Through Hamlet’s indecisive and curiosity, it leads the audience to the tragic in Denmark. Shakespeare explore the idea of ‘tragic hero’ by revealing Hamlet’s weaknesses and tragic flaws. Claudius, the antagonist, murdered his father and married his mother. Being the king indicates that he will have protection, therefore, Hamlet will be struggling of finding a way to assassinate him. Claudius took love and happiness away from Hamlet which had changed him physically and mentally throughout the play. In the playwright, Hamlet see no meaning in life, yet it is a sin and forbidden to commit suicide in the belief of Christianity. This lead us to his question “To be or not to be” (Act 3, scene 1) which reveals his indecisive self. Although, he decide to create a mousetrap to confirm the ghost and the killing of his father which Claudius had confirm his guilt after all. However, Hamlet delayed his duty because of the praying Claudius. He believe that his uncle will not be sent straight to hell if he had pray for forgiveness. This leads to the death of Polonius, chief counsellor, and Ophelia, the potential wife of Prince Hamlet. Moreover, he wouldn’t die at the end. This reveals and lead us to Hamlet’s tragic flaws. If he were to spent his time on taking action and kill the murder without the mousetrap, his duty will end shortly and without causing any death on others like Ophelia, Polonius, and himself. This make him a tragic hero due to the fact that he became indecisive and gave a hint to Claudius for his guilt, therefore, it create Hamlet’s tragedy in Denmark.
Word Count: 307
William Shakespeare a British playwright, in his 16th century play The Tragedy of Hamlet, focuses on the simple indecisiveness of Hamlet in getting revenge for his father’s murder by his uncle Claudius. The source Symbolism in Hamlet aided me in realizing if ultimately, Hamlets, Indecisiveness resulted in him becoming a tragic hero or a hero if all. Such as Hamlet says “Before mine uncle. I’ll observe his looks”, (act 2 scene 2) proving that before he went right towards seeking revenge he was thoughtful in considering the certainty of the knowledge he possessed over the murder of his father. This makes me appreciate Shakespeare in creating the character of Hamlet portraying him as an individual who is mad to others yet his conscience allows him to keep a grip on himself. Hamlet being hesitant helps him to get the best revenge possible. For example in (act 3 scene 3) when Claudius is kneeling and asking for forgiveness; Hamlet does not kill him although he is ready with his knife out. Yet his hesitance towards murdering his uncle helps him to not kill his uncle when he has confessed his sins; which than ultimately would grant him a place in heaven. It’s only in the playwright’s end where the events unfold much rapidly and Laertes is cut by his own sword that he reveals to Hamlet that Claudius is responsible for all of this chaos and the murder of his mother and father. Hamlets holding back on seeking revenge gave him the certainty that it was indeed his uncle. Maybe not smart because his waiting on certainty of his uncles caused his mother to lose her life as well. But it would be wrong to say she wasn’t part of the incestuous relationship as well. Ostensibly I enjoyed Shakespeare’s creation of Hamlets indecisive personality. Not only is it a twist on usual Greek plays, yet it shows Hamlets tragic flaw of getting revenge, his waiting caused him to lose Ophelia and himself. The idea that I must say that this play could never be left as just a tragedy considering he is a hero maybe for his father’s ghost in seeking death for his uncle Claudius. Tragedy that he loses his life but a hero for fulfilling his father’s commands. To me Hamlet showed a great power within, self-control on revenge the ability to be certain and his hesitance that saved him from killing Claudius on the wrong time; Hamlets personality granted him the death of his uncle only to the loss of his own life as well which in result I believe he deserves the title of a tragic hero.
Words count: 440
William Shakespeare’s ironic 16th century play, The Tragedy of Hamlet, has remained a mysterious play due to many theories of the characters. There are many different point of views that people have made to the characters and the whole play. One was the “Symbolism in Hamlet” by Kenneth Muir. Muir explains the imagery that associates with the main characters which is “disease”. Muir’s idea changed my perception of how I view the play because before I was very uninterested in the play since it was like any other tragic play but thinking about Muir’s idea it made me change how I think. I also combined my ideas and Muir’s imagery of “disease” together. In the beginning of Muir’s article he says “sense of infection surrounds” which to me indicates how Denmark is infested with misfortune due to the sins that Claudius and Gertrude committed. “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark,” (Act 1, scene IV) which represents how the royal family of Denmark are getting like a curse for their own sins and that’s why the presence of the ghost of the King appears. Hamlet becomes mad and says his famous line, “to be or not to be,” (Act 3, scene I, 58-90) deciding whether or not he should commit suicide. Hamlet at this point seems like he has been infected with the “disease” because he becomes mad with decisions like killing himself and Claudius. Muir uses the imagery of disease also on Gertrude. Gertrude mentions her “sick soul” (Act 3, scene IV 147-49) which shows that she knows what she has done is wrong and she is getting punished for her taboo actions. Muir’s theory is very interesting on each character’s actions and the main idea of the play. I was very intrigued by his idea that I also think the same and with his evidence that he has provided makes sense to me. Before I was so bored of Hamlet but now I feel interested in this topic.
Word Count: 331
i really loved how you provided examples with how imagery is a ” disease” to the characters of Hamlet, Claudius, and Gertrude. Oversll, well done!!
I really like how you interpreted Muri’s passages. It is very unique and your thought of “Denmark is infested with misfortune due to the sins that Claudius and Gertrude committed.” did not cross my mind. That’s brilliant! :O
“Essay on Hamlet as a Tragic Hero” helped me understand and appreciate Hamlet as a tragic hero in the play. William Shakespeare, a British playwright, published Hamlet in the 16th century. With this being said the main theme in Hamlet is revenge. Young Hamlet was first distraught and disgusted because in the beginning of the play Hamlet’s dad died and his uncle, Claudius married his mom, Gertrude. The thought of this disgusted Hamlet because it hadn’t even been a month before her mom re-married. Later on in the act, Hamlet gets advised that his dads ghost is wandering the castle. Young Hamlet then decides to talk to Old Hamlet where he finds out that Old Hamlet was murdered. When he finds out his uncle murdered his father, Old Hamlet tells him to take revenge. After this occured Hamlets personality started changing. I agree with Detmold that Hamlet possess all three characteristics that a tragic hero needs. He possess a strong will like no other in the play because throughout the play he keeps his will to kill his uncle with his strength and doesn’t give up. We can see that Hamlet has strong feelings because in the play Hamlet loved Ophelia and when she died he hung over her grave and said he loved her. Also from what i’ve seen the tragic hero’s never get the girl. An example would be The Great Gatsby. In the end Gatsby died because of something his love did. Lastly a tragic hero must possess a high level of intelligence. We can clearly tell that Hamlet has a high intelligence because Hamlet could have killed his uncle and had gotten his revenge when his uncle was kneeling and praying(Act 3 Sc. 3) he chose not to do the deed but instead wait because he knew that if he killed him then and there, then his uncle would go to heaven and not hell. He then plotted to commit the crime when his uncle is committing a sin, like sleeping with his mom. To me Hamlet was a strategist planning out what move to make in order to get it right. To Hamlet time didn’t matter all that mattered was getting it done the right way. However, with the foul play of his uncle and Laertes Hamlet died by poison. Laertes and Hamlet both driven by revenge and yet both dead in the end. What a tragedy.
Word Count: 403
Esteban,
Don’t you think the idea of a “high level of intelligence” is interesting? Say, Hamlet was a dunce and a dunderhead, then we would just think he deserved some terrible fate or might laugh at his misfortune. But because of his intelligence, we elevate his status in our minds? Is this why we sympathize with him and his fate?
Coey
Couldn’t have said it better Mr. Coey.
I appreciate how you connect the novel The Great Gatsby to the British Playwright The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. This idea helped me understand the idea of tragic hero and why it is consider as one. You also reveal some similiarites of both resources and I like to thank you for that because it helped me to understand of how they were a tragic hero.
Thank you. Im glad I could help.
I agree with this. I hadn’t thought Hamlet to be a strategist of sorts but in a way every tagic hero is, or tries to be at least. I think part of the reason they’re tragic heroes is because they fail to gaurd the love they have while seeking out the vengeance they crave. Or something along those lines in most cases.
The psychoanalysis of Hamlet by Ernest Jones helped to shape a new view of the play; one that digs into the mind of our protagonist, Hamlet, and his subconscious motives and triggers. The idea that Hamlet had gone insane due to alterior motive, motive from his own subconscious rather than the simple revenge of his father was seemingly new. It opened the idea that the actions throughout the play itself had more so to do with Hamlets own complexity rather than the vengeance of his father. The idea that he has Oedipus Rex syndrome in the sense that he himself would have rather taken the place of his father instead of his uncle Claudius. This idea was fairly strange and absurd to even consider but as I continued to read, the pieces on which the case for this diagnosis was made fell into place. It was rather odd the way he had gone insane and you’d presume vengeance may have this affect but the case that his subconscious motive had surfaced can also be made. The way he talks to his mother in act three scene four when he is constantly pointing at the incestious bed his mother lays upon rather than the criminal for a man that she lays with. Where he sounds more so like a jealous lover than a vengeful son. And yet the while we are only thinking on the crime as one whole when it can be broken into two. On one end Claudius committed murder and on the other incest. As an audience we are drawn to view the two as one yet somehow by seperating the two a new picture appears. There is more reason behind the actions and the words said than before and its like seeing it from a more understanding perspective. As if Hamlets secret craving for his mothers affection stemed from childhood and he was in competition with his own father and so after his fathers death and the remarriage of his mother the craving for affection returned but as a cover to deem his motives against his uncle pure he says its for vengeance when in reality its more so for his subconscious want of his mothers love.
I like your thought process Temaleti I would have never thought about it that way. Very good psychological interpretation.
Word, I agree. Icky.
i really liked how you connecting his mother’s and uncle married with his tragedy for revenge.i think you can also say that’s why he become tragic hero.
Nice.
I really appreciate this new way of looking at it. But I feel that maybe it’s not that he’s jealous of his uncle, but that maybe he would accept anyone else on the throne except his uncle. His insanity may have originated from the disgust of his uncle and mother marrying each other. It could’ve been hard for him to handle. He’s not too keen on the idea of inbreeding
William Shakespeare’s, a British playwright, “Hamlet” centers on the indecisive protagonist, Hamlet. Hamlet takes a leave from school to mourn the death of his father, Old Hamlet. But only a month after Old Hamlet’s two months of death, his wife Gertrude is married to his brother, Claudius. This hastful and incedious marriage drives Hamlet to hate and madness. But when his old friend Horatio tells him he has seen his fathers ghost, Hamlet demands to see it. And when he does that night, the ghost tells him that his own brother Claudius was the cause of his untimely demise and that Hamlet must not only remember but also avenge him. Which Hamlet plans to do but his harmartia, indecisiveness, causes not only his tragic demise but also everyone around him. Through the plays question; When will Hamlet finally kill Claudius and avenge his father, we learn that being resolute is important in life because it makes us honest people and it just might save our lives. But this is also because of the Folger Theater Hamlet overview, where they explain Shakespeare’s metaphorical subtext. Even though, this source is useful and very insightful, I question why they over simplify Poloiuns’, the king’s must trusted adivser, goodbye to his son, Laertes. They simply call it “A long-winded good-bye”. I believe that that speech deserved way more importance than that because in that speech Polonius gives his son great advice about the court and how to behave around them. I believe that speech is important because if he had remembered his fathers word he might have never died.
Kaleesa,
I agree with you that Polonius’ speech is important. Which ideas seemed so and what do they reveal about Polonius’ character?
Coey
Hamlet, a tragedy written by the 16th century British playwright William Shakespeare, revolves around Hamlet, the prince of Denmark, and his inaction to avenge his father’s death. One of the play’s minor character is Orphelia, a maid and Hamlet’s love interest. In “Diagnosing and Treating the Ophelia Syndrome”, Thomas G. Plummer gives an insightful interpretation on Ophelia. From her characteristics, Plummer described the “Ophelia Syndrome” as the lack of individualism, thinking and deciding for yourself.
Ophelia ,as Plummer reference, is a “baby” subjected to allow others tell her what to think and do, especially her father, Polonius. Reviewing back to the play, I was able to see this in Act 2 Scene 1. Ophelia distraught over Hamlet’s melancholic action consulted her father. Polonius concluded that Hamlet’s madness derived from his lovesickness towards Ophelia. Prior to this scene, Ophelia was distancing herself from Hamlet, thus she was listening to her father’s advice from Act 1 Scene 3. Afterward, Ophelia accepted her father’s answer and later followed the plan to test to see if Hamlet was indeed mad, because of this reason. I was able to understand how Ophelia was acting like a “baby”- dumb, vulnerable, and naive. This later helped understand why Ophelia became crazy after when Polonius’s death. She couldn’t bare not relying on others to tell her what to think or do.
Thanks to Plummer’s interpretation I am now able to understand Ophelia, a character I considered not important, better. Plummer’s interpretation makes me not only notices the minor characters around Hamlet, but realises how they each can hold a message.
I also appreciate how Plummer was able to take what he learned from Ophelia to incorporate to his surrounding, real life. This made me wonder what I can interpret from each character in Hamlet and how I can incorporate it to my society. Moreover, I also learned to appreciate Shakespeare’s characterization which peaks my interest to learn and focus other individual characters.
Word Count: 324
Jennifer,
Okay, is it just me or have you developed a professorial tone in your writing! Is Ophelia driven mad by her submission to men and her infantilization? Does this theory of the Ophelia Syndrome stand up to contemporary examples?
Coey
The Hamlet, a fictional play written by William Shakespeare, a British playwright, centers on “ The tragedy of Hamlet ” and portrays how the protagonist’s indecisiveness has caused excessive inconvenience for him to acquire the revenge of his father’s murder. A clear illustration of Hamlet’s indecisiveness and him struggling consciously within him self, is “ To be or not to be” (Act III, Scene 1) soliloquy. This exuberant soliloquy leaves the audience into the well of curiosity. In other words it open the window of Hamlet’s minds and allow this audience to enters into his consciousness and to be aware of his struggle. The protagonist is having trouble to opt the honorable act, weather to patiently endure misfortune, or boldly to oppose it. Knowing the truth behind father’s death and being not be able to penalize the merciless being is misfortune and committing suicide or running away from the truth is coward and unbearable. “To die, to sleep; to sleep, perchance to dream,” (Act III, Scene 1), Hamlet has emphasized hatred towards death and outlined it and an “undiscovered country” from where no one has ever returned. Shakespeare has portrayed sleep as death because while sleeping the human becomes unconscious and enters into the dream world. Hamlet has described it as undesirable, and the fear of death is what encourages people to live. Religion is another border, which lies between existence and decease. Hamlet of compassionate about his father’s revenge, however he does not wants to execute his father’s killer so he can be sent to heaven neither he wants him to pray for forgiveness and enters heaven. Moreover, he does wants him be punished in hell. This tragic flaw of hamlet’s indecisiveness leads him to attempt inappropriate action, which impacted negative on his mortality. Even though this soliloquy illustrates the madness which hamlet holds in his mind, it left an unanswered question in my mind that to what extent the character of hamlet would’ve been different without this indecisiveness?
This gives excellent insight to the thoughts and ideas of Hamlet, and it would be a lot stronger if you added the important of sleep and death in not only the soliloquy but also the play
Will do that. Thanks for suggesting 🙂
You’re welcome
I like your insight about the soliloquy, as well as your opinion on how his tragic flaw impacted his morality. Nice!
“Essay on Hamlet as a Tragic Hero” helped shape my understanding about Hamlet in this play as a tragic hero. William Shakespeare’s British playwright, Hamlet was published in the 16th century, it focuses on the idea of revenge. In the beginning of the play, Hamlet speaks with his father as a ‘Ghost’ and discovers that his death was caused by his uncle, Claudius. Hamlet is told to take revenge for his father and for his own sake, since his uncle has taken everything away from him and became King in his father’s place. Due to this discovery, it leads to Hamlet’s change of behavior throughout the play. As usual readers, we usually expect a tragic hero to be a super powerful and determined hero who just tragically dies or doesn’t his achieve his/her goals. As for Hamlet, he isn’t necessarily a hero, in my perspective, we don’t see him having super power or portrayed as a strong man. He doesn’t meet the 3 full requirements of being a tragic hero that Detmold has discussed, there are 3 characteristics of being a tragic such as the willpower surpassing in its intensity as in the hero explaining that there is no obstacles in his way or he will overcome anything, secondly feeling the power of being more intense and different from others, and lastly having high intelligence. Hamlet does not seem to go through any of these phases, he doesn’t play out as if he is going to a journey of success. He plays as a character of hesitating, being indecisive, and procrastinates to take revenge on his uncle. For example on Act 3. Scene 3 when Claudius was kneeling and praying to God for forgiveness, Hamlet decided not to kill him at that time because he wanted to kill the King while he was committing a sin. This shows that Hamlet hesitated on killing his uncle and it also shows that he is indecisive as well, he is picky of which moment to take revenge on his uncle. There is no question about Hamlet’s behavior besides that he acts quite strange, as Detmold discussed, he isn’t abnormal, he is obviously seen as human and has human features according to the quick changes such as his father’s death, his mother quickly marrying his uncle within two months. These events explains his behavior. Hamlet is not crazy or insane, he just has a different way of showing his emotions. Maybe one of the reasons why is he considered as a Tragic Hero is because he had a plan and tried attempting it but failed and it also led to many deaths.
Word Count: 439
Ka See,
That’s a very thorough response. Do you think tragedy is what the Greeks had in mind when they were thinking “goat song” or a singing to the sacrificial animal? Must Hamlet be offered as a sacrifice to the gods so that we may live? Who are the gods in this play? Who seems to control Hamlet’s fate?
Coey
British playwright William Shakespeare, wrote his 16th century play, The Tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmark, which focuses on the protagonist Hamlet, who is an indecisive prince, that ponders on how to avenge his father’s death. In the resource, The Tragedy According to Aristotle, help me understand how the play becomes a tragedy rather than having many characters die. Hamlet’s tragic flaw is his indecisiveness such as in Scene 2 Act 2 when he debates the spirit of his father if it is a “devil..T’assume a pleasing shape” taking advantage of his “weakness and [Hamlet] melancholy” leading him to eternal damnation. Another scene is Act 3 Scene 3, when he finds Claudius praying. Hamlet draws his sword but does not bring it down because Claudius’ “[soul] a goes to heaven” while his father’s soul suffers, so he decides to wait for a “thou more horrid hent”. By not telling Claudius at the time of praying this leads to Hamlet’s tragic end. In Act 4 Scene 7, Claudius and Laertes plans Hamlet’s death. Laertes “rapier would be “anointed” (poisoned) and the backup planned would be “ a chalice for the nonce” ( poisoned drink). In the Final Act, Gertrude dies from the poisoned drink meant for Hamlet, Hamlet kills Claudius, Laertes is killed by the same rapier that kills Hamlet at the end. Since the play is based on monarchy in Denmark, there are many other monarchy such as Norway. Therefore after death of Hamlet death, Act 5 scene 2 Fortinbras, prince of Norway, marches in, stating “ I have some rights of memory in this kingdom, Which now to claim my vantage doth invite me” meaning he takes over Denmark since there is no one to oppose him. It almost seems as if fate made Fortinbras march in at the exact time of the fall of Denmark monarchy just to take it over. As readers, we pity Hamlet because at the beginning, before meeting his Father’s Ghost, Hamlet didn’t reach madness of insanity he was rather disappointed in his mother’s marriage. However, after meeting his Father’s ghost not only does it make him become insane he loses his reasoning and does what the ghost ask which is to avenge his death. Also losing the love of his life, Ophelia, because she drowned herself.
word count: 381
Mai,
How does Shakespeare make Hamlet suffer a tragic end so that we sympathize with him? Who does Hamlet see die before he dies himself?
Coey
“The tragedy of Hamlet” specifically shaped my understanding the play.
The British playwright William Shakespeare in his 16th century play, The Tragedy of Hamlet, outshines himself as a cognitive theorist to explore the problems of human consciousness, indecisiveness and actions affecting mortality, which can be seen through Hamlet’s, “To be or not to be” (Act III, Scene 1), soliloquy. Much of Hamlet’s power stems from the place that shows a world where revenge, betrayal and immortality reins. Clearly this is no ideal world for we see that these traits eventually lead to maddening and tragic results. Suicide and fear of death are important themes which Hamlet touches on in his famous speech.
Hamlet’s famous speech is important to the play because it lets the audience inside Hamlet’s mind. The question is whether it is better to live or to die. Death is like a sleep that ends the hardships and sufferings that life brings. This is an ending that we all wish for. To die is to risk the chance of living a nightmare that you cannot wake up from. When you die you cannot wake up and put your dreams on pause through life (“To die, to sleep—To sleep, perchance to dream” (Act III, scene 1). The fear of the unknown after death is what keeps people alive. Death is an undiscovered country from which no one returns once they set sail (“the undiscovered country” (Act III, Scene 1). It is odd that these fears are what make us understand the struggles that life brings instead of embarking on a journey into the unknown. Fear of death makes one a coward. This specific soliloquy exemplifies Hamlet’s indecisiveness that is his tragic flaw and is provoking him to make a decision. I seems like Hamlet is in the middle of a desert and he is unable to see anything for long distance. As he sees no hope, he is confused that either he should give up and die of thirst rather than enduring pain by walking in desert or he should keep going. I believe that even if Hamlet is unable to decide but he still is in consciousness which makes him able to think about the life, death and life after death. The tragic flaw of Hamlet, indecisiveness, leads to his inappropriate actions that might prove to be a danger on his mortality.
The soliloquy is related to those who are suffering with themselves. Many people are lead to a dark place, or depression that overtakes them and they get to a point where they cannot bear it any longer. The thought of suicide becomes a reality. Many decide against it because of the chance that life after death could be worse. The soliloquy holds the key to madness that is Hamlet, and that is our life.
I appreciate your response here because it also helps me understand your understanding as well. I like how you talked about the human consciousness, because it gives me a better understanding about Hamlet’s part of the play as of why he acted “insane” although he was not insane. I also like your example “To be or not to be” because it demonstrates Hamlet’s way of thinking as well.
Faizan,
I like your idea that the soliloquy is the convention that allows the audience to see Hamlet suffer. I think this is true. In Shakespeare’s comedies, however, it is the soliloquy that allows us to see the characters who are in love. Those are important insights you have had.
Coey
The tragedy of Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, centers around the protagonist, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, who is going to take revenge on his uncle Claudius for the death of his late father, former King of Denmark, Old Hamlet. Because of reading the article, The Tragedy According to Aristotle, I was able to better understand and comprehend Hamlet. In this article I learned that a tragedy’s purpose is to be able to allow us to release our feelings not by ourselves but by someone else on stage. I also learned that in order for the play to be a tragedy: we must sympathize with the tragic hero, the tragic hero must have a tragic flaw, the hero must have a tragic ending, and fate must participate in the hero’s fall. We, the audience, are able to sympathize towards Hamlet when he says , “ Within a month,/ Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears/ Had left the flushing in her galled eyes,/ She married” ( Act 1, scene 2, lines 158-161) because a month within the death of his father, his mother decided to marry his very own uncle, who is the brother to his father. Then Hamlet gets a visit from the ghost of Old Hamlet and he is informed that his uncle, King Claudius was the one that killed his father so he decided that he will kill his uncle for the death of his father. He then had an opportunity to kill Claudius but then he realized that Claudius was asking for forgiveness from God so he decided not to kill him. “ …, I, his sole son, do this same villain send/ To heaven” (Act 3, Scene 3, Lines 82-83). He saw that his uncle was confessing his sins to God and if he kills his uncle now then his uncle will go to heaven but he wants his uncle to go to hell so he can suffer, so instead he decides to kill him when his uncle commits another wrongful action. His tragic flaw is that he is indecisive because if he would’ve killed he then everybody else ,who soon will die, wouldn’t have died. “ O, I die, Horatio!” ( Act 5, Scene 2, Line 389).” Hamlet’s tragic flaw of being indecisive caused hamlet’s tragic ending because if he would’ve killed Claudius the first time then everybody still would’ve been alive including himself. If he would’ve killed Claudius then everything wouldn’t transpire horribly. Fate participated in Hamlet’s fall because Hamlet caused his own tragic ending because of him always being indecisive. After reading, The Tragedy According to Aristotle, I was able to understand why Hamlet is a tragedy.
Word Count: 439
I appreciate the examples you gave because they really tie in with your thought process. I agree that Hamlets tragic flaw is his indecisiveness, well done!
thank you
I agree with Aisha, the evidence used as support really helps to emphasize your point. His inceisive nature was his tragic flaw
I like your examples that you have stated in your essay and also agree with the fact that his indecisiveness is hamlets tragic flaw nice job
The British playwright, William Shakespeare, and his play The tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark written during the fifteenth century focuses on the indecisiveness of Hamlet and how his actions cause a ripple effect within his kingdom. The resource “A quick guide to reading plays” shaped my understanding of the characters Hamlet and Claudius. Hamlet’s character was established when he was confronted by his father’s ghost in Act 1 Scene 5 where his father demands revenge and for Hamlet to “swear” he will kill his uncle (30). After the matter, Hamlet went crazy and started speaking like a madman, the resource says “Anything another character says about someone is redundant (because it is shown in the character’s actions)”. All the talk was about how the prince had gone mad and no one knew why but it was already evident to the audience that Hamlet went crazy because he saw his father’s ghost and was told to kill King Claudius.
Shakespeare gives King Claudius action when Old Hamlet describes his “murder most foul” (25). The same resource states “Action results from what a character does to get what he or she wants (motivation) in spite of obstacles”, Claudius killed his only blood brother to succeed his position and rule Denmark. Hamlet decided to construct a play in Act 2 Scene 2, to determine his course of action where he’ll be able to “catch the conscience of the King” (55). “What a character does is half of the revelation. Why a character does it is the other half.” Hamlet created a play imitating the way his father was murdered in front of his uncle to see if he would get a reaction out of him. This reveals how indecisive Hamlet can be, instead of killing his uncle and getting his father’s revenge he’s afraid that his father’s ghost wasn’t real and he will have killed an innocent person.
When looking for a theme in the play the resource states “Theme is not meaning; it is a topic in the play”. Which I interpreted a theme of Shakespeare’s Hamlet to be death. Death is throughout the play, initially when Old Hamlet dies and Gertrude marries Claudius to when Hamlet kills Polonius in Act 3 scene 4 and Ophelia drowns. Then later Gertrude is accidentally poisoned and Laertes is unintentionally poisoned by Hamlet. Up until the final scene where Hamlet kills Claudius and Hamlet dies of poisoning and Fortinbras takes over Denmark, death is the cause of all actions. Why does Hamlet become extremely indecisive when it comes to avenging his father’s murder but the moment after Laertes unfairly cuts Hamlet he immediately, without any thought, does the same back to Laertes? What other theme does the play draw upon that can create a different interpretation of the play, Hamlet?
Word Count: 466
Cassidy,
I think this is a very astute reply with a high degree of individuation on your part, and I appreciate the final questions you ask us to consider. What is the importance of “thought” in Shakespeare’s play?
Coey
16th Century
I like the idea that the play is based on revenge that leads to death and through out the entire play we see deaths of many characters resulted because of betrayal, indecisiveness or revenge. But I was thinking that as the play is full of highly metaphorical language but what if we are not seeing the actual reason that made Shakespeare write this play. What if the entire play itself is a metaphor towards a bigger picture??
The coming back of someone from death just to tell his son to take revenge. Does not this feels like a connection between life and death and everyone who is connected to this joint ends up dying.
I think the play might means that we cannot escape from their fate. If you have done something wrong you gotta be ready for the consequences. Such as, Claudius murdered his brother, Gertrude deceived her son and husband by marrying Claudius, Laertes poisoned Hamlet, Hamlet killed Claudius, so everyone was guilty of doing something wrong that brought death to them.
I appreciate how your were able to explain the characters Hamlet and Claudius. Especially when stated how Hamlet’s character was establish and King Claudius actions. It help me understand the flow of the play more.
William Shakespeare’s British playwright, the Tragedy of Hamlet written in the 15th century. The play is a circle around the indecisiveness of Helmet which is also his tragic flaw, who want to revenge his father’s murder. But he is vacillating between his thoughts “to be or not to be”. He is also disappointed in the married of his uncle Claudius and his mother shortly after his father death which he is not accepting.
Shakespeare’s use of metaphorical language built a specific title for the play at the beginning, but create main theme “successful revenge” at the end of the play.
Play start out with not showing Helmet but showing Old Helmet, king of Denmark who was murdered by his own brother by giving him poison. His soul is still in Elsinore castle in the face of Ghost and asking for revenge, first seen by Horatio (Hamlet’s confidant). Horatio decided to tell Hamlet about his father’s ghost appearance. “let me import what we have seen tonight unto young Hamlet; upon my life, this spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him” (1i line 180-187).
In second act Hamlet met his Father (old Hamlet’s Ghost) and find out that his uncle was the one who killed him Father “The serpent that did string thy father’s life now wears his crown. Oh, my prophetic soul! My uncle!” (1.v line 45-50)
After meeting his father’s ghost, he wasn’t sure if it’s true or not so he decided to create a play and do the acting in front of his uncle to see his guilt. And he found his uncle guilty. But his indecisiveness didn’t allow him to kill his uncle at the moment.
At the end of the play, Shakespeare’s play moved into the different destination by adding Hamlet’s tragedy to not only revenge his father’s murder also losing his mother, his love Ophelia and himself. Which made an important conclusion, sometimes disturbance in the family can destroy the whole family. Or one person’s wrong Intention can lead many people to death.
Word counted: 333
Iram,
I appreciate your attention to the genre of tragedy and to Shakespeare’s use of metaphorical language. What are the benefits of using figurative language in the play?
Coey
16th*
William Shakespeare’s playwright, Hamlet, is about the tragic hero Hamlet who wants to avenge his father who was murdered by his brother, Claudius. Instead of doing so immediately, he contemplates about what he should do. While Hamlet does this, the people around him die. And finally, when Laertes attempts to kill him but fails, Claudius tries to poison Hamlet, but instead his mother, Gertrude drinks it. Hamlet realizes that he is the target and was wounded, but he finally makes a move to kill Laertes and Claudius. But in the end, they all die and that was Hamlet’s tragic end. This is a tragedy in ways such as having a tragic hero, their tragic flaw, a tragic ending, and also a tragic fate.
According to Aristotle, it must have all these components for it to be a tragedy. We are introduced to Hamlet in Act 1 Scene 2, he has a soliloquy and it ends with “But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue.”(12). We get to understand how Hamlet currently feels about the situation and we feel some kind of sympathy towards this tragic hero and what he’s going through. Secondly, in Act 2 Scene 2, “I know my course. The spirit that I have seen May be a devil, and the devil hath power.”(55), Hamlet contemplates on whether or not the spirit was being truthful, or if it was the devil telling him so. In Act 5 Scene 2, “O, I die, Horatio…rest is silence.”(135), Hamlet dies after killing Laertes and finally, Claudius. Indecisiveness was his tragic flaw and therefore led to his tragic end. And because nearly everyone dies, even Hamlet himself, this is his fate, which plays a part in his hero’s fall. The resource “The Tragedy According to Aristotle” helped me understand what the tragic hero undergoes to make this play a tragedy and the components it includes for it to be considered as one.
Word Count: 322
I like the idea in which Hamlet’s tragic fate is because of his tragic flaw of being indecisive that has lead to his tragic ending (death) and that’s what makes him a tragic hero because he was still able to get revenge on Claudius. Terrific job!
I see you supporting each other! Well done!
Gaoshoua,
Do we sympathize with Hamlet so that we pity him when he fails? What in Hamlet’s life is worth our sympathies?
Coey
16th*