... what ways is Act 5 Scene 2 a fitting climax to the play? Shakespeare wrote his most popular play Hamlet using Aristotle's principles and Greek tragedy, most notably Agamemnon as a foundation. Hamlet was probably written around 1602, during the Elizabethan Era a period of intellectual and artistic upheaval, tentative and ... feisty environment and political disarray. The story introduces us to three young men whose fathers had been brutally killed (Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras). The men had high positions 'in the social order and a fall/death of any one would influence the entire ... ...

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... characteristics typical of a tragic hero and, like all other tragic heroes, even carries with him a certain flaw that leads to a tragic ending. In fact, Hamlet fills the part of the tragic hero almost perfectly. According to Aristotle, there is a set criteria for one to follow in order to be a tragic hero. First of all, a tragic hero will evoke both our pity and ... all the major characteristics generally associated with a tragic hero. While the following traits were not literally described by Aristotle, they are typical of most tragic heroes throughout literary history. First of all, H...

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... obliged to avenge his father's murder: "if thou didst ever thy dear father love revenge his foul and most unnatural murder-. Using guilt to lure Hamlet into killing Claudius, the Ghost describes Old Hamlet's murder in detail, therefore influencing Hamlet to hate Claudius passionately as the true horror of the murder is revealed: "And in the porches of my ears did pour The leperous ... , by dictionary definition, a hero. By the end of the play, Hamlet is forced to play his hand in killing Claudius or his opportunity will have been lost forever, and this fact disagrees with Goethe's opinio...

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... human predicament of being reduced to dust."3 Essentially, all of life, and all that was good and beautiful in life (e.g. the garden), is tainted. Hamlet, the disillusioned idealist, continues with the motif when he, disheartened, declares: [...] the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory; this most excellent canopy, ... dram of all {evil} Doth all the noble substances of a doubt To his own scandal"(I. iv. 34, 39-41). "Hamlet, as ever, is torn between conflicting codes of conduct [...] Hamlet is no one to forgive and forget or to trust to Heaven's justice. He thinks of himself as appoin...

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... the downfall the hero. Shakespeare's Hamlet, Prince of Denmark can be seen as an Aristotelian tragedy and Hamlet as it's tragic hero. Hamlet's flaw, which in accordance with Aristotle's principles of tragedy causes his demise, is his inability to act. This defect of Hamlet's character is displayed throughout the ... play. In the opening scenes of the play, the Ghost of old Hamlet reveals the ... truth about his death to his son, and tells Hamlet to avenge the murder. Hamlet ... , saying "Haste me to know't that I with winds as swift" May sweep to my revenge." (p. 34 lines 29-31) Unfortu...

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To be or not to be a Tragic Hero In the 4th century B.C., Aristotle defined the characteristics of a tragic hero. According to Aristotelian dramatic theory, a tragic hero is usually a man of noble standing and good character who ... a task and, in the process of this task, becomes very emotionally and psychologically upset, which results in his alienation from people around him. In my opinion, Hamlet fits the definition of an Aristotelian tragic hero perfectly. First of all, a tragic hero is usually a man of noble background. This characteristic gives the hero the ... vulnerability of "fallin...

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... who murdered his father. The Ghost delivered his news by saying, "The serpent that did sting thy father's life/ Now wears his crown" (1.5.39-40). Once Hamlet had found out it was his uncle that he must seek revenge on, he began to complain that, "The time is out of joint: O cursed ... gaming, swearing, or about some act/ That has no relish of salvation in't:" (3.3.90-93) in order for Claudius to go to hell, where Hamlet thinks he belongs. Hamlet expresses that if he were to kill Claudius while he was praying, it would not truly be revenge, "O, this is hire and salary, not revenge ... ." (...

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... he was "wearing his exact armor" and he "frowned just like the king did". The ghost tells Hamlet how his father died by saying in Act 1, Scene 5, and Line 39 "The serpent that did sting thy father's life, Now wears the crown" but what happens after that is ... how he proves that he is actually sane and he is just pretending he is insane. After Hamlet, Horatio and Marcellus see the ghost; Hamlet tells Horatio that he is ... play in being performed and one of the performers pours the poison into the player King's ear "Claudius stands up" line 248. This shows Hamlet is indeed sane because ...

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... my death rankly abused: but know thou noble youth, the serpent that did sting thy father's life now wears his crown." (I.v.35-39); and "Let not the royal bed of Denmark be a couch for luxury and damned incest. But howsoever thou pursuest this act, ... rank [in heat] and gross [lewd] in nature [female sex] possess it [sexually] merely [ 'merrily', lecherously]." (Hull.uk). Furthermore, Hamlet is dominated by disgust for his mother's sexuality to an exaggeration; which according to T. S. Eliot is "a feeling which he cannot understand remains to poison ... like Polonius. In short, hi...

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... revenge his foul and most unnatural murder" (1.5.25). Hamlet is shocked when the ghost tells him that his father was murdered. Hamlet is even more stunned when the ghost tells him "the serpent that did sting thy father's life / now wears his crown" (1.5.39-40). Hamlet learns that Claudius murdered his father by pouring poison in ... his ear. With all of the things Hamlet was already upset about he now had an even bigger problem to face, avenging his father's death. ... away. Ophelia becomes mad after her father's death. Whether or not she was mad because her father died, or because the m...

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... thy commandment all alone shall live Within the book and volume of my brain - (I, v, 100-104) With this statement, the play makes a transition. Hamlet gives up the role of a student, and commits himself to nothing else but the revenge of his father's death. There is no confusion and certainly ... says, -O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven; It hath the/ primal eldest curse upon't,/ A brother's murder."" (III, iii, 37-39) The way Hamlet thinks, is clearly abnormal, but it does not necessarily make him insane. What makes him insane is his inability to act, or at least act sensibly .....

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... At the end of the play young Fortinbras has more than succeeded in his plans. He sits upon Denmark's throne with the kingship handed to him by young Hamlet who proclaims: "But I do prophesy th'election lights on Fortinbras; he has my dying voice- (Vii.334-335). While young Fortinbras has his revenge ... is already dead at the hands of his brother, Claudius "the serpent that did sting thy fathers life now wears his crown- (Iv.38-39). The ghost of "Hamlet, King, father, royal Dane- (Iiv.45) tells the young Prince that poison was poured into his ear such that the "whole ear of ... the fina...

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... and most unnatural murder- (Hamlet, Act I, Scene 5, Lines 23 and 25). Hamlet had not realized that his father had been murdered. The ghost goes on to say, "The serpent that did sting thy father's life now wears his crown,"" (Hamlet, Act I, Scene 5, Lines 38-39). It is at this point that Hamlet realizes that his father's ... murderer was his uncle, Claudius. Hamlet swears to have revenge. This sets up the circumstances that cause the remainder of the action in ... say for sure. The chain of events leading to her death came from two different directions. One cause of her apparent suicide ...

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... Ghost: "I am thy father's spirit" (Act I, scene V, page 41, l. 9) Ghost: "Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder." ( Act I, scene V, page 41, l.25) Hamlet: "Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift (...) May sweep to my revenge." (Act I, scene V, page 41, l. 29-31) Ghost: "But know, thou noble ... youth The serpent that did sting thy father's life Now wears his crown." (Act I, scene V, page 41, l.37-39) A Company of players arrives at the castle. Hamlet hoping to assure himself of the guilt of Claudius, arranges for them to perform The Murder of Gonzalo, which he alters to fit...

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... suspicions but he had no proof that his uncle was responsible for his father's death. " The serpent that did sting thy father's life now wears his crown,"(I.v.38-39). Then the apparition of his father appeared. The ghost told young Hamlet that Claudius poisoned him. He said that Claudius has poured poison in his ear while he was sleeping. The ghost told ... to Claudius. Claudius gained the crown and the kingdom. This was the motive for Claudius to murder the king and a foundation for Hamlet's revenge. Claudius stole what was rightfully Hamlet's. Hamlet behavior was erratic. Polonius rep...

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... or charitable, thou com'st in such a questionable shape that I will speak to thee: I'll call thee Hamlet, King, Father, royal Dane: O, answer me!- (Act I, Scene IV, Line 39-45) In this speech by Hamlet, it is quite clear that he is unable to make a decision. Even though this spirit is right in ... front of him and has done nothing to either Horatio or the other men who have seen him, Hamlet is still unable to automatically assume that ... decision too quickly. The first, and most disastrous one, would be the Queen's marriage to her brother-in-law only two months after King Hamlet had be...

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... has stood the test of time? When William Shakespeare wrote it. But why are his works so respected and cherished? One of his famous works, Hamlet, is still a favorite among actors and occasional readers alike, but why? Why is Shakespeare's work still able to challenge and inspire people four hundred years ... or charitable, / Thou com'st in such a questionable shape / that I will speak to thee. I"ll call thee Hamlet, / King, father, royal Dane. O, answer me!" (I, iv, 39-45) It is quite clear that Hamlet is unable to make a decision. Even though this spirit is right in front of him and has...

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... strikes and Barnardo notes, subtly referring to the sentiment of Denmark, that "tis bitter cold, and I am sick at heart" (I.1.8). Since the beloved King Hamlet has died and the Queen remarried, the morale of the people is low, and cold. The act continues, and the Ghost appears out of the dark ... his canon against self-slaughter." He further notes of the world as being "stale and flat", further examples of the pale images Shakespeare conveys. Later, Hamlet adds how "some vicious mole of nature" (I.4.24) can destroy the reputation of a nation or individual. He concludes how a tiny amount ...

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... the dead king of Denmark. A ghostly image, resembling King Hamlet, appeared to converse with young prince Hamlet. The ghost tells Hamlet, "The serpent that did sting thy father's life now wears his crown." (Ham. I.v. 38-39). The ghost explains how it was done and Hamlet decides he has an idea to seek revenge. He gets ... some of the actors of the play and adds in a few lines of his own. The new script depicts the death of King Hamlet in vivid detail. The actor playing King Hamlet lays down ... befallen his sister Laertes says that he will, some how, seek revenge on those responsible fo...

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... of the body And with a sudden vigor it doth posset And curd, like eager droppings into milk, The thin and wholesome blood (1.5.34-39, 59-70).[9] It is possible that "poison in the ear" is an image of temptation. In that case, Claudius's later whispered plottings ... ghost's speeches indicates that he is not what he claims to be. Rather, he has come as a tempter to pour 'poison' into Hamlet's ear. Hamlet is a revenge tragedy, a common genre in Shakespeare's day. As with other theatrical genres, the revenge tragedy had certain conventions that could not ... into a pitiful emotional spiral t...

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... figures are widely used to warn, protect, or predict various aspects of life. Shakespeare takes advantage of that and in Hamlet, Prince Hamlet meets and talks with the deceased King Hamlet because the King returned as a ghost to handle unfinished business. As for Macbeth, the story begins with Macbeth and ... croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark, To cry "Hold, hold!"" (Act 1, Scene 5, lines 38-39, and 53-54) is a quote from Lady Macbeth as she urges Macbeth to kill King Duncan. It is apparent that she desires the throne for ... "O, that th...

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... also expresses a vengeful tone against his brother in lines 81-84,"If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not..." Clearly the king wishes that Hamlet would expose the crimes of his uncle and avenge his father's death. In contrast to the ghost's opinion of the crime, King Claudius feels mixed ... remourse and self serving ambition. In lines 36-39, Claudius compares his crime to the crime of Cain in the Bible. "It hath the primal eldest curse upon't..." Further along in his speech he wonders ... gatesand alleys of the body..." Claudius represents the voice of this new society; he is the per...

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... which other people are harmed, for ones own well-being. In Hamlet, Shakespeare indicates that people who deceive with noble intentions will be rewarded, whereas people who deceive with ignoble intentions will endure suffering. This theme is developed through Shakespeare's play Hamlet, using leading characters showing noble and ignobles traits such as Hamlet and Polonius, as well as King Claudius, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern ... who solely demonstrate ignoble actions. The play Hamlet begins with deception as Claudius has killed his brother, King Hamlet, in order to take power and the lov...

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... an eccentric individual whose mood changes erratically throughout the play. Using his quick thinking and puns, Hamlet expresses his feelings about certain situations. Hamlet's character portrays the most important and influential role in the play. Throughout the play, Hamlet experiences an immense amount of anger due to the circumstances in ... /So grace and mercy at your most need help you. (I v 190-202) In this quote the audience come across the irrational Hamlet. Accordingly, Hamlet has decided it will be better to act mad in order to be deceiving. No one is too know he is not truly ...

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... using a similar dilemma to create a constant as if he was performing an experiment. Personality, philosophy, purity, and action all equate to consequence. The result of these characteristics is determined by the amount in which they are used. If one is out of balance then the outcome has dire consequence resulting in chaos and mayhem. In Shakespeare's "Hamlet ... Here he tries to outwit them with determining their true reason of appearing. Thus creating another obstacle that taints the purity pf Hamlet's cause. He is now concerned with deceiving his family and friends instead of committi...

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