... Shakespeare manages to give us a unique three-dimensional view into their wicked minds. First of all, when reading Hamlet and Othello, Iago and Claudius are both portrayed as clever and conniving when speaking a soliloquy or otherwise thinking to themselves, but give off an amicable impression to the other ... the damage he causes is utterly unconvincing, and the way he deceives those that perceive him as a friend is hypocritical. Similarly hypocritical is Claudius. He has established a very cheerful court of admirers and as Phyllis Rackin observes Hamlet's black clothing, no less than ...

• Word Count: 1814
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... Hamlet's quest for revenge may seem only to be brought on by his love for his father, but this is not so. He is simultaneously angry with his mother, jealous of her attention to Claudius, and desperately wishing for her love. He berates her with sharp edged comments, "you are the queen, your ... brother's wife and -would it were not so- you are my mother"; but he loves her just the same. His love for her is first expressed without ... been dismissed as a stage thrill, a device to horrify, yet secure the attentions of the audience. Obviously the ghost is used to convey the information ab...

• Word Count: 2226
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School

... the movie, I do not recall the Act this quote occurred in.) Hamlet's words are directed towards his widowed mother and his her new husband Claudius. Their action of marriage during this difficult time in Prince Hamlet's life is very disheartening to him. But with strategically worded quotes like this, the ... the ghost, it speaks to him, declaring ominously that it is indeed his father's spirit, and the ghost concludes that he was killed by Claudius. The ghost recommends to Hamlet to seek revenge. This is the conflict or the problem in the play. Prince Hamlet must decide to seek ... occ...

• Word Count: 1576
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... from innocence into maturity. Because "falling in love" is another major piece of the coming of age archetype (Stahl), anything that happens with Ophelia will significantly alter Hamlet. During act three, Ophelia is planted and used to allow Polonius and Claudius to spy on the pair. Up until that point ... , Hamlet has fallen in love with Ophelia, but Ophelia has been told to dodge all of his affections. When Hamlet begins speaking with ... his name. He knows he's guilty, and just states that he's sorry. Soon after, Hamlet finally realizes his destiny and fully commits to killing Claudiu...

• Word Count: 1669
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... king, Gertrude trusts Claudius for being the right heir to the thrown and marries him. Claudius also tricks everybody by showing that he is a loving, caring and responsible stepfather to Hamlet in order to gain the trust and love of Gertrude. For instance, Claudius shows his fictitious love for Hamlet in ... front of the Queen when he states, "This mad young man. But so much was our love"(4.1.19). Claudius shows that he is worried about Hamlet's mental illness, ... crown easily. Gertrude being suppressed by her emotions prevents her from making smarter decisions, thus making her easier...

• Word Count: 837
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... mother. Superficially, his quest for revenge may seem only to be brought on by his love for his father, but this is not so. He is simultaneously angry with his mother, jealous of her attention to Claudius, and desperately wishing for her love. Scolding, "you are the queen, your husband's brother's wife; and -would it ... instead of returning to college simply because she asks him to. Hamlet's strong love for his mother is a cause for the events in the end of the play. It is not evident whether Hamlet would or would not have killed Claudius that day if his mother hadn't died, but whateve...

• Word Count: 1273
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... mother. Superficially, his quest for revenge may seem only to be brought on by his love for his father, but this is not so. He is simultaneously angry with his mother, jealous of her attention to Claudius, and desperately wishing for her love. Scolding, "you are the queen, your husband's brother's wife; and -would it ... instead of returning to college simply because she asks him to. Hamlet's strong love for his mother is a cause for the events in the end of the play. It is not evident whether Hamlet would or would not have killed Claudius that day if his mother hadn't died, but whateve...

• Word Count: 1274
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... as it makes his own revenge harder to achieve. Another consequence is Hamlet is sent to England by the Claudius's orders. Making revenge seemingly impossible now that Hamlet and Claudius are to be in two different countries. Polonis's murder also drives away Hamlets love, Ophelia. She does not understand how or why Hamlet could do such a thing. Ophelia's confusion pushes her to commit ... suicide; thus providing Laertes with another motive. Ending the scene Hamlet confesses that he is aware of Claudius's plot to dress assassins as Hamlets friends by stating: "There's letter seal ... fe...

• Word Count: 1332
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... and depression. In his soliloquy, Hamlet reveals his contempt for his mother's rash and, (as he perceives it,) immoral marriage to his uncle, Claudius. This speech also gives the reader insight to Hamlet's low self-esteem and his great admiration for his father, and likewise, his discontent for his ... the play, Hamlet is plagued by his low sense of self-worth, and it is because of this worthlessness that, despite his disgust with Claudius, he does nothing about it. This only contributes further to his existing problems and makes matters worse for Hamlet. Hamlet's evident depression is ....

• Word Count: 1324
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... most important theme in Hamlet. This love is though followed by revenge which is what drives Hamlets love. Hamlet was affected by the death of his father which had a huge impact on his life. Hamlet is then filled with anger when his mother re-marries to the Kings brother Claudius in less then two months after ... Ln 31). Hamlet swears to his father that he will revenge for him. "Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift as meditation or the thoughts of love, may sweep to my revenge" (Act 1, Sc 5, Ln 35-7). Hamlet is confused with his father's death not knowing what to believe. Eve...

• Word Count: 779
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... secretly trying to avenge his death through theatre with the help of his dead father's ghost. Hamlet's encounter's with his mother, Gertrude, and his uncle, Claudius, are not handled in a rational way. His experience with Laertes is not an improvement either. These are three events that set in motion a series of ... tragic events that should have been avoided. Hamlet is angry with Gertrude because of her love for Claudius. Hamlet believes that this affair is incest and his anger is further fueled by the knowledge of Claudius being his father's murderer. Hamlet scolds his mother, "nay but...

• Word Count: 560
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... So to seduce!-won to his shameful lust the will of my most seeming-virtuous queen: O Hamlet, what a falling-off was there! From me, whose love was of that dignity that it went hand in hand even with the vow I made to her in marriage, and to decline upon a wretch whose natural ... inside both the king and queen are suffering from severe guilt. Gertrude realizes she has not waited long enough to mourn her husband's death, while Claudius feels utterly distraught about murdering his own brother. These actions threw Hamlet into a state of insanity, seemingly resulting in an emotionally unstab...

• Word Count: 750
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... remarried not even a month after his father's death. Hamlet is considered the hero for the reason that he is situated to gain revenge against his uncle King Claudius. Even though I judge that Hamlet does have his faults in the play at the end he is considered the hero. One of these faults is when he ... repeatedly insults Ophelia who is Polonius daughter. He verbally abuses her by telling her that she is misguided for the reason that he was never in love with her and that she is a hoer. He told Ophelia that she was a hypocrite when he tells her "God hath given you one face and you make ...

• Word Count: 920
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... when hamlet saw his father's ghost he told hamlet to avenge his murder. By the beginning of Act III, Hamlet is almost ready to kill Claudius, but he still needs more proof that Claudius killed his father. Hamlet decides to set a trap for him in the form of a play. The subject of the play is the murder of ... wife. The plot of the play is similar to the circumstances of King Hamlet's murder, which strikes a chord in the conscience of Claudius. In the middle of the play during the murder scene, Claudius gets up and begs for the play to stop so that he can get some air. Hamlet is very ang...

• Word Count: 1027
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... was about to say something. / Where did I leave it?" (1474 49-50). Throughout the play there is no evidence to suggest that Polonibus knew of Claudius's crime. In Scene IV: The Queens Closet, with Polonibus hiding behind the curtain, Hamlet, thinking he is the King, drives his sword through the curtain ... In my mind his emotion was a little late coming. And what of Hamlet's long soliloquies, where in act II scene 2 he debates a plan to kill Claudius (1490 497-557), or act III scene 1 where he debates about his sins and the afterlife (1492 1-89)? I contend they are further exhibits of h...

• Word Count: 1642
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... obvious; the powerful man. In the play Hamlet, Gertrude is faced with a similar situation. She must choose between Hamlet, the less powerful man, and Claudius, the extremely powerful man. Hamlet confronts her and asks what her decision is, to which she replies: "O Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in ... the purer with the other half." (III, IV, 157-158). Hamlet is simply saying that he is the "purer" part of Gertrude's heart, and Claudius is the "worser" part. As in most cases, Gertrude sides with the "worser", but more powerful man. Aside from just choosing the more powerful man ... p...

• Word Count: 1154
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... The main character, Prince Hamlet, son of Old Hamlet who was recently murdered is contemplating whether or not to avenge his father's death and kill Claudius who is now king and also his uncle and the murderer. The whole play evokes a terrible tragic end in which everyone is slain. Foil characters ... killed. However, unlike Hamlet, he has an unstable temper and is quick to act without thought. He wants to start a war against Denmark however Claudius cunningly convinces him to start a war against Poland. The land that Fortinbras is about to take is small and unprofitable. The earth is v...

• Word Count: 1548
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... the play, the second scene to be exact, we discover that Gertrude is very greedy. Like Gertrude Claudius is also greedy, he kills Hamlet senior just so he can become king. The love of Hamlet, Ophelia is weak-minded, she cannot come to grips with her fathers death. Ophelias' ... brother, Laertes is greatly impressionable. The father of the two siblings, Polonius is always in everyone else's business and is undoubtedly nosey. The entitled character Hamlet avoids the inevitable of killing Claudius ... the noise from behind the arras. Polonius was killed while being nosey therefore it must b...

• Word Count: 1038
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... whether Old Hamlet's ghost was "a spirit of health or goblin damn"d," (I.iv.40) the Elizabethan audience would have supported Hamlet in his choice to be sure before killing Claudius, his father's murderer. This shows how Shakespeare uses the audience's uncertainty to manipulate their response to the play. Shakespeare also uses conflicting culture to control the audience's reactions. ... and filial duty dictates that Hamlet "was born to set it right." (I.v.189) However, to the Christian audience, murder for any reason violated the highest Christian ethic -- love. This includes love for on...

• Word Count: 1416
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... a high position. He is extremely offensive to people, such as the King and Queen. An immature, mouthy, extremist is an inability to love maturely, and rudeness towards authority. Those are just a few of the things that he shares with today's youth. It is to my belief ... They both display impulsive reactions and rash behavior often acting emotionally rather than rationally. Laertes consumed with rage automatically thrusts out attempting to kill Claudius assuming him as his father's killer. Both of their careless actions are provoked by fury and frustration. Sudden anger prompts them to ...

• Word Count: 1486
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... lays in the focus and concentration placed on certain characters. In Updike's prequel, Gertrude takes position as the main character. The beginning of the novel starts with her father finding a love interests for her, and the rest of the book basically tracks her social and marital endeavors. In the prequel, Gertrude carries a very strong minded attitude that, at times, conflicts with ... away at school. In essences, Horwendil feared that another reason kept him their and that it possibly could keep him there for good. Polonius aids the king and later aids Claudius, but oddly enough, hi...

• Word Count: 618
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... if Hamlet ever loved his father, he will "Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder" (I.v.25). Hamlet "swears" his duty to prove his loyalty and love. He tells the Ghost to tell the story of the murder, and the revenge will follow: "Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift ... / As meditation or the thoughts of love, / May sweep to my revenge" (I.v.29-31). Yet the ghost adds one specification, he tells Hamlet not to cause harm to his mother, telling him ... waits and confronts Ophelia, which adds complication to his mission as she confides in her father, the conniving Polonius....

• Word Count: 1975
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... insane only at certain times. You are either insane or you are not insane. Hamlet is pretending to be insane so that he could later kill Claudius and get away with it by saying he was mad. There are many times in the play that Hamlet acted perfectly sane and announced his "antic ... disposition" to people. Hamlet's "antic disposition" begins when the ghost of his father tells him about how he was murdered by Claudius and to avenge his death. Hamlet firmly states to Horatio that he might begin to act odd or weird, and that when he does to not to ... had killed him there, all of Cladius'...

• Word Count: 1177
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... series of literary sources and the phenomenal genius of Shakespeare ("Hamlet" 438). In the play Hamlet, there are many very interesting characters. Claudius, is King of Denmark, who is Hamlet's uncle. Gertrude, is Queen of Denmark, that is Hamlet's mother. There is also, Polonius, which is ... Lord Chamberlain under Claudius. He also has a daughter Ophelia, otherwise known as Hamlet's love. Ophelia has a brother Laertes. Horatio is Hamlet's schoolmate and loyal friend. The last major character in the play is the ... from Hamlet, because Hamlet is deeply in love with her. When Hamlet tri...

• Word Count: 601
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... couple has no suspicion in the beginning that the heir to the thrown of Denmark knows what treachery they have committed. When asked by King Claudius why his nephew seems to display "turbulent and dangerous lunacy," Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern reply, "He does confess he feels himself distracted; but from ... their love forever. Why has Hamlet lost his mind when he has the love of his good mother and caring uncle who so quickly replaced his father at his mother's side? It seems unreasonable that such a loving family be ripped apart by something as trivial as murder. The callous way King...

• Word Count: 1514
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School