... become Denmark will never be destroyed. Gertrude and Ophelia are the only two innocents. They have no control over their lives. Polonius and Laertes control Ophelia. While Gertrude is blind to all that goes on. Both are casualties of war. Yet the readers ... and send him to heaven; which shows that Hamlet does indeed have a vengeful spirit. All the disease and death has at last made Hamlet bitter. But Hamlet, in taking to long, is directly responsible for nine deaths. Once Hamlet kills Polonius, he is no longer the grieved party "My ... thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth" (Ivv67). ...

• Word Count: 1544
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... mouths at the invisible event.'' (Lines 48-50, Act 4 Scene 4). He admires him for not being afraid of death. However, in Act 4 Scene 4, Hamlet reflects on a sick society when he learns of Fortinbras' attempt to capture worthless land from Poland. But seeing Fortinbras' army in front of him, he criticises ... When he approaches Claudius and believes that he killed his father, Claudius, being the cunning king that he is, says that it was Hamlet that killed Polonius. Claudius builds on Laertes' rage and then calms him down and then builds up his rage again. ''Laertes, was your father dear t...

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

... that did not contemplate his actions, but rather took instantaneous retribution. This archetype is seen in the characters of Laertes and Fortinbras. Laertes, the son of Polonius, does not adopt the role of a "hero- in the play until the final stages. He is absent for most of the play but we ... appears to be madness. This is evident through the way he acts with Ophelia and speaks so cryptically to Polonius. Ophelia describes vividly how Hamlet seemed to have "been looséd out of hell- (II.I.82). When Hamlet decides, "The play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King- (II...

• Word Count: 1685
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... shadow the corruption pervading the recent and future events of the castle. The poison with which Claudius kills King Hamlet spreads in a sense throughout the country, until "something is rotten in Denmark", as Marcellus notes (I.4.90). Shakespeare shades in words ... Midnight 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 shadows ... can dri...

• Word Count: 1339
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... it were hell?"[10] The dissonance in the 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 be flouted. As Rene Girard has noted ... (cf. Ps. 7:15-16). One of Shakespeare's most characteristic dramatic devices is the multiplication of character types.[12] In Hamlet, he includes a number of avengers. Hamlet is the most prominent vengeful son, but in th...

• Word Count: 1931
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... are Fortinbras, son of the late King Fortinbras, prince of Norway; Laertes, son of the late Polonius (Lord Chamberlain to the King) and brother to the late Ophelia; and Hamlet, son of the late King Hamlet, prince of Denmark. As one can see, they all have something in common; they are all sons ... vengeance that does not end with his own demise, as well as, ascendancy to the conveniently empty throne of Denmark. Secondly, there is Laertes, son of Polonius. Laertes seeks out revenge using lex talionis, "an eye for an eye;- and to this he is entitled to. In these times, the eldest son ... ...

• Word Count: 2387
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

... Claudius because his uncle, Clauduis, poisoned his father and claimed the throne. Secondly, Laertes, who was the son of Polonius, wanted to revenge on Hamlet because Hamlet accidentally killed his father, Polonius and Hamlet should also be responsible for the death of Ophelia who was Laertes's sister. And finally, Fortinbras, the prince of Norway ... I . That would be scanned: a villain kills my father and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send to heaven. Why, this is and , not revenge- (3 3 79-84). Hamlet thought if he killed Claudius now, Claudius might go to heaven. In f...

• Word Count: 1426
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School