... works of literature start off as characters with good qualities such as loyalty, honesty and strength. These characteristics are transformed by the events in each story to become evil characteristics of greed, dishonesty and murder. In Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness the character that changed was named Kurtz. Kurtz started off as a man who wished to travel to Africa in search of an ... adventure. His desire was "humanizing, improving, instructing" those deprived in the Congo. When he reached the Congo and realized the power he can obtain over these people the greed went to his head a...

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... only does Gertrude marry her husband's brother, she marries him right after the funeral. Love is not what compels Gertrude to do this, it is the power she retains as Queen that causes her to make such incestuous decisions. This marriage essentially breaks Hamlet's heart because the love he had for his father and the betrayal he sees within his mother. "Such an act/ That blurs ... the grace and blush of modesty,/Calls virtue hypocrite, takes off the rose/ From the fair forehead of an innocent love,/ And sets a blister there, makes marriage vows/ As false ... version really leads me to b...

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... play a taste of evil never seen in reality. It is such an inhuman story whereby illogical scenes occur. The rape of Lavinia, Tamora eating her children, killing and burying of the midwife, killing of the clown and other scenes had to be added to the play, for too many characters were introduced, and had to be gotten rid of by killing them. Without turning it ... in order to be the successor to the throne was described in detail in the play. He was able to become king; nevertheless, this play is more human since Shakespeare described King Richard after his deed that he changed and never ...

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... which she hears this. All she replys is "I shall obey, my lord" (Act I, Sc. 3, 136). This was the only socially acceptable way, as a woman with standards, (in the day and age of the setting) to have responded to the situation. Which begs the questions: Did ophelia obey and worship her father because she felt socially obligated to? Or was it completely up to ... to obey Hamlet, herself or her father. In the beginning of the play there is no doubt that Ophelia is in love with Prince Hamlet. Her father constantly tries to convince her that Hamlet would use her, take her virginity, and tha...

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... understanding himself." Hamlet continues to demonstrate his grief for his father to the audience, even to the extent of contemplating committing suicide, in Act 3, Scene 2 Hamlet expresses how unfortunate he is by the death of his father and how by ending his life, he would also end the heart-ache he is suffering. The actor that is chosen for this role must be able to consistently show to ... the audience the emotion and grief felt by Hamlet, due to the death of his father and to also constantly illustrate ... the other melancholic aspects of his character. After the death of his fathe...

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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... feigned because Hamlet himself tells Horatio not to alert anyone if he is seen out of his mind. Hamlet's emulated madness is revealed through his talk and the way he responds to other in the play, such as when he calls Polonius a "fishmonger" or when he so harshly turns Ophelia and her love down when he realizes he is being observed. This ... exposed by her singing bawdy drinking songs, wandering around and losing herself in her own thoughts. Her madness is true form the heart, and her madness is quite justifiable. She is justified in going mad because in her soul she realizes the insta...

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... revenge to be almost impossible, until the very last scene of the play. The protagonist was constantly making excuses to the detainment of his revenge on King Claudius for his father. He speculated greatly about the physical remains of the deceased and the spiritual aftermath of the dead although he knew it was inevitable. Throughout the story, Hamlet simultaneously expressed his desires ... the play, Prince Hamlet perceived death in various aspects. He could be indifferent and fearless for a moment, while contemplative and indecisive during another. The protagonist had been challenged ...

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• Grade Level: High School

... if he could realize it was her decision, and that she should be happy in life. Then, after he tells Ophelia what to do he leaves for most of the play to go to France so he can find some women of his own. He is a hypocrite and thinks that his opinion always matters and that ... his sister should do what she is told. Ophelia loves Laertes so she does listen to him despite what her heart is telling her. She knows the role of women at that time and knows that no matter what she wants or needs, she will only get what ... into consideration and spends his time around her insulting her, ruinin...

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... leeway in investigating the accusations of the ghost. His investigation of the ghost's story shows that Hamlet is not quick to jump to conclusions and only act if he is sure that he is acting upon the truth. From the first two acts it is already apparent that Hamlet is a character of noble heart, not cowardice. The next stage of Hamlet's search for the truth is the play plan. Hamlet ... will have the players act out a scene that will resemble his father's murder and during ... the play he will observe Claudius and from his reaction he will know finally the truth behind the murder of hi...

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... if he could realize it was her decision, and that she should be happy in life. Then, after he tells Ophelia what to do he leaves for most of the play to go to France so he can find some women of his own. He is a hypocrite and thinks that his opinion always matters and that ... his sister should do what she is told. Ophelia loves Laertes so she does listen to him despite what her heart is telling her. She knows the role of women at that time and knows that no matter what she wants or needs, she will only get what ... into consideration and spends his time around her insulting her, ruinin...

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... his mother married her brother in-law just to retain her status. In the following quote Gertrude takes a drink of the poisoned wine, intended for Hamlet, and dies. "No, no, the drink, the drink "O my dear Hamlet "the drink, the drink! I am poisoned-(5.2.278-279). If Gertrude had not wanted to keep ... impressionable personality. He lets his father tell him what to do when he leaves for France in the beginning of the play and he lets Claudius tell him what to do at the end of the play. "I will do't, and for that purpose I'll anoint my sword-(4.7.139-140). In this quote Laertes tells ... o...

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... . When Laeretes is informed of his fathers death, his most predictable emotion arises, revenge. Claudius uses his anger to strengthen the flame of revenge, for the benefit of his own plan to get rid of Hamlet. After Claudious has explained who was Polonius's assassin, he intrigues Laertes ... whether he really means to avenge his fathers death, or is he "like the painting of a sorrow/A face without a heart?"(4.7.105-106). Not only will this infuriate Laertes, but also create the ... upon thee,/ Nor thine on [him]"(5.2.324-326). Once again, Laertes reflects Hamlet, because he also shows g...

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... feeling that are irrational to Claudius. Therefore, in front of the whole court the king verbally attacks and accuses his son with "'tis unmanly grief"(2.1.95) and how his son is "a heart unfortified, a mind impatient, an understanding simple and unschooled" (2.1.97-98). As Claudius chastises Hamlet, the king seeks for control over Hamlet's unrealistic spirits of grief. To conclude Claudius' ... position as the king and father he asks to "bend [Hamlet] to remain here in ... his daughter's beliefs. As Hamlet presents himself in " thy nighted color" (1.2.68) to the meeting of councils, C...

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In Hamlet, Ophelia is seen as an innocent young woman, who cannot make decisions for herself. She is constantly being ruled over and tormented by the men in her life, giving her say in almost nothing. Regardless of how strong and bright she was internally, she ... 1 Scene 3 ll 110) Polonius explained to Ophelia selfishly. Although Ophelia's heart was telling her to be with Hamlet, she had no choice but to listen to her father, due to the fact that at this time in history, women were considered the property of their fathers, until marriage. She begins to realize no matter how ... do I take my...

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... a dew She married. O, most wicked dexterity to incestuous sheets"" (I.ii.133-64). Hamlet's immense frustration with Claudius's decision to marry Gertrude gets to the point where he wishes death upon himself. Claudius, Hamlet's foil, has no idea of how dreadful his mistake was. Later, Horatio enters and explains to ... a reliable Horatio there with him watching the kings every move. In the resolution, Claudius convinces Laertes to battle Hamlet to the death in hopes of keeping his reign. During this intense fencing battle, Hamlet and Laertes, both wounded, realize that the King is to blame...

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... Hamlet is murdered, his ghost appears to Hamlet demanding the revenge of his murder, accusing his brother Claudius. The protagonist, Hamlet, is then faced with the challenge of acting in the right manner, and seeks to find out if what his father's ghost disclosed was true or not. When Hamlet murders Laertes' father, Laertes seeks revenge for his father's death before asking any questions. Although ... Hamlet and Laertes go about their actions in different ways, both characters are admired by the common people of Denmark, afflicted by the deaths of their fathers, and affected by each of ...

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... deeply concerns Brutus and begins stirring up fear in his character,Now I have taken heart, though vanishest/Ill spirit, I would hold more talk with thee.? Eventually, just as the appearance of Caesar's evil spirit suggests, Brutus dies, once again proving that the supernatural events control the outcome of the play. The strange dreams and occurrences that Calpurnia was aware of foreshadowed Caesar's death just as Caesar ... does it control the plot following the supernatural event, it foreshadows and influences the outcome of the play. In Julius Caesar, the dreams and omens of Calpurni...

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... Not any different than yerternight. And yesternight, still. I pray I "thaw and resolve [myself] into a dew," and have to face no more the horror of my truths. And yet, the "Everlasting [has]..fix'd a canon 'gainst self-slaughter," and I cannot take away this meanigless life. O, God! I am weary of this world, weary of ... the "unweeded" Denmark, weary of life and all that it posses. If not for Heaven's reprimand, Horatio, I may have finished with this living dead. Ay, Look not upon these lines, but read into this heart that cries in desperation. In two months time, Horation, two months ....

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... in Shakespeare's Hamlet. Man often equates his own physical illness with the break down of his political system. In the opening scene of Hamlet Francisco says 'Tis bitter cold, / And I am sick at heart (1.1.9). His discomfort is a result of the political instability brought about by the death of Hamlet's father and the appearance of what they believe to be his ghost. Correspondingly in today ... systems. In Hamlet Act I, Scene I, Lines 120, Horatio says the moon Was sick almost to doomsday with eclipse. He compares the forthcoming downfall of Rome with the pending destruction of Denmark. ...

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... be damned for killing Claudius. The Prince, Hamlet, has several opportunities to kill Claudius which he fails to capitalize on. One of the opportunities is while Claudius is praying at church. Hamlet is astute and decides against killing the King, because he is purged of his sins. The Prince is unsure of Claudius" guilt up to the point of the play, "The Murder of Gonzago" (2.2). Preventing the king from ... with proving he has an antic disposition which draws focus away from his goal of killing the King; Hamlet becomes obsessed with proving he has an antic disposition. This draws focus ...

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... be damned for killing Claudius. The Prince, Hamlet, has several opportunities to kill Claudius which he fails to capitalize on. One of the opportunities is while Claudius is praying at church. Hamlet is astute and decides against killing the King, because he is purged of his sins. The Prince is unsure of Claudius" guilt up to the point of the play, "The Murder of Gonzago" (2.2). *Preventing the king from ... with proving he has an antic disposition which draws focus away from his goal of killing the King; Hamlet becomes obsessed with proving he has an antic disposition. This draws focus...

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... that his perception of his parents as happily married is not wrong and doesn't understand his mother's recovery from her husband's death. He describes his father's love for Gertrude as so great "that he might not beteem the winds of heaven visit her face too roughly" and bears reference to an ever increasing appetite in expressing his observations of her feelings towards ... Hamlet is struggling to come to terms with what would be viewed as incest and the shame he feels it brings upon him and all his family. Hamlet gives the impression, through giving his mother the title "frailty" that...

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... in Act 3, Scene 1, Line 116 by saying, "Indeed, my lord, you made me believe so." This response shows her innocence in matters of the heart. Ophelia is also seen as being very passive. In fact, many readers dislike her character due to her passiveness. You can see this trait expressed through Act ... 3, Scene 2, Line 120. When Hamlet is saying offensive things to her during the play she simply responds by saying "I know nothing my Lord." This is strange because any human being thrown those sort of remarks would not ... character trait shown throughout Hamlet is Ophelia's obedience. She...

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... into thinking he is crazy. When he fights Laertes he is at last ready to take charge of the situation. First Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, they help start Hamlet on the path to revenge for his fathers death. They are some of the first people he really gets mad at and actually goes off on. He says to them, "Why ... , look you now, how unworthy a thing you make of me! You would play upon me, you would seem to know my stops, you would pluck out of the heart ... of mystery, you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass (Act3 Scene2 Lines 393-397)" In this scene he lets them...

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... heard once or more in their lifetime. It's mere common sense that one should contemplate an action before taking part in it because one must be ready for the consequences. Of course this is not always the case because many people tend to act on pure impulse without thinking things thoroughly. In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, Young Hamlet is an insightful and intellectual character ... marries Hamlet's uncle. To express his emotions on this matter, Hamlet uses his witty banter to say, "Thrift, thrift Horatio: The funeral baked meats Did coldly furnish for the marriage tables" (I, ii, 180...

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