... of the magnificent characters that were chosen to be a part in both of the plays. The characters Hamlet and Falstaff have many different characteristics. In one of his plays, Henry IV, featured a very different character known as Falstaff. He was one of Shakespeare's finest characters ("Sir" 464). He was known as a coward, liar, rascal, and combat soldier, and of course a lecher, someone who is ... overly interested in the opposite sex ("Sir" 464). Falstaff was known for his many individualizing traits. Falstaff always had an interesting part in each section of the play. In the play, He...

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... on the short initial scene of Act IV, is it unclear if Gertrude truly believes Hamlet is mad or not. What it is clear is that the Queen seems to be more allied to her King than her ... his father, he thinks before he acts while Laertes acts on impulse and seeks immediate gratification. Hamlet - Act V 1. The comic interlude featuring the two gravediggers at the beginning of Act IV serves several purposes for the play. For one it adds comic relief to the story, which up to that point had been filled with intense dialogue and tragic events. More ... ...

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... Lost, II.i.203 This was a very rude curse because a man's facial hair was a point of pride for him. And "to play with someone's beard" was to insult him. "God's body" 1 Henry IV, II.i.26 Swearing by Christ's body (or any part thereof,) was off limits in civil discourse. "God's Bod(y)kins, man" Hamlet, II.ii.529 The word bod(y)kin means "little ... two worst of these Shakespearean swears were "'zounds" and "'sblood." "'Zounds" had twenty-three occurrences. Ten of them were in 1 Henry IV. The rest appear in Titus (once), Richard III (four times), Romeo and Juliet (twice), and Othello (six...

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... 's scholarly concern that the ghost "bodes some strange eruption to our state." (I.i.69) Because of this confusion, not knowing 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 ... Days of Christmas 1). So, even though this night could have been looked at as deception and foolery, it had a Christian core. Henry V deals with the ideals of heaven and hell when the...

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... of anger, "But to live in the rank sweat of an enseamed bed, stewed in corruption, honeying and making love over the nasty sty- -(III:iv). This intense emotional reaction between Hamlet and his mother results in the death of Polonius, who is hiding in the room. We can make an assumption that ... from the rational. This is shown in the same scene, after Hamlet slays Polonuis through the curtain he asks the question, "Is it the King-(III:iv). It is apparent that Hamlet's thoughts becomes colored with passion for revenge. Hamlet already knows that the King cannot be hiding in the room, for ...

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... little crazy. He also makes a point of saying, "I must be cruel only to be kind; this bad begins, and worse remains behind."(iii.: iv.: 1019). Many of his actions are explained by this saying. For example, his love relationship with Ophelia and his attitude towards his mother. Hamlet is ... to the profoundest pit.I dare damnation: to this point I stand,negligence, Let come what comes, only I"ll be revenged most thoroughly for my father."(iv.:iv.:1029). Laertes has vowed vengeance to his father's murderer, and Claudius uses this to his advantage. Hamlet is the killer. Claudius and Laerte...

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... was willing to take the chance of going mad to find out information, whether it was good or bad, "It waves me still./ Go on; I'll follow thee."(I,iv,85-86), Hamlet took action into his own hands and followed the ghost. Hamlet also takes action by putting on the play, The Murder of Gonzago, to get a ... inform against me,/ And spur my dull revenge. What is a man/ If his chief good and market of his time/ Be but to sleep and feed?"(IV,iv,34-37). Hamlet accuses himself of not acting on revenge and is mad at himself, "My thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth ... that he was being spied on b...

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... has no remorse for this inhumane actions when he tells Claudius that Polonius is at supper not where he eats, but where he is eaten (IV, ii, 18-20). Hamlet's harsh and cruel treatment of Ophelia and his murder of her father lead to the madness which eventually overtook her. ... convinced that Denmark is headed for trouble. After the ghost makes his second appearance, Marcellus notes, Something is rotten in the state of Denmark (I, iv, 90). Theses observations in the first act are clear indications that Denmark has transformed into a state of chaos. The most glaring weakness of Wilson Kn...

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... will happen to him in this life or after his death, and he states, "that both the worlds I give to negligence, let come what comes- (IV.V.131). The only thing of consequence is vengeance for his father's death. When the true culprit is brought to his attention, he is ready to take action ... immediately and is instantly creating a dastardly plan to ensure that revenge is achieved. 2 He claims he will "cut his throat I' the church- (IV.VII.127). The consequences of Laertes' rash actions are seen in the final scene, when he realises that Hamlet is not to blame, stating, "mine and my ... f...

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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Nature vs. Nurture Sociological views of evil in Shakespearean and current society "Company, villainous company, has been the spoil of me." This quote in William Shakespeare's play Henry IV (3.3.11) showcases one of the common themes in many of William Shakespeare's plays: the role of the villain. For any storyline to be interesting, it must have some type of ... ...

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... lacks any actions of dishonour or deceit. Albeit his course does involve "the imminent death of twenty thousand men for a fantasy of trick and fame- (IV.iv.60-61), his character is otherwise devoid of any dishonourable intentions. It is believed that it is because of his honourable convictions that he is rewarded with ... large role on how Laertes would have otherwise dealt with the situation, "Let come what comes, only I'll be most revenged most thoroughly for my father."" (IV.v.135-136). Quick to avenge the loss of his family, we see a rather rash and hot-headed Laertes, and although on...

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... was not to be against King Hamlet. He 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 Denmark is by a forged process of my death rankly abused- (Iv.36-37). Prince Hamlet is charged to "revenge his foul and most unnatural murder- (Iv.25). It is not however just a murder, it is a loss "of life, of crown, of queen at once dispatched ... villain in the play, has ...

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... many critics to be an excuse for his delay towards revenge. However, Shakespeare acknowledges that Hamlet does hide from his "bloody deed" [IV.iv.58] through the pretence of madness when he still had, "cause, and will, and strength, and means to do't". [IV.iv.40] Hamlet himself admits it is a, "bestial oblivion, or some craven scruple / Of thinking too precisely on th"event ... " [IV.iv.41] (that inhibits him from action. It is arguably Hamlet's thoughts and scruples, which lead him to don the cloak of madness, which ... ...

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... To this point I stand, That both the Worlds I give to Negligence, Let come what comes, onely I"ll be reveng"d Most throughly for my Father." (IV, V, 130). Hamlet, in contrast, is very private with his grief. His grief for his father, King Hamlet, is very long and drawn out, two months ... revenge and does not seem concerned with punishment. Laertes is concerned with the physical and the present, "That both the worlds I give to negligence, "(IV, V, 134) he declares. Hamlet however, philosophizes about the afterlife, and whether "...In that sleep of death what dreams may come."(III, I, 66...

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... to begin, antiquity forgot, custom not known, the ratifiers and props of every word-they cry, "Choose we! Laertes shall be king!'" (Act IV, Scene V). Laertes heard of his father's murder and came back home from France in order to seek an explanation and avenge his father's murder from King ... Hamlet's freedom from punishment, Claudius responds by pointing out "the great love the general gender bear [Hamlet]" (Act IV, Scene VII). Had the King punished Hamlet, the public would have born a bitterness towards him because they "convert [Hamlet's] gyves to graces" ( ... Act IV, Scene VII). W...

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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... can keep your counsel and not, mine own. Beside, to be demanded of a sponge, what replication should be made by the son of a king?" (IV, ii, 12-14) The reference to the sponge reflects the fact that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are easily ordered by the king and do not have minds of their ... Another incident of Hamlet's high intelligence is shown when he tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, "I am glad of it: a knavish sleeps in a foolish ear." (IV, ii,24-25) This statement leaves Rosencrantz and Guildenstern more or less confused. Hamlet is clearly more clever than the two of them combin...

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... intruding fool, farewell! / I took thee for thy better. Take thy fortune;/ Thou find'st to be too busy is some danger.- [Act III. scene IV, lines 31-33] and then talks about lugging his guts into another room. After Hamlet kills Polonius he will not tell anyone where the body is. Instead he ... matter which others take it as madness. Not where he eats, but where he is eaten. / A certain convocation of political worms a e'en at him. [Act IV, scene III, lines 20-21] If your messenger find him not there, seek him I' th' other place yourself. But, indeed, if you find him not within ... this...

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... father. He returned to Elsinore and threatened the king and demanded to see his father's body. Laertes says, "I thank you: keep the door. O thou vile king, Give me my father" (IV v l. 114). Only about a day goes by before Laertes and Hamlet compete in a duel that Laertes revenges his father's death with the swing of a poison tipped sword. Laertes declares, "Have at ... no profit but the name. To pay five ducats, five, I would not farm it; will it yield to Norway or the pole a ranker rate, should it be sold in fee (IV iv l. 16-20). Also, in this scene, Hamlet compares himself to Fortinbr...

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... aloud. Hamlet's soliloquies are the keys to his internal struggles, which are hidden under a mask. From Hamlet's soliloquies in Act I, II, III, and IV, one learns of his feelings towards the new marriage between his mother and his uncle, his indecisiveness towards the revenge for his father's death, and his overwhelming ... which Claudius engages himself in a sinful act, from which has no chance for salvation, whereby he will go to hell upon death. During Hamlet's soliloquy in Act IV, Hamlet hears of the actions of Fortinbras. When honor's at the stake. How stand I then, That have a fathe...

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... he says "O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I" (II.ii.570) and "How all occasions do inform against me and spur my dull revenge" (IV.iv.32-33). Hamlet feels inappropriately guilty for not being there for his father and somehow preventing his death. This is a fourth symptom. A fifth symptom of deep ... the killing of Polonius when he says, "Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell! I took thee for thy better. Take thy fortune" (III.iv.32-33). More evidence of Hamlets true madness comes later in the same scene when he sees the ghost of his father and Gertrude cannot see the apparit...

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... be fatal for him. An example of Polonius" innocent involvement with the royalty results in his death can be found at the beginning of Act III, scene iv, when Hamlet stabs him while he is hiding behind the arras in Gertrude's room. This shows how Polonius, a man unaware of the true nature of ... fears points to the conclusion that he is simply using her to help word of his madness spread throughout the kingdom via Polonius. In Act III, scene iv, Hamlet kills Polonius while he is hiding behind the arras in the Queen's room. This event causes Ophelia to become insane and leads to her eventua...

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... there are several hints that the young prince suffers from the Oedipus complex. Claudius is quoted, "The queen his mother / Lives almost by his looks" (IV.vii.11-12). This reveals a sense of closeness between Hamlet and his mother. This also shows that Hamlet is needed in his mother's life. Hamlet ... an act that looks like he is forcing his mother into a sexual position. The Ghosts speaks, "But look, amazement, on thy mother sits" (III.iv.113). Last, Young Hamlet finally decides to confront his mother about the situation about which he is extremely upset. However, instead of talking abo...

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... looks exactly like former king of Denmark. Hamlet runs after the ghost, to talk, and Marcellus says, Something is rotten in the state of Denmark, (1, IV, 92) after the event. Not only Marcellus uneasiness is expressed, but Shakespeare also successes to provide dark, ominous opening. If they simply meets the ghost ... , some readers might not understand the significance of the ghost in this play. By the use of erotten (1, IV, 92) image to describe the event, readers has clear image that something not right would happen later in this play. It is even more emphasized ... make action. Duri...

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... mother; as is apparent in the following: "My pulse as yours doth temperately keep time and makes as healthful music". (III. iv. 161-162). Because of this tendency, psychologists have concluded that Hamlet must have suffered from an Oedipus complex (pinkmonkey.com). According to the ... my uncle's bed. Assume a virtue if you have not Refrain and that shall lend a kind of easiness to the next abstinence," (III. iv. 180-188). Additionally, the Ghost is indirectly related to the theme of Hamlet's procrastination, which is considered his chief weakness. This weakness was copied ... about so...

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... the two continuously and causes one to question if he has truly become mad or if he has a well-calculated plan "To put an antic disposition on" (I, iv, 171) as he tells Horatio and Marcellus early on in the play. The first signs of Hamlet's possible madness come from his behavior towards Ophelia. In a ... acts violently towards her and threatens, "You go not till I set you up a glass where you may see the inmost part of you." (III, iv, 18-19) Gertrude fears for her life and believes that Hamlet has come to murder her. In this scene he seems to reveal all the torment and dark ... He horri...

• Word Count: 1236
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School