ipl-logo

Analytical Essay On Family In Hamlet

674 Words3 Pages

Have you ever felt the desire to poison your brother? Murder a nephew? Marry a sister? Welcome to Hamlet, a classic tragedy written by Shakespeare where the significance of family in one’s sanity and reasoning logic is explored in dramaticized detail. Shakespeare makes his viewpoint overwhelmingly clear that he believes a strong family bond is crucial to keep a family sane through the examples of the Polonius and Hamlet families. Throughout the play, one can see Shakespeare develop a pattern of children who possess such a deep love of their family that they are willing to commit horrible acts, such as slaughter others, as the result of someone harming the image of their family.
Shakespeare puts forth the idea that when a family image is disturbed or broken, it leads to the breakdown of the family members; which, in-turn, sparks a chain of events impacting the lives of all those around. The most prime example of a disturbed family image is, of course, that set forth by Claudius and Gertrude; one who killed their brother, and one who married the killer with little grief for the death of their husband. Stemming from the events of his parents is Hamlet’s innate desire to “Revenge his [father’s] foul and most unnatural murder” (26, line 25) after …show more content…

Polonius’s death did not only affect Ophelia, but it also caused Laertes to go mad with revenge, desiring “To cut his [Hamlet’s] throat i’ the church” (109, line 124). Not only does Laertes go mad with a murderous craving for retribution, he also shows mental deterioration of logic in his planning for Hamlet’s demise. Laertes is so obsessed by creating many ways to kill hamlet (with a sword, poison on a sword, poison on a cup, slitting his throat in a church) that he accidentally causes the fatality of Hamlet, himself, Claudius, and

Show More
Related

  • Why Is Revenge Important In Hamlet

    732 Words  | 3 Pages

    Laertes believes Hamlet is to blame not only for his father’s death, but also for Ophelia’s death because the death of her father is ultimately what drove her to killing herself. Once Laertes returns, he asks King Claudius who is responsible for the death of his father and is informed that Hamlet is the one to blame. Ophelia enters and reveals to everyone that she has gone crazy and ends up killing herself. Hamlet returns to Denmark and is surprised to find out that Ophelia has died. Laertes and Hamlet start fighting at her burial service and Hamlet says he wants to be

    Read More

  • Hamlet Act 2 Essay

    542 Words  | 3 Pages

    5) Although it only seems as background information, the fact that Hamlet is a scholar plays a large role in his thinking in act 2. Due to his desire to believe ideas that can be proven through evidence (similar to Horatio's reaction when had not seen the ghost), the questions Hamlet faces are unusual for him because they involve the supernatural, a non scientific phenomenon. This is due to the influence of the Renaissance. In addition, pride in human potential was also a newly introduced principal. When Guildenstern and Rosencrantz visit, it is his education that allowed him to quickly grasp onto the true reason they have visited and it is the influence of the Renaissance on his knowledge that allowed him to display betrayal in unique way.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Unjust Death In Hamlet

    63 Words  | 1 Pages

    The unjust death of a loved one leads to irrational thoughts and actions. In William Shakespeare's, Hamlet, Hamlet is driven insane by the morality of his thoughts and actions after discovering his father was mercilessly killed by his own brother, Claudius. Evidence of this is shown through Hamlet's soliloquy regarding the ghost, his confrontation with Ophelia, and his murder of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern,

    Read More

  • Examples Of Insanity In Hamlet

    1154 Words  | 5 Pages

    Throughout the play Hamlet continues to act insane and even dies with the act continuing. Even after Hamlet gathers all the evidence that proves Claudius is the murder, Hamlet continues to behave in a strange way. When he mistakenly murders Polonius he does not react as a sane person would. This act enrages Laertes, who then wants to avenge his father’s death. Driven to madness by the murder of his father, Laertes, with the help of Claudius conspires to kill Hamlet.

    Read More

  • Family In Hamlet Essay

    796 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Role of Family in Hamlet’s Success in Hamlet Family plays an important role in one’s success. Hamlet by William Shakespeare investigates this idea. This play, published in 1603, tells the story of a prince -- whose father has recently passed away -- who endures several conflicts. Dysfunction that occurs within a family can implicate a character’s success, as explored in Hamlet. This is exhibited through several conflicts with various characters with different family ties.

    Read More

  • The Symbolism Of Gertrude's Honor In Hamlet By William Shakespeare

    314 Words  | 2 Pages

    Also, Hamlet displays his anguish at the Queen for dishonouring his dead father since “Almost as bad, good mother, as killing a king and marrying his brother” (Shakespeare, pg. 121). In this statement, Hamlet expresses how, through the marriage to her husband’s murderer, Gertrude is a symbol of dishonor and damaging her relationship with the prince. Hamlet is disgusted by Gertrude’s actions and recognizes her not as his mother but the queen and wife of Claudius, the murderer. The respect revered by children to their mother is not evident between Hamlet and Gertrude. In Gertrude’s death scene, Hamlet screams to his mother “Wretched Queen, adieu!”

    Read More

  • Essay On Incest In Hamlet

    1425 Words  | 6 Pages

    Hamlet faces many problems in the play. The first problem he faces is King of Denmark which is his father died. In the play, Hamlet suffers from depression. The play Hamlet Is like a love triangle. A big topic in the play is incest, incest is a sexual activity with a close relative or family members.

    Read More

  • What Are The Similarities Between Hamlet And The Great Gatsby

    729 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hamlet, also, could not get over the death of his father. He found out when his father’s ghost came back that his brother, and Hamlet’s uncle, murdered him. He then was willing to do anything possible to get revenge on Claudius, his uncle. Both of

    Read More

  • Examples Of Ophelia's Madness In Hamlet

    798 Words  | 4 Pages

    Hamlet has come to see his mother, Queen Gertrude, and ends up stabbing Lord Polonius, which ultimately leads to his death. Lord Polonius’ final words include “O, I am slain!” Even though this provides a slight amount of comic relief to the reader, it has a reverse effect on Ophelia’s mental state. Her father’s death seems to be the potent punch in this fight because she officially goes mad after this final event. This is apparent in Scene IV Act I, when Laertes has come back to visit his sister and check on her well being.

    Read More

  • Nature Of Cruelty In Hamlet

    887 Words  | 4 Pages

    This amorality stems from his desire to avenge the “rank and gross[ly]” (Shakespeare, 29) cruel actions of his uncle, the King Claudius. In the end however, both Hamlet and Claudius die with little pomp, victims of each other in a cyclical stream of karma. Shakespeare uses this eventuality to denounce the use of cruelty as a means to an end, for it brings nought but meaningless death. The fact that Hamlet becomes so cruel specifically because of Claudius’ treachery is a testament to the relationship between oppressor and oppressed. As Hamlet becomes that which he once hated, Shakespeare emphasizes the fact that the line between victim and oppressor is often more blurred than defined.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Man Vs. Self In Shakespeare's Hamlet

    873 Words  | 4 Pages

    A decision is the thought process of choosing between two or more outcomes that may or may not have a great impact. When thoroughly pondered, living life is fundamentally based on making the best decisions. Whether or not they are great or small decision making is critical. Often times, it is the smallest decisions one can make that impact the even bigger decisions later to come. Starting from the time people wake up in the morning, the will be surrounded by the most basic decisions until they go to sleep that night.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Happiness In Hamlet

    1124 Words  | 5 Pages

    “But o, how bitter a thing it is to look into happiness through another man’s eyes” Hamlet written by William Shakespeare during the Elizabethan age revolves around the setting, time and the nature of its characters. Happiness in Hamlet is a vague theme that involves almost all the characters, who are significantly influenced by the time and place of the play, the sexuality of the characters and also, how they practice deception. The tragedy of Hamlet presents various characters who pursue or compromise their happiness to satisfy their conscience. This is shown through characters such as Hamlet, Claudius and Ophelia. In addition, to how their differences and similarities shape their personalities, which causes them to pursue or compromise their happiness.

    Read More

  • Sympathy For Hamlet Essay

    1039 Words  | 5 Pages

    He feels it has been tainted by this act and is disgusted to be associated with his family. Early on in the play Hamlet also learns that his uncle was responsible for the death of his father, which fills Hamlet with violence and a need for vengeance. Hamlet’s mother remarrying at the rate she did, caused Hamlet to feel distressed and isolated. Not only did she remarry, but she also committed incest in Hamlet’s eyes, which he was appalled by. Watching Hamlet’s life fall apart, is bound to create some type of sympathy for him.

    Read More

  • Hamlet Essay

    177 Words  | 1 Pages

    The theme of revenge of is prevalent in the movie and the paly. In the movie Hamlet the Prince of Denmark seeks out the revenge for his father who was suspected to be murdered. In the conclusion of the movie the Queen of Denmark has been poisoned by her own husband by accident, and the unsuspecting Hamlet seek the treachery. In the movie Hamlet, Hamlet discovers the murderer of his mother and his father while comforting his mother during her final minutes. When revealed the true murder he stabs the current King, his step-father, and proclaims of all to hear “Here, thou incestuous, murderous, damned Dane, Drink off this potion.

    Read More

  • Hamlet: A Psychological Approach In Shakespeare's Hamlet

    1673 Words  | 7 Pages

    The leading force for Hamlet’s behavior to change is his mother marrying her dead husband’s brother two months later. In the play Hamlet states “O God, a beast that wants discourse of reason/ Would have mourned longer-married with my uncle,/ My father’s brother, but no more like my father” ( I.ii.150-152). This explains that Hamlet is frustrated because his mother moved on so fast and it seemed to him that she never really loved King Hamlet. Hamlet also claims that “Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief,/That can denote me truly” ( I.ii.82-83 ). Hamlet is trying to tell his mother Queen Gertrude how he feels after the

    Read More

More about Analytical Essay On Family In Hamlet

Open Document