ipl-logo

Hamlet Act 4 Essay

775 Words4 Pages

The soliloquy in Act 4 Scene 4 of Hamlet by Shakespeare is a crucial part of the play, as Hamlet decides to seek revenge for his father’s death. In this scene, the central theme of revenge is accompanied by themes of religion, decay, and corruption. Hamlet sees Fortinbras’ army and realizes how many men bravely faced death to defend their honor; this enables him to connect to his father’s murder and how he should seek vengeance. The sight of the army not only influences Hamlet’s actions, but also demonstrates the political discourse during the time of the play. These themes of decay and corruption are addressed in the political discourse in this scene along with Hamlet’s use of religion to justify seeking revenge. At this point in the play, …show more content…

This leads him to believe that his God-given reasoning is meant to be used and acted upon, and in this play he uses that reasoning to justify murder. This turning point in the play spurs Hamlet into murdering the king in the following act. The justification of murder through religion reveals the underlying themes of religion and revenge in the text of Hamlet. Hamlet reflects on honor and greatness in this soliloquy. It ties into the theme of revenge, as he thinks his greatness lies in getting revenge for his father being murdered by his uncle. Hamlet reflects that …Rightly to be great Is not to stir without great …show more content…

Hamlet’s focus on the army and their graves reveals his obsession with violence. This obsession shows the underlying themes of corruption and decay that are crucial to understanding the actions of the characters and how Hamlet feels throughout the play. Viewing the soldiers causes Hamlet to come to the realization that he needs to fight for his beliefs and face death like them. Hamlet’s realization is seen when he states “O, from this time forth / My thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth” (4.4.65-66). A constant struggle Hamlet faces in the play is whether or not to act out his vengeance. At this point in the play, Hamlet decides to overcome his internal struggles and seek revenge. This point in this scene is central to the theme represented in this play which is revenge, followed by the underlying theme of decay and

Show More
Related

Jimmy Cross The Things They Carried

1357 Words | 6 Pages

By seeking revenge, Hamlet trapped in a cycle of violence that ultimately destroys the entire Danish court. Revenge results in more revenge, and the play depicts a world where everyone is caught in a web of deceit, betrayal, and death. Furthermore, the tragedy of revenge in Hamlet serves as a critique of the futility of revenge itself. Despite Hamlet’s planning and opportunities for retribution, his actions often result in unintended consequences, leading to more suffering and loss.

Read More

Yoko Ogawa's 'The Diving Pool'

1491 Words | 6 Pages

Hamlet embodies the conflict between medieval notions of blood revenge, and rapidly popularising Renaissance Humanist beliefs which promoted individualism, critical thought and the value of human life. Claudius’ corrupt murder of Hamlet’s father is the catalyst for Hamlet’s vengeful motivations, and his unscrupulousness as a character is reflected in his opening monologue through balanced antithesis, “with one auspicious and one dropping eye, with mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage”. Shakespeare carefully constructs this to intensify Hamlet’s antic disposition as he attempts to reconcile his Renaissance humanist thinking with his duty and adherence to the Medieval code. He then reflects how this corruption catalyses his inner struggle to be an avenging son by personifying the Ghost’s instruction for vengeance as his sole intention; “thy commandment all alone shall live within the book and volume of my brain”. However, he also expresses emotional frustration at being unable to reconcile vengeance with his Humanist beliefs by juxtaposing a hyperbolic assertion of man’s glory over animals, “What a piece of work is a man!

Read More

Examples Of Blizzard Of Death In Hamlet

1124 Words | 5 Pages

Undoubtedly, the blizzard of death is upon him. Hamlet’s first vision of death is that of a rancorous evil which ripped his father away from him without warning, while his second vision is that of a release, an alluring escape from this “rank and gross” world (Shakespeare 1.2). At the root of this incongruous perspective of Hamlet is hidden the mystery which Hamlet cannot seem to solve—that of religion. Hamlet laments that God has “fix'd His canon 'gainst self-slaughter,” but does not understand why God has done this (Shakespeare 1.2). Through his inaction, Hamlet is following more closely his heart than his head, the wit and sharp reason which in some ways characterizes him.

Read More

Hamlet's Diction In Hamlet

1410 Words | 6 Pages

In this soliloquy, Hamlet’s tone changes from being frustrated and irritated to sure, powerful, and bloodthirsty. Hamlet begins speaking in a frustrated manner, beating himself up that although there is so much around him that should motivate him to take revenge against his uncle, he has not. Shakespeare’s diction, such as “dull” (4.4.35) and “beast” (4.4.37) show Hamlet’s disgust with only living like an animal, just sleeping and eating. Hamlet is frustrated since he has been lazy, which was not God’s intention. He cannot even fight for a worthy cause dear to his heart, but Fortinbras’ men die for a meaningless reason.

Read More

Hamlet Movie Vs Play Essay

567 Words | 3 Pages

Hamlet is a powerful story of love, life, revenge, and death. The themes within the play are written to live on for eternity. It is difficult to fully and accurately represent a play as great as this one. The movie that we watched in class did not wholly represent the wonders and the magnitude of the themes within Shakespeare’s work.

Read More

Examples Of Personality Disorder In Hamlet

1598 Words | 7 Pages

The main character of William Shakespeare’s tragedy is actually a confused person that’s stuck between two choices. Some may argue that he feels guilty for his father’s death and so it’s his duty to avenge it. While others may disagree and conclude that he is just a maniac who is both violent and dangerous. Hamlet passes through the lane of hesitancy, where he hesitates to kill King Claudius. As a matter of fact, the main conflict of Hamlet is that he feels both the need to solve the crime and punish the responsible.

Read More

Violence In Hamlet

1505 Words | 7 Pages

Throughout the story, there are many times where violence seems as if it is the only way to solve the problem. The violence is this story is significant to the meaning of the story as a whole because the story starts out with an act of violence, placing the royal family at the funeral of their own king. Suicide, murder, and execution are all forms of violence portrayed in this work. Hamlet himself portrays many different acts of violence in this work such as murder and physical harassment. Violence is a major theme in Hamlet because without it, there would never be an end to the story because no one could ever get the revenge and justice they felt needed.

Read More

Self-Acceptance Of Fate Revealed In Shakespeare's Hamlet

894 Words | 4 Pages

Despite Hamlet’s success with the play, Hamlet’s self-confidence fades and Hamlet once again reveals the vulnerable side of his character. Hamlet contemplates death as he thinks about “The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks/ That flesh is heir to”(683,620. Here, Hamlet displays a regression from his previous resolve to carry out his comprehensive plan to murder Claudius. After Hamlet develops the strength to ignore his instincts and commit

Read More

Living In Action And Interaction In William Shakespeare's Hamlet

679 Words | 3 Pages

Hamlet's speech in act IV, scene IV shows Shakespeare’s view on the clear difference between living in action and living in inaction. Hamlet delivers his thirty-line soliloquy overlooking Fortinbras' impressive army, which is on its way through Denmark to fight for a plot of Polish land. In the speech Hamlet bemoans himself for his lack of action in his plot of revenge for his father’s murder. He compares men who live in action to Gods who openly defy ideas of mortality. Others like him who perpetrate their empty, dull existences through their inaction he sees as no more than animals.

Read More

Examples Of Gertrude's Ambition In Hamlet

1024 Words | 5 Pages

Pilot ID: 19206 Basia Gelner Dr.Clarke Block 7 5/1/23 In Shakespeare's play, Hamlet, the overbearing desire that Hamlet takes on, to avenge the murder of his father, causes Hamlet to act irrational and lead him to a life of tragedy. Throughout the play, Hamlet displays acts of selfishness and neglect, as his intense desire to avenge his father’s death prevents him from seeing other perspectives along with the consequences of his actions. Hamlet’s immense fixation to kill Claudius and bring his father’s spirit to peace, leads him to view his once loved ones, as obstacles in the way of his life mission. As his obsession grows into insanity, the result of his actions ultimately leads to the tragic repercussions for himself and those around him.

Read More

Essay On The Ghost Of Hamlet Sr

596 Words | 3 Pages

Revenge is arguably the most prominent theme in Hamlet. The essence of the play practically revolves around it. The beginning of the play, however, contains the themes of sorrow and anger because of Hamlet Sr 's death and Hamlet’s mother’s rash wedding with his Uncle Claudius. The spirit of Hamlet Sr. first presents the theme of revenge during his second appearance. He presents the secondary themes of death and an afterlife as well when he tells his son the following “And for the day confined to fast in fires, / Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature / are burnt and purged away’’(1.5.15-17).

Read More

Shakespeare Use Of Revenge In Hamlet Research Paper

1305 Words | 6 Pages

By the end of the play, Shakespeare shows how all of the characters attempt to get their revenge and how revenge does not always work out for the best. Hamlet is the main character of the play and it seems as if everything he does is based off his wanting to revenge Claudius for killing

Read More

Morality And Morality In Hamlet

1510 Words | 7 Pages

In the play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, the title character Hamlet’s mind is violently pulled in divergent directions about the morals of murder. He feels an obligation to avenge his father’s death and thinks that it may be excused, since it is a case of “an eye of an eye.” But he is conflicted because the Bible has also taught him that murder is a sin and revenge should be left to God. Hamlet’s struggle to interpret this moral dilemma and his indecision, together are the ultimate cause of all the tragedy in the play; this internal conflict illuminates the meaning of the work as a whole: that murder, greed, and revenge are sins, no matter the reason, and procrastination is very detrimental.

Read More

Hamlet Analytical Essay

200 Words | 1 Pages

William Shakespeare has been recognized as one of the greatest English writer. More so, “Hamlet” has been referred to as one of the most complex and confusing plays that was written by William Shakespeare, however, it is also, one of the most frequently preformed, read, as well as, written about. The audience would, also, refer to Shakespeare “Hamlet” as a revenge tragedy, in which the hero, Hamlet, has discovered that his father has been murdered. Hamlet has no need to search for his father’s killer, for he already knows. Over course of the play, Hamlet character will go into seven different acts of speaking his thoughts out loud.

Read More

Reflection On Hamlet Horatio

1612 Words | 7 Pages

Well in order to answer it, you as a reader have to dig-in and unwind the play thoroughly, page after page to come up with that answer. While reading Hamlet, a reader is taken on a maelstrom of emotions; love, sadness, anger, fury, revenge, empathy, and pity. At the end of this emotional ride, I asked myself: what does every character in the play seems to be motivated by? Revenge? Yes, on the surface, but when digging deeper, every person's action seems to be influenced by the

Read More

More about Hamlet Act 4 Essay

Related Topics

Open Document