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Examples Of Rash Action In Hamlet

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A prominent theme is Shakespeare’s Hamlet is the difficulty and uncertainty of action. The play contains many examples of action and contrasts hasty, rash action with planned, conscious action. Claudius’ murder of his brother exemplifies a rash action, because although he attained immediate gratification, he was plagued by guilt and eventually murdered as well. Additionally, Laertes’ desire for quick revenge backfired and contributed to the death of the royal family. While Hamlet’s delay of action may paint him as a more conscientious plotter, he is also guilty of hasty action such as the murder of Polonius. Hamlet’s delay of immediate revenge could be viewed as a lack of dedication, it could also be seen as a wiser and more thoughtful …show more content…

Several characters differ in how they treat their friends. Characters like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are examples of false friendship and manipulation, while Horatio is an example of true friendship and loyalty. In the end, Horatio is praised and asked to share Hamlet’s story, while Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are murdered at Hamlet’s command. This contrast shows how true friendship is invaluable and rewarded while false friendship is a mistake and will be punished. This theme teaches readers how to act towards friends through showing the consequences of …show more content…

The role, as well as the fear, of salvation or damnation affected characters decisions and actions. For example, since the ghost has been sentenced to suffer in purgatory, he wishes that his murderer should suffer the same fate. This affects Hamlet’s decision not to kill Claudius when he was praying. If he had, many deaths could have been prevented, but he wanted to ensure Claudius’ damnation. Additionally, Hamlet’s delay of action was influenced by a fear of damnation and a desire for salvation. If the ghost had been a devil sent to tempt him and play to his angers, he could have damned himself by killed his uncle. While Hamlet dealt with salvation and damnation, Ophelia also experienced issues. After her death, there was debate as to whether or not she should be allowed a Christian burial. As the Priest harshly stated, “She should in ground unsanctified been lodged till the last trumpet” (5.1.29-30). The gravediggers were also under the impression that she was only given a proper burial after being suspected of suicide because of her rank in society. The importance of salvation and fear of damnation influenced many characters and led to new plot

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1364 Words | 6 Pages

Whilst Claudius is praying Hamlet cowers from his decisions and further loses his honor from himself, his revenge is further put on hold. Moreover, the delay in Claudius death leads to Hamlet threatening his own mother as well as the death of Polonius, this uncertainty that developed in Hamlet's mind coupled with a chase for reassurance from the outside world leads to a mass chaos to erupt as an individual can never truly gain complete certainty from the outside while having no certainty within themselves. While Hamlet was uncertain of Claudius going to heaven or hell whilst he was praying that inaction led to the death of Polonius, Hamlet started to act rashly when he did not too, and did not act when he should have. This mental uncertainty that developed within himself ultimately leads to not only his downfall but those around him too; eventually he develops the understanding that certainty must come from

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701 Words | 3 Pages

Then the ghost comes back and reminds hamlet that it is not Gertrude to blame. Because of his actions at the end Gertrude drinks a poisoned glass that was meant for hamlet and dies. Second, I don’t think Ophelia actions are justified either. According Doc C: Ophelia’s father Polonius was killed which really affected her and she became crazy.

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1906 Words | 8 Pages

In William Shakespeare’s well known play Hamlet , there are several acts of violence that often keep the readers on their toes constantly wondering what will happen next. It all begins with the death of King Hamlet and comes to an end with no royal family in control of the castle, Elsinore, in Denmark. Each character has their own unique motive for self gain throughout the play, but Hamlet has a strong drive for the dangerous game of revenge. Hamlet wants to earn justice for his father who had his kingdom, wife, and crown all stolen out from underneath him when his life is innocently taken by his greedy uncle. “To be or not to be?” is the question

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884 Words | 4 Pages

In Shakespeare's “Hamlet”, Laertes is one of Hamlet's greatest foils. Shakespeare uses Hamlet actions to contribute to the play's complexity around revenge and morality, but when compared to Laertes actions it highlights his shortcomings as a character. Laertes' impulsive behavior is the opposite of Hamlet's introspective personality. In the play, both men's fathers were murdered, but only Laertes was eager to take action for revenge. “Hamlet’s desire to avenge his father’s murder is foiled by Laertes’ impulsive attempt to rectify his father’s death” (Barreto).

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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.

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611 Words | 3 Pages

The first instance Hamlet acts impulsive is in Act 3, scene 4. Hamlet heard a noise from behind his mother's curtains, and assumed that Claudius was hiding and listening in on their conversation. The King is usually the only one allowed in the Queen's bedroom, therefore the intruder would have most likely been Claudius. He also figured that this would be a convenient opportunity to kill Claudius because he wasn't sure when he would be able to do it. He could just do it without thinking, and be done with the whole situation.

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576 Words | 3 Pages

From the beginning of the play, Hamlet has experienced a deep sadness resulting from his mother’s hasty marriage and the death of his father. After Hamlet learns about King Hamlet’s true cause of death from the ghost, his sorrow and depression intensify and he develops anger. Hamlet is now experiencing a variety of conflicting emotions that he is forced to keep to himself. Hamlet is also experiencing uncertainty because the ghost of King Hamlet revealed this information to him. Hamlet is unsure if the ghost is truly a devil trying to deceive him during his unstable emotional state.

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1726 Words | 7 Pages

Impulsive Decisions in Hamlet The play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, we see how when characters behave impulsively they make irrational decisions. There are many instances where characters are acting in the heat of the moment throughout the play. The resulting actions they take are not always the best given they are not thought out well. The main protagonist, Hamlet, is going through a grieving period after the death of his father.

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1375 Words | 6 Pages

Throughout the play of Hamlet there are many examples of character’s selfless and selfish love actions, but overall selfish desires of all the characters override their selflessness and this causes many of their deaths. Hamlet makes many decisions during the play out of selfish intentions, such as killing Polonius, acting out of violence, and his rude treatment of people because he can’t get over his mourning for his father’s death. However, Hamlet ends the play by the selfless actions of restoring his father’s name and, “Hamlet manifests this love of honor, order, and country by convincing his last friend in the world, Horatio, to speak to Fortinbras of what has transpired. He restores honor to his father's name and to Elsinore by passing

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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.

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494 Words | 2 Pages

In Act * scene*, Ophelia describes a disheveled Hamlet implying his lack of care of appearance and deep sorrow. From his depression, a second internal conflict arises: fear of doing wrong and going to hell.

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942 Words | 4 Pages

A reoccurring theme in William Shakespeare’s, “Hamlet”, is that one’s desire for revenge will ultimately place one’s life in peril. Shakespeare presents three significant aspects that attribute to the demise of Hamlet on his desire for revenge. First, Hamlet portrays many instances in which he constantly delays in desire for revenge. Second, throughout the novel, Hamlet commits mistakes that unfortunately affect the people closest to him as well as, himself. Lastly, Hamlet is viewed as a “tragic hero” who contains flaws in his personality and in his course of thought that will evidently, lead to his destruction.

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1173 Words | 5 Pages

As Hamlet expresses his anger at his mother, he hears a noise from the tapestry, and, thinking it is a rat, kills Polonius with his sword (3.4.24). Hamlet is overcome with revenge, and becomes easily irritable. As a result, he kills Polonius inadvertently. The fact that revenge overrides any rational instinct in Hamlet reminds students that vengeance causes illogical thinking, and, in turn, serious consequences. Removing Hamlet’s cautionary exemplar would significantly impede a teenager’s apprehension of a critical life lesson.

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261 Words | 2 Pages

Instead of taking action and killing claudius, he questions whether the ghost was actually his father asking to revenge his death or the devil resembling his father to try to tempt him into murder. In No Fear Shakespeare from Sparknotes, Hamlet talks about his doubts to believe the ghost is actually his father or not by saying “May be the devil, and the devil hath power T’ assume a pleasing shape. Yea, and perhaps Out of my weakness and melancholy, As he is very potent with such spirits, Abuses me to damn me (Act 2 Scene 2 Page 24). This shows how Hamlet was indecisive and how the ghost of his father was one of the major reasons why he was indecisive.

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943 Words | 4 Pages

Due to himself being too idealistic and restrained, he does not take decisive actions even after using the planned play to test the Claudius's conscience that could possibly expose himself and left himself in unfavorable circumstances. Hamlet’s inability to act is caused by his overanalysis of the situations that further render him from not carrying out actions in response. If Hamlet is not indecisive, he would not be uncertain about the evidence regarding to his uncle’s crime, he would not be delaying his revenge, he would not be having emotional breakdowns and become a tragic figure. Hamlet’s personality ‘borns’ and develops under his royal position and the growing

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