ipl-logo

Hamlet Act 4 Scene 5

441 Words2 Pages

The word choice that Claudius uses in Act 4 Scene 5 impacts the actions and behavior of the character as well as the theme. Throughout the lines of Claudius, he keeps saying nice words to her such as "Pretty Ophelia--" (iv.v.60) and "pretty lady" (iv.v.45) in order to not irk her anymore. When Claudius speaks, he talks to Ophelia in a gentle and careful manner. Ophelia has already gone mad so if Claudius speaks to her in a grouchy and threatening tone, she would ultimately go insane.
As Claudius starts his monologue, he says "this is the poison of deep grief" (iv.v.80). Shakespeare uses imagery to paint a picture in our minds saying that grief is poison. Claudius feels sorry for Ophelia as she has been poisoned with all of her hardships and grief. Poison, usually meaning death, has a negative connotation which affects his actions. In addition, because of his quick and selfish actions, he finds himself guilty and calls himself a "beast"(iv.v.93). Beasts are often described as big, scary, powerful, dangerous, and untamed. Just like how Hamlet was mad in the beginning of the play, Claudius became a beast and did those actions for his own good, not thinking …show more content…

King Claudius mentions, "And wants not buzzers to infect his ear/With pestilent speeches of his father's death," (iv.v.98-99). The word "buzzers" is used to imitate the sound of buzzing. In relation to this passage, the term "buzzers" is being used for whispering informers as the footnote declares. The reason that there are whispering informers is that they are trying to give more information about Polonius’ death to Laertes. As Laertes does not want to be informed with this information, Claudius uses "buzzers" to state that the whispering informers are buzzing with little importance. This affects Claudius's behavior in the play because it reveals that he is worried that Laertes will blame him for his father's death and not listen to anyone

Show More
Related

Essay On Guilt In Fifth Business And Hamlet

1504 Words | 7 Pages

His main goal is to ensure Hamlet’s death, which is motivated by his guilt. He writes a letter to the King of England saying to execute him, which fails. He then persuades Laertes to duel with Hamlet by feeding him lies. However, guilt brings out the truth in people, and Laertes confesses during battle the truth about Claudius and his plan. Hamlet furiously stabs Claudius to death.

Read More

Summary Of Hamlet Act 4 Scene 4

700 Words | 3 Pages

Act 4 scene 4 sees a much developed character of Hamlet following his introspective and self-loathing characterisation in the earlier scenes. The rash slaughter of Polonius and his reaction following that proved to be a turning point for Hamlet allowing him to embody the conventional trajic hero foreshadowing that his downfall would be partly related to his hubris. In this soliloquy, Shakespeare harnesses Hamlet's language to convey the character's pivotal position between the changing world and ideas about revenge and honour and his conflict within himself about carrying out revenge and complications surrounding taking lives to further one's cause. Religious implications are also mentioned as Hamlet's own Christianity plays a major role once

Read More

Figurative Language In Hamlet's Soliloquy

741 Words | 3 Pages

Claudius is then compared to the internal organs of slaves and a man without morals, remorse or kindness (Ham.2.2.607-608). The powerful metaphors and adjectives used to describe Claudius not only express Hamlet’s intense contempt and disdain towards him, but also serve to convince Hamlet to commit murder. However, Hamlet depicts himself as a whore, a prostitute, and a swearing kitchen maid (Ham.2.2.614-616), reiterating the notion that he is worthless, as well as weak for expressing his emotions through words rather than actions. The shift from metaphors to similes indicate Hamlet’s failure to move past his cowardice and proceed with an act of revenge that would inflict

Read More

Hamlet Protecting Ophelia Analysis

728 Words | 3 Pages

Hamlet knows he is quick-tempered and dangerous, but takes it a step further by warning them that he is upset over Ophelia dying and will take his anger out on them. Hamlet knew his own inner evils, and distanced himself from her due to

Read More

Depression And Anger In Hamlet

948 Words | 4 Pages

King Hamlet loved Gertrude with all his heart that he “might not beteem the winds of heaven visit her face too roughly” this represents true unforgettable love. Hamlet is exasperated about his mother’s hasty marriage that he claims a “beast that wants discourse of reason would have mourned longer”. Gertrude’s hasty marriage with Claudius seems to Hamlet as done with “wicked speed to post with such dexterity to incestous sheets” showing Hamlet is disgusted with this relationship and aggressively disapproves to this action. Further into the play Act 3 Scene 2, Hamlet is having a conservation with Ophelia when he mentions “look you how cheerfully my mother looks, and my father died within two hours” showing anger towards the happiness of his mother. Throughout the play Hamlet uncovers horrible deeds his uncle has committed, which were “Remorseless, Treacherous, lecherous”.

Read More

Juxtaposition In Hamlet

1275 Words | 6 Pages

When Hamlet acts crazy, it is for a purpose, perhaps to hide his plans to kill Claudius.

Read More

Examples Of Insanity In Hamlet

1154 Words | 5 Pages

When Ophelia returns all his letters and gifts he tells her that he has never loved her and that she should “get thyself to a nunnery.” This is one example how his mood changes throughout the play. Then after all this her father, Polinous, is murdered by Hamlet. The Hamlet is sent away to England All of these actions result in her feeling such stress that she becomes insane in the end.

Read More

Claudius Deceiving Character Analysis

1517 Words | 7 Pages

Claudius schemes and manipulates many people for many different reasons whether for his personal protection, sparing someone’s feelings, or to carry out a crime. This motives affect other characters causing them to do things that

Read More

Hamlet Act 3 Scene 3

339 Words | 2 Pages

Reading scene three of Act I, I begin to understand how the other characters feel about Hamlet. Through Ophelia’s and her father Polonius’s conversation I learn that not everyone thinks Hamlet is as wholesome as others do. Polonius insists that “Tend’ring it thus you’ll tender me a fool (Line 109 Page 23).” I wasn't entirely sure why Polonius disliked Hamlet until he went on to say, “Do not believe his vows for they are brokers, not of that dye, which their investments show, but mere implorators of unholy suits, breathing like sanctified of pious bonds (Lines 127-130 Page 23).” I then began to question what Hamlet did for the councillor of the king to say such harsh things about him.

Read More

Examples Of Spying In Hamlet

668 Words | 3 Pages

Claudius’s distrusting nature is first revealed to us because he believes there has to be a bigger reason for Hamlet’s behavior, rather than

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

The Importance Of Redemption In Hamlet

1386 Words | 6 Pages

Laertes is the son of Polonius, who is mistakenly murdered by Hamlet. Laertes goes away to school in France, only to be told that his father was murdered and there was no ceremony. Subsequently, that fueled Laertes’ core issue, the fear of betrayal. He feared that Claudius killed his father because Polonius was close to Claudius; he is the King’s advisor. Laertes’ quest for redemption is to kill Hamlet.

Read More

Hamlet Persuasive Essay

584 Words | 3 Pages

As revenge begins to spread its poison, Hamlet begins to alienate his loved ones. The moment when Hamlet and Ophelia speak to each other and she hands over the letters to Hamlet while being watched by Claudius and Polonius. Hamlet starts to alienate his loved one as he believe they will betray his trust. At this point, Hamlet pushes away the only character that he had any affection by calling her a “bawd” and tells “I loved you not”. It highlights that Hamlet has no room for reason

Read More

How Is Hamlet Mad

1856 Words | 8 Pages

It was also very much clear he was not mad that he could not forget his love for "Ophelia"till last. When his be loved"Ophelia",who was the part and parcel and apple of eye for him,she was on death-bed,and when,all of sudden,she died,he felt the severe pain in his heart,his life was jolted. He became the victim of internal injuries,which were unexpressable and un-bearable,but faced that lethel shock boldly and participated in the funeral procession of his beloved. His normality was graphic,when he uttered the dialouges,at the burial ceremony of "Ophelia", Brother of ophelia said, "I love you ophelia" but,Hamlet reaplied splendidly that: "I love her more than 40 thousand brothers". It shows that he is performing the role of mad one .

Read More

Hamlet Act 3 Scene 1

200 Words | 1 Pages

In Act III, Scene 1 of William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, Shakespeare suggests that when given the option between life and death, individuals often choose life because committing suicide is not a resolution to life’s troubles. He develops this argument through Hamlet’s Soliloquy in which Hamlet contemplates whether or not he should commit suicide after learning that his uncle murdered his father. In his soliloquy, Hamlet compares death to sleep and the afterlife to dreaming. Hamlet claims that sleeping and dreaming are the resolutions to ending a person’s troubles. However, he mentions that there is no way to know that after death, those troubles are actually resolved.

Read More

More about Hamlet Act 4 Scene 5

Related Topics

Open Document