ipl-logo

Violence In Hamlet Analysis

1906 Words8 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Analysis of shakespear hamlet

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 Hamlet often asks himself along his great journey of revenge, where many emotional encounters …show more content…

Hamlet could have caused Ophelia emotional agony due to their relationship ending or from killing her beloved father, which leads her to the action of killing Ledford 4 herself. Hamlet seems to be very complex and he may not be as deranged as Shakespeare makes everyone in the play to think he is. When readers think into detail about the way he could have possibly “mentally killed,” Ophelia or directed her to this spot in her life, we realize he is actually quite smart if it is part of his use of violence to seek revenge. Shakespeare constructs Hamlet to be a character that everyone can love and feel sorry for at times because we as readers can relate to him in some aspects. Obviously, Hamlet is one of the readers favorite characters and someone the readers can root for throughout the play. We want Hamlet to get the revenge he desires, however, Claudius does not feel the same way the readers do. Thus, Claudius is conversing with Laertes to produce a plan to end our protagonist Hamlet once and for all. (4.7.107-139) Laertes has agreed to this plan because he wants payback for the death of his father Polonius and sister Ophelia. Meanwhile, Hamlet and Laertes …show more content…

Each act of violence contributes to this literary tragedy by helping the readers understand the risks each person is willing to take just to get the revenge they seek. Shakespeare allows each revenge thirsty character to have personal reasons as to why they want another dead. Without these acts of violence, understanding the true meaning of the play would be difficult for the readers because they would never know how far the characters will go to uphold the morality they feel they deserve. This play has many layers beyond just the text and Shakespeare uses the violent actions to help his readers dig deeper into the storyline. One violent event is used to lead to the next, they are similar to a chain reaction. Additionally, these violent acts are also known to make the play much more compelling to read by providing some conflict to spice up the plot and also, to build up the climax. Without the violent scenes where people die, the play would be dull and there would be no “victories,” for the characters who want revenge. The violent Ledford 6 segments are the way Shakespeare lets the readers know revenge is coming soon or has

Show More
Related

Jimmy Cross The Things They Carried

1357 Words | 6 Pages

Shakespeare questions the value of revenge as a means of finding closure and justice, suggesting that it often leads to more harm than good. To draw a conclusion, the tragedy of revenge in Hamlet is a prominent theme in the play, demonstrating the destructive nature of seeking vengeance. Hamlet’s relentless pursuit of revenge causes internal conflicts, brings about a cycle of violence, and ultimately leads to tragic consequences for himself and people around him. Shakespeare’s exploration of this theme raises profound questions about the nature of revenge and its deeper effects on both individuals and

Read More

Why Is Fortinbras Important In Hamlet

1905 Words | 8 Pages

The drama illustrates the rage for revenge that follows the King's assassination by his brother, who then assumes the throne. The play's main motivator is the idea of payback. Along with Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras also desire justice. Revenge is feeling that exists in people from since they themselves exist, also this psychological feeling is a primitive justice in the absence of norms and laws. People are often blinded by revenge and fail to realize that it causes more harm than good.

Read More

Examples Of Insanity In Hamlet

1154 Words | 5 Pages

Ophelia’s madness is caused by the actions of others in the story. “Madness becomes Ophelia’s last resort, her unconscious revolt. Indeed what else is left for her to do? Offering her an escape, madness provides her with the ability to finally speak her anger and desire” (Dane,412).Her father tells her to stay away from Hamlet, who she has fallen in love with. Hamlet has warned her earlier that whatever he tells her in the future will not be true but, when he tells her he does not intent to be with her it starts the beginning of her madness.

Read More

Hamlet Compare And Contrast Hamlet And Ophelia

932 Words | 4 Pages

Ophelia goes mad throughout the story. She is overwhelmed by the loss of her father and the rejection of Hamlet. Her character is seen spiraling down a dark path that also ends in death. Ophelia is depicted as not having control over her actions; speaking and acting erratically. While Hamlet is speaking erratically and behaving oddly, he still maintains control over his actions and movement throughout the story.

Read More

How Does Fortinbras Get Revenge In Hamlet

2017 Words | 9 Pages

Have you ever been wronged by someone so badly that you felt as though revenge was needed? Perhaps your best friend stole the woman you loved, so you felt that you needed to act and do something to get back at him. Maybe you destroy his life by starting a false rumor about him, or you get in a fight with him and humiliate him. This is just one common example of “revenge” in our everyday lives. In the play Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, there are much more serious things going on, involving death, murder, and wars between nations.

Read More

Claudius Deceiving Character Analysis

1517 Words | 7 Pages

In great literature there are often characters who are deceitful to others to carry out a greater purpose. By doing so the character often compromises relationships with friends and family but it can also compromise the safety of the character and others around them. In the play Hamlet Shakespeare uses Hamlet’s character to elaborate on this situation, Claudius is deceiving his family and friends for a greater purpose which at times seems to do more bad than good. Claudius deceives many people in the tragedy Hamlet.

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

Uncontrolled Emotions In Hamlet

1789 Words | 8 Pages

Nicholas Theilig Mr. Simmons English CP-A lV 3 April 2023 Hamlet’s Emotions Leading Him to Madness William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” is a tragedy that explores the connection between human emotions and motivations, particularly the destructive power of uncontrolled anger and the desire for revenge. The play's main character, Hamlet, serves as an example of how these emotions can lead to madness and bring about tragic consequences, not only for himself but for the other people around him. Hamlet’s descent into madness is a central theme in the play and is a result of his uncontrolled anger and his desire for revenge against his Uncle, Claudius, for the murder of his father. Throughout the play, Hamlet gets consumed by his anger and obsession

Read More

Theme Of Emotion In Hamlet

1228 Words | 5 Pages

The ability for an author, character, or actor to portray certain emotions is key and can potentially change the whole storyline of a play. Shakespeare's writing is no exception and may sometimes leave the reader confused. Throughout the play of Hamlet, there is a constant battle between love and revenge amongst the characters, which causes the reader to vacillate between the idea of which emotion the plot is based around. In the play, the protagonist, Hamlet, is confronted with the problem of his uncle marrying his mother and killing his father. Along the way he continues to contemplate whether or not to kill his uncle, Polonius.

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

Act Of Violence In Hamlet

1438 Words | 6 Pages

William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark has many deaths in it, emphasizing the title’s claim as a tragedy. Most of the deaths in the play can be traced to a certain act of violence. Any given act of violence in this play has a meaning attached to it. The main act of violence that starts the chain of events to bring about the end of the play is when Prince Hamlet stabs Polonius. Polonius was spying on a meeting between Hamlet and the Queen to measure Hamlet’s sanity and to see what Hamlet thought of Claudius and Ophelia when Prince Hamlet killed him.

Read More

Is Hamlet A Coward Analysis

1267 Words | 6 Pages

Hamlet, one of the world’s most popular revenge tragedies, is a play written between 1599 and 1601 by renown playwright William Shakespeare. It tells a story of the royal family of Denmark plagued by corruption and schism. Prince Hamlet, the protagonist, embarks on a journey of incessant brooding and contemplation on whether to avenge his father’s death. In Hamlet’s soliloquy, at the end of Act 2, Scene 2, he asks himself, ‘Am I a coward?’ (II.ii.523) after failing to carry out revenge.

Read More

Madness And Revenge In Hamlet Analysis

425 Words | 2 Pages

Two central ideas of the play are madness and revenge because they are seen multiple times throughout the play. They interact and build on each other. Hamlet is mad because ophelia has passed away , Hamlet wants to fight laertes and Hamlet wants revenge on Claudius . Madness and revenge interacts and build on each other when hamlet wants revenge on Claudius for killing king hamlet. The text states “the ghost commands hamlet to avenge his death let not the royal bed of denmark act 1 scene 5 line 83.

Read More

Values And Beliefs In Shakespeare's Hamlet

1262 Words | 6 Pages

The reader's beliefs of revenge are re-assessed following Hamlets meeting with the ghost of King Hamlet. In Act One scene five, Hamlet states “ o villain, villain, smiling damned villain.” The

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

More about Violence In Hamlet Analysis

Open Document