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Wealth Inequality In Hamlet

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Heirs to the Wal-Mart fortune, the few living members of the Walton family are worth approximately 150 billion dollars, making them one of the wealthiest families in the world. While the vast majority of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, top-heavy income distribution continuously pads the fortunes of the top one percent. Dynastic wealth, such as that of the Waltons, exemplifies the constant struggle between the working class and the capitalist class. German-born philosopher, Karl Marx demonstrates the concept of wealth inequality through Marxist theory in which “Marxist analysis of human events and productions focuses on relationships among socioeconomic classes” (Tyson 52). A central concept within Marxism, classism, illustrates the …show more content…

Immediately after Hamlet murders Polonius, the King dispatches Rosencrantz to find Polonius' corpse. Rosencrantz succeeds in finding Hamlet and asks for the location of the carcass when Hamlet questions Rosencrantz, "besides, to be demanded of a sponge, what replication should be made by the son of a king?" (Shakespeare 4.2.12-13). Hamlet, as a member of the ruling class, has neither the obligation nor the desire to treat Rosencrantz with respect. He is able to speak with condescension to the working class inconsequentially, and the victim must tolerate the royal’s insults. Later, in 5.2, Hamlet explains how he returns from his journey to England and has Rosencrantz and Guildenstern killed. Hamlet justifies to Horatio that "they are not near my conscience… 'tis dangerous when the baser nature comes between the pass and fell incensed points of mighty opposites" (Shakespeare 5.2.65-69). Hamlet's reaction to condemning Rosencrantz and Guildenstern epitomizes the superiority of the bourgeoisie over the proletariat. The comedic duo were simply submitting to the will of their King in escorting Hamlet to England. Yet, they are needlessly killed off and had no other options but to die at the hands of their King or at the hands of the

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and Rosencrantz wonders “How can that be, when you have the voice of the king himself for your succession in Denmark?” (2.3. 337 -341). On the other hand, the way she treated Guildenstern in the scene with suspicion was because of the ghost of his father appearing to him and revealing his killer. The prince was aware that Guildenstern was a spy for Claudius and when she says she has been send by his mother the queen “ The queen, your mother, in most great affliction of spirit, hath sent me to you.” Hamlet replies “You are welcome” using a puppet to mock her, Guildenstern replies “Nay, good my lord, this courtesy is not of the right breed.

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Karl Marx, explains ideology in terms of class. The inequality or discrimination is created between workers (proletariat) and owners (bourgeoisie) ( Steckley

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Hamlet stabs Polonius through the curtain in the Queen’s room, thinking that was stabbing Claudius. He did not know who he was stabbing because the curtain was in the way. In the film, the curtain is gigantic, so Hamlet cannot tell exactly where Polonius is. He manages to hit Polonius, and the sword is showed moving up and down as Polonius is dying. The murder of Polonius shows Gertrude that her son is truly insane because Hamlet murdered Polonius in cold

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Marxist theory aimed to examine capitalism's trends, workers' liberation, and the potential for revolution through class

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This quote is important because he seemed totally happy talking to his childhood friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern but then he seemed pretty quickly. He began to take severe shots at the people of Denmark by basically calling them fake and suck ups. He says they wouldn’t even give Claudius the time of day when Hamlet was King but as soon as King

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Turning now to the absurd world of the two plays. To begin with, Hamlet finds himself in a world of actors where no one is who they seem. Claudius is playing the role of the king though his betrayal would suggest he is not meant to be king. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are playing the role of Hamlet 's friends while secretly working for Claudius. Even fair Ophelia, who Hamlet thought honest deceives him in Act 3 scene 1.

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There are people who work 40 hours a week and are still in poverty; this is a highly prominent issue. The uneven distribution of wealth, known as wealth inequality, is a problem that plagues not only America but also the world. With wealth inequality, there are two main issues and one solution to those issues. The problems are that the wealth in America is unevenly distributed and there people in America who work 40 hours a week and still have very little money. Wealth inequality is the root of all problems faced in America.

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Marxist lens came from the theory of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, where they both believed that “the working class were deprived of fair share by the higher rank” (Willette, 2010). From the famous play Hamlet, of William Shakespeare, that was published in 1603, it focuses more on social barriers between ranks. Social ranks is so important during the time period Shakespeare wrote Hamlet, that the whole play is based on how higher ranks abuses their power and were treated a lot better than the lower ranks. Through the vision of Marxist critical lens in Hamlet, an observer were able to see the strong boundary between the different social classes in the story. In Act 2 scene 2 from the book, showcases one example of viewing through the lens of

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Plus Claudius continues to see if he can find out what is causing his madness. In addition,when Hamlet’s deceitful friends look for Polonius’s body and asks Hamlet where it is,Hamlet said,”You sir are a sponge. Yes,sir,a sponge that soaks up the king’s approval,his rewards,and his decisions”(Shakespeare 218-219). This behavior showed disloyalty and not telling the truth. When they look for the old man’s corpse and they go to Hamlet he tells them to go to his uncle to serve as slaves who will be paid instead of working for Hamlet to just serve him for friendship.

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Here Hamlet is seen discussing how he feels about his mother and uncle’s immorality by getting married after his father was only gone for a month. Later in the play, Hamlet still has these same good qualities, but with more bad and unredeemable qualities. He begins to turn cruel toward people in his life who care about him, like his mother and Ophelia. He also arranges the murder of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern without even the slightest apology. Hamlet tells Horatio in 5.2.45-47: “He should those bearers put to sudden death, Not shriving time allowed.”

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Hamlet: The Tragedy of Female Oppression Feminism has erupted over the past century. The theme of patriarchy has ruled over women for centuries. With the uprising of the critique of patriarchy, more feminists have analyzed Shakespeare’s literary works as in favor of the male gender roles. In Act 1 scene 3, the station of Polonius and Laertes reveals their patriarchal position over Ophelia by constructing advices that molds their expectations of her and degrading her in ways that exemplify the oppression of women during the 1600’s.

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Marxism is defined by the Merriam Webster dictionary as ‘’the political, economic, and social theories of Karl Marx including the belief that the struggle between social classes

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Marx believed that the class struggle forced social change. Marx’s theory is based on a class system

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Holland Arrowsmith explains Marxism as a term which refers to “a hugely diverse set of social, economic, philosophical, historical and cultural theories”. Several theories such as social, economical, political and critical theories have been derived from Marxism philosophy. Marxism advocates equality amongst the class structure of society. Marxism is divided into two fundamental classes. According to Marx there are only two classes which exist: Bourgeoisie, which means powerful or dominant class and Proletariat, which means the peasant or working classes.

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This theory is based on the principles that the value of man is based on the forced job or potential job; economy as a factor that determines the action of society; the struggle of social classes are the construct of its history; it is also taken into consideration the proletariat and the bourgeois, among others. Marxism is the sign of the struggle for a balance between the oppressed and the upper class to create a better world for

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