Beowulf And Hamlet Character Analysis

Throughout the old English poem of Beowulf, Beowulf displayed numerous characteristics and traits that revealed if he was a static or dynamic character. His pride, greed, and courage were consistent throughout the entire story. Therefore, Beowulf manages to stay a static character throughout the heroic poem, that is, a character whose traits and characteristics remain the same throughout the entirety of a story.

Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, begins as an admired and noble young man. However, fate and the turn of events lead the tragic hero the depths of his fortunes. The tragedy starts with the death of the heroic King Hamlet. His brother, Claudius is the successor as King of Denmark and married the protagonist’s mother. When a ghost of the late King Hamlet appears, Hamlet’s downfall begins. The ghost explains to Hamlet that Claudius killed his father “upon my secure hour thy uncle stole with juice of cursed hebona in a vial, and in the porches of my ears did pour the leperous distilment, whose effect holds such an enmity with blood of man” (1001). Hamlet then feels like he must get revenge against Claudius and sets out to plot how it will happen. King Claudius senses something suspicious about Hamlet and sends for Hamlet’s two

In the epic of Beowulf, many circumstances helped shape how he would affect his people and the story, this also has much to do with our very own lives. Who we grow up around and how those influences were, has much to do with how we shaped our personality. The people we sometimes didn't even think would affect us actually were a big impact in us, just how Beowulf was probably changed without even knowing it by some few bystanders. But this perhaps sounds like our life was predetermined, and to some of us it probably was inevitable.

“To be, or not to be, that is the question,” (3.1.64). This famous line in William Shakespeare's Hamlet perfectly encapsulates Hamlet’s internal struggle throughout the play. Hamlet tells the story of the young prince of Denmark and his desire for revenge on the uncle, Claudius, who murdered his father. As is the case in many works of literature, Hamlet changes greatly throughout the play. However, because of his attempts to act insane, it can be difficult to precisely map the changes in Hamlet’s character. By carefully investigating his seven soliloquies, where he is alone and has no need to “put on an antic disposition,” one can understand and interpret how Hamlet’s character develops throughout the play.

Hamlet proves himself a temperamental, twisted character in William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet. The Prince of Denmark conveys his facetious demeanor with his behavior and sharp tongue, especially in scenes with Ophelia and Gertrude. Although Hamlet’s situation is difficult and easily sympathized by viewers, his aggression should ultimately be focused on his murderous uncle.

Hamlet is as much a story of emotional conflict, paranoia, and self-doubt as it is one of revenge and tragedy. The protagonist, Prince Hamlet of Denmark, is instructed by his slain father’s ghost to enact vengeance upon his uncle Claudius, whose treacherous murder of Hamlet’s father gave way to his rise to power. Overcome by anguish and obligation to avenge his father’s death, Hamlet ultimately commits a number of killings throughout the story. However, we are not to view the character Hamlet as a sick individual, but rather one who has been victimized by his own circumstances.

Beowulf is a classic story of a hero. His immense strength allows him to complete impossible deeds, and his honorable personality and strong moral compass means he is focused on helping people, not on winning glory. Beowulf’s strength as a hero beyond physical strength is exemplified by his extreme stubbornness and persistence when faced with a difficult challenge. His battles follow the arc of his character development, from a minor hero to a powerful and loved king with his conquests being so important in the warrior-culture which he lived in.

Strong-hearted and unafraid, Beowulf’s character is the example of the heroism that many of the characters in novels, movies, and even various of real-life people have aimed at achieving. The iconic hero of The Dark Knight (2008), Bruce Wayne, otherwise known as the “Bat Man”, steps up to protect and save the people of Gotham City. The two of these protagonists are very different- but the similarities they share are key when asking the question: “Are they ‘Epic Heroes’?” Beowulf is emphasized as being a loyal, honest, and strong leader.

Although similarities between Hamlet and Beowulf exist, there are a greater number of differences that greatly sets the two characters apart. One of the biggest differences that need to be noted between the two was their motives. Starting with Beowulf, the first thing to note about him is his everlasting desire for glory in battle. Beowulf is characterized as a duty-oriented warrior, driven by nothing but being a dominant and revered hero for everyone to look up to. There is not a perceived sense of love and religion in Beowulf’s character, which leaves him to be a very straight-forward character. Overall, Beowulf’s motive for being a hero was just that: to be considered as a hero among the people.

Beowulf was considered to have “the strength of thirty men in his arms grip” ( Beowulf ll. 379-381); and he handled his battle with his monster head on by believing in himself. He knew his strength and abused it to receive the embrace of the Danes and prove the power of the Geats. He protected the Danes from the harsh reality they were facing and was seen as a hero by all. Hamlet, also seen as a hero by his people, loathed himself; He was a suicidal character “Oh, that this too, too sullied flesh would melt,/Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew,/Or that the Everlasting had not fixed/His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God, God!”( Hamlet 1.2.129-132), but still came to understand that he must deal with life head on. As a response to dealing with life head on, he avenges his father’s death by murdering his uncle Claudius. Although his act of heroism is brought upon us in a darker, brooding setting it is nevertheless an act of heroism. He rids Denmark from the rule of a

“ The play’s the thing Wherein i 'll catch the conscience of the king. (Shakespeare 2.2.566-567) Hamlet knew that his mother and mother were going to be upset but he didn’t care. His uncle was so upset he started yelling in the middle of the play. He told everyone to stop and turn the lights on. He then stormed off to his room. If Hamlet was willing to go this far and not care if his family got hurt, he would not be afraid to hurt anyone else. Hamlet would not let anyone stand in his way when standing up for something he believed in. This shows that Beowulf and Hamlet stand up for what they believe in.

In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Hamlet went through a series of events causing him to be what he is in the play. The character traits are significant to help readers understand who the character is and what that person serves throughout the book. Throughout the play, Hamlet is the protagonist who is trying to get the job done. Readers believe that the qualities of a King are shown in the protagonist of Hamlet. Furthermore, the qualities that Hamlet possesses shows loyalty to all the characters, he is ambitious towards his goals, and he is intelligent.

In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the Danish prince sets out to avenge his father’s assassination at the hands of his uncle Claudius, the new king. At first, Hamlet is fragile because of his father’s sudden death and the following marriage of his mother Gertrude and uncle Claudius. Originally contemplating suicide, Hamlet dissuades himself from doing so on the grounds of it being a sin. Shifting from an internal struggle to an external one after he meets his father’s spirit, he seeks to kill Claudius but cannot due to his religion again. Finally Hamlet thwarts Claudius’ plans to be assassinated in England and returns to Denmark. He finds peace in his Christian faith before dying in

For many of us, our parents are our role models and the people we look up to. They take care of us and know what is best for us. For that reason, we should obey them and listen to their advice. We all have heard that before, but what if that is not true? What if our parent's decisions are not for the best of us? That is what Shakespeare proposes in the play Hamlet. In Shakespeare's Hamlet, parents' flaws lead to the destruction of their loyal children. Ophelia, Laertes, and Hamlet's lives are hijacked by their filial piety.

Hamlet aspires to resolve his father’s murder with “bloody” action (IV.v.69). For that reason, when Hamlet succeeds in impaling his uncle upon the rapier and forcing him to consume the poisoned elixir, “[Shakespeare] has depicted in [Hamlet] a true national hero” (Crawford). According to this belief, as Hamlet has taken the life of the man that killed King Hamlet and was powerless to stop Denmark from falling to Fortinbras, the Danes have been lifted from danger and the prince Hamlet can be deemed a “savior.” Yet, this victory is short lived when compared to the impairment Hamlet has brought his nation and the amount of lives he has spent in his whirlwind of destruction. Crawford’s idealistic view of Hamlet fails to support itself when weighed against the unfortunate truth—Hamlet cannot be savior of Denmark.