Hamlet's recent madness has caused many problems around the kingdom. Many of the citizens are pondering on what has caused Hamlet's recent behavior, especially King Claudius. King Claudius has invited Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to the palace, to figure out Hamlet’s recent problems. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are two of Hamlet's close friends. ‘’ Some little time so by your company, to draw him on to pleasures and to gather.’’ (II, ii, 86) Their assignment is to spy on Hamlet and to figure out what's wrong with the prince. Claudius's speech that he gave to Hamlet's two friends proves that Claudius is a clueless, insincere, stepfather.
Claudius is ignorant on the fact why Hamlet is irrational. To begin with, Hamlet received information that has changed his whole perspective on the kingdom and for life. His father's ghost has portrayed information on the corrupted kingdom and King. For example in Act II ‘’ the serpent that sting thy father’s life. Now wears his crown’’ (I, V, 62). King Hamlet has exposed Claudius and his recent rise to power. ‘’Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole, With juice of cursed hebenon 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 That swift as quicksilver it courses through The natural gates and alleys of the body’’(I, V, 64). Therefore, knowing this information has caused Hamlet to go insane, and worse than that, he has nobody to talk to about his recent problems.
In contrast to Horatio’s continual loyalty to Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlet’s childhood friends obtained a false friendship. Instead of caring about the well being of others and what was happening with Hamlet, they were more concerned about their own interest and how to benefit themselves more than anything. With Claudius’s bribery and opportunities, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern strove for benefit and praise. To be able to get all the promised royal advancements, it involves for the gentlemen to have to show complete allegiance to Claudius and turn against Hamlet. It had been accomplished by spying on Hamlet and the attempt to get pieces of evidence that promoted his craziness. However, Hamlet figures out about their betrayal and the artificial friendship. This prevents any information to be released to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as achieved by the dedicated Horatio who has proven the dedication. The idea is noticed when Hamlet says, “If you love me, hold not off” (2.2.214). By saying this, it means that if there is any care about the relationship, honesty would be told no matter the aftereffect. The selfishness of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern had broken Hamlet’s confidence, and resulting in not being able to get the evidence for Claudius. When Rosencrantz
that would stop all the pain and suffering plus all his sorrow and he would be
quick to spot areas which can help him and to exploit them. He is a
He acts irrational only when he is around certain individuals. He acts irrational around Polonius, Claudius, Gertrude Rosencrantz, Guildenstern and Ophelia but remains calm and rational around Horatio, Marcellus, and the players. A big part of the play is when Hamlet lashes out at Ophelia and convinces her he has actually gone mad. “With a look so piteous in purport as if he had been loosed out of hell to speak of horrors...Then he let out a sigh so piteous and profound as it did seem to shatter all his bulk and end his being” (2.1.84-97). This single action brings tremendous tension and makes Polonius immediately believe that Hamlet has gone mad because of his love for his daughter. On the other hand, Hamlet can be rational just as much as a sane person. "Give him heedful note, for I mine eyes will rivet his face, and, after, we will both our judgments join in censure of his seeming” (3.2.83-86). Hamlet tells Horatio to watch Claudius during the play to see if he acts guilty. The fact that he thought this out in such an organized and clear way makes it hard to believe that he is mad because a madman would never be able to think like that. Hamlet also knows how to act properly around the players. An example of this is when he asks, "You could, for a need, study a speech of some dozen or sixteen lines, which I would set down and insert in 't, could you not?” (2.2.540-542). This question is understandable and
King Claudius expresses, “Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Moreover that we much did long to see you, the need we have to use you did provoke our hasty sending.” (2.2.1-4) He addresses them in what is seemingly a sincere manner, proclaiming the supposed yearning he has had. However, these so-called sincere actions towards Hamlet’s childhood friends are just to convince them to take on the role of spying on Hamlet’s actions and reporting them back to Gertrude and Claudius. He continues to mask his true motives by saying, “To draw him on to pleasures and to gather...you may glean..to us unknown, afflicts him thus that, opened, lies within our remedy.” (2.2.15-19) King Claudius’ choice of words convey an inkling to the audience that he cares for Hamlet because of how he expresses his need to find out Hamlet’s condition, and fix it. This also presents Gertrude with the idea that Claudius has Hamlet’s best interests at heart. This, in King Claudius’ favor, solidifies his honorable, yet selfless stature with his contriving
Hamlet’s childhood friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern both try to deceive Hamlet. However, their unskilled uses of dishonesty and disloyalty have resulted in their ironic death. They are introduced in the beginning of Act 2, Scene 2 as Hamlet’s childhood friends who are sent for by King Claudius for their services. When they first meet Hamlet and are asked the reason for their arrival, they answer: “To visit you, my lord, no other occasion” (2.2.78). However, Hamlet has already seen through their attempted act of trying to fool him and then replies: “You were sent/for, and there is a kind of confession in your looks, which/ you modesties have not craft enough
Why Does Hamlet delay so long in achieving his revenge- what is really stopping him? There is an inner battle inside Hamlet that no one knows about, good versus evil, stuck between both worlds. Hamlet is the only one who can decided which world to want to be apart of. Hamlet, the story, reveals that the individual can only find meaning by looking inward and living according to his or her own beliefs and including values. Being and thinking independently is the key to purpose and inner peace. Unfortunately most human beings fail to find this inner peace because of the need conform to the group and act according to the desire of others. Why does is
In the end, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are naively loyal to Hamlet, and this becomes their downfall. They know that Hamlet has killed Polonius, and yet, they take no precautions as they accompany Hamlet to England. Their trust in both Claudius and Hamlet gets them killed. Hamlet’s reveals his mistrust of his schoolmates in a conversation with his mother, and refers to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as, "...my two-school fellows, whom I will trust as adders fanged..."
When we first meet Hamlet, he is a sad, dark, loathsome figure; the loss of his father and the whoring of his mother have upset him indefinitely. Like a ticking time bomb, Hamlet’s noticeable temper reflects the storm of emotions and thoughts brewing in his head, and then like a catalyst, his meeting with the Ghost of King Hamlet brings his anger to a boil. With revenge in mind, Hamlet plans to fake his madness so that he may be free to pursue his father’s killer. Everyone, except his close friend Horatio, seems convinced that he is mad. Claudius however, fearful that someone will discover his evil deed, has also had his perceptions heightened by his guilt and he experiences chronic paranoia throughout the
King Claudius: Both of you, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, go find out what has caused this strange behavior in Hamlet.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern also looked to the King and Queen for approval. They didn't resort to the use of a daughter, but on the use of a close friendship. They used their bond with Hamlet to get information that the Court wanted. Claudius and Gertrude were very convincing in telling Rosencrantz and Guildenstern of how Hamlet was suffering, telling them that "[Their] visitation shall receive such thanks as fits a king's remembrance (P.34)". At first Rosencrantz and Guildenstern weren't too keen on selling out their friend. But instead of standing up to the King and Queen, Guildenstern told them that "we both obey and here give ourselves to be commanded (P.34)". They were more interested in doing what was right in the eyes of the Royal Court than doing what right in their eyes. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern weren't just Hamlet's friends; they were greeted by Hamlet as his "excellent good friends (P.40)". Hamlet viewed them in the same regard as he viewed Horatio, one who Hamlet stayed with and loved all through the play. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern didn't seem to care, and used this trust and love by their friend to please Claudius and Gertrude. This neglect of heart by these two characters was not something that they wanted to do for themselves, but something that they did
Claudius’ manipulation takes advantage of surrounding characters’ affection for Hamlet. Paired with Hamlet’s apparent madness, he easily sways them into doing his bidding by feeding them incorrect information, thus influencing their decisions and actions. While innocent characters like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern believe their duty is to simply diagnose the reason for Hamlet’s madness, Claudius uses their care for Hamlet and blind loyalty to plot Hamlet’s death. This along with several other attempts of spying on and murdering Hamlet eventually lead to the deaths of multiple characters including Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Not only that, but all the while he is attempting to take Hamlet’s life, he is fearing for his own and desperately
1. How much time has passed between Act I and Act II. How do you know?
In the rank sweat of an seamed bed, Stewed up in corruption, honeying and making love
The Nature of Evil in William Shakespeare's Hamlet Works Cited Missing 'Hamlet' is a Shakespearean revenge tragedy, which was a strong, and entertaining form of drama popular in the Elizabethan era during which Shakespeare (1562-1616) lived. ' Hamlet', like many of Shakespeare's plays has been inspired by another famous tragedy, in this case, 'The Spanish Tragedy', a revenge play written by Thomas Kyd. The great political turbulence that was taking place in England with conspiracies against the Queen and those in power could also have prompted Shakespeare to write a play like 'Hamlet'. Though