Literary Themes In Shakespeare's Hamlet

The English Play writer, William Shakespeare had written many well-known pieces of work including Hamlet. Hamlet is known to be one of his most popular works. Hamlet was written in the late 16th Century about the Prince of Denmark. The original title of the work was The Tragedy of Hamlet, now it is referred to as just Hamlet. In Hamlet, William Shakespeare uses the mental state of his characters to prove that not all characters in books have to be one dimensional. Shakespeare’s writing shows that humans are complex, and can have different mental states. Characters throughout the story such as, Hamlet, Gertrude, and Ophelia show their not so stable mental state. First we will analyze Hamlet and talk about Ernest Jones’ Psycho-analytic study of Hamlet. Then we will talk about Ophelia and how the events that happened leading up to her death or suicide played a role into her mental state. Finally we will analyze Gertrude, the Queen’s role in Hamlet, and how she is a mentally weak woman and relies on the men in her life.

Medea, an ancient Greek tragedy was written by Euripides during the classical era. This play focuses on Medea and how she plots the revenge against her unfaithful husband. Jason has left Medea and their children to go marry the princess of Corinth, Glauce. This was Medea’s motivation to kill Glauce and her own children. Similarly, in Hamlet, a tragedy written by William Shakespeare during the post classical era is about Hamlet and his revenge for his father on Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle, that took his father’s life, throne, and wife. Hamlet was motivated to take revenge after seeing the ghost which was his father in Act I Scene V. In both plays, the theme of revenge is present and is represented through the main characters. Medea and Hamlet are both characters who seek revenge on those who betray them to prove their control over their lives and to preserve their honor, which leads to death and suffering. In addition, both characters went mad in order to fulfil their plotted revenge. Also, while Medea successfully took revenge against her husband and lived, Hamlet received the ultimate price of death after his revenge.

The speech of Hamlet “O that this too sullied flesh would melt, … But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue.” (1.2.129-159) is where we can see Hamlet’s sadness towards his mother, Gertrude and his uncle Claudius and feels disappointed about their decision of getting married. Hamlet is seen to be too upset after his father’s death. It’s not even a month has passed and he gets to hear another news about his mother Gertrude and uncle, Claudius getting married. In the beginning of Act 1 Scene 2, King Claudius gives a speech to his courtiers, telling them about his recent marriage to Gertrude, mother of Hamlet and his brother’s widow. Claudius says that he mourns his brother but has chosen to balance Denmark’s mourning with delight of his marriage. He also mentions in his speech that young Fortinbras has written to him, rashly demanding the surrender of the lands King Hamlet won from Fortinbras’s father, and dispatches Cornelius and Voltimand with a message for the King of Norway, Fortinbras’s elderly uncle.

In the play Hamlet there are many themes that were brought to our attention; Madness, Revenge, Mortality, Religion, Incest, Family, and Death. In this essay we will be discussing two of these themes that we found intriguing, the two themes are Death, and Revenge.

“Do it or do not do it – you will regret both” (Kierkegaard 72) is a quote that echoes and expounds upon the famous “To be, or not to be” (Hamlet 3.1.56). The former quote was written by none other than Danish philosopher and poet, Søren Kierkegaard. Born in 1813, Søren Kierkegaard was well acquainted with Shakespeare’s text and often referred to it in his writings. When watching Kenneth Branagh’s unique, unabridged adaptation of Hamlet, it is apparent that Kenneth Branagh was able to capture how similar his Hamlet and Søren are in character while making his mark in cinematography history. The connection between Branagh, Shakespeare, and Kierkegaard goes beyond the setting and 19th century architecture of Branagh’s recreation of Hamlet. Through both Søren and Kenneth’s backstory, choice of esthetics, and their actions in life changing moments the story of Hamlet has proven to be a guide for both of these extraordinary men.

Shakespeare’s use of literary devices supports the development of central ideas throughout the play Hamlet, literary devices such as foil, metaphor and repetition. The use of these literary devices further develops the central ideas of action vs. inaction and revenge.

Shakespeare’s Hamlet is one of the most universally known plays of all time. Primarily, it is known for its strong themes, and its revolutionary storyline, containing subjects never frequently, or openly discussed before in plays of this kind, such as our conscience, spirit, and inner strength.

Laertes cares deeply for Ophelia and warns her to stay away from Hamlet. Laertes does this because he is unsure if Hamlet’s love for Ophelia is genuine. Hamlet has an undying love for Ophelia, but this is unclear until the end of the play to both the characters in the play and the readers. When Hamlet sees that Ophelia has passed on, he confesses his love for her, “forty-thousand brothers could not with all their quantity of love make up my sum” (Act 5, Scene 1, Lines 243-245). Hamlet and Laertes both have an extremely short fuse, which causes them to make foolish and unwise decisions.

Shakespeare’s play Hamlet presents two reoccurring themes that shed light on fear and mortality. Events in the play include murder, eavesdropping, and revenge, which all link to fear as the driving force of the play. Fearful emotions function as a key point to propel the plot to the climax in the play. All the characters at one point in the play produce decisions bases on fear. Madness in the form of insanity is also a question throughout the plot, which forms questions about life and death. Questions about whether life is worth living, and could death be a better choice. Questions are also asked about why fear is such a powerful emotion, and the affects fear has on people is also questions.

Hamlet Motifs Motifs are shown throughout stories themes and ordinary life today. In the play written by William Shakespeare, Hamlet, it tell a story about a young man who has to make choices in his life. These choice he makes leads to the flow of the book in which the themes of tragedy, role of woman, and revenge comes into play. People must make decisions in their own worlds that affect everyone who is involved. To take action or not to take action is truly a thought in many moments throughout generations.

In today’s society, suicide in teenagers and young adults have increased dramatically over the past decades. Those who have attempted or committed suicide have reported of having some kind of mental disorder and most are depressed. Jay Asher’s popular teen novel, 13 Reasons why, tells the story about a teenage girls struggles in school and life and why she decided to end her life. Shakespeare’s tragic play “Hamlet” tells the story of love, revenge and death.

Throughout the story Hamlet’s feelings for Ophelia change a lot. After Ophelia’s death he proclaims his love for her saying, “I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers could not, with all their quantity of love, make up my sum. ”(V.I.270-272). Hamlet is not only proclaiming his love to Ophelia but he’s being very competitive with Laertes he is directing this statement towards Laertes saying Laertes could never love Ophelia as much as he

In Hamlet's third soliloquy, many of his personal thoughts are expressed, while allowing the audience to have more insight into his spinning mind. Hamlet contrasts his character with the player who reads the lines about Hecuba. He appreciates the emotion and grief the player displayed. Hamlet is overwhelmed with his thoughts and feelings during this soliloquy and has many internal struggles with himself. He feels he is a coward and with the information he has been given about his father, he needs to act. Hamlet feels he needs to act like the man his father taught him to be. Furthermore, as the audience we are able to see the dramatic purpose behind this soliloquy. Hamlet’s character is further developed through his deep words, and we are able to hear about what’s to come in the play. Lastly,

Hamlet exhibits the tragedy, the revenge, the madness and the betrayal situations in one’s life. The main character, Hamlet, is the son of the King of Denmark who feels isolated and lonely after his father’s death. Meanwhile, Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius, rules the Kingdom of Denmark, which causes confusion to young Hamlet. Therefore, several tragically events occur in the play which leads to conflicts between different characters. Moreover, Hamlet’s lover, Ophelia is presented to be emotionally controlled by her father, Polonius.

    Within the Shakespearean tragic drama Hamlet there are a number of themes. Literary critics find it difficult to agree on the ranking of the themes. This essay will present the themes as they are illustrated in the play – and let the reader prioritize them.