William Shakespeare's Hamlet Essay

There had been many sightings of the late king outside the palace gates. Some of the guards told Hamlet about it, and Hamlet wanted to see the ghost for himself. Hamlet stayed outside the palace gates with the guards, as the Ghost always came at a certain time. When the time has come, the ghost shows up, and Hamlet chases the ghost into the woods. The ghost would not speak to anyone except for Hamlet. Hamlet and ghost discuss Hamlet’s father’s death. The ghost informs Hamlet that his father was murdered by Claudius. Claudius, who was jealous of Hamlet’s father for being the king, waited for him to take a nap, and then poured some poison into his ear. Claudius witnessed his own brother’s death. At first, Hamlet does not know if this ghost is the devil in disguise, but what he

William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” is a play illustrating a prince seeking revenge for his father tragic death. Hamlet, the prince, is left clueless about who has killed his father until some night watcher gives him some news about a ghost that looks like his dead father. Hamlet decides to go see the ghost for himself and is shocked with what the ghost has said to him. The murder of his father was not an accidental snake bite, but instead Hamlet’s father was the murdered by his uncle, Claudius, the new king of Denmark. Hamlet becomes angry at Claudius for killing his father and is also angry at his mother, Gertrude, for betraying his father and marrying Claudius. Hamlet begins to act insane because he wants to distract the people around him so he can avenge his father’s death.

William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Hamlet relays Hamlet’s quest to avenge the murder of his father, the king of Denmark. The late King Hamlet was murdered by his brother, Claudius, who took the throne and Hamlet’s mother Gertrude for himself. Hamlet is beseeched by the ghost of his father to take vengeance upon Claudius; while he swears to do so, the prince inexplicably delays killing Claudius for months on end. Hamlet’s feeble attempt to first confirm his uncle’s guilt with a play that recounts the murder and his botched excuses for not killing Claudius when the opportunity arises serve as testimony to Hamlet’s true self. Hamlet is riddled with doubt towards the validity of the ghost and his own ability to carry out the act necessary to

Hamlet is an interesting character who is mourning the recent death of his father, as well as the recent marriage of his mother to his uncle. So, in his grieving mind, when Hamlet hears news that some guards have seen the ghost of his father, he curiously investigates with them. To his dismay, the news is true, and Hamlet confronts his fathers ghost, who claims he was murdered by his own brother and asks Hamlet to avenge his murder. After calming down, Hamlet reasonably thinks that the ghost could be an evil spirit, so he sets up a test to prevent himself from blindly killing an innocent man. He sets up a play that mimics the murder of a powerful monarch in a way similar to the details of his father's death. Upon viewing the play, the king stands up and yells to stop the play and leaves quickly. Hamlet accomplishes his goal of finding out the truth without raising flags about him knowing the truth. Unfortunately Claudius suspects him after some questionable events and Claudius orders a try on his life. Claudius sends Hamlet to England with orders in a letter for the King to execute him stating “The present death of Hamlet. Do it England; For like the hectic in my blood he rages, And thou must cure me.” (4,3,69-71). When discovered by Hamlet in a passionate rage he replaces the letters with ones demanding his school friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, to be executed in his place. Condemning men oblivious to their transgressions to death, a casualty of innocence that

The reader sees how much Hamlet's mental state has deteriorated. The Author of “Madness and Insanity in Shakespeare's Hamlet - Madness and Hamlet” holds the opinion on Hamlet that “When he murders Polonius, thinking that he is Claudius, he does not react to his actions in the manner in which a sane person would.” By this point, Hamlet is most assuredly mad. He shows no remorse for the killing of a who would have been his father in law. Hamlet has developed dementia at this point. The reader sees this from how Hamlet can see the ghost, but cannot be seen by Gertrude. It is also notable what the ghost says to Hamlet. “Don’t forget. I’ve come to sharpen your somewhat dull appetite for revenge. But look, your mother is in shock. Oh, keep her struggling soul from being overwhelmed by horrid visions. The imagination works strongest in those with the weakest bodies. Talk to her, Hamlet.” The ghost could also be alluding to Hamlet in how he may be hallucinating, a major symptom of

The ghost of Hamlet Sr. plays a large part in the formation of Hamlet’s insanity. Towards the start of the play the ghost of Hamlet Sr. makes its presence known to Hamlet and some other characters. “I’ll call thee “Hamlet,” “King,” “Father,” “Royal Dane.”…tell Why thy canonized bones…Hath opened his ponderous and marble jaws To cast thee up again” (Shakespeare 28). Hamlet recognized his father in his ghost form, and thus proves that Hamlet does in fact see the ghost of his father. Through his father’s ghost, Hamlet learns of his father’s death as well as the fact that his father suffers in the afterlife during the day. “I am thy father’s spirit, Doomed for a certain term to walk the night And for the day confined to fast in fires” (Shakespeare 31). These facts only add to the hatred that Hamlet feels towards Claudius which came about because his mother married Claudius too early for Hamlet’s liking. Later on in the play, Hamlet confronts his mother and sees the ghost again. The ghost of Hamlet sr. comes to Hamlet Jr. to remind Hamlet Jr. that he has instructions not to physically harm his mother, Gertrude. “The ghost reminds Hamlet that Hamlet is to leave the judgment of Gertrude to God and not to harm her. Hamlet tries to convince Gertrude that the ghost is real, but fails” (Hamlet). To cope with the loss of his father, Hamlet has created a new version on Hamlet Sr. to help with his grieving and to help guide him. He

Hamlet has a visit from his father’s ghost and is told that his death was brought about by murder, the person doing so being Claudius. Hamlet is told by his ghostly father figure to avenge his death and kill Claudius, a task Hamlet would prove is more complicated than it would appear. Like Hamlet, Claudius is too proving to be his own worst enemy, struggling with hiding the guilt from killing his own brother. This drives Claudius away from others, becoming more and more suspicious of all those around him.

As Ahmed Al-Ali writes, “Gertrude’s most boisterous critic is but her own very son. Hamlet’s contempt of his mother’s conduct in her hasty marriage is emphasized even before he learns of his father’s unlawful murder” (Hussein Al-Ali). Hamlet expresses his haste for his mother in a soliloquy saying, “But two months dead---nay, not so much, not two. So excellent a king, that was to this...As if increase of appetite had grown…(Let me not think on‘t: frailty, thy name is woman!)” (Shakespeare, 16). Two months following the death of Hamlet’s father, King Hamlet, his mother, Gertrude, decides to marry King Hamlet’s brother, Claudius. At this stage in the play, Hamlet does not know that Claudius murdered his father. Therefore, Hamlet’s anger stems from the unloyal actions of his mother. Hamlet’s anger leads him to become jealous of his mother’s relationship, and even consider taking his own life. Due to Gertrude’s action, Hamlet spends a majority of the play contemplating revenge on her and Claudius, conveying revenge as one of the major themes of the play. While Claudius hurts Hamlet by murdering his father, Gertrude’s lack of sorrow over King Hamlet’s death and her tendency to move on quickly to another husband leads Hamlet to believe Gertrude does not love his father, and does not love him.

William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”, reveals to the reader that as the events of the play progresses, Hamlet’s craziness is not an act. Hamlet is visited by the ghost of his father, in which he tells Hamlet that Claudius murdered him by pouring poison into his ear. He is torn when he hears this and goes crazy wanting to pursue revenge on Claudius. The characters question Hamlet’s behavior and the reason for his actions. Hamlet confronts his mother and accidentally kills Polonius, who is hiding behind the curtain. Since Hamlet killed Laertes’ father, Claudius is able to convince Laertes to kill Hamlet by a poisoned sword in a duel. Not only does Hamlet stab the King with the poisoned sword, he forces him to drink from the poisoned cup too. Shakespeare formed the character of Hamlet into a crazy, mad, and furious character, taking a toll on all

Shakespeare recounts the story of Prince Hamlet and his uncle, Claudius. Claudius murders his brother, King Hamlet, of Denmark, taking over the throne, and then marrying his brother’s widow, Queen Gertrude. Prince Hamlet is unaware of the assassination of his father until he sees his father’s ghost, who tells him what has happened and asks Hamlet to avenge his death. Hamlet’s dilemma begins with a perplexing question: Is this ghost the spirit of his father or just a devil that desires to make him vicious? To answer this, Hamlet decides to celebrate the anniversary of the marriage of his uncle and his mother with a celebration that includes a play prepared by Hamlet, to tell the story of the betrayal narrated by the ghost. Claudius’ facial expressions are monitored by Hamlet and his friend Horatio. Claudius becomes nervous when he sees the play and leaves the celebration. Hamlet becomes sure that the ghost was the spirit of his father and that his story was correct, and decides to take revenge on his uncle. He follows his uncle with the intention of killing him, but finds Claudius asking for forgiveness in the church. Hamlet postpones the killing because he thinks that if he kills him at that time, Claudius will go to heaven. Later, Ophelia, Hamlet’s beloved, becomes despondent and drowns herself, because Hamlet has killed her father Polonius. Polonius, the Lord Chamberlain, was hiding behind curtains

His wife, Gertrude, married the King’s brother Claudius within weeks after the King’s death. Prince Hamlet, his son, returns from school for the funeral and wedding and the coronation of his uncle. He learns that the castle guards have seen his father’s ghost. Hamlet approaches the ghost who tells him that Claudius murdered him by pouring poison into his ear when he was sleeping. The ghost tells hamlet he wants him to avenge his death, but wants Prince Hamlet to leave his mother out of it because she's innocent. Hamlet, who is already upset by other events in his life is afraid to take the word of a ghost because he might be the devil in disguise asking him to commit a mortal sin so he can steal his soul. Hamlet becomes paranoid because his friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern betray him by spying on him for Claudius; he is also extremely upset that his girlfriend Ophelia obeyed her father Polonius’ demand to avoid Hamlet. He's so upset; he contemplates suicide. This is where Hamlet gives the “To be, or not to be?” monologue (Ramsey. D, 1999). With the help of his only true friend Horatio, they sets up a plan to find out if Claudius really did murder his father. He asks a troupe of actors to put on a play re-enacting the murder scene. He knows that Claudius's reaction will reveal the truth and either confirm or contradict what the ghost has told him was true. While the play is going on Claudius becomes enraged and stops the performance (QUICK SUMMAERY, 2014). Hamlet is convinced. Hamlet also accidentally kills Polonius advisor to the King and father of Ophelia and Laertes, Hamlet's friend. In addition to everything, Ophelia has lost her mind and has drowned herself. Laertes returns and wants revenge for his father's and Ophelia's deaths. He and Claudius want Hamlet dead. They plan a fencing competition with hamlet and Laertes. The twist is that Claudius is

Shakespeare’s Hamlet is centered on the character of Hamlet, prince of Denmark, who upon learning of his father’s murder and the usurpation of his position as King of Denmark by his uncle Claudius plots to personally avenge his death. At the beginning of the play, the prince is mourning his late father and fails to come to terms with the remarriage of his recently widowed mother to his recently crowned uncle. Hamlet is informed of the murder of his father by his uncle at the end of the first act, during which the Ghost of his father appears before him, discloses the events of Claudius’ crime and calls for the revenge of his murder. The Ghost’s appeal plays a crucial part in the plot by creating a complication for the main character, which will

Gertrude’s faded memory of her late husband caused her inability to see the ghost. Gertrude did everything in her power to forget the memory of King Hamlet, she remarried as soon after his funeral as possible, also, unlike Hamlet, Gertrude has a very realistic view on life, “Thou know’s ‘tis common; all that lives must die”, Gertrude’s realistic view caused her to move on much quicker than Hamlet. Likewise, her husband, King Claudius, was still facing an internal guilt for murdering his own brother, this guilt caused King Claudius to do everything in his power to forget his brother. Additionally, Gertrude was always very easily influenced by men, she remarried to Claudius very quickly, she then quickly agreed to help Hamlet cover up his madness from Claudius in Act 3 Scene 3, and finally she hastily told Claudius about Hamlet killing Polonius despite promising to keep that secret. Due to Gertrude being so easily influenced, Claudius could easily manipulate her into forgetting about King Hamlet. Finally, Hamlet sees the ghost the first time while he is depressed, and constantly reminiscing about his father. In Act 2, Scene 2 Hamlet questions the ghosts honesty, claiming that perhaps it “May be a devil”, Hamlet will be unable to see the ghost again until he is certain that the ghost is honest, when King Claudius shows his guilt during the play. Despite the play being open to

On a dark night, the deceased king’s shadow walked among the Elsinore castle when spotted by watchmen and scholar, Horatio, who immediately reported to Prince Hamlet who then went looking for him and when he saw the ghost of the king, he told his son that his brother, Claudius, killed him to gain the throne and marry his wife, Gertrude. He promised to avenge his father and delayed entering deep melancholy and madness which was when his uncle and his newly married wife got worried about Hamlet’s behavior, they sent Hamlet’s two friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, to look after him and see what the reason was. When the Lord Chamberlain, Polonius, suggested Hamlet was madly in love with his daughter Ophelia, so Claudius agreed to spy on Hamlet, but found no trace of any love, instead he decided to ban marriages and force Ophelia into nunnery. Then, one night, a group of actors came into Elsinore and Hamlet had the idea of having a play that demonstrates the way he think his father was murdered, and right when the part came up, Claudius left the room. He and Horatio agree that Claudius certainly murdered his father, but when Hamlet went to kill him, Claudius was in prayer which means if he dies he’ll go to heaven, so Hamlet decided to wait, but the king fearing his own safety, ordered Hamlet to England at once! So Hamlet decided to see his mother, and hearing a noise behind the tapestry, he thought it was the king, but ended up killing Polonius, so the king sent him to

Claudius killed his brother and came into Gertrude’s life not to be support system for her, but to eventually become King of Denmark. In the beginning of the play, young Hamlet encounters his father’s ghost. The ghost tells Hamlet that he was murdered while he taking a nap in a nearby orchard by his uncle Claudius. The ghost gets angry and explains, “Ay, that incesturous, that adulterate beast, With witchcraft of his wits, with traitorous gifts--O wicked wit and gifts that have the power So to seduce!-- won to his shameful lust The will of my most seeming virtuous queen” (I.v.42-91). As readers, we can tell that the new King used his sense of charm and cleverness to win over the love of the queen by killing her husband. Later in the play, Hamlet asks some local players to act out a scene that should be well known by one