Lack of trust often leads to one’s downfall. This is shown in “Hamlet,” a play by William Shakespeare, and in the short story "To Build a Fire" by Jack London. The main character in each of these works lacks trust and this ultimately leads to their deaths. The conflicts, theme and characterization in these literary works display why trust is needed in everyone’s life. In William Shakespeare's play, the main character, Hamlet finds out his father, the king, was killed by his uncle, Claudius.
Seek it out!” (Act 5 sc 2 lines 342) Hamlet has lost his state of mind through out the play. Hamlet isn’t the type of person to take action as to kill a man, but the madness and unclear head as driven him to kill his many. He is insane and it is represented through the marriage of his mother, the death of Polonius and the death of his mother. Those are three reasons as to why Hamlet is
“Thou poor ghost.” (I, v, 97) Hamlet pities his father, as he was murdered and was not given the chance to pray. This conjures frightening thoughts in his mind, for if he were to be murdered as well, would he be sent to burn in purgatory? Towards the middle of the play, though Hamlet’s thoughts still point towards suicide, he begins to toy with the possibilities of what death could be like. “To die, to sleep; … perchance to dream.” (III, i, 60-65) He may find some comfort in death if death
Every other time the ghost of King Hamlet appeared, another person saw it. The one instance of only Hamlet being able to see the ghost is not significant enough evidence to prove that this instance is a sign of Hamlet’s insanity. It is possible that the ghost made himself seen by the other’s solely because he meant to, and made himself only witnessable in the presence of Gertrude with the intentions of not frightening her. After this scene, Hamlet kills Polonius without knowledge of who the ominous presence was behind the curtains. Hamlet yells, “How now?
The witches give Banquo the prediction of “‘Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none’ ” (Shakespeare 9). The reason to blame the witches is because before this prediction Macbeth and Banquo were best friends. Then when Macbeth becomes king he fears that Banquo will try to kill him because he knows that Banquo’s heirs will some day have the crown. Macbeth no longer trusts Banquo and is driving crazy thinking that his friend will come after just to make sure that Macbeth’s heirs will never get the crown, so Macbeth orders the death of both Banquo and his son to make sure that there is no one else to take the crown away from him. The only reason Banquo is murdered is because Macbeth becomes paranoid after the witches prediction.
Things that appear true and honest may be evil or deceitful in reality. Many of the characters within the play hide behind a mask of falseness: Ophelia, Polonius, and Hamlet. Ophelia tells her father of Hamlet. ``No, my good lord, but, as you did command, I did repel his fetters and denied``(I,ii,105-106). Ophelia was in love with Hamlet but she further reveals that due to Polonius’s orders, she has cut off all contact with Hamlet and has refused his letters.
In Hamlet, Hamlet consistently hesitates on whether or not to act upon his desire for vengeance. He has multiple chances to kill Claudius, but every time he has an opportunity to think about it, he is paralyzed with indecision and ultimately does not act. After Claudius storms out in the middle of the play that Hamlet put on to ascertain his guilt, Hamlet is sure that it is undeniable proof that Claudius indeed murdered the previous king. But when Hamlet goes to kill him, he discovers him on his knees, praying. Hamlet’s inaction here can be attributed to a desire to send Claudius’ soul to hell; something he believes will only happen if he kills the king while he is being sinful, which is indicated by Hamlet’s line “…and am I then revenged to take him in the purging of his soul, when he is fit and seasoned for his passage?
Both Romeo and Juliet have the power to make their own decision. Unfortunately, the characters make a lot of poor choices throughout the play. Romeo chooses to marry Juliet in secret, murder Tybalt and Paris, and in the end, take his own life after seeing Juliet dead. Romeo’s choices not only affect him but also those around him. Throughout the play, we never really see him assume responsibility for any one of his choices.
Hamlet shocked by the murder he had accidentally committed scared him, knowing he is Ophelia’s father. When Rosencrantz and Guildenstern talked to Hamlet to see where Polonius’ body had been placed he refused to tell them. King Claudius sent Hamlet away for his safety but planned for his murder after Hamlet had left. After Hamlet had killed Polonius, Ophelia never recovered from her father’s death. She had now gone mad.
Macbeth is unaware that Malcolm, Macduff and some Scottish English lords have agreed into killing him. Macbeth isn't really concerned about the prophecy. He insures that he cannot be killed by any man born of woman. He soon confronts Macduff, and learns that Macduff was ripped from his mother's side and not born naturally. Thus, all of the mistakes he made from the beginning and not seeing each one he was making, it leads him into death.