The death of one’s father and a ghostly visitation thereafter are events that would challenge the sanity of anyone. The circumstances of King Hamlet’s death render it especially traumatic. The late King seemed to be an idol to his son; Hamlet looked up to him and aspired to have the same qualities. Hamlet doesn't like King Claudius and sees him as a swindling usurper who has stolen not only the dead King’s throne, but Hamlet’s as well(2.4). Hamlet shows Gertrude that she has lowered her standards by marrying Claudius, When he refers to old Hamlet as, “A combination and a form indeed / Where every god did seem to set his seal” (3.4.55-61).
This conflict within Hamlet is further expounded by the possibility that his father was murdered by his uncle, King Cladius. In an attempt to cope with the moral weakness of his mother, Prince Hamlet dispels any sympathetic feelings toward women causing him to ruin his relationship with Ophelia and leaving him lonely. In order to accurately interpret Shakespeare’s usage of a female’s role throughout his play it is imperative to consider the greater source of his ideas-his historical background. The historical period of the Elizabethan era influenced Shakespeare’s negative portrayal of women and thus, he uses the women in his play as tools in unraveling Prince Hamlet. In Hamlet, it can be noted that the patriarchal setup of society mirrors that of England during the Elizabethan era.
This is shown when Mark Antony uses reverse psychology by stating “But Brutus is an honorable man.” His tragic flaw shapes and foreshadows his downfall. Lastly, Brutus can be seen as the tragic hero of the play because his tragic flaw leads to his death and downfall. Brutus experiences the start of his downfall when he sees Caesar’s ghost. The ghost foreshadows his downfall by
Hamlets anger, which stems from his mother marrying Claudius, bears him serious thoughts of suicide. This results in an attempt at a religious and moral sin which shows a weakness in his character. Hamlet shows some moral sense when he decides not to kill himself due to religious beliefs, which is a paradox that leads to Hamlet’s downfall. His statement “thy commandment all alone shall live within the book and volume of my brain” (I.V.102-103) establishes his tragic decision to let nothing stand in the way of his vowed revenge assuring the death of Claudius, a longer life span and the immunity of punishment towards his mother. As act III begins, the reader sees Claudius’s plot against Hamlet progress.
Madness is a vital plot element in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Both young Hamlet and his love Ophelia appear mad throughout the play’s duration, but only Ophelia has a genuine affliction of insanity. Although stricken with grief by his father’s death and the clamorous events that follow, Hamlet does not become truly mad because he is still able to distinguish right form wrong and maneuver logically in his plan to avenge his murdered father. Shakespeare surreptitiously places revelations of Hamlet’s sanity throughout the play. Though his planned maneuver to murder his uncle Claudius, the contrast between his feigned madness and Ophelia’s true madness, and his ability change behavior around different characters that possess his trust, Hamlet’s true, rational condition emerges from beneath his veil of insanity.
Examples of madness would be found through Hamlet’s searches for honesty and his hate towards cheating and deception. This gives us a much stronger understanding of how Hamlet’s main goal throughout the play is a search for truth. Everywhere in the play Hamlet is surrounded by deception and lies, such as Claudius killing his own brother just so he could have the thrown to the kingdom and marry the old kings wife. Following very shortly after the death Gertrude also known as the dead king’s wife and Hamlets mother marries Claudius without any shame and shows no regret or sorrow towards her husband’s death as Claudius. These are examples of madness as these as not things you would expect from normal minded people in today’s society and even back then.
The Ghost, who is all that inspires Hamlet’s respect, a warrior, King, father, thus makes Hamlet promise a burden of shame and guilt if he does not avenge him. After revealing the identity of Claudius, Hamlet acknowledges it is as he expected with his statement “O my prophetic soul!” and the Ghost further turns to another lasting suspicion of Hamlet’s, the involvement of his mother. The Ghost reports that Claudius “won to his shameful lust/ the will of my seeming virtuous queen.” He describes Claudius as giving in to his “lust”, not love, and further contrasts “virtuous” with Hamlet’s earlier speech. Yet, the Ghost doesn’t blame Gertrude and only
Nay it is.” Claudius speaks to Hamlet with warmth, “Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet, /to give these mourning duties to your father.” And yet Hamlet’s responses are icy and abrasive, “a little more than kin and less than kind” Hamlet has no wish to be close with his uncle and sees his relinquishing role as king to be an insult to his father’s memory. Any audience will feel moved by this falling out between two relatives, who in all societies are supposed to be close in relationship. Hence, Shakespeare is beginning his play within the conventions of a tragic landscape by presenting the beginnings of a dysfunctional family. Hamlet’s mother also feels Hamlet’s anger as his responses to her are often and more abrasive. Yet where she differs from Claudius is that she still tries to connect with her son and still cares for him, “Ay, madam, it is common.
She is sad because of Hamlet is mad. she is also so dutiful. Because when his father and his brother know she and Hamlet together. Her brother tell her Hamlet is not good and Hamlet will hurt her and tell her" Perhaps he loves you now. And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch the virtue of his will" "he may not, as unvalu'd persons do, crave for himself, for on his choice depends the safety and the health of the whole state".
Kevin Matte Mrs. Bailey Bean Gr. 11 University English November 16th, 2011 How Hamlet Treats Women In this love story, Hamlet, a main character in the play has dilemmas with his love life. Hamlet is the most controversial characters in this novel, too fully and thoroughly understand his characters feelings and actions the reader must understand his pain. Hamlet is a male character that was not fond of the opposite sex, until his heart was broken. His attitude makes it seem like he finds women untrustworthy and weak.