The beginning of the key scene is important because, Hamlet has been summoned by his mother, who is furious with him for events surrounding the play-within-the-play, in which it has been suggested clearly that Hamlet’s father has been murdered by his brother. Hamlet, however, confronts his mother, still unhappy that she is married to his uncle, Claudius. Polonius has been sent to spy on Hamlet on behalf of Claudius. Hamlet kills Polonius, apparently believing it to be Claudius. Old Hamlet’s ghost appears for the second time to remind Hamlet of his mission of revenge for his father’s murder.
He states ‘tis an unweeded garden’ alluding to the fact that a false king leads to corruption which finally leads to the collapse of the hierarchy. Initially Hamlet has no internal conflict when it comes to avenging his father’s murder, but he is very quickly drawn into contemplation about the world and mortality. Hamlet as a character is enigmatic and it is these aspects of his personality that allow for his pondering of the world. In his Act 3 Scene 3 soliloquy, Hamlet finally reveals to the audience that he is going to honour his fallen father and avenge his death. However, his reasoning behind hesitation is that Claudius will go to heaven with a forgiven soul ‘and so he goes to heaven’.
But he comes back as Sweeney Todd wanting to seek vengeance on the man who sent him away from his family. In Hamlet, Hamlet struggles with his fathers death. He is the only one able to talk to the ghost of his father. Everyone around notices his absent mind, and believes he is crazy, even his own mother, “Alas, he is mad.” (III.iv.106). But later on, we discover Hamlet is not mad, and that it was all just an act.
When Ophelia dies Laertes is Distraught and isn’t afraid to show this whereas Hamlet loved her but his lack emotion left him without a connection to her at the end of the play. Laertes feels so sad from not only his father’s death but then Ophelia dying that breaks down acting without any use of his brain going to the king and accusing without any proof. Hamlet however reacts very different to death for when his fathers is murdered he has “A little more that kin, and less the kind”. This meaning he suspected someone (the king) but didn’t do anything for he
Furthermore, Shakespeare exhibits how Hamlet chose to devise a plan of acting mad, rather than avenging his father’s death immediately, progressing to his demise. On the other hand, Hamlet questions the appearance of his father: “The spirit that I have seen may be the devil”(II.ii.610,611). Consequently, Shakespeare conveys that Hamlet’s indecisiveness about his father’s murderer necessitates him to procrastinate more, and lead further to his death. However, Hamlet accomplishes the opportunity to murder Claudius, yet believes it is not the right time: “Up, sword, and know thou a more horrid hent”(III.iii.91). In fact, he desires that “...his soul may be damned and black as hell”(III.iii.97).
Chart Outlining Incidents of Dramatic Irony Example of Dramatic Irony from Acts I & II|CharactersInvolved|Sympathy? Antipathy?|Reason your sympathies lean as they do|Evidence – Lines and Explanation of Effect| Act1 Sc.5 |Hamlet|Sympathy towards hamlet |Because he figures out including the readers, the truth behind his father’s death. |The Ghost reveals to hamlet that he was murdered and not bit by a snake like everyone in Denmark believes.| |Claudius|Antipathy towards Claudius |Because we begin to hate him when we figured out that he was the one behind his own brother’s murder. |Claudius: “Now Hamlet hear… Now wears his crown”. | End of Act1 Sc.5 |Hamlet |Sympathies with hamlet |Because he has to know put on an act, pretend madness to deceive
The character of Claudius has been developed in this scene. Previously, the only suspicion cast upon Claudius was by Hamlet and the Ghost, who may not sound very convincing because of the fact that the audience may be convinced that the former is deranged and the latter is a malevolent spirit. However, in Act III Scene I it is Claudius himself who reveals that he has a tainted soul in “Is not more ugly to the ting that helps it/ Than is my deed to my most painted word/ O heavy burden!” the use of the visual imagery “harlot’s cheek” and “beautied with plast’ring art” suggests that Claudius has a dark secret. The use of “painted word” suggests that he is lying and “O heavy burden” goes to show that he is distressed by it. Shakespeare’s characterisation of Ophelia as a tragic heroine takes shape from Act III Scene I.
Claudius on the other hand has decided to take his position on the throne by marrying Gertrude in the short time span since the king’s death which is seen as a dishonourable act by Hamlet. We can see that Hamlet does not just want to kill Claudius for his own satisfaction but also for the sake of honour. He wants to redeem his father as he has been told that Claudius has killed him using a cowardly method, the poison in the ear, and during the time in that era it was seen as a cowardly tactic and therefore dishonourable. Laertes also seeks vengeance on Hamlet for his own father as well going as far as doing a dishonourable act of poisoning his sword in what is supposedly a friendly fencing match. Even today honour still matters a great deal, being honest, doing what you believe is right and
Hamlet is a moral and intelligent man, he is aware of what is right and wrong and it is due to this morality that he delays the murder of Claudius and ended the cycle of revenge. After conversing with the ghost of his own father, Hamlet already devises a plan to kill Claudius in order to fulfill the ghost’s wishes to get revenge. However, much time passes throughout the play when Hamlet could have taken his revenge but he has yet to complete the deed. He admits he may have been deceived by the ghost when he says, "The spirit that I have seen / May be a devil, and the devil hath power / T' assume a pleasing shape (II:ii, 627-629). Hamlet delays the murder of his uncle due to the doubt he has in the validity of the information provided by the ghost.
Hamlet even seems to have forgotten the main reason why he is avenging his father’s death. Hamlet makes many decisions from not killing Claudius while he was praying to killing the innocent Polonius, and disobeying his father’s ghost’s instructions by tormenting his mother, and Laertes can be seen as the very opposite of Hamlet because he is everything that Hamlet is not. Hamlet’s delay of vengeance can also be seen as another