On one level it helps develop the reader’s understanding of some of the play’s key themes. The first of these is revenge. At this point in the play, after Hamlet has earlier been told by his father’s ghost that he was murdered by his brother, Hamlet’s uncle Claudius, Hamlet has taken no significant action to claim that revenge the ghost has demanded. He believes he has established grounds for taking the appropriate revenge, yet
This study will examine the most stark contrast between the characters of Oedipus in Sophocles' Oedipus the King and Macbeth in Shakespeare's play of the same name. That contrast is based on the conscious involvement of Macbeth in his own evildoing and doom, and the lack of awareness accompanying Oedipus own evildoing. That is, Macbeth set out deliberately and determinedly to murder for personal ambition and gain, while Oedipus slew his father without knowing who he was, and wed his mother without knowing who she was, thus bringing destruction upon not only his own head but the entire city over which he ruled. It might be argued that Oedipus consciously slew the old man he met on the road, did not have to kill him over a minor traffic dispute, and therefore can be said to have directly participated in the destruction which ultimately resulted from that act. However, again, the difference is that Oedipus acted impulsively in a state of rage, whereas Macbeth committed acts of violence and murder as a result of careful scheming which he determined would result in his own personal gain.
Wherefore should I, Stand in the plague of custom and permit, the curiosity of nations to deprive me,” (Shakespeare 1.2.1-4) so Edmund punish his father for the lack of respect he has gotten over the years. Edmund does get retributive justice catches him at the end when he is killed. Fraser believes that it will not solve anything, anger “can easily serve to perpetuate violence and hatred- one act of violence leading to another in response, which can provoke yet another” (Fraser pg2). Fraser states “Forgiveness is
He even contemplates suicide but his rational mind stops him from doing so. Hamlet is painfully aware that committing suicide will damn his soul to hell. Shortly after, Hamlet meets with the ghost of his father. The ghost of King Hamlet tells Hamlet that Claudius, the brother of King Hamlet, killed him. The ghost asks Hamlet to avenge his “most foul murder.” However, he warns Hamlet not to let revenge consume his mind.
Is Hamlet Insane? The topic of whether Hamlet is insane or not insane has become a very controversial dispute. Some say he Hamlet actually started to progressively become insane as the play went on (thoughts of suicide, etc.) and some say that he just put on an act to gain an opportunity to avenge his father’s death., who was murdered my Claudius, his brother. I believe that Hamlet was completely aware of the words he spoke and the actions he made and acted in a way that could be considered “insane” for vengeance.
The struggle to act upon his father’s murder is a key factor in Hamlet’s disillusionment with the world. The Elizabethan period was a time that demanded revenge and this is even true in our present time to some extent. An eye for an eye approach was considered socially correct which Hamlet initially suggests ‘May sweep to my revenge’. Since Claudius has become the new king, he is considered a false king and imposter to the throne by Hamlet and this leads to the collapse of the natural hierachy that was in place. 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.
Hamlet’s mental state plays a large role as he is severely depressed by the death of his father and also very disturbed by his mother marrying his uncle. At that point Hamlet has two options, to somehow fill the void his father had left, or to slip into madness. The perfect solution came when Hamlet’s father, King Hamlet, appeared to him as a ghost. His dad told him that Claudius killed him and he wanted Hamlet to avenge his death. This was perfect for Hamlet.
It seems that Hamlet does not want to extract revenge and he regrets promising the ghost that he will do so, “O cursed spite,/That ever I was born to set it right! (I.v.28). Hamlet has many opportunities to kill Claudius throughout the course of the play. Hamlet considers killing Claudius while he is confessing his sins. Hamlet then does what he is good at and reconsiders his actions.
To all the house.” Macbeth is paranoid because he has just killed Duncan and thinks someone is going to catch him and find out about his plans. He is frightened and feels that he has done a dreadful thing and knows he cannot change it. When Donalbain says to Macbeth, "Where we are, there's daggers in men's smiles," he means that someone in the castle knows what happened and no one can be trusted. Macbeth has started his evil plan and cannot turn back. In Act 3 Scene 1 Banquo accuses Macbeth of having got the royal title in an unfair way when he says, “Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all, As the weird women promised, and I fear Thou played’st most foully for’t.” Now Banquo had accused Macbeth he felt he had to stop him from talking.
The play was about Iago a character that is jealous of others who are getting what he wants and his plot to have revenge. He messed with innocent bystanders just to get his revenge and in the end he ended up hurt, alone, and more importantly without what he wanted in the first place. Hamlet was based on revenge and betrayal. Hamlet’s father was killed by his brother who went on marring Hamlet’s mother. Hamlet is given this knowledge by his father’s ghost and sets out to have revenge.