Hamlet Essay
Shakespeare’s revenge tragedy, Hamlet (1892) is a prevailing text, which encompasses perennial concerns not only applicable to the elizabethan era, but also to our contemporary society, enabling us as a critical audience to successfully engage with Hamlet as a character. As a result of corruption, Hamlet is perceived as an afflicted character struggling to live in a world of complex appearances and paradoxical actions. Consequently, his overwhelming desire and reason for filial revenge is instigated, reflecting the intricate nature of the human condition in the undertaking of his vengeance. Moreover, these prominent concerns are cohesively resonated throughout the text, thus establishing textual integrity and further heightening the plays enduring effect.
The ghost scene confirms the underlying corruption, which is a reoccurring motif depicted as an infective disease that slowly destroys from within. Through the understanding of the Elizabethan concerns which prominently enhances our interpretation of the play, see a credible reason for Hamlet’s revenge. Immediately it is evident that Old Hamlet was corrupted with poison, portrayed through the powerful degenerative disease imagery, “courses through the natural gates and alleys of the body”. This illustrates corruption as an insidious malady, analogous to Claudius’ poisonous and cunning actions, inevitably contaminating society and the other characters. As the ghost continues his revelation, we sympathise with his suffering, further heightened through the ascending tricolon, “unhouseled, disappointed, unaneled”, portraying the inability of the ghosts to cleanse his sins. Consequently, the ghost is doomed to purgatory for his unjust murder, reflecting the Roman Catholic views of an individual 's need for purification before death. Additionally, Gertrude’s incestuous marriage merely two months after Old Hamlet’s death disrespects the Elizabethan tradition of mourning a deceased king for at least a year and reinforces the decay of values that the ghost demands through the imperative tone, “Let not the royal bed of Denmark be a couch for luxury and damned incest”. Thus, Hamlet 's filial revenge is instigated to restore order in the country from the constant contamination and decay of Claudius ' actions, enhancing our understanding of the play, as we perceive a confirmed reason for the corruption insinuated through the earlier scenes. The underlying corruption of various acts of manipulation and deceit is elucidated through the dichotomy of appearance and reality, further heightening Hamlet’s difficulty of living in a world of uncertainty and distrust and is described by T.S Elliot as, “dominated by an emotion which is inexpressible”. Moreover, Claudius’ embodiment of a Machiavellian nature is revealed, performing fratricide in the hubristic thirst for power. However, his sinister actions are veiled as he presented himself as a compassionate politician and husband, conveyed through his use of parallelisms, “with mirth in funeral and dirge in marriage”. He successfully balances the melancholic events of Old Hamlet’s death with the joy of his incestuous marriage heightening his manipulative manner as he tries to engage and sympathise with the court. Furthermore, Claudius’ usurping of the crown disrupts Elizabethan value of preserving the social hierarchy, ultimately creating a sense of corruption. This is depicted through the metaphor of an, “Unweeded garden, that grows to seed; things that rank and gross in nature”, underlining Denmark’s state of instability in conflict. Ultimately, from the realisation of Claudius’ facade in conjunction with the distortion of Elizabethan values, we see the corruption of Hamlet that leads him to his demise, along with many other innocent characters affected by this contamination. Hamlet’s course of filial revenge is instigated; however, his vengeance is impeded by the resulting corruption of appearances and the overwhelming emotions of his inner turmoil. Hamlet’s filial obligations to avenge his father 's death reflects the Elizabethan and Jacobean values of the need of revenge to restore order in society. Hamlet 's immediate determination in his vengeance is depicted in the hyperbole, “with wings as swift as meditation or the thoughts of love, may sweep to my revenge”, epitomising the loyal and honourable qualities of the hero. However, this is juxtaposed to his inaction due to the …show more content…
Furthermore, the ambiguity of the text invites us as contemporary readers to value different interpretations, allowing it to transcend the barriers of times through the reflection of common values and its
Shakespeare’s revenge tragedy, Hamlet (1892) is a prevailing text, which encompasses perennial concerns not only applicable to the elizabethan era, but also to our contemporary society, enabling us as a critical audience to successfully engage with Hamlet as a character. As a result of corruption, Hamlet is perceived as an afflicted character struggling to live in a world of complex appearances and paradoxical actions. Consequently, his overwhelming desire and reason for filial revenge is instigated, reflecting the intricate nature of the human condition in the undertaking of his vengeance. Moreover, these prominent concerns are cohesively resonated throughout the text, thus establishing textual integrity and further heightening the plays enduring effect.
The ghost scene confirms the underlying corruption, which is a reoccurring motif depicted as an infective disease that slowly destroys from within. Through the understanding of the Elizabethan concerns which prominently enhances our interpretation of the play, see a credible reason for Hamlet’s revenge. Immediately it is evident that Old Hamlet was corrupted with poison, portrayed through the powerful degenerative disease imagery, “courses through the natural gates and alleys of the body”. This illustrates corruption as an insidious malady, analogous to Claudius’ poisonous and cunning actions, inevitably contaminating society and the other characters. As the ghost continues his revelation, we sympathise with his suffering, further heightened through the ascending tricolon, “unhouseled, disappointed, unaneled”, portraying the inability of the ghosts to cleanse his sins. Consequently, the ghost is doomed to purgatory for his unjust murder, reflecting the Roman Catholic views of an individual 's need for purification before death. Additionally, Gertrude’s incestuous marriage merely two months after Old Hamlet’s death disrespects the Elizabethan tradition of mourning a deceased king for at least a year and reinforces the decay of values that the ghost demands through the imperative tone, “Let not the royal bed of Denmark be a couch for luxury and damned incest”. Thus, Hamlet 's filial revenge is instigated to restore order in the country from the constant contamination and decay of Claudius ' actions, enhancing our understanding of the play, as we perceive a confirmed reason for the corruption insinuated through the earlier scenes. The underlying corruption of various acts of manipulation and deceit is elucidated through the dichotomy of appearance and reality, further heightening Hamlet’s difficulty of living in a world of uncertainty and distrust and is described by T.S Elliot as, “dominated by an emotion which is inexpressible”. Moreover, Claudius’ embodiment of a Machiavellian nature is revealed, performing fratricide in the hubristic thirst for power. However, his sinister actions are veiled as he presented himself as a compassionate politician and husband, conveyed through his use of parallelisms, “with mirth in funeral and dirge in marriage”. He successfully balances the melancholic events of Old Hamlet’s death with the joy of his incestuous marriage heightening his manipulative manner as he tries to engage and sympathise with the court. Furthermore, Claudius’ usurping of the crown disrupts Elizabethan value of preserving the social hierarchy, ultimately creating a sense of corruption. This is depicted through the metaphor of an, “Unweeded garden, that grows to seed; things that rank and gross in nature”, underlining Denmark’s state of instability in conflict. Ultimately, from the realisation of Claudius’ facade in conjunction with the distortion of Elizabethan values, we see the corruption of Hamlet that leads him to his demise, along with many other innocent characters affected by this contamination. Hamlet’s course of filial revenge is instigated; however, his vengeance is impeded by the resulting corruption of appearances and the overwhelming emotions of his inner turmoil. Hamlet’s filial obligations to avenge his father 's death reflects the Elizabethan and Jacobean values of the need of revenge to restore order in society. Hamlet 's immediate determination in his vengeance is depicted in the hyperbole, “with wings as swift as meditation or the thoughts of love, may sweep to my revenge”, epitomising the loyal and honourable qualities of the hero. However, this is juxtaposed to his inaction due to the …show more content…
Furthermore, the ambiguity of the text invites us as contemporary readers to value different interpretations, allowing it to transcend the barriers of times through the reflection of common values and its