Themes in Hamlet Essay - 3035 Words

Themes in Hamlet Within the Shakespearean tragic drama Hamlet there are a number of themes. Literary critics find it difficult to agree on the ranking of the themes. This essay will present the themes as they are illustrated in the play – and let the reader prioritize them. Michael Neill in â€Å"None Can Escape Death, the ‘Undiscovered Country’† interprets the main theme of the play as a â€Å"prolonged meditation on death†: How we respond to the ending of Hamlet – both as revenge drama and as psychological study – depends in part on how we respond to [the most important underlying theme] of the play – that is, to Hamlet as a prolonged meditation on death. The play is virtually framed by two encounters with the dead:†¦show more content†¦What is the central, unifying action of Hamlet? Revenge. (43-44) R.A. Foakes in â€Å"The Play’s Courtly Setting† explains the burden of revenge which the protagonist must carry for the duration of the play: Perhaps the most terrible feature of his recognition of corruption everywhere is his recognition of it in himself too; where others deceive he must deceive too, where others act he must put on an antic disposition, where the inmost desires and passions of others must be revealed, so must his own passions be roused. And where there is no legal punishment for his father’s death, he must stoop, driven by the universal wrong, and â€Å"being thus be-netted round with villainies†, to revenge. He must share the corruption of others in spite of his nobility, and recognize in himself the common features, we are arrant knaves all. (53) Marchette Chute in â€Å"The Story Told in Hamlet† describes the opening scene of the drama, which introduces the theme of supernatural influence on the present: The story opens in the cold and dark of a winter night in Denmark, while the guard is being changed on the battlements of the royal castle of Elsinore. For two nights in succession, just as the bell strikes the hour of one, a ghost has appeared on the battlements, a figure dressed in complete armor and with a face like that of the dead king of Denmark, Hamlet’sShow MoreRelatedThe Theme of Hamlet897 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Doe English 2 H April 1, 2015 Hamlet Theme Essay The themes of Appearance vs. Reality are very prominent in the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare. Throught the story many characters act in a deceitful manner in an attempt to seem like an innocent pawn in the game of life, when in reality they are the most corrupt characters in the play. Polonius an excellent example of appearance vs. reality. Throught the story Polonius seems to be a loyal servant to the kingdom, serving the previousRead MoreRevenge Themes in Hamlet1077 Words   |  5 PagesIn the play ‘Hamlet written by William Shakespeare in Elizabethan times, the theme of revenge is a constant throughout the plot. Not only does it underlie almost every scene, but it also has a major effect on the story as a whole. Two of the main revenge plots within the play are Hamlets aim to avenge his father by killing his uncle, the king Claudius, and Laertes aim to avenge the murder of his father by killing Hamlet. These two revenge plots play a major role in presenting to the audie nce theRead MoreTheme Of Revenge In Hamlet792 Words   |  4 PagesShakespeare’s play, Hamlet, the play has a major theme of revenge. Many of the characters in the play are seeking revenge, such as Hamlet, Claudius, and Laertes. Some of the characters are seeking revenge due to their father’s deaths, and others are encouraging someone to seek revenge. 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William Shakespeare uses Hamlet (appx. 1599) as an example of the nature and consequences of sin in the world, which is highlighted by five specific themes; one per each act.  The first act’s theme is the actual â€Å"Fall† itself, while the second’sRead MoreTheme Of Revenge In Hamlet1763 Words   |  8 Pagesindividual who tries to control karma and does not want to wait for the universe to take action. One common theme in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, is revenge. This t ragedy is filled with a variety of emotions, most of which pertaining to vengeance and love. These specific emotions creates a plot device: revenge, which becomes the main ambition to many characters in the play. The main character, Prince Hamlet represents the human race as he is filled with inner conflicts which compel him to seek revenge. PrinceRead MoreTheme Of Acceptance In Hamlet1514 Words   |  7 PagesAcceptance in Hamlet According to American psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, the five common stages of grief include denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance respectively. However, humans are quite fascinating creatures as we might alter the order in which every stage hits us. Nevertheless, one thing is for certain, in every stage of grief of any kind, we must come to terms and accept the cards that are casted in front of us; and it’s entirely up to us how we choose to play them. Read MoreHamlet Theme Of Death1278 Words   |  6 PagesBeyond the Wall of Death (A analysis of the theme of death in Hamlet, Acts 3-5) â€Å"The undiscovered country, from whose bourn No traveller returns, puzzles the will,† (Shakespeare 144 Act 3 scene 1 lines 86-87). The question that still plagues humanity today. What is after death, where do we go? No one of this earth can answer this question. In the play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, the theme of death is one of the main themes of this famous play. The theme of death continues throughout the entireRead MoreHamlet Theme Analysis701 Words   |  3 PagesHamlet is a very complex play where many themes are mixed together at the same time and those themes are essential to the development of the play. The issue of death, both physical and emotional is very common throughout the play. The famous ‘To be or not to be’ soliloquy, where Hamlet not only questions life and death, but many of life’s other uncertainties as well. The most essential theme in Hamlet is revenge. Revenge is a scary emotion, which causes people to act blindly and wit hout any reason