Hamlet paper

Hamlet paper

The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, commonly shortened to Hamlet is a play written by poet and playwright William Shakespeare between 1599 and 1601. Hamlet is considered one of Shakespeare’s most influential and popular works of literature. The story of Prince Hamlet of Denmark is a tale of deception, conspiracy, and moral ambiguity. It depicts its titular character, haunted by the past and bounded by the future, as he sets of on a journey of revenge. In true Shakespearean tragedy form, everything that can go wrong goes wrong, bringing to life the adage “before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” In this case, Hamlet’s mission leaves death and its destruction in its wake. The tragedy of Hamlet is, therefore, best told through the tragedies of all the other characters in the play.

Hamlet

Hamlet tells the story of Prince Hamlet of Denmark. He returns home from school, a stranger in his home, following his father’s death. Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius, has taken over the Kingdom and married Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude. Privately, Hamlet mourns his father and expresses his disgust at his mother for marrying Claudius, but does not make his feelings known. One day, Hamlet is visited by a ghost who bears an uncanny resemblance to his father. The ghost claims to be the victim of a murder most foul. The ghost convinces Hamlet that Claudius stole the throne by pouring poison down the King’s ear and stealing the Queen’s heart. Hamlet’s mourning turns to rage, and he begins to plot revenge on Claudius and his conspirators.

Hamlet becomes consumed with indecisiveness as he is faced with multiple dilemmas. He is unsure of what to do, who to trust, and his role in enacting justice. The web of characters in the play complicates Hamlet’s decisions, many of whom possess ulterior motives. He is apprehensive in his relations with family, friends, court counselors, and love interests. The Prince is unsure of how to carry out his revenge, and is filled with endless questions. Hamlet’s famous declaration: “to be or not to be – that is the question: Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer. The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles” exemplifies his anguish, split between thought and action, life and death. In the end, Hamlet’s decisions bear tragic consequences.

The Tragedy of Ophelia

Ophelia’s story is perhaps most tragic. She is torn between her family and her true love. Her father Polonius and brother Laertes attempt to dissuade her from loving Hamlet, claiming that Hamlet does not love her because he is a prince and does not have freewill over whom to marry. They believe that he is more likely to seduce her, than to marry her. This is true, as Hamlet views her as a sexual object and a deceitful lover. With no maternal presence in her life, Ophelia has no way of deciphering her father’s and brother’s true intentions. She chooses her family over Hamlet, and this choice seals her fate. In obedience to her father and brother, Ophelia ceases communication with Hamlet, who, in turn, becomes particularly cruel to her.

As Hamlet feigns madness, the King and Queen, along with Polonius, seek to establish if lovesickness is the cause of Hamlet’s erratic behavior. They eavesdrop on a conversation between Hamlet and Ophelia and witness Hamlet’s nastiness. He tells Ophelia that she can go ahead and become a nun, implying he has no need for her. This, in addition to her father’s death, sends Ophelia into a descend that eventually results in her madness. Her life ends tragically when she drowns in a stream. To exemplify how oblivious Hamlet is of the destruction left in his wake, he actually runs into two gravediggers, and joins in their conversation, unaware that they are digging Ophelia’s grave.

The Tragedy of Polonius

Polonius’ death is a tragic case of mistaken identity that leads to more bloodshed. His functional family greatly contrasts that of Hamlet, Claudius, and Gertrude, and yet he actions at times reveal his failures as a father. He is portrayed as busybody obsessed with social advancement. Polonius’ affinity for spying on others eventually puts him in the line of Hamlet’s wrath, though unknowingly. Following confirmation of Claudius’ guilt, Hamlet angrily approaches his mother in her room. Polonius hides behind the tapestry, and listens in to the argument between mother and son. Hamlet threatens Gertrude, who in turn calls out for help. Polonius echoes her cries for help, and Hamlet, believing Claudius is behind the tapestry, stabs Polonius through the tapestry, killing him. Polonius’s death has dire consequences for Hamlet, Ophelia, Laertes, and Claudius.

The Tragedy of Laertes

Upon Polonius’ and Ophelia’s deaths, Laertes fervently seeks revenge for his father, exemplifying the ripple effect of Hamlet’s toxic mission. Hamlet and Polonius, once friends, both embark on a mission for vengeance. Unlike Hamlet, who is consumed with introspection and thought, Polonius is driven by passionate action, contrasting Hamlet’s passionate inaction. Polonius colludes with Claudius, who is more aware of the threat Hamlet poses to him, to kill the Prince and make it seem like an accident.

The King organizes a fencing match between Laertes and Hamlet, and Laertes poisons his sword as part of his scheme. Hamlet apologizes publicly to Laertes for his actions, and while Laertes accepts the apology, he proceeds with his plan. Hamlet gets the first hits, but Laertes manages to wound him with the poisoned sword. A scuffle ensues between the two, and they unknowingly exchange swords. Hamlet wounds Laertes with the poisoned one, and he falls. As he lies dying, Laertes confesses to his plan and implicates Claudius in the plot. He asks Hamlet for forgiveness and forgives Hamlet for the death of his father and sister.

The Tragedy of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

As Hamlet’s childhood friends, Claudius and Gertrude use Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spy on Hamlet and provide information. After Polonius’ death, Claudius devises a plan to send Hamlet to England. He sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern along with him, and gives each of them a sealed letter to deliver to the King of England. The letters are an order to put Hamlet to death immediately after opening the messages. On their way to England, pirates attack Hamlet’s ship, and he is returned to Denmark while his friends proceed to England. It is later revealed that Hamlet stole the letters meant for the King and replaced them with a message directing the King to put Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to death instead, necessarily betraying his deceitful friends.

The Tragedy of the King and Queen

Claudius, the villain of the play, is a complex character. He is charming, socially adept, and a competent leader. On the other hand, he is a murderer who is unwilling to give up the power and fortune his crime has gained him. When alone, Claudius admits to killing the King and is remorseful. He tries to pray for forgiveness but is unable to make himself do it, knowing that true repentance means losing the throne. Gertrude is portrayed as being shallow, shadowy, and disloyal. It is implied that she knows of Claudius’ crime, and it is unclear if she conspired in it or is merely doing what she has to survive.

Claudius mirrors Hamlet in his blind pursuit of murder. During the fencing match, he has organized, Claudius promises Hamlet a precious pearl as a reward. He drops the pearl into a cup of poisoned wine and futilely attempts to have Hamlet drink from the container. Unaware that the wine is poisoned, Gertrude picks up the cup and drinks from it before Claudius can stop her. She screams out that she has been poisoned and collapses to her death. After Laertes reveals Claudius’ role in his murder plot, Hamlet angrily stabs Claudius with the poisoned sword and forces him to drink from the poisoned cup intended for him.

The Tragedy of Hamlet

Hamlet’s life comes to an end after being wounded by Laertes’ poisoned sword. He achieves his goal of revenge, but causes the death of six innocent people along the way, and eventually his own death. At the end of the play, Prince Fortinbras of Norway arrives with his army to visit Claudius, and finds the entire royal family dead. He subsequently claims the Kingdom for himself, showing the consequences of Hamlet’s actions extend beyond his death.