Comparing Hamlet And Macbeth's Attitudes Towards Life And Death
Hamlet and Macbeth’s Attitudes Towards Life and Death
Hamlet and Macbeth, two of Shakespeare’s most famed plays, feature main characters who are plagued in their opinions of death. Shakespeare introduces the fascination of death with the presence of a supernatural force that tempts both characters. Macbeth is approached by three witches who induce him to kill the king and everyone who threatens him. Likewise, the ghost of Old Hamlet, who confirms Hamlet’s suspicions of foul play in his father’s death, urges Hamlet to pursue Claudius. These external forces prompt an internal battle to fulfill the requests of the witches and the ghost, which drives both Macbeth and Hamlet into question of their lives, ultimately leading to their deaths. The struggle to satisfy their internal drives results in Macbeth and …show more content…
Following the recent passing of his father, Hamlet covets death as an escape from the hell and corruption of Elsinore and his family. He wallows in his intense grief, and longs for a way out by considering to take his own life: “O, that this too, too sullied flesh would melt,/ Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew” (1.2.133-134). He detests life and views his own as worthless, as he “[does] not set [his] life at a pin’s fee” (1.4.73). His preoccupation with death is a product of his grief as Claudius and Gertrude dismiss his sorrow by telling him that all fathers die, and Old Hamlet is not an exception. Hamlet quickly becomes consumed with the concept of death, as evident in the meticulous planning of his revenge plot to murder Claudius. He devises a test to expose Claudius by having traveling players reenact his father’s murder, and then watching Claudius’ reaction. With the confirmation of Old Hamlet’s murder, Hamlet’s view of his own life begins to evolve and he becomes focused on avenging his
Hamlet and Macbeth, two of Shakespeare’s most famed plays, feature main characters who are plagued in their opinions of death. Shakespeare introduces the fascination of death with the presence of a supernatural force that tempts both characters. Macbeth is approached by three witches who induce him to kill the king and everyone who threatens him. Likewise, the ghost of Old Hamlet, who confirms Hamlet’s suspicions of foul play in his father’s death, urges Hamlet to pursue Claudius. These external forces prompt an internal battle to fulfill the requests of the witches and the ghost, which drives both Macbeth and Hamlet into question of their lives, ultimately leading to their deaths. The struggle to satisfy their internal drives results in Macbeth and …show more content…
Following the recent passing of his father, Hamlet covets death as an escape from the hell and corruption of Elsinore and his family. He wallows in his intense grief, and longs for a way out by considering to take his own life: “O, that this too, too sullied flesh would melt,/ Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew” (1.2.133-134). He detests life and views his own as worthless, as he “[does] not set [his] life at a pin’s fee” (1.4.73). His preoccupation with death is a product of his grief as Claudius and Gertrude dismiss his sorrow by telling him that all fathers die, and Old Hamlet is not an exception. Hamlet quickly becomes consumed with the concept of death, as evident in the meticulous planning of his revenge plot to murder Claudius. He devises a test to expose Claudius by having traveling players reenact his father’s murder, and then watching Claudius’ reaction. With the confirmation of Old Hamlet’s murder, Hamlet’s view of his own life begins to evolve and he becomes focused on avenging his