english essay

Intro –
It is my view that Hamlet is a character who was not only relevant to his original Elizabethan audience, but also continued to remain just as, to todays modern audience. At the play’s opening, the horrific revelation that Hamlet’s uncle has murdered his father plunges him into a state of uncertainty. The secrecy and betrayal of the situation/event causes tension and isolation between him and his society/world as the outside world is oblivious to the unnatural murder performed by their new leader, Claudius, pushing further Hamlets uncertainty and irrational behaviour, resembling the common person who see only the appearance of reality and act only with instructions hence don’t possess any known purpose or meaning. This state of uncertainty hinders Hamlets ability to act. This is intriguing to modern readers, as his character begins to display many elements of modern existential philosophies, which question life purpose and meaning. Shakespeare also highlights the act of revenge through his characters, mainly Hamlet. These characters support the act of revenge and illustrate that the world is continually modelled on corruption, betrayal, secrecy (appearances verses reality) as well as love and friendship.
Para 1 -
Although Hamlet behaves oddly by mourning the death of his father, it is not until the revelations of his ‘unnatural ’ murder and the need to take revenge on his uncle, where he is plunged further into a state on uncertainty and confusion. The ghost of old Hamlet is the root of Hamlet’s uncertainty and cause for delay as well as the morality within him.

When a ghost of “thy father’s spirit approaches Hamlet” his father reveals the “most foul and unnatural murder” that has taken place, and highlights the necessity of Hamlet to take revenge. Repetition of the words “foul” and “unnatural” alludes to the religious ‘Chain of Being’ in Shakespeare’s context, implying that a gross injustice has been committed not only on King Hamlet, but on society and nature. However this remains a secrete as no one knows its “murder” rather death form a snakebite. Initially, Hamlet states that he will take revenge, “with wings as swift as meditation or thoughts of love”. This simile emphasises his courage and plan of action to avenge his father’s death, suitable to the speedy action expected from a vengeful prince in a tragedy. It is also ironic as he does not act upon this expectation/ does just the opposite. However, upon revealing the murderer to be Claudius, as “a serpent stung me...The serpent...Now wears the crown,” Hamlet is so horrified by the nature of man to commit such an act, that he is quickly plunged into a state of uncertainty and even despair. Unlike the characters Laertes and Fortinbras, who clearly reflect the ideal male/heroin in Shakespeare’s society, Hamlet overthinks his actions, which is a cause for his delay. This is illustrated when instead of killing Claudius during “the purging of his soul, when he is fit …for his passage? No” rhetorical question highlights that he is overthinking, that by killing Claudius now he will be sending him to heaven instead of hell hence delaying is act for revenge. This notion has been suggested by critic Irving T. Richards as he states the main cause for Hamlets inability/delay is that “ He is so conscientious, so concerned about his soul that he is afraid to act and risk dying in sin”, this idea is also foreshadowed in Hamlets To Be or Not To Be soliloquy as he chooses between delaying his actions and remaining a ‘coward’ or taking revenge and go “ to the undiscovered country.. and fly to others that we know not of?”. QUOTES…IDEA Therefore, it is my view that this dilemma as well as Hamlets morality and values regarding the love, friendship and truth instigate and drive Hamlet’s inability to act, a revelation in character that intrigues modern readers, as his character begins to display many elements of modern existential philosophies which question life’s purpose and meaning.
Para 2 -
The audience is able to experience with hamlet the love, loyalty, revenge and betrayal he experiences throughout the play through dramatic irony, we, as an audience, know more about what’s going on than any character. Due to these experiences hamlet question’s and even looses life’s/his purpose and meaning. Being shown everything we also question life’s purpose and meaning.
Due to these experiences of betrayal and revenge, Hamlet loses all happiness towards life when he declares that “the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory.” This metaphor exposes his sense of isolation in a cruel world which continues to operate normally as he compares the earth as a bare rock formation. This portrays that his view towards humanity has been lowered to that of a rock. In the Elizabethan Era, humans were considered to be “in action how like an angel” and “in apprehension how like a god”. These similes compare humans’ ability to act to angels and gods, exemplifying the Elizabethan’s perception that humans are a divine reflection of God. However, the ability to act is exactly what Hamlet is unable to do. Therefore, he perceives himself and humanity to be of little or no significance. This is conveyed when he asks “what is this quintessence of dust?” This metaphor compares humans to “dust”, depleting their heavenly status, and the rhetorical question implies that there is no use for “dust” therefore man is insignificant, questioning the worth of humanity The metaphor is extended in act 5, when Hamlet holds Yorik’s skull and compares Alexander the Great to “dust” and Julius Caesar to “clay” hence continuing this motif. The use of accumulative listing exemplifies Hamlet’s idea that humans die and turn to dust, as he says that “Alexander died...was buried...turn to dust...the dust is earth”. Hamlet, without discretion, is clearly questioning and opposing the idea of heaven and hell, and in those times, linking him to madness. This clearly demonstrates his loss of value and meaning towards the world.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern represent the common person of the modern world, who without instructions are left with little known purpose or significance. This is illustrates through a paradox as Rosencrantz and guilderstein , when asked how they are, state that “ As the indifferent children of the earth” and “ Happy in that we are not over-happy”. Both are implying that they are inbetweeners and have no purpose in life, contradicting themselves through a simile that both are ok with being “not-happy”, as a non-sensicle response exemplifies their little purpose. As we are first introduced to Rosencrant and Guilderstein, both highlight that they believe “ the very substance of the ambitions is...the shadow of a dream” comparing ambitions to a shadow or a dream.

Conclusion -