Hamlet- Tool of Minipulaton

Hamlet An Ultimate Tool and Demise By obtaining the respect and trust of others, one can easily control his or her followers to benefit any goal. This sort of manipulation can cause unforeseen effects that lead to unfathomable consequences exemplified in William Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet. The titular character, Hamlet, the conniving King Claudius, and the foolish Polonius all attempt to control people to further their own ends and accomplish cunning deeds. Despite each of their respective intentions, their fates all end the same, in death. Due to their ability to cleverly falsify, King Claudius, Prince Hamlet, and Polonius cause internal strife in themselves and others, the misguided resolve of Laertes, and their untimely demises. While the motivations behind their manipulations drive them to commit unflattering actions, Claudius’, Hamlet’s and Polonius’ deeds do not become achieved without remorse. Each feat creates unrest within either themselves or those around them in varying ways. Claudius’ guilt over his brother’s murder causes him to doubt his choices concerning Hamlet’s madness and forces him to believe that his “offense is rank […] to heaven,” regardless of previous convictions to remain “sweet and commendable” through the affair (Hamlet III. iii. 40, I. ii. 90). This offense to heaven becomes publicly exploited during the events of Hamlet’s “mousetrap” play. As the crime of the King becomes more evident as the show carries on, Claudius begins to question the “argument” in the play and wonders if there is any “offense in [it]” against him (III. ii. 256-257).The strife that exists in the King represents itself during the performance and sheds light on the feelings he has concocted and also provides more empathetic qualities to his character, as feelings of guilt conflict with his archetypal image as a conspirator. Like the King, his stepfather and uncle, Hamlet also causes himself internal struggling, but his troubles stem from different roots. Hamlet manipulates not just one or two individuals to achieve a feat as his uncle does; rather the Prince of Denmark manipulates how people perceive him to be. However, Hamlet’s approach to manipulation does not spare him internal strife. His self loathing becomes emanate as his soliloquies’ transcend from sadness to grief. He refers to his actions as those of “a rogue and peasant slave,” whose manhood has been humiliated and held on display for him to observe (II.ii.577). Hamlet’s strife also takes root from his “wip[ing] away [of] all trivial, fond records, / […] that youth and observation occupied” in his heart allowing his “thoughts [to] be bloody” (I. v. 107-108, IV. v. 69). By doing so, he has allowed himself to focus solely on his manipulation of the Danish court to avenge his father, and he has also caused cast away his love for Ophelia and the hope for a remedied future, leading to interior conflict. While Claudius and Hamlet inflict internal struggling upon themselves, Polonius believes that he is the cause of conflict in others and feels none himself. His desire for Ophelia to “not, in plain terms, […] / slander any moment [of] leisure […] / with the Lord Hamlet” along with the knowledge that Hamlet has gone mad, lead Polonius to conclude that his interference with the love of Ophelia and Hamlet has lead to discourse in the court (I.iii.142-143). The royal advisor also acts as a conspirator with the King, manipulating events within the play to suite his advantage, such as when he and the King plot to spy on Hamlet and the Queen to discover any secrets or truths behind the Prince’s actions. Polonius hides “behind [an] arras […] / [to] hear the process” and is unintentionally slain by Hamlet in the heat of the youth’s rage (III.iii. 30-31). However, for all of Polonius’ meddling, he feels little resentment for his deeds and continues to manipulate until his death. One of the most tragic incidents that take place in Hamlet is the supposed suicide of Ophelia, but perhaps a more heinous affair occurs due to this event; the misguided resolve of her brother, Laertes. The young nobleman’s determination did not stem from his own will alone, a combination of Laertes’ will and the King’s manipulation cause Polonius’ son to become supportive of the murder of Prince Hamlet. Claudius’ controlling of the justifiable actions of Laertes originated in the King’s recognition of his ability to serve as a pawn in conspiracy. Laertes’ wrath was originally rightfully placed upon “the vile king” of the “profoundest pit,” yet Claudius’ skill of falsity grants him a reprieve of the nobleman’s vengeance, and transfers the blame of Polonius’ murder from him to his stepson (IV.v.127, 150). While Claudius plays a more direct approach in the corruption of Laertes’ passion, young Hamlet also fulfills a role. By adapting an appearance “piteous in purport” in order to manipulate others, Hamlet casts aside his love for Ophelia and pursues vengeance (II.i.92). Hamlet’s decision to neglect Ophelia and help progress her slipping into insanity, proves to strengthen Laertes’ determination to seek justice for what has been done to his family. Polonius inadvertently causes his son’s resolve through his death, which was caused due to his willingness to be used as a pawn by King Claudius. Therefore, his foolishness in believing he could control the affairs of the Danish court help fuel his son’s passion. Despite the zeal placed into completing their goals, whether it be vengeance, murder, or power, each manipulating man meets the same fate; death. Polonius, trying to maintain the King’s favor and support his own progress through manipulation, meets his end a “wretched, rash, intruding fool” (III.iv.38). Slain by Hamlet, Polonius’ demise receives little recognition and goes without “trophy, sword, nor hatchment o’er his bones,” despite his deserving of “a formal ostentation” in commemoration of his passing (IV.v. 239-240). However, this negligence was necessary in order to prevent the truth of Polonius’ death from becoming public and spare the King, Claudius, grief. Regardless of his constant attempts to avoid scrutiny, the King does eventually face the consequences of his repeated manipulative actions. Ironically, Claudius reaches his demise partially through his own cunning. His poisoning plot, intended for Hamlet, backfires on him and he perishes by the “poison tempered by himself,” therefore, for the first time, Claudius feels the effects of his falsity, not another (V.ii.360). Regrettably, Hamlet is not pardoned from his previous actions of influence, although his manipulations did not directly lead to his downfall, as did Claudius’ and Polonius’. Hamlet instead pays his life for the action of being led into manipulation. The “poison [of influence] o’ercrows [his] spirit” more than the literal poison that takes his life away does (V.ii.390). This “influence” is Hamlet’s willingness to a pawn and player in the struggle of revenge Claudius has set up against him. It is through Hamlet’s “excitement of […] reason and […] blood” that have allowed himself to assume these roles of manipulator and manipulated (IV.iv.61). These “excitements” are fueled by the prince’s desire to avenge his father, but ultimately they prove to be the source of his undoing. Manipulation is a powerful tool, its ability to motivate one into doing another’s will is astounding, but its frequent use comes with a price. King Claudius, Prince Hamlet, and the foolish Polonius utilize the weapon of falsity, causing strife to spread in the Danish court, Laertes’ will to become corrupted, and the deaths of all three cunning manipulators. Manipulation is a costly weapon, capable of destroying an entire royal lineage. While one may think that it can be used lightly, William Shakespeare’s tragedy proves otherwise, as it shows that none can use it without paying for it dearly.