Power vs. Happiness (Eassay on Hamlet, the Play)
People who long for power are those who do not have power, not even the ability to control and manage themselves, but they all have one belief and one goal: the goal to become greater than others. They believe that becoming powerful will give them control not only over their own lives but of others below them, and along with such power, happiness will result. Absolute control is absolute power which no one in the world can succeed. The more demand for control and power, the further one will be from happiness and true power. Claudius, William Shakespeare’s antagonist in “Hamlet (the play)”, clearly models the person whose power-hungry mind act unreasonably to gain control and power, thinking happiness will come along, but in the end only disappointment and tragedy results.
Late King Hamlet is a well respected majestic character of Denmark, who also lives in fame; the fame he gets as rewards for his good deeds. The battle with Norway is also one of the greatest victories for the country, and until now, King Hamlet is honored and his chivalrous acts are taken into accounts, “As thou art to thyself, such was the very armor…when ambitious Norway combated…” (I.i.59). Seeing his brother Hamlet having all these fames and respects, and happy moments with lovely Queen Gertrude, and young Hamlet, gives Claudius the wrong impressions that, such good life is resulting from when one can control and feel mightier than others. With envy and lust of power, Claudius murders his own brother when he is asleep, and by making a hasty marriage of the queen, instead of young Hamlet, he becomes the new King of Denmark, the benefactor of the throne.
Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother’s death
The memory be green…..
Th’ imperial jointress to this warlike state …
In equal scale weighing delight and dole-
Taken to wife….
Now follows that you know young Fortinbras …
Importing surrender of those lands, all bands of law
(I.ii.5-35)
Claudius makes the important speech about his
Late King Hamlet is a well respected majestic character of Denmark, who also lives in fame; the fame he gets as rewards for his good deeds. The battle with Norway is also one of the greatest victories for the country, and until now, King Hamlet is honored and his chivalrous acts are taken into accounts, “As thou art to thyself, such was the very armor…when ambitious Norway combated…” (I.i.59). Seeing his brother Hamlet having all these fames and respects, and happy moments with lovely Queen Gertrude, and young Hamlet, gives Claudius the wrong impressions that, such good life is resulting from when one can control and feel mightier than others. With envy and lust of power, Claudius murders his own brother when he is asleep, and by making a hasty marriage of the queen, instead of young Hamlet, he becomes the new King of Denmark, the benefactor of the throne.
Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother’s death
The memory be green…..
Th’ imperial jointress to this warlike state …
In equal scale weighing delight and dole-
Taken to wife….
Now follows that you know young Fortinbras …
Importing surrender of those lands, all bands of law
(I.ii.5-35)
Claudius makes the important speech about his
Cited: Shakespeare, William, “Hamlet” Responding to Literature. Ed. Judith Stanford. 5th ed. New York: McGraw, 2005, 1011-1014. Shakespeare, William, “Hamlet” The Folger Shakespeare Library. New York: NY, 1992. “Hamlet”, by shakespeare-literature.com. The Complete Works of William-Shakespeare (2003): < http://www.shakespeare-literature.com/Hamlet/0.html> “RIPPLES IN A POND LOOK WHAT CLAUDIUS CAUSED!”, by Gary Munro. Hamlet (2006): < http://www.compusmart.ab.ca/hamlet/> “Hamlet, Prince of Denmark Characters”, by AbsoluteShakespeare.com. Hamlet Study Guide (2000-2005): By Kaung Ko | www.Kalazy.net