Theme Of Power In Hamlet

Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare and set in Denmark in the late Middle Ages, is a classic play following the story of Hamlet, the son of the recently deceased King Hamlet, as he plots to avenge the murder of his father by his uncle and now the current king, Claudius. In the play, power and the acquisition of power is an important theme, amongst other things. In dramas, such as Hamlet, power is often explored through how characters use or acquire it. The power dynamic between two characters, whether oppressors or victims, dominant or submissive, or users and used, can add conflict to a show and allow for more profound themes to be revealed. In the world-renowned play of Hamlet, power (or lack thereof) is often a force used to further the plot and add conflict to the story. In this play specifically, the struggle of power between the characters of Hamlet, Claudius, and Ophelia, leads to their ultimate demise. As the titular character of the play, Hamlet is a driving
When looked at through a feminist perspective, the two women in the story have little to no control or power over their situations. Ophelia is consistently told what to do and how to act by her father, Polonius. Ophelia even obeys his demands when he orders her to reject Hamlet’s letters. In another instance, she aids her father in spying on Hamlet although she cares deeply for him. For each and every decision that Ophelia must make in her life, she looks towards men, whether it be Polonius, Laertes, or Hamlet, because she believes that she is incapable of making her own decisions. Overall, Ophelia is used as a tool by the men in her life, specifically her father, so that they can gain insight, and therefore power in Denmark’s government. Ophelia also drives parts of the plot as when her father dies (because Hamlet killed him), she decides to commit suicide, which sparks a fire for vengeance in her brother,