Post by kaitlyn on Oct 12, 2011 18:12:06 GMT -5
In many of Shakespeare's plays, the reader can often visualize the deciding moments, and interactions between characters in the opening pages. This stands true in the Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. I have noticed how in this play, Shakespeare uses cunning illustrations and descriptions to ultimately show the motives of the plays main protagonist, Hamlet. Hamlet not only faces the harsh realities of his own misfortunes, but feeds off the realities of his family's horrific tragedy.
As the story opens, the reader is the witness to Hamlet's discovery of his father's ghost. In my opinion, this realization is not only tragic to the misfortune of his father's death, but also brings forth the question toward Hamlet; how can the immortal depiction of his father still be haunting his realistic self ? On page 13 Hamlet describes:
Seems, madam? Nay, it is. I know not "seems."' Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother, Nor customary suits of solemn black, nor windy suspiration of forced breath, No, nor the fruitful river in the eye, Nor the dejected havior of the visage, Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief, That can denote me truly. These indeed seem, for they are actions that a man might play; But I have that within which passeth show-- These but the trappings and the suits of woe
Ultimately, this quote shows the questioning Hamlet has toward his misfortunes of tragedy. Hamlet questions why people are the way they are, and forcefully demands the answers of his fathers sudden immortality. He noticeably blames the king for his father's tragic death, and with out answers, Hamlet is forced to live with the realities of his uncle's destruction.
In addition, in this play Hamlet forces himself to confront the realities of his new found lifestyle. Hamlet ironically states about his new found reality:
Sir, my good friend-- I'll change the name with you. And what make you from Wittenberg, Horatio? Marcellus.
In this instance, Hamlet shows the reader how he faces his new found reality. This is ironic in that he asks his inferior subjects to change their names. This was to symbolize equality and friendship. As the reader, we can see Hamlet's breakdown from the misfortune of his father's death. Hamlet sees that creating an equal boundary among everyone will allow him to move past the realities of his father's tragedy.
All in all, in Shakespeare's play Hamlet, the plays main protagonist, Hamlet, is faced to live with the realities of his own misfortunes, and faces the new found realizations of his father's tragic death. In my opinion, I find this search for answers interesting and typical of Shakespeare's writing style. In this play, the search for answers and his true self, allows Hamlet to become an even more dynamic and strong character. This common theme among other Shakespearean works is evident in Hamlet and I find it profound and well used through out Act 1.
As the story opens, the reader is the witness to Hamlet's discovery of his father's ghost. In my opinion, this realization is not only tragic to the misfortune of his father's death, but also brings forth the question toward Hamlet; how can the immortal depiction of his father still be haunting his realistic self ? On page 13 Hamlet describes:
Seems, madam? Nay, it is. I know not "seems."' Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother, Nor customary suits of solemn black, nor windy suspiration of forced breath, No, nor the fruitful river in the eye, Nor the dejected havior of the visage, Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief, That can denote me truly. These indeed seem, for they are actions that a man might play; But I have that within which passeth show-- These but the trappings and the suits of woe
Ultimately, this quote shows the questioning Hamlet has toward his misfortunes of tragedy. Hamlet questions why people are the way they are, and forcefully demands the answers of his fathers sudden immortality. He noticeably blames the king for his father's tragic death, and with out answers, Hamlet is forced to live with the realities of his uncle's destruction.
In addition, in this play Hamlet forces himself to confront the realities of his new found lifestyle. Hamlet ironically states about his new found reality:
Sir, my good friend-- I'll change the name with you. And what make you from Wittenberg, Horatio? Marcellus.
In this instance, Hamlet shows the reader how he faces his new found reality. This is ironic in that he asks his inferior subjects to change their names. This was to symbolize equality and friendship. As the reader, we can see Hamlet's breakdown from the misfortune of his father's death. Hamlet sees that creating an equal boundary among everyone will allow him to move past the realities of his father's tragedy.
All in all, in Shakespeare's play Hamlet, the plays main protagonist, Hamlet, is faced to live with the realities of his own misfortunes, and faces the new found realizations of his father's tragic death. In my opinion, I find this search for answers interesting and typical of Shakespeare's writing style. In this play, the search for answers and his true self, allows Hamlet to become an even more dynamic and strong character. This common theme among other Shakespearean works is evident in Hamlet and I find it profound and well used through out Act 1.