Hamlet: the Characters and How They Lead To the Downfall of the Kingdom - Research Paper Example

Hamlet, the Characters and How They Lead To the Downfall ofthe Kingdom Hamlet is one of the most popular plays written by W. Shakespeare. It is a tragedy which presents madness, a resentful ghost, some very gruesome death scenes and a central character that has a lot on his mind, but, perhaps, revenge is at the top. A formidable opponent who can take on our hero is also a part of this plot. But Hamlet is a little bit different from other stories of the Elizabethan era as well. Hamlet is the only central character from those days that can really be considered a hero. This is because Hamlet was very aware of his moral standings and made sure that he did the right thing (Mabillard, 2000). Hamlet’s characters are subject to some of the most dishonest acts. They lie and act to be something they aren’t. The plot involves ample amounts of revenge, sexuality and uncertainty and this open deception is what ultimately leads to the kingdom’s downfall. The story of Hamlet is set in Denmark. Claudius had murdered his brother, married the dead brother’s wife, Gertrude, and crowned himself the king. Hamlet is the Gertrude’s son from the former king and he has gone away to study when all of this occurs. When Hamlet comes back he has an encounter with the father’s ghost which leaves him no doubt that his father was in fact murdered by Claudius. The Ghost wants revenge and Hamlet sets about to do just that. Claudius is portrayed as a “King who is well qualified for his office...” But in private, Claudius is capable of conniving and very criminal thought. The Ghost refers to him as “that incestuous, that adulterate beast" (1.5.42). Hamlet, being the conscientious prince that he is, must know that Claudius is indeed the murderer and the Ghost is telling the truth. Hamlet asks actors to perform a play which acts out the murder scene by scene, as described by the Ghost. The play makes Claudius very uncomfortable which is proof enough for Hamlet of Claudius’ guilt (Crawford, 1916). In Hamlet's words: “The play's the thingwherein I'll catch the conscience of the king”. (2.2.606-07) Now comes the part where Hamlet also pretends to be insane due to grief. The King and his henchmen are the only people who believe this facade but they too have their doubts. The King instructs his men to "Get from him why he puts on this confusion" (II. i. 2). This clearly means that the king suspects that Hamlet is only pretending and is not really a lunatic (Crawford, 1916). Claudius continues his treachery and sends Hamlet off to England under the pretext of cure. Here he plans to get Hamlet killed. Rozencrantz and Guildenstern are two of Hamlets childhood friends who are chosen to do the deed. Hamlet is again betrayed by people he thought should have been most trustworthy. He kills them instead and returns to Denmark aboard a pirate ship. Back at home, he faces another plot against his life ("Storytelling Output Report for Hamlet."). Hamlet had killed Polonius, the chamberlain, by accident before being exiled to England. Ophelia is Polonius’ daughter and Hamlets love interest in the story. Upon hearing of her father’s death and Hamlets exile, Ophelia commits suicide. Laertes is Polonius’ son and Ophelia’s brother. He proposes a friendly fencing math to Hamlet which is really an elaborate set up along with the King to kill Hamlet. Hamlet fights and kills Laertes and the King. He dies too after a cut from a poisonous sword and the Kingdom effectively collapses, because the queen has taken a poisonous drink too ("Storytelling Output Report for Hamlet."). Betrayal and treachery is abounding in Hamlet. Claudius and Gertrude are the main perpetrators. They disregard religion, morality and social acceptable standards of decency and consummate a marriage that is nothing but incest. This marriage weighs heavy on Hamlet’s heart and ultimately leads to his “antic disposition”. Claudius is at first portrayed to be quite perceptive and kind. He also loves Gertrude and sincerely likes Ophelia. But later it becomes clear that Claudius is one person who can do anything to achieve his objectives. Even his love for Gertrude can’t keep him from getting Hamlet killed. He uses Laertes grief at his father and sister’s death to plot against Hamlet. He doesn’t let Rozencrantz and Guildenstern know the contents of the letter they are carrying to England, even though their knowing could have saved their lives. Also, during the climax, Claudius doesn’t stop Gertrude from drinking the poison because doing so may reveal his real intentions and incriminate him in the plot to kill Hamlet. Shakespeare presents to us, in the form of Claudius, a complicated villain; one who is a slave to his desires (Mabillard, 2009). The queen Gertrude depicts a dislike to truth in this play. She lies to herself about the results of her actions and is truly surprised about Hamlet’s anger with her. But she is not a treacherous character, simply a “child-like victim” of the times. She adores Hamlet and when he tells her of her wrongful actions, she becomes really sad (Mabillard, 2009). O Hamlet, speak no more: Thou turn'st my very eyes into my soul, And there I see such black and grained spots As will not leave their tinct (III.iv.88-91) ...O speak to me no more; these words like daggars enter my ears; No more, sweet Hamlet! (III.iv.94-6) Gertrude’s biggest dilemma is that she must remain truthful to all the men in her life. She tries to protect her son from the King and is very concerned about Hamlet’s fencing match with Laertes even though she doesn’t know that the duel is in fact a trap for Hamlet. Gertrude understands that her relationship with Claudius is wrong by society’s ethical standards and yet she stays loyal to him, as she is now his queen. She dies as innocently as she lives, drinking from a poisoned cup all the while demanding to know what is in the pretty cup at the table! (Mabillard, 2009) Ophelia is another character that greatly influences the change is Hamlet’s own character. Ophelia herself may be a one-dimensional character, but she serves the purpose of showing us Hamlet’s view of women. He has a distorted view of women as cold and cruel sexual predators. Ophelia shows Hamlets evolution into a man convinced that all women are black at heart. Those who do not have revenge and rage in their heart can clearly see the purity and goodness in Ophelia. She suffers a lot; Hamlets dagger-like words, father’s death and Hamlets exile do render her insane. This insanity of hers is further proof that indeed Ophelia is virtuous and not corrupt (Mabillard, 2009). Hamlet is, of course, the central character in this story and, perhaps, the greatest character created during the Elizabethan era. Hamlet’s indecisiveness and inability to act are his tragic weakness. Hamlet’s silence also gives him an air of secrecy. He hasn’t mentioned his fears and ambitions even to himself and not even the soliloquies have disclosed his thoughts. During the first soliloquy, his grief breaks his heart, but he concludes by saying “But break my heart, for I must hold my tongue!” (I. ii. 159.) reminding himself that he must not say anything (Crawford, 1916). The way these characters run into and interact with each other is what brings about the final climax of the play and leads to the ultimate demise of these characters and the kingdom. Denmark under Claudius’ rule has become weak and corrupt; this is evident in the second scene of the play. Claudius knows that the young Fortinbras of Norway plans to attack and take back the lands lost by his old King to Hamlet’s father during a wager. Claudius also knows that the young Norwegian king has no fear or respect for him, as he did for the old king (Crawford, 1916). Hamlet is very worried about the Kings drinking habits. He is also concerned that the Kings inability to rule Denmark justly, is giving it a bad name among other nations (Crawford, 1916). "This heavy-headed revel east and west  Makes us traduced and tax'd of other nations; They clepe us drunkards, and with swinish phrase  Soil our addition." (I. iv. 17-20.) (Crawford, 1916). When Hamlet’s father ruled the country, Denmark was both a fearsome and well respected opponent. But Claudius has been able to keep peace with Norway only by begging for Norway not to invade Denmark. Claudius may be weak militarily, he is still very clever and quick. This agility is what has kept Norway away from Denmark. He writes to the King of Norway, uncle of young Fortinbras, to keep the passions of his nephew under a check (Mabillard, 2000). But no amount of his treachery and debauchery can keep Norway from over taking Denmark at the end. As Hamlet and Laertes fight each other, it is announced that Fortinbras has returned from Poland. Claudius has already been killed and, therefore, Hamlet is effectively the ruler of Denmark, as Fortinbras arrives. As he dies, Hamlet cries out that the young Prince Fortinbras will be the heir to his throne and tells Horatio to inform everyone of how he met his end. This is how the kingdom of Denmark finally rests with the Norwegian prince (Mabillard, 2000). References Mabillard, Amanda. "Introduction to Elizabethan Revenge Tragedy." Shakespeare Online. 20 Aug. 2000. Web. 13 Dec. 2011. http://shakespeare-online.com/playanalysis/revengetragedy.html . Crawford, Alexander W. “Hamlet, an ideal prince, and other essays in Shakespearean interpretation: Hamlet; Merchant of Venice; Othello; King Lear”. Boston R.G. Badger, 1916. Shakespeare Online. 20 Aug. 2009. Web. 13 Dec. 2011. http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/hamlet/antichamlet.html . "Storytelling Output Report for Hamlet." Dramatica. Web. 13 Dec. 2011. http://www.dramatica.com/story/analyses/analyses/hamlet.html . Mabillard, Amanda. “Introduction to Claudius”. Shakespeare Online. 20 Aug. 2009. Web. 13 Dec. 2011. http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/hamlet/claudiuscharacter.html Mabillard, Amanda. “Shakespeare's Gertrude”. Shakespeare Online. 20 Aug. 2009. Web. 13 Dec. 2011. http://www.shakespeare-online.com/hamlet/gertrudecharacter.html Mabillard, Amanda. “Ophelia”. Shakespeare Online. 20 Aug. 2009. Web. 13 Dec. 2011. http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/hamlet/opheliacharacter.html . Mabillard, Amanda. “The Norway Subplot of Hamlet”. Shakespeare Online. 20 Aug. 2000. Web. 13 Dec. 2011. http://www.shakespeare-online.com/playanalysis/fortinbrasplot.html" Read More