Hamlet by William Shakespeare - Research Paper Example

Hamlet Introduction The story is a tragedy written by the famous William Shakespeare. There is no definite of the writing, and it is estimated to be between 1509 and 1602. The play is about the dramatic revenge of Prince Hamlet on his uncle, Claudius. The story has several themes and motifs with the position of women in society taking center stage in Act 1 Scene 3. Was the way Prince Hamlet carried out the revenge against his uncle Claudius justified? The article is going to look at Act 1 Scene 3 of the play and analyze the scenes and quotations from the play. The previous scenes give a brief introduction to Polonius, Claudius’ chief adviser, and his son Laertes. In this scene, we meet Poloniuss daughter, Ophelia and learn a great deal about the dynamics of Polonius house. Polonius relationship with his children, and a suggestion of the importance to come off the play’s second subplot. It revolves around Hamlet’s relationship with Ophelia (Johae 66). Discussion "For nature crescent does not grow alone in thews and bulk, but as this temple waxes the inward service of the mind and soul Grows wide withal, perhaps he loves you now, and now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch The virtue of his will, but you must fear, His greatness weighed, his will is not his own, For he himself is subject to his birth. He may not, as unvalued persons do, Carve for himself, for on his choice depends The safety and health of this whole state, and therefore must his choice be circumscribed unto the voice and yielding of the body thwereof he is the head. then if he says he loves you, it fits your wisdom so far to believe it as he in his particular act and place may give his saying deed, which is no further than the main voice of Denmark goes withal then weigh what loss your honor may sustain if with too cadent ear you list his song or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open to his unmastered importunity. his unmastered importunity fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister.” The above passage from Hamlet (I. iiii 10-30) is the speech that Laertes is giving to her sister Ophelia. The whole warning talks about Ophelia and her position in the society. Laertes is warning Ophelia about the love that she is receiving from Hamlet. The tone Laertes is using while providing the advice to the sister is overprotective tone. He is not putting into considerations her feelings. “Perhaps he loves you now, and now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch. The virtue of his will, but you must fear” (I.iii. 15-17). Laertes in his speech never consults Ophelia about her feelings and her overall opinion on the matter. He goes ahead and quarrels her sister in the name of warning her against her potential lover. There is the use of metaphorical language during the speech that sees Laertes hurt Ophelia’s feminine side. Ophelia feels inferior to her brother during the whole speech (Talbot 546). It is a warning to her sister that is good advice. The problem comes in with the tone he is using while giving the notice to the sister. It shows that women were not taken seriously nor treated with respect during that era. Laertes is ready to travel leaving his sister behind. He gives the advice that Hamlet is only going to marry a woman with the same society status as his status. Laertes decides to talk to his sister about matters that cannot be said anymore since he is ready to go away for a long time. It is clear from the whole speech that Laertes has no high opinion about Prince Hamlet and does not recommend him for his sister. Laertes thinks that Hamlet is trying to do a favor to her sister who is weak and has no say in the society. He warns her that their love is like violet who dies very early as much as it appears first during the spring. He says that the love of Hamlet to Ophelia is temporary and it will end very soon. Laertes says their love is as much as the body of a person grows. "The inward service of the mind and soul / Grows wide withal" (I.iii.13-14). The whole purpose of his statement is to contrast real love from what Hamlet has for Ophelia. He believes Ophelia deserves better than the temporary favor Hamlet is offering her as love. Ophelia seems unhappy with the thoughts of his brother as we see Laertes clear up things with her. He advises her against Hamlet and tells her how the Prince of Denmark cannot just marry any girl. Ophelia is not able to defend herself against Laertes due to her position as a woman in the society. The Prince has to go on and marry a person of his social status. For the two to get married, Hamlet will have to go against “the main voice of Denmark” (I.iii.29). It was not possible in their situation. Laertes and Ophelia both know that for the Prince to marry, he has to seek approval from the King. Traditionally, a Prince cannot be allowed to marry anyone that is not a princess thus there was no way Hamlet was going to marry Ophelia. The King would never approve any girl to marry Hamlet unless the girl is a princess. The relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia is thus pointless according to Laertes. It is because, if Ophelia cannot marry Hamlet, there is no need for a relationship. The relationship would only bring heartache to the sister "lose your heart or your chaste treasure open" (I.iii.31). Laertes goes on to disrespect his sister through the whole process of advice. He clearly gives the opinion that he does not care about his own sister’s opinion or her feelings. He provides a comparison of his sister to spring flowers that wither and die at the end of the season. Laertes goes ahead and reminds Ophelia of her age and how inappropriate it is for her to be in any relationship. "Youth to itself rebels though none else near" (I.iii.44). Laertes in his words mean that young people do things that are not wise enough and thus affect their future. The way he treats his sister reflects how women were treated during that era. The statement is a warning to Ophelia, who is tempted to be in a relationship with Hamlet. Ophelia is clearly weak, and she has a fear that acts as a defense (Johae 67). Laertes seems to give Hamlet the advantage of an uncertainty about the virtue of his thought processes, Laertes regardless encourages his sister to remember that in things marital, he is not a free-agent. He adds that Hamlets choice of marriage partner will be greatly influenced by what is best for the country. One cant help but draw a parallel here to the advanced British government and the greater part of the despondency. Also the catastrophe that resulted because Prince Charles needed to wed Diana. Regarded most appropriate to be the partner of a future king, and not the love for his wife, Camilla Parker-Bowles. Women in England clearly have no voice when it comes to marriage. Laertes cautions Ophelia that it is her reputation that will endure, not his, if she succumbs to Hamlets suggestions (Talbot 557). That the double standard has a lengthy history is apparent here. Indeed, even the most innocent can be criticized, and nature shows, through the analogy of the ulcer. The most youthful and most encouraging can receive wreckage before they reach maturity. It sounds here as though Ophelia knows her brother rather well. She cautions him to take his advice about modesty and not be a deceiver. Her remarks additionally reflect a keen awareness of a double standard that survives even right up until the present time (Johae, 69). Conclusion A close relationship that exists between brother and sister is evident here, and like any ‘big brother,’ Laertes is concerned about Ophelias well-being in her relationship with Hamlet. He warns her about the way ‘young guys’ do behave. In today’s parlance, he is saying that the Prince being driven by his hormones. The passage is clearly about a big brother warning a sister against engaging in any action that will cause her pain. The tone is harsh but loving thus showing an honest concern for a brother to a young girl who needs to make a wise decision. Works Cited Johae, Antony. "Wole Soyinkas" Hamlet": The Rotten State of Denmark Revisited." Research in African Literatures 38.4 (2007): 61-69. Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. London: Heinemann Publishers, 1890. Talbot, Christine. "Shakespearean spatial rules."Proceedings of 2013 International Conference on Autonomous agents and multi-agent systems. International Foundation for Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems, 2013. Read More