Hamlet-Tragic Man

Hamlet-Tragic Man

1) A Belief in His Own Freedom
Hamlet believes that any choices he makes in his life will lead him to whatever end. He is willing to accept this. He doesn’t believe that his fate is predetermined. An example of this would be how Hamlet is so set on avenging his father’s death that he is willing to do almost anything. He sends two innocent people, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, to their death in his place in order to return to Elsinore and get his revenge on Claudius. That is a pretty drastic thing to do, but he is willing to accept the consequences of his actions for it or he wouldn’t have done it.
2) Supreme Pride (Hubris)
After Hamlet learns that Claudius killed his father, it’s like he knows this thing about Claudius that no one else (besides those he told) knows about. He now feels above people because he holds this secret knowledge. Most of all, he feels above Claudius because he knows what awful sin he committed, and he is confident that Claudius will pay for it in the end. Hamlet is also royalty, and therefore, it is natural that an extreme pride come with that territory; being above most people in rank and social status.
3) Capacity For Suffering
Hamlet suffers greatly when his father dies. He suffers when his mother hastily remarries his uncle. He suffers the most upon learning of his uncle/step-father Claudius’ sin in killing his own brother to gain political power. Hamlet later suffers for his love, Ophelia’s death. Hamlet really has a large capacity for suffering because the entire story is one sad thing after another taking place. That is why it is called a tragedy.
4) A Sense of Commitment
Hamlet is extremely committed to avenging his father’s death. That is what Hamlet is trying to accomplish from the beginning of the story, when he first learns the truth about his father’s death, all the way to the end when he finally does kill Claudius by stabbing him with a poisoned sword and then making him drink poisoned wine. There is only a short period of time where Hamlet is distracted from his vengeful manner in the middle of the story, but is reminded of its urgency and importance again and follows through with his want for revenge.
5) Vigorous Protest
Hamlet refuses/protests going to England to be killed, so he sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in his stead. Hamlet is determined to carry out his father’s wishes. Hamlet also dislikes his mother marrying Claudius so fast after his father’s death, but he doesn’t really “protest” so much as he greatly frowns upon it, and then hates Claudius after learning the truth about him.
6) Transfiguration
Hamlet becomes a little obsessed over avenging his father’s death throughout the entire play. As he becomes more and more suspicious of characters in association with Claudius and on eavesdroppers such as Polonius, he begins to act a little strangely, and because of his obsessive behavior and /or paranoia, ends up killing five people by the end of the play. He does succeed in avenging his father’s death before he dies. Hamlet dies knowing that he killed Claudius which was his main concern.
7) Impact
The impact of Hamlet’s strange behavior and paranoia is large on those around him. Five people die by his hand. The impact on Hamlet’s father is that his death has been avenged. The impact on the audience or reader of the play is that so much suffering and determination for revenge can drive a person to such extremes as taking the lives of innocent people and/or hurting the ones you love like Hamlet did by pretending he was mad.

Beowulf-The Cycle of the Hero

Beowulf-The Cycle of the Hero

Call to Adventure: The call to adventure begins when Beowulf first hears that the Danish kingdom is being terrorized by the demon/monster Grendel. He decides to go and kill the monster to help the Danes and relieve them of their suffering.
Helper: The Geat warriors (Wiglaf)
Threshold of Adventure: The threshold of adventure takes place when Beowulf and Grendel fight against each other. Beowulf does win, however, and Grendel loses his arm which leads him to his death.
Tests: After Grendel is out of the way, Grendel’s mother is left, and she is extremely vengeful for her son’s death. She goes to Herot and kills Hrothgar’s right hand man. When this is found out by the kingdom, Beowulf again feels the need to overcome this test/challenge of taking on Grendel’s mother. This is a test of Beowulf’s strength and bravery because he doesn’t know if he will come out of it alive.
Helpers: The “mighty sword” that helps Beowulf kill Grendel’s mother.
Triumph: Beowulf successfully kills Grendel’s mother and returns to Herot alive.
Flight: Beowulf returns to Geatland with many treasures for his king and queen and for himself that he received from the Danes.
Threshold Struggle: After becoming king of the Geats and many years of prosperity have passed, a dragon guarding treasure is angered by a thief and brings despair and havoc to the Geats. Beowulf commits one last heroic act by killing the dragon to save his people’s lives before he himself dies.
Elixir: Beowulf is buried with a lot of treasure, and also, another large portion of the treasure goes to his people.

Hamlet-A Modern Perspective

Hamlet is one of the most famous theatrical plays ever written. However, Hamlet was originally written by a man named Thomas Kyd. Shakespeare rewrote Hamlet and kept the same plotline as Kyd, but polished it and added so much more substance to the story to make it his own.
Hamlet’s soliloquies provide his personal thoughts and plans of action; this creates a whole other play/perspective within the play. You see the play with all the characters, and then with Hamlet’s soliloquies, you see another play; one where you learn Hamlet’s thoughts, feelings; his side or reaction to whatever is happening in the story. The famous line, “to be or not to be,” greatly ties in with what his view is on life. In Hamlet, you notice that it seems as though everyone is always watching everyone else. Someone is always looking for someone, spying on someone, watching out for someone…etc. It is a reaccuring theme throughout the play. After Hamlet discovers the truth about how his father died, there is a sort of silent battle throughout the rest of the play until Hamlet finally kills Claudius. It is a secret, and in order to not hurt anyone else (particularly his mother, Gertrude) Hamlet has to keep his newfound knowledge secret; which is ironic because all of the secrecy and the pretended “madness” and the spying is exactly what harms and kills people in the end. That is another ongoing theme in Hamlet: speaking the unspeakable. The soliloquy also serves as a way that Hamlet can speak and talk himself through all the secrets and things that are happening in the story. However, he still isn’t speaking any of it to another person; so it is just his thoughts coming out loud, but besides the fact that he is speaking the thoughts, this is really no different than merely thinking them because no one can hear him either way. So this is frustrating for Hamlet; only being able to share his innermost thoughts with himself. Some things he does share with Horatio, but his most sensitive side and thoughts he merely keeps to himself. In the end of the story, Hamlet dies feeling that he still has a story that needs to be told. Although Horatio agrees to tell Hamlet’s story, it won’t be Hamlet telling it. Horatio, although knowing the general idea of everything that went on in this epic and tragic tale, does not know the in depth version, the specifics and particulars that Hamlet knew. Those things will never be passed on, and that leaves the story with a sense of incompletedness.

Hamlet-Act 5

Act 5

Hamlet and Horatio spy on a gravedigger preparing a burial ground for Ophelia. Hamlet picks up a skull and in this moment realizes that all men turn to dust. (The skull was said to be that of his father’s old jester whom Hamlet had known as a boy.) Hamlet and Horatio hide nearby as the funeral procession approaches the grave site. Hamlet recognizes that this is Ophelia’s funeral. Laertes, angry at the priest, (who says the funeral shouldn’t be done on account that Ophelia committed suicide) jumps into the grave with Ophelia to hold her in his arms. Hamlet then appears at the scene to confess his love for Ophelia. The two get into a tiff and are pulled apart. The king and queen declare Hamlet mad and Hamlet runs off, Horatio following. Claudius reminds Laertes of their “plan” for revenge to calm Laertes down.
Hamlet tells Horatio how he replaced the letter that was being sent to England to have he (Hamlet) executed with a new letter to have Rosencrantz and Guildenstern executed instead. Hamlet doesn’t really feel bad about this because the two of them merely catered to Claudius. Hamlet does feel bad, however, about his behavior toward Laertes. Laertes desires to avenge his father’s death, which is exactly what Hamlet aspires to do. Hamlet wants to be on good terms with Laertes. Osric (a courtier) comes to summon Hamlet to a fencing match against Laertes. Hamlet agrees to fight, although Horatio advises him not to. Hamlet seeks Laertes’ forgiveness, but Laertes will only accept Hamlet’s offer of love in the meantime. The two begin the fencing match. Hamlet strikes Laertes. Again, he hits Laertes. Gertrude raises a cup to Hamlet and drinks from it although Claudius warns her not to. It was the poisoned cup of wine meant for Hamlet. Laertes then strikes and hits Hamlet with the poisoned sword. The two get a hold of each others’ swords, and Hamlet strikes Laertes again, this time with the poisoned sword. The queen realizes she’s been poisoned and dies. Laertes, upon dying, says the king is to blame for the poisoned sword and for the poisoned wine. Hamlet, enraged, stabs Claudius with the poisoned sword and makes him drink the poisoned wine. Claudius dies. Hamlet is dying and asks Laertes again or for forgiveness. Laertes forgives him, and then dies. Hamlet, dying, tells Horatio to live on and tell his story. He also asks that Fortinbras be made king of Denmark. Hamlet then dies. Fortinbras enters this sad scene, and Horatio says that he will explain all that has happened. Fortinbras has Hamlet taken away honorably, like a soldier.

Hamlet-Act 4

Act 4

Gertrude runs to Claudius and tells him that Hamlet is indeed mad and has killed Polonius. Claudius says that Hamlet must be shipped off to England immediately, and he (Claudius) must find a reason to explain to the court what has happened to Polonius. Claudius sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to find Hamlet and take him away.
Hamlet has disposed of Polonius’ body. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern appear and want to know what Hamlet has done with the body, but he will not tell them. Hamlet accuses them of being spies for Claudius, but finally he lets them escort him to the king.
Hamlet is brought to Claudius and again refuses to say where Polonius’ body is. He finally tells them that the body is under the stairs in the “lobby” of the palace. The king tells Hamlet that he must leave for England at once, and Hamlet agrees to this. Claudius has Rosencrantz and Guildenstern take Hamlet to the ship and with them gives special orders for England to put Hamlet to death upon arrival.
On the way to the ship, Hamlet encounters Fortinbras who is going to fight a war for land with a good name. Hamlet is reminded of his own personal mission to avenge his father’s death, and says that his thoughts from now on will be “bloody” and violent.
Horatio and Gertrude speak about Ophelia and how she has apparently gone mad due to her father’s death. Laertes has come back from France. Laertes is raging about avenging his father’s death. Claudius “nudges” Laertes in the direction of Hamlet in a violent way so that Laertes will be seeking revenge on Hamlet.
Horatio receives a letter from a sailor from Hamlet relating that Hamlet was captured by pirates who have returned him to Denmark. Horatio takes the sailors to the king because they have messages for him from Hamlet. Hamlet has returned, and Horatio leaves to find him near the palace.
Claudius and Laertes discuss Hamlet and why Claudius did not punish him publicly so as to not upset those that love Hamlet very much, like Gertrude. Laertes is glad to know that Hamlet has returned so that his revenge may take place very soon. Claudius encourages Laertes’ want for revenge because he believes Hamlet to be a threat to his kingship, his rule. (This is because he knows that Hamlet knows something about his murdering his brother, Hamlet’s father).
Claudius begins to create a plan in which Hamlet will be sure to die. Laertes and Hamlet will fence, and Laertes will have a poisoned sword. If he does not win against Hamlet, another option (plan B) will fall into place in which Hamlet shall be offered poisoned wine. Gertrude enters to say that Ophelia has drowned herself in the river due to her extreme grief and madness.

Hamlet-Act 3

Act 3

Claudius and Gertrude talk to Hamlet’s two friends who claim that they know not the cause of his recent behavior. They relate Hamlet’s enthusiasm towards the actors, and Claudius and Gertrude agree to see the play the actors are going to put on. Claudius and Polonius position Ophelia where they want her to be upon meeting with Hamlet so they can secretly watch the encounter. Hamlet comes in the room, talking to himself and using the famous line “to be or not to be: that is the question.” He is speaking about how sorrowful people are in life, but that they also fear what is after life. Ophelia approaches him and does as her father told her to do; return any tokens of affection that he has given her. This angers Hamlet and he denies ever having given her anything. He tells Ophelia to become a nun. He claims that women bring out the worst in men, and he wishes an end to all marriages. Ophelia is very disheartened by this speech. Claudius says that Hamlet’s madness is obviously not derived from love for Ophelia but in something possibly dangerous that he fears will be very bad once it erupts from within Hamlet. He decides it would be best for Hamlet if he sends him to England, away from Elsinore, to possibly distract him or be rid of his “mad” state of mind. Polonius, however, is still convinced Hamlet’s madness comes out of love for Ophelia and wants to set up a meeting between Queen Gertrude and Hamlet on which he can hide away again and spy to know for sure about Hamlet’s apparent madness. Claudius agrees to this.
The actors prepare to put on the play, and Hamlet speaks to Horatio about Claudius. Since Hamlet had told Horatio about the ghost and Claudius murdering his father (King Hamlet) he asks Horatio to watch Claudius’ expression during the play to detect any signs of guilt. Hamlet warns Horatio that he may begin to act “mad” once the performance begins, and sure enough, he does. He acts strangely/insanely toward Claudius and rude and harsh toward Ophelia whom he is sitting by. The actors act out the “dumb show” or rather, the silent “summary” of what the play will be about. The actors perform almost exactly what happened concerning Claudius and his brother; how Claudius poisoned his brother and seduced Gertrude. Claudius gets deeply uncomfortable with the play and walks out. (This displays his evident guilt in the matter.) Everyone then leaves the performance. Hamlet’s mother calls him to speak with her. Hamlet says he will go in a moment. He resolves to be stern with her, but not harm her in any way.
Claudius speaks to Hamlet’s school friends and asks them to escort him to England on account that his behavior may be dangerous. Polonius reminds Claudius of the plan to spy on Queen Gertrude whilst she speaks to Hamlet, and he says he will tell Claudius everything that he finds out. Claudius, alone, tries to pray under the extreme gilt he feels for having murdered his own brother. Hamlet enters, intent on killing Claudius, only, he observes Claudius is in prayer and doesn’t want to send him to heaven on account that his father never got to repent before his death. So, he must kill Claudius when he is sinning. Hamlet leaves and Claudius gives up trying to pray.
When Hamlet goes to speak with Gertrude, he frightens her and by frightening her, also frightens Polonius who is hidden in the room, spying. Hamlet thinks that it is Claudius and stabs his dagger at the person. This kills Polonius. Hamlet then speaks “daggers” at his mother for being seduced by Claudius and marrying him so quickly and forgetting her late husband so fast. She begs him to stop; he is making her examine her soul, and she doesn’t like what she sees. The ghost appears to remind Hamlet that he is only supposed to seek revenge for his murder, nothing more. Gertrude cannot hear or see the ghost, and so she thinks that Hamlet’s madness is now confirmed to be real. Hamlet tries to convince his mother that his madness has only been an act, but to not tell Claudius of this. Gertrude agrees not to tell. Hamlet leaves the room, dragging Polonius’ body behind him.

Hamlet-Act 2

Act 2

Polonius sends one of his servants to France to casually spy on Laertes and make sure he is behaving himself there. Ophelia enters, extremely upset because Hamlet “grabbed” her, but said nothing to her. Polonius decides that this must be because Hamlet is driven mad with his love for Ophelia since she hasn’t been seeing him anymore as Polonius told her not to. Polonius goes to tell Claudius of this presumption.
Claudius and Gertrude invite Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two of Hamlet’s friends from school, to Elsinore to try and cheer Hamlet up and decrease his moodiness/madness. Claudius receives news that he has avoided war with Fortinbras who was convinced to wage war elsewhere. Polonius presents love notes to Claudius and Gertrude that Hamlet had given to Ophelia. He believes that Ophelia is the cause of his madness. Polonius wants to set Ophelia and Hamlet up to meet and listen to their conversation secretly, hidden out of sight. From this, Polonius hopes to see if Ophelia is the cause of Hamlet’s “madness.” Gertrude and Claudius agree to try this plan. Polonius first wants to speak with Hamlet, though. When he speaks to Hamlet, Hamlet definitely appears and sounds insane, and Polonius leaves, now wanting to hurriedly arrange the meeting between Ophelia and Hamlet. Hamlet then speaks to his two school friends who he is happy to see, but suspicious of their true reasons for coming. He gets it out of them that they were sent by King Claudius to relieve him (Hamlet) from his saddened state. Hamlet admits that lately he has been in a state of indifference to everything and everyone. A group of actors walks toward Hamlet and his friends at Elsinore. Hamlet welcomes his friends to stay, but assures them that King Claudius and his mother are wrong about his “mad” condition. He claims to be mad only some of the time and completely sane the rest of the time. Polonius announces that the actors have arrived, and Hamlet asks one of them to give a speech. He is so taken with the speech that he asks the actors to perform a play the next day: The Murder of Gonzago. This play closely resembles how Claudius murdered his brother, and Hamlet resolves that he will find out if Claudius is guilty of the murder of his brother (Hamlet’s father) by his expression throughout the play the actors put on. Hamlet thinks he will be able to depict any sign of guilt in Claudius’ face if he is truly guilty.

Hamlet-Act 1

Act 1

Francisco and Barnardo are standing guard outside the palace. Francisco goes to bed, Barnardo continues to stand guard. Marcellus and Horatio join him, and suddenly the ghost of the late King Hamlet appears then disappears. The ghost has apparently appeared two nights previously. Horatio explains to Marcellus why the security has been so tight in Denmark lately: King Hamlet of Denmark battled with King Fortinbras of Norway. King Hamlet killed King Fortinbras and got all of his land. However, Fortinbras, the late King Fortinbras’ son, has gotten together a force to try and get the land back. (It is later found out that they are stopped from doing this.) The ghost appears again, and then promptly leaves. The men decide to inform young Hamlet (the late King Hamlet’s son) of the appearance of the ghost and see if he will try to speak with it.
Claudius is married to Hamlet’s mother, Queen Gertrude. Claudius was brother to the late king Hamlet. Hamlet does not approve of their hasty marriage. Hamlet speaks to Barnardo, Marcellus, and Horatio about the ghost and agrees to try speaking to the ghost. The men go and await the ghost’s arrival. Hamlet suspects that if the ghost is dressed in armor, there must be something that is wrong.
Laertes warns Ophelia about Hamlet. He tells her to be careful with her emotions and not give herself to Hamlet for he does not believe Hamlet’s intentions toward her to be good/honest. Laertes leaves on a journey/trip. Polonious speaks to Ophelia as well about Hamlet and his “affections” toward her. He tells her to stay away from Hamlet. Ophelia agrees that she will do as he says.
Horatio, Marcellus, and Hamlet are all awaiting the ghost to appear. The ghost appears, and Hamlet asks the ghost what its purpose for showing itself is. The ghost wants Hamlet to follow him, but Horatio and Marcellus hold him back. Hamlet protests and is released, and the ghost and he walk away together. Horatio and Marcellus follow after them.
The ghost and Hamlet talk, and the ghost tells Hamlet his reason for appearing. He wants Hamlet to know that he was murdered by his brother, King Claudius, and he wants Hamlet to avenge his death. Hamlet promises to do this. When he meets up again with Horatio and Marcellus, he tells them what happened, and then makes them swear not to tell anyone about it. They swear they won’t. They all return to the palace.

Machiavellianism

Look up the term and discuss how it relates to the play.

Machiavellianism is when a person does something, perhaps immoral, to achieve or to retain political power. In Hamlet, Claudius is guilty of machiavellianism. He kills his own brother in order to take his place as king. Claudius also seduces his brother's wife and marries her. These are immoral acts that Claudius committed to gain political power.

"to be or not to be"

Hamlet's soliloquies comprise an important portion of the reading. Discuss why they are important and what function they serve, based on your readings so far. Also, identify and discuss themes that were presented that do not appear on your pretest focus.

Hamlet's soliloquies are important because they provide insight into Hamlet's innermost thoughts and feelings about life, love, revenge, murder...etc. It's only during these speeches that we hear about any of those subjects because everything is very hush hush in Hamlet. The soliloquies enable Hamlet to speak freely, as opposed to when he is in the company of other characters and must keep secret his thoughts. The soliloquies tie in to a big theme that is used throughout the entire play: the theme of speaking the unspeakable. Hamlet never confronts Claudius to ask or accuse him (Claudius) of killing his father. Hamlet uses the players to act out the play that symbolizes Claudius murdering his (Hamlet's) father. This still isnt a direct use of words, though. It's after that performance that Claudius is suspicious that Hamlet knows of his big sin, but still, there is no exchange of words that express this suspicion. Things are kept very secret, very hush in Hamlet.