11.18.16
Prompt: Explain what is revealed about human nature in Hamlet. Use characters and situations to illustrate your 4 points.
As we have seen the plot of Hamlet from its very beginning to the end, much is revealed about the human nature in the play. One of the more prime examples in the play revolves around how a single individual or a group of individuals will lie in order to benefit for themselves. For example, the death of King Hamlet was a complete lie in part by Claudius in order to obtain power. By poisoning King Hamlet, Claudius went on to wed Queen Gertrude. Another example floats around the fact that Claudius had Hamlet sent to England for his own good, which was essentially Claudius trying to kill him as well for his own good. From this moment, it helps the reader infer that Claudius was afraid that Hamlet would end up causing the downfall of Claudius's reign over Denmark. From the two prior examples, it is obviously seen that men during this time period were more driven by power, wealth, and status rather than morals and ethics. To focus on a different character, we can look at Queen Gertrude. She married Claudius not too long after King Hamlet had passed, which affected Hamlet's character greatly. When I read that she moved on so quickly from her previous marriage, I was very surprised, but at the same time I was not. I can connect this to the novel, Pride and Prejudice, because within that novel women and men marry without actually having a bond of love, but rather for financial security and well-being. This is possibly what Gertrude was also doing during this play because of how quickly she moved on from her husband.
Friday, November 18, 2016
Hamlet Blog 6
11.18.16
Prompt: Find evidence of Hamlet's religious beliefs. How do these beliefs influence his actions and decisions?
Within the play, Hamlet, religion does not play a large influence. In Catholicism, (from what we learned in class) if an individual does not pray or repent their sins then they will most likely be sent to Hell rather than Heaven. Within Act III Scene III, Claudius is praying and Hamlet begins his approach on him in order to avenge his father's death. However, Hamlet decides to not kill Claudius during this scene because he is praying and would be sent to Heaven for repenting his sins or praying in general. Hamlet's father was killed without praying, so it is only justified that Claudius, too, would be killed at a time where he was without prayer. At the least, Act III Scene III provides some insight into Hamlet's religious beliefs and some evidence that his character falls under the Catholic religion.
Prompt: Find evidence of Hamlet's religious beliefs. How do these beliefs influence his actions and decisions?
Within the play, Hamlet, religion does not play a large influence. In Catholicism, (from what we learned in class) if an individual does not pray or repent their sins then they will most likely be sent to Hell rather than Heaven. Within Act III Scene III, Claudius is praying and Hamlet begins his approach on him in order to avenge his father's death. However, Hamlet decides to not kill Claudius during this scene because he is praying and would be sent to Heaven for repenting his sins or praying in general. Hamlet's father was killed without praying, so it is only justified that Claudius, too, would be killed at a time where he was without prayer. At the least, Act III Scene III provides some insight into Hamlet's religious beliefs and some evidence that his character falls under the Catholic religion.
Friday, November 11, 2016
Hamlet Blog 5
Prompt: Discuss Hamlet's treatment of, and ideas about women. How might these help to clarify some of the interpretive issues of the play? You might want to consider carefully the way he talks about sexuality.
Throughout what we have read in the play, it can be inferred that Hamlet's character does not respect nor gratify women. The women that are most commonly talked about in the play are Ophelia and Queen Gertrude. From Hamlet's interactions with both of these women, we notice that they are definitely not treated with the most respect as he would treat another man in the play. However, it is obvious that Hamlet does care about both of these women. The relationship between Ophelia and Hamlet is an odd one, as it is pretty evident that Hamlet loves her,or has some sort of driving emotion towards her, at least. An interpretive issue of the play that was brought up in a class discussion on whether or not Hamlet had a drive towards his own mother, and that was why he wanted to avenge his father and assassinate King Claudius might be clarified by Hamlet's treatment and ideas about women because it would reveal something that was otherwise not know. However, from what I have read and heard in discussions, it isn't clarified on whether or not this interpretation is accurate or not as we still assume that Hamlet has feelings/love for Ophelia.
Throughout what we have read in the play, it can be inferred that Hamlet's character does not respect nor gratify women. The women that are most commonly talked about in the play are Ophelia and Queen Gertrude. From Hamlet's interactions with both of these women, we notice that they are definitely not treated with the most respect as he would treat another man in the play. However, it is obvious that Hamlet does care about both of these women. The relationship between Ophelia and Hamlet is an odd one, as it is pretty evident that Hamlet loves her,or has some sort of driving emotion towards her, at least. An interpretive issue of the play that was brought up in a class discussion on whether or not Hamlet had a drive towards his own mother, and that was why he wanted to avenge his father and assassinate King Claudius might be clarified by Hamlet's treatment and ideas about women because it would reveal something that was otherwise not know. However, from what I have read and heard in discussions, it isn't clarified on whether or not this interpretation is accurate or not as we still assume that Hamlet has feelings/love for Ophelia.
Hamlet Blog 4
Prompt: How do you explain Hamlet's inability to act in avenging his father's death?
Hamlet's inability to act in avenging his own father's death can be explained with his hesitation and his seemingly perfectionist character. Based off of what we, as readers, already know about Hamlet, we can assume that Hamlet was raised in a moral matter where revenge and murder were not brought up as something morally right to do. Hamlet's uncontrolled emotions push him to the verge of his own psychological state, that these emotions overtake him. Since Hamlet does not have much experience with the current flow of emotions that he is feeling, his revenge takes turns and causes (at times) hesitation and actions that are not fully thought through. Hamlet's perfectionist qualities are seen throughout his planning to kill King Claudius because he wants to make sure that while he is avenging his father's death it is done perfectly and without error. It goes without saying that Hamlet's inability to act in avenging his father because of how he wanted to perfect it and how hesitant Hamlet's character was to pursue his thoughts.
Hamlet's inability to act in avenging his own father's death can be explained with his hesitation and his seemingly perfectionist character. Based off of what we, as readers, already know about Hamlet, we can assume that Hamlet was raised in a moral matter where revenge and murder were not brought up as something morally right to do. Hamlet's uncontrolled emotions push him to the verge of his own psychological state, that these emotions overtake him. Since Hamlet does not have much experience with the current flow of emotions that he is feeling, his revenge takes turns and causes (at times) hesitation and actions that are not fully thought through. Hamlet's perfectionist qualities are seen throughout his planning to kill King Claudius because he wants to make sure that while he is avenging his father's death it is done perfectly and without error. It goes without saying that Hamlet's inability to act in avenging his father because of how he wanted to perfect it and how hesitant Hamlet's character was to pursue his thoughts.
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Hamlet Blog 3
Prompt: Discuss the importance of appearance and reality in Hamlet
Within the play of Hamlet, one of the most obvious issues of appearance and reality revolves around the ghost of Hamlet's father. Obviously, the ghost is not a real figure, but rather a supernatural one. The lacking of reality of the ghost makes it hard for Hamlet to act upon the revenge of his father's death that the ghost wants him to pursue. Throughout Act II, Hamlet also uses the characters of the Players as an instrument or a play device to make the scene and situation of the King's death and the ghost more realistic for himself and those who are confused about the situation. This makes King Hamlet's ghostly appearance more of a reality rather than just a common appearance to a few characters in the book. So far in the book, the major importance of appearance and reality in Hamlet revolves around the ghost, however, I am sure there is more to come about the ghost, Hamlet's revenge, and more appearances from the Players to illustrate Hamlet's thoughts and meetings with the ghost, or potentially something else.
Within the play of Hamlet, one of the most obvious issues of appearance and reality revolves around the ghost of Hamlet's father. Obviously, the ghost is not a real figure, but rather a supernatural one. The lacking of reality of the ghost makes it hard for Hamlet to act upon the revenge of his father's death that the ghost wants him to pursue. Throughout Act II, Hamlet also uses the characters of the Players as an instrument or a play device to make the scene and situation of the King's death and the ghost more realistic for himself and those who are confused about the situation. This makes King Hamlet's ghostly appearance more of a reality rather than just a common appearance to a few characters in the book. So far in the book, the major importance of appearance and reality in Hamlet revolves around the ghost, however, I am sure there is more to come about the ghost, Hamlet's revenge, and more appearances from the Players to illustrate Hamlet's thoughts and meetings with the ghost, or potentially something else.
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Hamlet Blog 2
Prompt: Is something rotten in the state of Denmark? If so, what precisely is it? Is anyone in particular responsible or is the rottenness simply a condition of life?
Throughout reading Act I in class, we hear the phrase "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark." From the beginning to the end of this novel, we are able to infer and see foreshadowing for what exactly this phrase means. One of the largest pieces of evidence that something is rotten is by the return of Hamlet's ghost, which happens several times. However, only in the last two scenes does the ghost actually make any efforts to express any type of actions or dialogue. From Act 1 Scene 5, we learn that Claudius is the murderer of King Hamlet, instead of the king dying from natural causes. From this knowledge that is learned in Scene 5, it can be inferred that the 'something' in the phrase "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark" is truly the 'solved' mystery of King Hamlet's death. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark because of Claudius murdering the king in order to marry Queen Gertrude and take the throne of Denmark. So, it is obviously made that Claudius is particularly responsible for the rottenness, and it is not simply a condition of life.
In conclusion, the rotten state of Denmark (in Act I) revolves around the murder of King Hamlet and the murderer, Claudius. From what it seems, Claudius tricked Queen Gertrude into marrying him because there was such a short period of remorse from the Queen over the dead Hamlet. From this trickery and murder, it is made well-known that Claudius is particularly responsible for the rottenness describes throughout Act I and throughout the entire rest of the play.
Throughout reading Act I in class, we hear the phrase "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark." From the beginning to the end of this novel, we are able to infer and see foreshadowing for what exactly this phrase means. One of the largest pieces of evidence that something is rotten is by the return of Hamlet's ghost, which happens several times. However, only in the last two scenes does the ghost actually make any efforts to express any type of actions or dialogue. From Act 1 Scene 5, we learn that Claudius is the murderer of King Hamlet, instead of the king dying from natural causes. From this knowledge that is learned in Scene 5, it can be inferred that the 'something' in the phrase "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark" is truly the 'solved' mystery of King Hamlet's death. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark because of Claudius murdering the king in order to marry Queen Gertrude and take the throne of Denmark. So, it is obviously made that Claudius is particularly responsible for the rottenness, and it is not simply a condition of life.
In conclusion, the rotten state of Denmark (in Act I) revolves around the murder of King Hamlet and the murderer, Claudius. From what it seems, Claudius tricked Queen Gertrude into marrying him because there was such a short period of remorse from the Queen over the dead Hamlet. From this trickery and murder, it is made well-known that Claudius is particularly responsible for the rottenness describes throughout Act I and throughout the entire rest of the play.
Hamlet Blog 1
Prompt: To what extent is Hamlet's quest for revenge justifiable in terms of the situation presented? Why or why not?
Based off of knowledge from Act 1, Hamlet's quest for revenge is justifiable enough by his father's death. In the final scenes of Act 1, the reader and Hamlet learn of his father's death being a murder, and not from a natural cause of death. Evidence about this murder can be seen from when the ghost states, "Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder." (1.5._) The ghost is telling Hamlet to seek revenge for his father's death. Personally, I do believe that the situation in its entirety (from our knowledge so far) allows for Hamlet's quest for revenge to be justifiable, mostly because there is suspicion and knowledge that Claudius kills Hamlet for the crown and to trickily marry Queen Gertrude of Denmark. From this knowledge that Hamlet receives/already knows, he would be making his father's real cause of death known to everyone in Denmark. For the reasons of knowledge about Claudius and making his father's death known throughout Denmark, the terms are justified for seeking revenge on his father's death.
Based off of knowledge from Act 1, Hamlet's quest for revenge is justifiable enough by his father's death. In the final scenes of Act 1, the reader and Hamlet learn of his father's death being a murder, and not from a natural cause of death. Evidence about this murder can be seen from when the ghost states, "Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder." (1.5._) The ghost is telling Hamlet to seek revenge for his father's death. Personally, I do believe that the situation in its entirety (from our knowledge so far) allows for Hamlet's quest for revenge to be justifiable, mostly because there is suspicion and knowledge that Claudius kills Hamlet for the crown and to trickily marry Queen Gertrude of Denmark. From this knowledge that Hamlet receives/already knows, he would be making his father's real cause of death known to everyone in Denmark. For the reasons of knowledge about Claudius and making his father's death known throughout Denmark, the terms are justified for seeking revenge on his father's death.
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