Revenge is the main theme and plot of Hamlet. Inspired by the ghost of his dead father and former king, Hamlet is determined to kill Claudius and regain the crown. However, he is confused with his own justification of the sin of murder and delays the act even when there are opportunities to claim reRead more
Revenge is the main theme and plot of Hamlet. Inspired by the ghost of his dead father and former king, Hamlet is determined to kill Claudius and regain the crown.
However, he is confused with his own justification of the sin of murder and delays the act even when there are opportunities to claim revenge. He pretends to be mad and often loses his ability to differentiate between sanity and madness, life and mortality. This internal struggle frustrates his desire for revenge.
Laertes, Polonius son also tries to seek revenge from Hamlet for the murder of his gather and the suicide of his sister Ophelia.
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Religion as apart of Elizabethan society is seen in the text of Hamlet as well. The young prince is visited by the spirit of his dead father and the ghost can be interpreted differently according to different religious beliefs. From a protestant view just like Hamlet, it could be devil trying to incRead more
Religion as apart of Elizabethan society is seen in the text of Hamlet as well. The young prince is visited by the spirit of his dead father and the ghost can be interpreted differently according to different religious beliefs.
From a protestant view just like Hamlet, it could be devil trying to incite Hamlet into committing the sin of murder. Similarly, the scene where Claudius is praying, Hamlet refrains from killing him.
He fears that if Claudius is killed while praying his soul may find solace in heaven. Another striking example his the ‘To be or not to be’ soliloquy in which Hamlet argues the religious aspect of suicide and in the end resists taking his life. There is also references of incest and sexual misconduct which is rooted in biblical discourse.
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