English Notes Latest Questions

  1. Lucifer
    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    Hamlet is instructed by the ghost of his dead father to avenge his murder by Claudius. Since Hamlet is the only person to hear the ghost speak, he is never too sure about his sanity and delays exacting revenge. He gets multiple opportunists like when Claudius is praying etc to finish the job but heRead more

    Hamlet is instructed by the ghost of his dead father to avenge his murder by Claudius. Since Hamlet is the only person to hear the ghost speak, he is never too sure about his sanity and delays exacting revenge.

    He gets multiple opportunists like when Claudius is praying etc to finish the job but he hesitates. His hesitation is two fold- he does not know if Clausius is truly guilty and if he is sane enough to rely on his thoughts.

    Secondly, Hamlet does not know whether murder is the right course of action, This mental struggle is depicted by his hesitation to act one way or the other.

    See less
  1. Lucifer
    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    The theme of supernatural in Hamlet is portrayed by the ghost of the dead King Hamlet. The ghost is seen by multiple people including Horatio and the guards but it speaks only to Hamlet the prince. The ghost provides the audiences with the real motive and plot of the play which is revenge and justicRead more

    The theme of supernatural in Hamlet is portrayed by the ghost of the dead King Hamlet. The ghost is seen by multiple people including Horatio and the guards but it speaks only to Hamlet the prince.

    The ghost provides the audiences with the real motive and plot of the play which is revenge and justice. It also foreshadows Hamlet’s insanity when it warns Hamlet to no taint his mind.

    Hamlet even contemplates that the ghost could be the devil trying to persuade him toward evil  which is another supernatural signifier.

    See less
  1. Lucifer
    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    The theme of delay is exhibited by Hamlet in his indecisiveness to put the murderer of his father to justice. After being visited by his father’s ghost, Hamlet struggles to discern between reality and hallucination. This confusion makes him incapable of thinking with clarity and he finds it difficulRead more

    The theme of delay is exhibited by Hamlet in his indecisiveness to put the murderer of his father to justice. After being visited by his father’s ghost, Hamlet struggles to discern between reality and hallucination.

    This confusion makes him incapable of thinking with clarity and he finds it difficult to act. The delay in action is highlighted by the fact that he only kills Claudius after being stabbed with the positioned sword first. It cones down to fate and destiny finishing its course than Hamlet seizing his own.

    See less
  1. Lucifer
    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    Hamlet and his dead father share a strong bond so much so that even through the veil of death they continue to communicate. The ghost of dead king visits the prince and tells him about his uncle’s betrayal for power. He accuses Gertrude of immoral lusts but advises the prince of not harm her. TheirRead more

    Hamlet and his dead father share a strong bond so much so that even through the veil of death they continue to communicate. The ghost of dead king visits the prince and tells him about his uncle’s betrayal for power.

    He accuses Gertrude of immoral lusts but advises the prince of not harm her. Their relationship becomes the bedrock of all the action that happens in the rest of the play.

    Another father and son relationship is seen in Laertes and Polonius. Even though they are not as close but Laertes does rush to avenge his father’s murder as soon he learns about it. Eventually he dies trying to avenge the same.

    See less
  1. Lucifer
    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    Oedipal complex is indicated between Hamlet and his mother Gertrude. Hamlet is frustrated by his mother’s marriage to his uncle Claudius who he suspects murdered his father. Hamlet’s constant fixation with his mother’s sexual desires and conduct reveals a possible fascination for her physically. HerRead more

    Oedipal complex is indicated between Hamlet and his mother Gertrude. Hamlet is frustrated by his mother’s marriage to his uncle Claudius who he suspects murdered his father.

    Hamlet’s constant fixation with his mother’s sexual desires and conduct reveals a possible fascination for her physically. Her words and opprobrium may suggest an unfulfilled lust for her.

    Hamlet’s comments do read more live unrequited lamentation than moral sanctions. He seems to be more upset about his mother sleeping with Claudius than Claudius murdering his father.

    See less
  1. Lucifer
    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    The two grave diggers exquisitely provide comic buildup to the climax of the play. Before the entrance of Hamlet and his fight with Laertes, the two gravediggers discuss the theme of death with a tone of jest and comicality. They joke about the inevitability of death and that the gravediggers are thRead more

    The two grave diggers exquisitely provide comic buildup to the climax of the play. Before the entrance of Hamlet and his fight with Laertes, the two gravediggers discuss the theme of death with a tone of jest and comicality.

    They joke about the inevitability of death and that the gravediggers are the last to die. They remember Yorick, a clown known for his jokes whose skull lay bare in the ground.

    The theme leads to an intense moment when Hamlet confronts the same skull and wonders how even the mightiest of emperors like Alexander find their own mortality inescapable.

    See less
  1. Lucifer
    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    Hamlet juxtaposes an interesting narrative of power where male characters are seen vying for power or abusing it while female characters are seen subjected and dis-empowered. Claudius is determine to hold on to political power while Polonius desires power over his daughter Ophelia and son Laertees.Read more

    Hamlet juxtaposes an interesting narrative of power where male characters are seen vying for power or abusing it while female characters are seen subjected and dis-empowered.

    Claudius is determine to hold on to political power while Polonius desires power over his daughter Ophelia and son Laertees. Hamlet understands his lack of power against Claudius but abuses his position of power against both his mother Gertrude and lover Ophelia.

    In the climax, both Hamlet and Laertes are seen contesting for power over the legacy of dead Ophelia claiming to love her deeply. Even the Norwegian king Fortinbras shows a lust for power and finally succeeds in conquering Denmark.

    See less
  1. Lucifer
    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    The rhyme scheme of the poem is not consistent and it alternates. First three stanzas’ scheme is ABCB. Then it changes to ABCC in third stanza and the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th stanzas are again in ABCB scheme. The 8th stanza’s scheme is AACC and the last stanza ends like a sermon where the line “I riseRead more

    The rhyme scheme of the poem is not consistent and it alternates. First three stanzas’ scheme is ABCB. Then it changes to ABCC in third stanza and the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th stanzas are again in ABCB scheme. The 8th stanza’s scheme is AACC and the last stanza ends like a sermon where the line “I rise” is repeated three times.

    See less
  1. Lucifer
    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    Comic relief in Hamlet provides not just break form intense drama but adds more detail to the next dramatic occurrence. These episodes of lighthearted fun bring a level if foreshadowing for the impending disaster. The conversation between the two gravediggers and then with Hamlet is the most exquisiRead more

    Comic relief in Hamlet provides not just break form intense drama but adds more detail to the next dramatic occurrence. These episodes of lighthearted fun bring a level if foreshadowing for the impending disaster.

    The conversation between the two gravediggers and then with Hamlet is the most exquisite example of Shakespearean comic relief.

    The initial barbs by Polonius aimed at Hamlet and the constant ridicule of Polonius by Hamlet provides moments of sheer audacity and jocularity to the intense tone of the play.

    See less
  1. Lucifer
    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    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.

    See less