Hamlet Essay

Hamlet - essay

Shakespeare’s Hamlet is still relevant in today’s context as the themes are timeless and universal.

- Hamlet’s changing perception of fate

-Hamlet’s conflict between his rational and irrational nature

- Hamlets’ inaction

Shakespeare distorts the idea of fate throughout the play through the changing perceptions of the characters. Hamlet chooses to take fate into his own hands by overriding the king and avenging his father. “A villain has killed my father, so I his sole son will do this same villain send to heaven.” By acting mad Hamlet creates tension between himself and the society of Denmark. The Elizabethan audience were mostly religious and believed people who tried to control their own destiny were foolish. Hamlet disrupted the Chain of Being of the time. Claudius sooner than Hamlet realises he needs the help of the divine as he pleads, “bow stubborn knees and hearts with strings of steel.” The use of personification of “stubborn knees” is a reflection of his genuine understanding that he is ultimately not in control and the use of imagery of “hearts with strings of steel” paints a vivid picture of imprisonment and captivity. In the last act Hamlet too finally accepts that “there’s a divinity that shapes our ends.” This conclusion rounds off his perception of fate. Hamlet accepts his role as a fool of providence and it reflects what the audience of the time and many people of today believe. Perceptions of fate are a major theme of the play.

Hamlet continually demonstrates his conflict between his rational and irrational nature throughout the play. At the end of the second scene of Act 2, Hamlet continues to choose not to act. He says, “Break my heart, for I must hold my tongue” referring to is mother’s rushed marriage. This metaphor emphasises the fact that it is not his place to act in this situation. The imagery of a heart breaking illustrates his genuine despair. He later decides to avenge his father, however in Act 3 scene 3 he fails to do so. His inability to kill Claudius