Just Can't Say Goodbye

Literature is a way for us, as readers, to gain an understanding about human nature. Many individuals are alienated because of how they grieve the loss of someone close to them. The societies present in Hamlet by William Shakespeare and The Shawl by Cynthia Ozick have an established period of time deemed appropriate for grieving. Rosa and Hamlet grieve over a scheduled period of time that is deemed inappropriate by society due to differences. While Rosa and Hamlet grieve their respective losses, their respective societies perceives them as individuals who have distanced themselves from reality.

In Hamlet, William Shakespeare uses language and character interactions to illustrate how society alienated Hamlet due to the way he grieved. Hamlet continues to grieve his fathers death even after society has moved on. Hamlet grieved the loss of his father by turning inwards and plotting his vengeance. Hamlet’s outburst in the theatre was deemed by society as an inappropriate way to grieve so, society alienated Hamlet by describing him as mad. Hamlet starts to see his father’s ghost and starts looking over his shoulder constantly. As Cladius continues to become increasingly paranoid due to the irrationality of a crazy Hamlet. This paranoia by Claudius leads to Hamlet killing Rosenkrantz, Gildenstern and Polonius which further alienates Hamlet from society. After killing these three men, Hamlet is seen as mad and a killer which leads to another disconnect from society. As the play progresses Hamlet appears in darker places by himself more often and also starts talking to himself. He is plotting the murder of Claudius and by entrenching himself in these cynical thoughts Hamlet becomes an outsider and distant from society.

In The Shawl, Cynthia Ozick uses language and character interactions to illustrate how society alienated Rosa due to the way she grieved. As Rosa continues to grieve for the loss of her daughter, she continues to become more