Even though we are much farther into the book, I still can’t think of anyone in my life, or movies that remind me of the characters in Hamlet. I might be able to pull out some familiar predicament I may have seen in my life that characters have gone through. Ophelia’s situation is somewhat similar to what boys and girls go through every day. There are many different relationships between males in females. In this case, Hamlet is a complete and utter jerk to Ophelia, and Ophelia takes it on but it still hurts her. There are abusive relationships in which boys are abusive the girls. I’ve seen relationships in which they tease each other or if they’re best friends they’ll be mean to each other and call each other names. Males in general will call a female beautiful/fair which Hamlet does, but he’s still pretty cruel to her by calling her a whore.
Claudius is definitely an interesting kind of villain. He knows what he did was wrong but he accepts it and in this case he prays and asks for forgiveness. In stories I’ve seen or read, the antagonist did what they did on purpose but I don’t usually see them praying for forgiveness because they are pure evil. There are some instances in which the antagonist realize their wrong and turn to good. Sometimes they’ll ask for forgiveness just for their life to be saved and when I think about it now maybe that’s what Claudius wants. Claudius has caused the conflict of the story which sets the plot for the story. He knows what he did was wrong. He murdered his brother so he could take the throne from him and have power. Then he took away his brother’s wife because he lusts for her. He took Hamlet’s parents away which is the cause for Hamlet’s insanity.
I definitely see the Good/Evil theme in Act III. (Lines 98-99, Act III, Scene III) Claudius rises after he finishes his prayer and says, “My words fly up, my thoughts remain below.
Words without thoughts never to heaven go,” Claudius accepts that he has sinned and done evil. He does feel guilt for what he did and asks forgiveness, but in the end admits that even though he says he asks for forgiveness, it sounds like he doesn’t actually mean it. Claudius in the end is evil. I feel like all these characters are cruel to each other. Hamlet sees Claudius praying and realizes that if he kills him now he would go to Heaven. Hamlet does not want that, he wants proper revenge so that Claudius can go to hell for what he did. Hamlet wanting to kill is just as evil as well. Good can’t exist without Evil.
I know that Hamlet's motive behind not killing Claudius while he's praying like you said b/c he didn't want him to go to heaven. But I don't get is by him confessing his sins already doesn't that mean he will be forgiven with the opportunity to go to heaven regardless if Hamlet killed him then while he was on his knees praying or if he killed him later on in the near future?
ReplyDeleteI agree that there is a good vs. evil theme in the play, my take on it though is that hamlet wanted to be good but there are different views on what is good and honorable and what is bad and dishonorable. For example getting revenge was considered to be honorable yet killing is evil, this creates a conflict within Hamlet (and everyone else today) he doesn’t want to kill but her promised the ghost to get revenge.
ReplyDeleteIt's true you don't see villains prey for forgiveness often in movies or stories. I thing Shakespeare's story plays on the fact that everyone in the story are so human in nature and anyone can see this being a real story because of all the different interpretations that can seen on different angles much like life experiences. All characters are family or acquaintance in the royal arena of the Danish kingdom and I can only imagine all the social pressures of manhood and royalty.
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