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Causes And Effect Of Hamlet

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Hamlet Cause and Effect Essay
Hamlet’s Soliloquy Act IV, Scene IV, 31-65
Sharumilan Vijayaratnam

“Always mystify torture, mislead, and surprise the audience as much as possible”. This is exactly what happened in William Shakespeare’s, dramatic production Hamlet. The play, which is set in the Kingdom of Denmark, recounts how Prince Hamlet exacts revenge on his uncle Claudius for murdering his father old King Hamlet, succeeding to the throne and his own mother. These contentious themes attracted viewers everywhere, tantalizing them to observe the play. One scene in particular from the original text of the play where this proves factual is during act IV, scene IV, lines 31-65, in which Hamlet decides that the time for retribution is at hand …show more content…

The speech not only notifies the audience of Hamlet’s craving for revenge, but also how this idea will affect the concluding scenes of the play. As the prince’s spiel arrives to a conclusion, he exclaims, "Oh, from this time forth/My thoughts be bloody, or be worth nothing! (IV. IV. 64-65). It appears his judgment is certain and that his revenge is inevitable. However, Hamlet has questioned his own purpose concerning vengeance before, leaving the audience to speculate whether or not he will remain true to his words or not. The audience, connecting to Hamlet’s sense of perplexity and indecisiveness, will consequently fall on Hamlet’s every deed from this point on. Moreover, the theme of revenge allows the audience to see similarities between the two central characters who seek retribution, Hamlet and Fortinbras, which results in an enhanced understanding of the theme in general. After fleeting the Norwegian army, Hamlet thinks to himself: “Witness this army of such mass and charge, Led by a delicate and tender prince, Whose spirit with divine ambition puffed, Makes mouths at the invisible event, Exposing what is mortal and unsure, To all that fortune, death, and danger dare, Even for an eggshell.”(IV, IV, 46-52) Although both desire vengeance, it is unambiguous the two princes are awfully diverse in personality. While Hamlet is slow and hesitant to act, Fortinbras is quick and hasty, even over an exceedingly hazardous matter with a motive "as thin as an eggshell." From witnessing these characters, the audience is able to scrutinize revenge and how it comes in many shapes and manifestations, and even question how it may be present in their own lives. Would one be apathetic and irresolute like Hamlet? When in life have both of these mannerisms been exhibited? Questions like these permit the audience to feel more connected to the play, especially

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