Essay about Hamlet Analysis

Hamlet was a play by William Shakespeare crippled with death and immorality. The play opens with the main character's, Hamlet's, father's death. Several men are outside the kingdom when they meet a ghost. After deciding to tell Hamlet about the ghost, it is finalized that the ghost is Hamlet's deceased father. Hamlet then decides to see the ghost for himself. The reader is also introduced to Claudius, Hamlet's uncle, who has reached the throne and also married the deceased King Hamlet's wife. Later, Laertes and Ophelia are introduced. Laertes warns Ophelia against relations with Hamlet. They are then joined by Polonius who, after Laertes leaves, also warns

Laertes acts as a foil for Hamlet and develops Hamlet’s character in many ways seen by the audience; Laertes character develops Hamlet’s intelligence. When Laertes comes back to Denmark to get revenge for his father’s death, Claudius easily manipulates him. “To thine own peace. If he be now return'd, As checking at his voyage, and that he means no more to undertake it, I will work him to an exploit, now ripe in my device, under the which he shall not choose but fall. And for his death no wind of blame shall breathe, but even his mother shall un charge the practice and call it accident.” (Act IV Scene VII, Lines 60-70) Claudius comes up with a plan to kill Hamlet without having to be the murderer; therefore it is Laertes that will look guilty

Shakespeare finally allows Hamlet to come to terms with his father’s death. After the betrayal of Guildenstein and Rosencrantz, Hamlet realizes what a coward he has been, not able to avenge his father’s death. When Hamlet returns to Denmark, he learns of Ophelia’s death. Laertes is outraged by Hamlets return. Claudius organizes a duel between Laertes and Hamlet, Hamlet knows Claudius has “laid the odds a’ th’ weaker side” (V. ii. 245).

(1.5.33-35) Clearly, Hamlet is eager to have his revenge. However, he is very hesitant. And rightfully so, he was just told by his ghost of a father that his father was murdered by Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle. Laertes had been a friend of Hamlet's ever since they were young lads scurrying around Denmark.

Hamlet is trying to kill Claudius. Claudius has already taken a step forward by putting Laertes against Hamlet. "To thine own peace. If he be now returned, As checking at his voyage, and that he means No more to undertake it, I will work him To an exploit, now ripe in my devise, Under the which he shall not choose but fall. And for his death no wind of blame shall breathe, But even his mother shall uncharge the practice And call it accident." Laertes wrath towards  Hamlet is as much rage he has towards Claudius. Claudius already knows what is coming towards him, which is why he is using Laertes. Laertes believes that Claudius is being impartial that is why it's an ideal disarray for Hamlet. Hamlet has two powerful enemies on him and it makes it complicated to get justice on Claudius. It's not going to be easy for neither of the rivals.

As they did during the play, spying on each other reactions, they set up a duel between Hamlet and Laertes, Hamlet's own family is trying to kill him by helping Laertes win, the poison they try to make him drink ends up killing Gertrude, The false Honor of Laertes in his fight ends up killing him too, Hamlet himself dies after everyone, but Horatio, passed away also.

69, 65-68). Laertes has lost all form of conscience because of his anger towards Hamlet, he even wants “to cut [Hamlet’s] throat i’ the church” which is a grave offense that would surely send Laertes to Hell (4.7.127). Hamlet, on the other hand, spends much of his time plotting how he will gain his revenge. He has “heard / That guilty creatures sitting at a play…have proclaimed their malefactions…/ Before mine uncle, I’ll observe his looks…If ‘a do blench, / I know my course” (2.2.589-90, 593, 597.598-9). Hamlet chooses to show the King a play, very like that of Claudius’ own murderous deed, in order to cause a reaction. When “the King rises” unexpectedly, Hamlet gains some evidence of the King’s guilt, beyond the word of a ghost.

Laertes serves a foil to Hamlet, although they are not similar in birth, they are similar in that they both have a dear father murdered. Using this parallel, Shakespeare uses Laertes to show what Hamlet should be doing, contrasting Laertes’s words of action to Hamlet’s own words of action. We see this most clearly when Laertes is talking with Claudius and he says that he will “cut [Hamlet’s] throat i' th' church” to avenge his father, this contrasts directly with Hamlet who decides not to kill a praying Claudius when he has the chance (4.7.144). Laertes also serves as external conflict as he challenges Hamlet to a fight and is convinced by Claudius to kill Hamlet with a poisoned sword. Without this fight, who knows if Hamlet would have gotten around to kill Claudius? But when we really look at Laertes’ words and consequent action, we see another similarity with Hamlet, both are rash and passionate. This is significant because

Laertes turns to Hamlet, again confessing, “I can no more: the king, the king’s to blame” (V.II.284). A sudden realization of the soon to be death, Hamlet rushes in a fury and confronts Claudius, first stabbing him with the poisoned saber and then forcing Claudius to “Drink off this potion” (V.II.290) that is “temper’d by himself” (V.II.293) just as a Claudius did to Hamlet’s

When he confronts the king, Laertes is convinced to take part in a plan to kill Hamlet. Claudius skillfully uses pathos to appeal to Laertes’ anger and sadness to convince him. He begins this strategy by saying, “Laertes, was your father dear to you?” (Shakespeare iV.Vii.110). Claudius is questioning Laertes’ loyalty to his father, putting Laertes on the

demands that he find the right person. In order to reveal Claudius’ guilt, he puts on a play that is

This scene is Hamlet’s first encounter with the ghost, and could be the audience’s first speculation of the young prince’s sanity. Hamlet is quick to join the guards on watch, and follow the ghost when it motions for Hamlet to follow it. However, his rash action of following the ghost and believing its story of Claudius killing King Hamlet is a direct result to his father’s death. During his return from his conversation with the ghost, it can be inferred that Hamlet plots his next move to avenge the ghost’s death by killing King Claudius. Hamlet plans to fake insanity from Horatio's previous warning when he meets his father's

When Hamlet is first encountered with the ghost that resembles his father, it is revealed that his uncle Claudius might have been the cause of his father’s death. Hamlet is then confused about what he should believe and how he

2always has to make sure he thinks things over before he does anything. Laertes wants to get back at Hamlet for killing his father. “How came he dead? I'll not be juggled with. To hell, allegiance! Vows, to the blackest devil! Conscience and grace, to the profoundest pit! I dare damnation. To this point I stand. That both the worlds I give to negligence. Let come what comes, only I'll be revenged. Most thoroughly for my father”. Act 4 Scene 5. Laertes tires to figure out what happened and how it happened, he is trying to figure out why he was killed and by who. He wants his father to have a proper burial, but he can not find the body because Hamlet hid it in another room. Hamlet and Laertes is so different in so many ways. Hamlet wanted to talk things out and make everyone happy at the end.

After talking with Horatio about the recent sighting of the ghost, Hamlet asserts, “My father’s spirit—in arms? All is not well. I doubt some foul play” (Shakespeare Act I, Scene ii, Line 255). By making the association that the presence of the ghost means something grave in his aside, Hamlet displays his keen ability to reason situations and understand their implications. Furthermore, Hamlet exhibits his desire for accuracy and resistance to deception through his plans to start his revenge for his father’s death. He describes his plan in an aside as he says, “I will have these players. Play something like the murder of my father, before mine uncle. I’ll observe his looks, I’ll tent him to the quick. If’a do bleach, I know my course” (II, ii, 606). Shakespeare highlights Hamlet’s astute judgment and complex thought through his discrete and intricate plan to use the Players’ performance to verify Claudius’ responsibility for the murder of King Hamlet. Moreover, Hamlet demonstrates his shrewdness, as he does not let his friends mislead him or extract essential information from him. Hamlet