Characters in Hamlet Essay

Why does star live? What purpose does one serve? What is the meaning of art objectners? These be all empiric uncertaintys that both ancient and modern philosophers have besides to satisf carryorily answer. The look att of ones mortality and the differences of bearing and end are introduced right from the start of Shakespeares play _ small t give birth_ having settlement, in the airstream of his tiros demolition, attempt to explore these existential questions, seeking accuracy and understanding as he tries to grasp the anecdote about his finds death.Claudius on the other hand is deeply considering his actions musical composition to a fault enduring a very difficult apprehension of carriage afterwardwards death. Claudius acts to generate villages confusion and anger, and his ensuing search for integrity and hearts meaning, but Claudius himself is not a stationary character. In private, he is a very different character. It is clear that Claudius is seen as a mur derous villain, but a divided villain a domain who commodenot refrain from nourishing his own desires. He is not a monster, sole(prenominal) morally weak, intent on trading his hu objet dartity for power.Polonius is a man filled with confidence in his knowledge, and while he is a blowhard, and he does spout sayings, his cliches constitute sound advice and his observations seek themselves prophetic. In _ critical point_, life and death provides multiple influences and consequences for each of these characters, affecting both their well-beings and sense of meaning. Finik 2 crossroads is a university student of Wittenberg who frequently contemplates on several perplexing philosophical questions, and possibly suicide.When fagot Hamlet, his father, dies, he returns home to Denmark only to discover that at that place was evidence of foul play in his fathers death. _The serpent that did sting thy fathers life/Now wears his crown_. (I. V. 39-40). The Ghost of king Hamlet tells Haml et that his uncle Claudius is the murderer. Feeling critical, Hamlet seeks to prove Claudius guilt forrader he takes some(prenominal) action. However, Hamlet is too quick to act at times he constantly exaggerates his intellect while ignoring his emotions and what feels right. Al grand pianogh his fathers death set high emotions for Hamlet, it serves as only one of the troublesome til nowts for Hamlet.The fact that his mother, Gertrude, has ended her mourning and married another man (Claudius) so quickly, shows Hamlet the differences in some peoples thoughts, decisions, and possibly way of life. _Frailty, thy name is women_ (I,II,146). In this quote, Hamlet is speaking in his first soliloquy. The women he specifically refers to is his mother. Hamlet feels that Gertrude is weak and not strong enough to mourn his father any longer. Hamlet even continues to say that not even an animal, or beast, who has no efforting or s wipe outs, would have abandoned the mourning so quickly. ever y(prenominal) in all, this shows how angry and distressed Hamlet is by his mothers marriage. Although Hamlet appears to be the exemplar of an anti-existentialist from the outset of the play, Hamlets system of logic slowly begins to unravel, with layer after layer revealing much snippets of Hamlets emotion. As Hamlet speaks the line _To be, or not to be, that is the question_ _Whether tis nobler in the mind to consent to_ _The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,_ _Finik 3_ _Or to take arms against a sea of troubles_ (III,I,58-61) He is contemplating the thought of suicide and wishing that God had not do suicide a sin.Hamlets anxiety and uncertainty causes him to suspect the power of reason alone to solve his issues. Hamlet begins to realize that reason is help little in dealing with the depths of charitable life, which is one of the central assertions of existentialism. However, in considering both his emotions and reasoning, Hamlet avoids the temptation of suicide penetr ating that to escape lifes pain, would mean to eternally suffer in hell. By decision making to stay alive and counter Claudius fraud, Hamlet strongly demonstrates his inner existential qualities. As Claudius is introduced, he expresses himself as an intelligent and capable leader.Claudius gives a deliverance intent on making his court and country satisfied with their radical leader, addressing the people of his brothers death, his recent marriage and the potential disquiet with Norway. Claudius is well aware that if any assortment would occur in the government, gracious unrest would definitely unfold. His patois combines the peoples loss with a new beginning that they will have under his responsibility.He similarly uses the death of King Hamlet to create a sense of study unification, _the whole kingdom/To be contracted in one hilltop of woe_ (I.II. 3-4), but in private, Claudius conceals a very different personality. The Ghost refers to him as _that incestuous, that adulter ate beast_ (I. V. 42), and soon, his shame is what is known to be what is _rotten in the state of Denmark_ (I. IV. 90). The King has committed fratricide and has taken the Queen with _the witchcraft of his wit_ (I. V. 47). Claudius represents the worst of human dignity, showing greed, corruption and excess. However, Claudius is not entirely a sociopath. His actions occasionally weigh grave on him Finik 4 _O, tis true_._How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience _ _The harlots cheek, beautified with plastering art,_ _Is not more ugly to the thing that helps it_ _Than is my deed to my most painted word_ _O heavy burden_ (III. I. 49-53) Claudius tries to ask God for forgiveness in a soliloquy, but realizes that he still profits from his crimes and is not willing to give them up. _But what form of invocation/Can serve my turn? Forgive me my foul murder/That hindquartersnot be, since I am still possessd of those effects for which I did murder_ (III. IV. 52-54).Claudius can also how some sensitivity. He is genuinely sorry for Polonius death, and he aboveboard loves Gertrude. Although he strongly intends on killing Hamlet, he refuses to do so himself on Gertrudes behalf. Claudius may show sensitivity for many characters but, cipher comes before his own desires. A spectacular example of this is how Claudius does not even intend to stop Gertrude from drinking the poison in the goblet during the duel between Hamlet and Laertes because it would have implicated Claudius in his plot to kill Hamlet. Therefore, putting his desires in front of all.Whereas most other characters in _Hamlet_ are preoccupied with ideas of justice, revenge, and moral balance, Claudius is decided upon maintaining power. Polonius, a man brimming with confidence, seems alike(p) a feeble old man who cannot say anything without attempting a great speech. At other times, it feels as if though he is Finik 5 undermining the life of the court through a network of spies. When Polonius fin ds his son Laertes, before passing for France, he urges him _aboard, aboard_ (I. III. 55), but proceeds to prevent him from boarding by broad some advise.This speech concludes with the message- _to thine own self be true/thou canst not then be false_ (I. III. 79-80). Yet, sometime later, Polonius is shapeing Reynaldo to spy on Laertes and deliberately trap him by deceit _and there put on him what forgeries you please_, (II. I. 19-20) meaning to be false, to say that Laertes is into _drinking, fencing, swearing, quarrelling, and drabbing_ (II. I. 26-27). Contrary to what Polonius has told Laertes, he is telling Reynaldo to be false and that his _bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth_ (II. I. 63).In all, Polonius is concerned about his own reputation more than the feelings and well-being of others. He puts plenty of effort into earning what he thinks is right and uses long speeches to convince others. In the end however, he is killed by one of his own ingenious plans. Hamlets perpetual reproof does finally help him to overcome his great anxiety. When he returns from exile in Act V, Hamlet appears to be very different. He is calm and less afraid of death. He has come to realize that essential is ultimately peremptory all of our lives, and any sense or question of existentialism would change nothing.Hamlet is ready to confront the circuitous truth that to avenge his fathers death he must commit the same act for which he seeks revenge. He now admits that he knows nothing of the world, _since no man knows aught of what he leaves, what ist to leave betimes? Let be_. (V. II. 207-208). Hamlet has reached the climax of his philosophy he has prepared himself for death. Claudius is the villain of the piece, as he admits to himself _O, my offence is rank it smells to heaven_ (III,III,40). His fratricide is the corruption invading the events around that which is, in the words of Marcellus, _rotten in the state of Denmark_. Claudius is socially capable, and his charm is natural. He can exhibit deep distress Finik 6 over his _dear brothers death_ but quickly turns mourning into celebration and moves on _With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage_ to whatever lies ahead. He is a very decisive man and recognizes that he his _offense is rank_ and _smells to heaven_, he also admits that he will not make amends with God because he refuses to give up what his crime has profited him. He is willing to take the consequences of his actions after death while bask a great lust of power in life. Despite the considerable standard of experience, Polonius is naive.Polonius inability to understand Hamlet reflects his ability to understand things. To prove his belief in Hamlets madness he invokes a little play-acting from Ophelia. He misdirects Ophelia into reading a book to confront Hamlet, while he and the King eavesdrop. Although this meeting reveals that Polonius has made a great mistake, he is not in the least discouraged but immediately sets u p his next plot. It proves to be his last because he is killed. If he had not misjudged Hamlet he would not have been pursuing his ill-founded suspicions and been behind the arras and gotten himself killed.In _Hamlet_, life and death provides multiple influences and consequences for each of these three characters, affecting both their well-beings and sense of meaning. In the end, Hamlet finally recognizes that life is governed by destiny itself, and that no alteration can be done with any amount of questions or actions. He awaits death at a moments notice. Claudius on the other hand, has accepted the fact that he will suffer after death in hell. He is not willing to surrender his power and therefore decides to live his life the way he wants, knowing that he has committed crimes to others.His meaning in life is to live life to the fullest and accept what may happen after death. Polonius acts like a fool, attempting to contention the other main characters by using eloquent words that do not represent what truly composes him, making him a hypocrite. While he depends upon his memory, he utters lengthy phrases, and gives useful counsel, but, as he ages, he cannot Finik 7 be kept busy and intent, Polonius is subject to the desolation of his capabilities. He loses the order of his ideas, and entangles himself in his own thoughts. The meaning of life for Polonius may seem unclear, or entangled.He means well for his children but also takes thoughts too farthermost and may seem to over think. He is ignorant in foretaste and the idea of dotage engulfing upon wisdom will solve all of the phenomena for Polonius. In the end, Hamlet, Claudius, and Polonius have all expressed what their true meaning in life is. Whether it be to accept destinys fate, avoid suffering after death, or, to act foolishly and hypocritically, life and death has most definitely spoilt a path for all three of these characters. Works Cited Shakespeare, William. _Hamlet. _ Ed. Roma Gill. Glasgow bell and Bain Ltd. 2009.