Death is used as a Tool
One day or another, we all have to face death; there is no escape from it. One of Shakespeare’s most tragic plays Hamlet, is very prominent in displaying death and the advantages or consequences that come from a family member’s or a friend’s death. This play opens with a young man named Hamlet who has just lost his father, and his mother decides to get remarried to his uncle within two months of his father’s death. Hamlet discovers that his father was killed by his uncle and he tries to avenge his father by trying to kill his uncle. This is the main theme of the play; death. Death is used to convey the message that “I have lost” as someone else takes advantage of their dear friend or family members death. In the play Hamlet by Shakespeare, death is used to gain power, be used as an escape from the difficult situations the characters face, and to avenge a character’s death.
The most common reason why people choose to kill others is to gain power, which is prominent in this play. In the opening scene of the play, it is revealed that Hamlet Sr. had a rivalry with Fortinbras Sr. who was the king of Norway. Due to their difference and rivalry, Fortinbras Sr. issued a battle against Hamlet Sr. with the catch that whoever dies gets the other person’s land. To seem very brave to his own country, Hamlet Sr. agreed to the battle and they both signed documents to give over the land if they were to die. “Dared to the combat; in which our valiant Hamlet/(For so this side of our known world esteemed him)/Did slay this Fortinbras, who by a sealed compact/Well ratified by law and heraldry/Did forfeit, with his life, all those lands/Which he stood seized of to the conqueror.” (1.1.83-88) This quote shows that over a small disagreement
One day or another, we all have to face death; there is no escape from it. One of Shakespeare’s most tragic plays Hamlet, is very prominent in displaying death and the advantages or consequences that come from a family member’s or a friend’s death. This play opens with a young man named Hamlet who has just lost his father, and his mother decides to get remarried to his uncle within two months of his father’s death. Hamlet discovers that his father was killed by his uncle and he tries to avenge his father by trying to kill his uncle. This is the main theme of the play; death. Death is used to convey the message that “I have lost” as someone else takes advantage of their dear friend or family members death. In the play Hamlet by Shakespeare, death is used to gain power, be used as an escape from the difficult situations the characters face, and to avenge a character’s death.
The most common reason why people choose to kill others is to gain power, which is prominent in this play. In the opening scene of the play, it is revealed that Hamlet Sr. had a rivalry with Fortinbras Sr. who was the king of Norway. Due to their difference and rivalry, Fortinbras Sr. issued a battle against Hamlet Sr. with the catch that whoever dies gets the other person’s land. To seem very brave to his own country, Hamlet Sr. agreed to the battle and they both signed documents to give over the land if they were to die. “Dared to the combat; in which our valiant Hamlet/(For so this side of our known world esteemed him)/Did slay this Fortinbras, who by a sealed compact/Well ratified by law and heraldry/Did forfeit, with his life, all those lands/Which he stood seized of to the conqueror.” (1.1.83-88) This quote shows that over a small disagreement