Death in The Tragedy of Hamlet For individuals who have lost a loved one, many emotions can be experienced at the time of death, and often, anger occurs to help ease the pain. In William Shakespeare’s theatrical play The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince Hamlet, Prince Fortinbras, and Laertes have all lost their fathers due to tragic circumstances. Death, sexual promiscuity, and treachery permeate the entire play. Despite the dark plot of this play, it has become known as Shakespeare’s most famous literary work. Hamlet, Fortinbras, and Leartes share similar and distinct characteristics that lead each of them to deal with his father’s death in very different ways. Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras are each characters in the play that share similar
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Hamlet is young, full of self-doubt and has conflicting emotions which lead him to consider suicide several times throughout the play. “O that this too too sullied flesh would melt, / Thaw and resolve itself into a dew, / Or that the Everlasting had not fixed / His canon gainst self-slaughter. O God, God, / How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable / Seems to me all the uses of this world” (1.2.129-134). Hamlet is grieving over his father’s death along with his mother’s marital choice, wishing for his flesh to melt so he can die. His situation is unique in that he has an emotional attachment not only to King Claudius, his uncle, but also to his mother Queen Gertrude who married Claudius a short time after King Hamlet’s death. Hamlet displays acts of being out of control and overcome with emotional distress when he gives long winded soliloquies, going on about himself and his thoughts. Unlike Hamlet, Fortinbras is more deliberate and organized in his plan to avenge his father’s death. Fortinbras has a reputation of being impulsive, hot headed, and a fighter. “Let us haste to hear it, / And call the noblest to the audience. / For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune; / I have some rights of memory in this kingdom, / Which now to claim my vantage doth invite me” (5.2.370-374). However, he keeps his calm to skillfully orchestrate his plan. Laertes is …show more content…
In 2015, none of these approaches would be thought reasonable. However, given the era that this play depicts it seems that both Fortinbras and Laertes approaches were the most common and expected approaches during this time. It seems that fighting, death and treachery were commonplace. The most emotional approach was by far Hamlet, “To be, or not to be, that is the question” (3.1.57). From the ghost of his father instructing him to take revenge on Claudius to his mother marrying Claudius to his state of mental anguish over how and what to do to avenge his father’s death, Hamlet was an emotional wreck. The most effective approach was Fortinbras. It was effective because it was thoroughly thought through before taking action. Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras all share common characteristics in mourning death. They all seek revenge against those responsible for the death of their fathers. Each father was killed as a result of a political conflict. All three sons struggled with conflict as they attempt to seek avenge. Despite the gruesomeness of death, it was honorable for them to protect their family’s name and standing in society. Even though they were successful, the success was bitter-sweet in that it cost them more than each of them
Hamlet is young, full of self-doubt and has conflicting emotions which lead him to consider suicide several times throughout the play. “O that this too too sullied flesh would melt, / Thaw and resolve itself into a dew, / Or that the Everlasting had not fixed / His canon gainst self-slaughter. O God, God, / How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable / Seems to me all the uses of this world” (1.2.129-134). Hamlet is grieving over his father’s death along with his mother’s marital choice, wishing for his flesh to melt so he can die. His situation is unique in that he has an emotional attachment not only to King Claudius, his uncle, but also to his mother Queen Gertrude who married Claudius a short time after King Hamlet’s death. Hamlet displays acts of being out of control and overcome with emotional distress when he gives long winded soliloquies, going on about himself and his thoughts. Unlike Hamlet, Fortinbras is more deliberate and organized in his plan to avenge his father’s death. Fortinbras has a reputation of being impulsive, hot headed, and a fighter. “Let us haste to hear it, / And call the noblest to the audience. / For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune; / I have some rights of memory in this kingdom, / Which now to claim my vantage doth invite me” (5.2.370-374). However, he keeps his calm to skillfully orchestrate his plan. Laertes is …show more content…
In 2015, none of these approaches would be thought reasonable. However, given the era that this play depicts it seems that both Fortinbras and Laertes approaches were the most common and expected approaches during this time. It seems that fighting, death and treachery were commonplace. The most emotional approach was by far Hamlet, “To be, or not to be, that is the question” (3.1.57). From the ghost of his father instructing him to take revenge on Claudius to his mother marrying Claudius to his state of mental anguish over how and what to do to avenge his father’s death, Hamlet was an emotional wreck. The most effective approach was Fortinbras. It was effective because it was thoroughly thought through before taking action. Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras all share common characteristics in mourning death. They all seek revenge against those responsible for the death of their fathers. Each father was killed as a result of a political conflict. All three sons struggled with conflict as they attempt to seek avenge. Despite the gruesomeness of death, it was honorable for them to protect their family’s name and standing in society. Even though they were successful, the success was bitter-sweet in that it cost them more than each of them