In Hamlet by Shakespeare, there are two central ideas. Those two central ideas are to not overthink a situation and to not let revenge overpower conscience. Throughout the play, each central idea develops the other. As well, Shakespeare’s use of conflict develops the central ideas.
One central idea is to not overthink a situation. An example of this would be found when Hamlet repeatedly complains about his life (Shakespeare 44-46), which shows him overthinking his life, and says that he would commit suicide were it not for the fact that God fixed his laws against it (Shakespeare 44). As well, the central idea is shown when Hamlet says “a thought which, quartered, hath but one part wisdom and ever three parts coward” (Shakespeare 266) This develops the central idea because if a thought is mostly fear, then when one overthinks something it is less likely to get done because of that fear. Furthermore, the central idea is developed by the conflicts of Hamlet vs Laertes and Hamlet vs Claudius. While Hamlet took many months to accomplish his goal of killing Claudius, even with his long time to think of plans, both Claudius and Laertes killed Hamlet within a matter of days of Hamlet getting back from England with very little time to think of plans. …show more content…
This central idea is shown by the deaths of Polonius, Laertes, Claudius, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Ophelia, Gertrude, and even Hamlet. If Hamlet hadn’t gone through with his plan of revenge, many of the deaths in Hamlet wouldn’t have happened. Moreover, the central idea is shown with the conflict of Laertes vs Hamlet and Claudius vs Hamlet. All three characters went through with their plans of revenge, even with Laertes saying that fighting Hamlet “is almost against [his] conscience” (Shakespeare 366); in the end, however, all three ended up dead (Shakespeare 368-372). Therefore, the second central idea is to not let one’s plans for revenge defeat
One central idea is to not overthink a situation. An example of this would be found when Hamlet repeatedly complains about his life (Shakespeare 44-46), which shows him overthinking his life, and says that he would commit suicide were it not for the fact that God fixed his laws against it (Shakespeare 44). As well, the central idea is shown when Hamlet says “a thought which, quartered, hath but one part wisdom and ever three parts coward” (Shakespeare 266) This develops the central idea because if a thought is mostly fear, then when one overthinks something it is less likely to get done because of that fear. Furthermore, the central idea is developed by the conflicts of Hamlet vs Laertes and Hamlet vs Claudius. While Hamlet took many months to accomplish his goal of killing Claudius, even with his long time to think of plans, both Claudius and Laertes killed Hamlet within a matter of days of Hamlet getting back from England with very little time to think of plans. …show more content…
This central idea is shown by the deaths of Polonius, Laertes, Claudius, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Ophelia, Gertrude, and even Hamlet. If Hamlet hadn’t gone through with his plan of revenge, many of the deaths in Hamlet wouldn’t have happened. Moreover, the central idea is shown with the conflict of Laertes vs Hamlet and Claudius vs Hamlet. All three characters went through with their plans of revenge, even with Laertes saying that fighting Hamlet “is almost against [his] conscience” (Shakespeare 366); in the end, however, all three ended up dead (Shakespeare 368-372). Therefore, the second central idea is to not let one’s plans for revenge defeat