Earlier scenes, including Claudius’ portrayal of the ideal king, add another layer to the reader’s perspective of the full extent of the situation. In the end, Hamlet is successful in his revenge from Claudius’s vile actions before his rule. In Act 5, Scene 2, Denmark is cleansed of its tyrant rule from King Claudius and his mischievous deeds, Laertes and Hamlet are both honest as they die pardoning each other, and Hamlet’s vengeance is patriotic in his quest to avenge his father’s death.
To start with, the play’s earlier scenes explore a sense of anxiety and dread that surrounds the transfer of power to one ruler to the next which then causes the corruption of the nation of Denmark. In Hamlet, the ghost may be interpreted as a supernatural …show more content…
In Act 5, Scene 2, Hamlet speaks of Laertes being similar to himself since they are both driven to avenge the murders of their own father. Hamlet reflects to Horatio, “...But I am very sorry, good Horatio, that to Laertes I forgot myself, for the image of my cause I see the portraiture of his. I’ll court his favors. but sure the bravery of his grief did put me into a towering passion” (5.2.75-80). More specifically, “The portraiture of his” is a metaphor to the similarities Hamlet sees between the two. When Laertes is hurt after the duel at the end of the play, he says, “Why, as a woodcock to mine own springe, Osric; I am justly killed with mine own treachery” (5.2.307-308). This quote depicts irony since it was never Laertes’ intention to kill himself with his own sword that he poisoned in order to achieve his revenge against Hamlet. As a result, thoughtless actions result in dire consequences when a person does not think about a situation clearly. Laertes says to Hamlet after being slain, “The treacherous instrument is in thy hand, unbated and envenomed. The foul practice hath turned itself on me. Lo, here I lie, never to rise again. Thy mother’s poisoned. I can no more. The king, the king’s to blame” (5.2.319-323). Shakespeare explores pathos by using Laertes to persuade Hamlet with an emotional appeal that Claudius is
To start with, the play’s earlier scenes explore a sense of anxiety and dread that surrounds the transfer of power to one ruler to the next which then causes the corruption of the nation of Denmark. In Hamlet, the ghost may be interpreted as a supernatural …show more content…
In Act 5, Scene 2, Hamlet speaks of Laertes being similar to himself since they are both driven to avenge the murders of their own father. Hamlet reflects to Horatio, “...But I am very sorry, good Horatio, that to Laertes I forgot myself, for the image of my cause I see the portraiture of his. I’ll court his favors. but sure the bravery of his grief did put me into a towering passion” (5.2.75-80). More specifically, “The portraiture of his” is a metaphor to the similarities Hamlet sees between the two. When Laertes is hurt after the duel at the end of the play, he says, “Why, as a woodcock to mine own springe, Osric; I am justly killed with mine own treachery” (5.2.307-308). This quote depicts irony since it was never Laertes’ intention to kill himself with his own sword that he poisoned in order to achieve his revenge against Hamlet. As a result, thoughtless actions result in dire consequences when a person does not think about a situation clearly. Laertes says to Hamlet after being slain, “The treacherous instrument is in thy hand, unbated and envenomed. The foul practice hath turned itself on me. Lo, here I lie, never to rise again. Thy mother’s poisoned. I can no more. The king, the king’s to blame” (5.2.319-323). Shakespeare explores pathos by using Laertes to persuade Hamlet with an emotional appeal that Claudius is