Hamlet is subversive at the beginning and middle of Shakespeare’s play because he pushes back on various intersectional forces, such as gender, class and religion. Although he is subversive for the majority of the play, he inevitably gives in to these intersectional forces and becomes subservient to them. Shakespeare shows us different characters such as Fortinbras and Laertes, who exemplify what the typical roles look like for their gender and social class. Observing these characters, we extrapolate that men of higher class are supposed to be strong and fight for revenge and honor without hesitation. Fortinbras fights for a piece of land with little to no value, and Laertes immediately challenges Hamlet to a duel when he finds out he is responsible
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Early in the play when Hamlet speaks to his father’s ghost, he learns that he is supposed to avenge his father because his uncle murdered him. After finding out that his father was murdered, he promises the ghost that he will avenge him; “Haste me to know’t, that I, with wings as swift as meditation of love/May sweep to my revenge.” (1.5.35-37). In this scene, Hamlet finally gains purpose. Retribution gives Hamlet an opportunity to fit into the male narrative of Shakespeare’s play. Although Hamlet has a clear reason to kill the king and avenge his father, he does not take it and instead proceeds with multiple instances of …show more content…
After the play is over, and Hamlet has confirmed that Claudius is guilty of his father’s death, Hamlet has the opportunity to kill Claudius while he is looking away, but does not take it. He claims that he does not kill the king because he does not want to do so while the king is praying, which he speculates would cause the king to be relieved of his sins. Instead, he says he will wait to kill him when he is sinning, further delaying his duty; “At game, a-swearing, or about some act/That has no relish of salvation in’t- Then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven, And that his soul may be as damned and black as hell, whereto it goes.” (3.4.96-100). By not seizing this opportunity, Hamlet challenges the male standards of revenge in the
Early in the play when Hamlet speaks to his father’s ghost, he learns that he is supposed to avenge his father because his uncle murdered him. After finding out that his father was murdered, he promises the ghost that he will avenge him; “Haste me to know’t, that I, with wings as swift as meditation of love/May sweep to my revenge.” (1.5.35-37). In this scene, Hamlet finally gains purpose. Retribution gives Hamlet an opportunity to fit into the male narrative of Shakespeare’s play. Although Hamlet has a clear reason to kill the king and avenge his father, he does not take it and instead proceeds with multiple instances of …show more content…
After the play is over, and Hamlet has confirmed that Claudius is guilty of his father’s death, Hamlet has the opportunity to kill Claudius while he is looking away, but does not take it. He claims that he does not kill the king because he does not want to do so while the king is praying, which he speculates would cause the king to be relieved of his sins. Instead, he says he will wait to kill him when he is sinning, further delaying his duty; “At game, a-swearing, or about some act/That has no relish of salvation in’t- Then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven, And that his soul may be as damned and black as hell, whereto it goes.” (3.4.96-100). By not seizing this opportunity, Hamlet challenges the male standards of revenge in the