Hamlet has to deal with many things when he returns to Denmark. First off the death of his father. Everyone has pretty much same reaction to this, they are sad and upset. To also come back to find that his uncle has taken the throne as king of Denmark, which was supposed to be Hamlets position. He did not like the fact that his uncle was now the king and his new step father. "A little more than kin, and less than kind"(1.2.65).
Hamlet also does not like the way his mother behaves after his father's death. He is upset that she spent no time mourning the death of her husband, instead went straight into marrying his brother. Yet even though he is so mad about this he chooses not to bring it up, "It is not, nor it cannot come to good, But break my heart, for I must hold my tongue"(1.2.58-9).
Hamlet comes to here about the ghost that is going around, the ghost that is said to resemble his father. Hamlet is reluctant to believe this until the ghost appears to and tells him itself that he is his father's spirit, "I am thy father's spirit"(1.5.10). The ghost tells hamlet that not only did he die but was murdered by Hamlet's uncle, "The serpent that did sting thy father's life Now wears his crown"(1.5.38-9). His father's spirit now wants hamlet to murder his uncle as revenge. Hamlet thinks about this because he knows that Murder is a sin against god.
All of these events takes Hamlet's mental stability and pushes it over the edge, it begins to eat away at him. He feels like there is nothing left in the world for him, he thinks about suicide but this is also a sin. The one thing he does see as something to live for is to take revenge on his uncle and avenge his father's death
You're right; Hamlet's struggles when he returns to Denmark are relatable to anyone. The death of his father is only the first of his troubles. I enjoyed the quotes you chose in your blog, they were short and to the point. I also agree that Hamlet knows that murder is a sin, and that his reasoning skills are the reason that he did not kill his uncle immediately following the apparition of his father. The first time I read though the play, I remember reading something that hinted to the fact that he was suicidal, I can't seem to find exactly where that is now. anyway, thanks for the insight.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. Hamlet deals with great deal when he returned. Things that almost anyone can understand what he is going through. I always found it amazing how fast his mother remarried, but what do you expect from someone who cares about money the most. I found it interesting that Hamlet was so conflicted about what to do. He had the anger to kill his uncle but did not have a driving desire to kill. All of which a wearing on his mental state.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about Hamlet's issues when he returns to Denmark. But I do not believe that he gets his dementia because of that. He pretends his mental illness to observe and prove his father's murder. I agree with you that his pain of seeing his mother in an incestuous relationship with his uncle really depress him, but also makes him mad at his mother her indifference about the truth of his father's murder. He believes his mother is a cheeky. I believe that his father ghost is important because it shows Hamblet moral. He is not capable of killing eventhough for revange, but after the play and his uncle reation and his mother madnes and indifference, he is full of anger which makes him think about revange. I engoy your job.
ReplyDeletePretty much the same ideas i had. Overall Hamlet is just being consumed about the whole ordeal. He definately does not like the fact his mother changed to fast and on top of that his father was murdered. Besides getting revenge i think everything else eats at him more than the actual act of getting revenge because he hesitates so much.
ReplyDelete