Claudius and Hamlet Claudius & Hamlet, would the inhumane and sick character please step forth. Upon reading the sampling of Hamlet criticisms in John Jump's Hamlet (Selections) I disagreed with a few of the critics, but my analysis was the most different from Wilson Knight's interpretation. ... Although Knight's views of Hamlet and Claudius are almost the extreme opposite of my interpretation, I understand how he developed this interpretation. ... Although I see the validity of Wilson Knight's interpretation of the play, I disagree with his views. ... However, Hamlet does ...

• Word Count: 2834
• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: High School

Is Hamlet's Madness Genuine? ... The main character of this play, Hamlet, has been subjected to numerous interpretations and studies; his actions and thoughts have been analyzed again and again. The question of Hamlet's essential sanity has become a major issue in the interpretation of this play. Is Hamlet truly insane, or is it all an act? ... Another example of Hamlet's possible sanity is that while Hamlet does see and talk to a ghost, Horatio, Hamlet's rational friend, does the same. ...

• Word Count: 558
• Approx Pages: 2

The Royal Deceit and Hamlet have their differences but all in all they seem have their basic goal covered, which is to portray the awry, clever Hamlet and his tragedy. Franco Zeffirelli's interpretation of "Hamlet" with Mel Gibson is a bit physical and upbeat. ... A scene that is unfamiliar to the original film would be at the wake of Hamlet's father where Hamlet, Gertrude and Claudius confront each other over the coffin. ... In the Royal Deceit we see how they focus more on the Ophelia -Hamlet relationship as oppose to Mel Gibson's version of which the focus is on mother-Hamle...

• Word Count: 440
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

How is the character of Hamlet presented? ... The character of Hamlet seems to stand by itself. ... Certain facts are clear about Hamlet. ... What do Hamlet's soliloquies tell us about him? ... In the text there is no clear evidence of the "murder" until Claudius confesses his sins to God and also his reaction to the players interpretation of Old Hamlets death. ...

• Word Count: 2036
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the theme of corruption and decay is a recurring theme that is explored through the use of time and place. ... " It is through the creation of a central, unpleasant location of Denmark within the founding scenes that Shakespeare is able to craft an interpretation of corruption with Hamlet. ... Shakespeare's uses a progressive timeline and Hamlet's madness to identify corruption within Hamlet as a character. ... Time and place is further used to influence and corrupt Hamlet's once romantic relationship with Ophelia. Hamlet describes his love w...

• Word Count: 782
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Laertes vows revenge on Hamlet. Fortinbras vows revenge on King Hamlet. ... Hamlet also suspects murder. ... Hamlet's relationship with Gertrude is affected greatly by the death of King Hamlet. ... Polonius does not like his daughter seeing Hamlet and forbids her to talk to Hamlet. ...

• Word Count: 2360
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School

Imperfection is innate to the human condition and it is exemplified in "Hamlet." ... The intense personal relationship of Gertrude and Hamlet is constructed in a form in which Hamlet's fixation is provided little context, allowing for the development of speculative interpretations. ... However, just as critical interpretations gain favor throughout history, Gertrude's perceived corruption can be validly interpreted as motivated solely by sincere innate human desire. ... All mortal existence, no matter how prestigious the individual, is subject to utter decay, a rebuking of religious ...

• Word Count: 875
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Graduate

The play "Hamlet" is one of the greatest works of William Shakespeare. ... It also shows that the murder is making him paranoid; he fears everything Hamlet is doing and desperately wants to have Hamlet out of his way. ... Hamlet is a very complex and a multilayered character. ... The complicity of the character leaves both options open to interpretation. ... " – Hamlet Act I, Scene V, Line 170-180. ...

• Word Count: 1361
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

It almost is like Hamlet committed suicide, because he and Laertes were in such remarkably similar frames of mind. ... Fortinbras now has control over the kingdom, as Hamlet's dying wish was to let Fortinbras be king. ... Why let Fortinbras, a man who, again, mirrors Hamlet so brilliantly, take a throne he was on his way to usurp? ... Hamlet, whether willingly or unwillingly, based on interpretation, sacrificed the lives of his entire family, his lover, and a good portion of the court (and almost the entire cast of characters), only to die himself at the end, and leave a foreign power in ...

• Word Count: 653
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Although Hamlet is not a completely irrational character, the ghost evokes enough emotion to stir Hamlet's soul and gear him towards murder. ... Although there may be a variety of factors why Hamlet does not kill Claudius instantly, it may be argued that Hamlet is displaying rational behavior, and this rational behavior keeps him from bloody murder. ... One way in which readers and scholars of Hamlet have interpreted the significance of both reason and passion in the play is by shaping the interpretation with various philosophies throughout history. 17th century Romanticists may see Hamle...

• Word Count: 1742
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

Hamlet is a revenge tragedy of Elizabethan drama, written in about 1602 by William Shakespeare. ... In Shakespeare's play, the death of Old King Hamlet triggers different actions in its major characters; especially Hamlet, Gertrude, Claudius, Laertes, and to a lesser extent Polonius and Ophelia. ... In Act I Scene 5, the Ghost explains to Hamlet, how Claudius, Hamlet's uncle, murdered his father and that he wants Hamlet to avenge his death (I.v.38-90). ... According to historical interpretations, it is melancholy that guide Hamlet's hesitation. ... Does she intentionally betray ...

• Word Count: 1979
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

I decided, along with Carol, to perform Act III, Scene I, from Hamlet, when Ophelia obeys her father and tests Hamlet's love for her by returning his remembrances. ... Ophelia answers that he is at home and Hamlet's response can support both interpretations of the question. ... Since I believe that Hamlet knows that he is there, I interpreted the latter. After the question about her father, I believe Hamlet begins to really act insane. ... Hamlet comes back with more insults for her. ...

• Word Count: 2206
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

The character of Claudius is perhaps the most complex in the play and therefore is open to wide interpretation. ... He praises Hamlet for fulfilling his duty as a son and offers his condolence. ... Claudius discounts Hamlet's genuine grief and decides that his sorrow is "impious stubbornness". ... He went against Gods wishes when he removed Hamlet snr as king. ... The interpretation that Shakespeare wanted to present Claudius as a coward is accentuated in many other ways. ...

• Word Count: 1997
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

Ophelia is a prime example of Shakespeare's use of a character to add the classic "Shakespeare open interpretation" for the actors and readers. ... In the beginning of the play there is no doubt that Ophelia is in love with Prince Hamlet. Her father constantly tries to convince her that Hamlet would use her, take her virginity, and that she is too naive to be a wife (let alone Hamlets wife). ... It is obvious that Ophelia loves Hamlet, but another question is raised; Does Hamlet love Ophelia? ... There is still one phrase that trumps all that Hamlet could ever say against Ophel...

• Word Count: 668
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Some of the most interesting female characters in Shakespeare's writing are Hermia in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Viola and Olivia in Twelfth Night, and Gertrude, the Queen of Denmark and Hamlet's mother, in Hamlet. ... Finally, the reader encounters an altogether different type of woman in Gertrude, the mother of Hamlet. ... In fact, her most strict critic is her own son, Hamlet, who finds it utterly despicable that his mother pursues his own uncle for a romantic relationship after her husband's death. Hamlet is offended and embarrassed; he cannot understand why his mother ...

• Word Count: 2208
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Graduate