"Horatio likens it [the appearing of the ghost] to the prodigious events following the death of Caesar. A state is in jeopardy, and to the Elizabethans that meant a sin-sick land is to be scourged." (Jorgensen, 50). Horatio tells Hamlet of the appearing of his father's ghost. Immediately Hamlet suspects that his father's death was unnatural. He says to himself, "My father's spirit in arms! all is not well; / I doubt some foul play: would the night were come!" [I . i . 253-254]. The murder of King Hamlet is unnatural and has set the Elizabethan order of the universe in disarray. The appearing of the spirit in a supernatural occurring and it is a sign that the spirit in turmoil. This is a warning sign of the impending chaos in Denmark. " to the Elizabethans he terrifies not just because he is ghost but also because the theologians warned repeatedly that its symptoms were of sinful and sick land, ripe for sacking." (Jorgensen, 50-51). In a soliloquy Hamlet says to himself that he cannot be sure if it was the spirit of his father or of a devil. He wants to be sure that the spirit was not lying to him because in his depressed state the spirit could take advantage of him. Hamlet doubtfully says:.
The spirit that I have seen.
Maybe the devil: and the devil hath power.
To assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps.
Out of my weakness and my melancholy, .
[II . ii . 596-599].
In the quote Hamlet uses the image of the devil to represent evil. The devil is a supernatural being and also symbolizes evil. The spirit and the devil are both supernatural beings and further help develop the theme of chaos in Denmark due to the break in the Elizabethan order of the universe. " The young man [Hamlet] growing up is not to be allowed simply to endure a rotten world, he must also act in it." (Maynard, 4). The supernatural imagery helps develop the theme that the state of Denmark is in total chaos because the Elizabethan order of the universe has been broken.
Hamlet Hamlet is a young man who's father dies and his life is turned upside down. ... Hamlet is battling his conscience. ... Hamlet is extremely indecisive. ... Hamlet wants to kill his uncle because he killed hamlets father. ... Hamlet only trusts Horatio. ...
Hamlet's Revenge In Shakespeare's play, Hamlet, there is a theme of revenge. ... Hamlet behavior was erratic. ... Laertes openly curses Hamlet. ... Laertes wounds Hamlet. ... Hamlet kills Claudius. ...
The old king Hamlet is murder by Claudius and therefore Hamlet must take his revenge. ... Hamlet begins to doubt the ghost. ... Hamlet is contradicts himself. ... Hamlet's next problem is that of morality. ... Hamlet's flaw of irresolution, the uncertainty on how to act or proceed, is shown when Hamlet sees a play and the passion the actors had, after Hamlet's third soliloquy, in Hamlet's fourth soliloquy, and in Hamlet's indecisive pursuit in avenging his father's death. ...
Hamlet In the play Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, Hamlet never loses his sanity, in his plan to feign madness. ... It is after this statement that Hamlet begins to act mad. ... Guildenstern asks Hamlet what he means by this and Hamlet professes he is "" . . . but mad north-north-west. ... Polonius believe he [Hamlet] was mad. ... In a conversation, Gertrude questions Hamlet's sanity. ...
Hamlet In the play Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, Hamlet never loses his sanity, in his plan to feign madness. ... It is after this statement that Hamlet begins to act mad. ... Guildenstern asks Hamlet what he means by this and Hamlet professes he is "" . . . but mad north-north-west. ... Polonius believe he [Hamlet] was mad. ... In a conversation, Gertrude questions Hamlet's sanity. ...
Laertes is a mirror to Hamlet. ... Laertes is decisive and Hamlet is not. ... Fortinbras acts as Hamlet's inspiration; he motivates Hamlet to go forward with his plan to kill Claudius, which in the end leads to Hamlet's downfall. ... Horatio is Hamlet's friend and solid rock on whom Hamlet can trust and depend. ... Horatio cared for Hamlet greatly, and so Hamlet cared greatly for Horatio. ...
KING Now, Hamlet, where's Polonius? HAMLET At supper. ... If Claudius does not stand on one side of a titanic conflict, his betrayal of Hamlet's father and Marriage to Hamlet's mother, do ignite one: Hamlet's conflict with himself. ... In the end Hamlet dies along with most of the principle characters whether they were duplicities against Hamlet or not. ... By the end of the play Hamlet has thoroughly explored the question but like Hamlet, it remains an enigma. ...
Hamlet The study of Shakespeare's Hamlet has been one that is very extensive as well as enormous. ... A critic of Hamlet once said, "a man set out to read all the books about Hamlet would have time to read nothing else, not even Hamlet." ... "Hamlet is the tragedy of reflection. ... For where Hamlet saw that "the time is out of joint," Hamlet himself was "out of joint." ... (Mack. 64) Hamlet begins his questioning with the death of elder Hamlet. ...
Hamlet 1 Throughout Hamlet, Hamlet expresses his thoughts via several soliloquies. ... In this scene, Hamlet is being "set up" by Ophelia, Polonius, and Claudius. ... This is quite different than the "emotional Hamlet" seen in 1.2, or the "vengeful Hamlet" seen in 1.5. ... The three claim to be concerned for Hamlet's mental state of mind. This is ironic, because as the characters within the play see Hamlet mentally deteriorating, readers see Hamlet mentally developing. ...
Hamlet Tania Kozie-Slobodzian Hamlet is categorized as one of Shakespeare's tragedies. ... Horatio a friend of Hamlet tells Hamlet that he is afraid because he thinks he has seen a ghost who resembles the late King. ... The Ghost of Hamlet's father appears in front of Hamlet. The ghost is in fact Hamlet's late father. ... Now that Hamlet is said to be crazy, Polonius goes to the King and tells him about Hamlet's strange behavior concerning Ophelia. ...