Shakespeare's Hamlet depicts themes such as fate, deception, and procrastination through many characters such as Claudius, Hamlet, and Ophelia. However, it is Hamlet that really gives meaning to the plot and the main themes that will be discussed in this essay. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayIn fact, one perspective of viewing the play is to position Hamlet as someone who has no control over the events that occur in his life. He finds himself completely destroyed by his father's death. Worst of all, his father was murdered by his uncle, Claudius, and to top it all off, Hamlet's mother remarries Claudius. He himself is confused, and the audience feels how his mother's new marriage has affected him when he refers to Claudius and Gertrude as "uncle-father" and "aunt-mother" respectively. These sudden changes in his life shaped his thoughts and feelings and instigated him to take revenge on Claudius, as well as created a feeling of hatred towards his mother. This could be summed up in Hamlet's words: "There is a divinity that shapes our ends." This sheds light on the statement “character is destiny.” The play can be said to be the journey through which Hamlet discovers that his intellectual vision of life has failed in the face of the power that destiny holds. The Wheel of Fortune is what shapes people's lives. He even says: ''As all occasions inform against me''. Hamlet also recognizes that he is a victim of his circumstances. His actions will not save him from the hands of fate, not even Shakespeare could save his character from suffering his fate. Shakespeare, like the Greeks, believed that life was "one's destiny beyond the gods." The force of destiny is so powerful in the work that it also targets the other characters, not just the protagonist. In fact, the impotence of the human being in the face of destiny is shown through the words of the First Player: ''Out, out, slut, Fortuna! All you gods, in the general synod, take away his power; break all the spokes and strokes from his wheel, and cast the round nave down the hill of heaven, as low as to demons.''Finally, this technique is used by Shakespeare to represent that no one escapes fate. The characters in this play constantly face difficulties in finding the truth about others, whether it be their intentions, their true characters, or even their sanity. Shakespeare expresses in the work how the protagonists are the architects of their own destiny and self-destruction. Human beings who are governed by obsessive behavior will only act recklessly and cause their own death. In the play, Hamlet deceives everyone, including himself. He deludes himself into thinking that what he is doing is justified and that his uncle should burn in hell for his actions, and that is why he hides behind his false insanity. From the beginning of the play there are hints that Hamlet is suicidal. He isolates himself from everyone, thus creating a void in his life, making him feel empty, alone and without self-esteem. Additionally, he is angry about his father's death and young adults tend to look for escape routes when they get angry about things. The quote “Oh, that this too solid flesh would melt” said in Act 1 Scene 2 is great in expressing how Hamlet feels even at the beginning of the play. Hamlet wishes he could dissolve into dew and cease to exist, he wishes he could leave all of life's problems behind him. However, since his body is unlikely to turn into dew, the next option would be to end his life through suicide. Please note: this is just an example...
tags