RolePlaying and Symbolic Meanings in Hamlet
Question1
Thesymbolic act of “pouring poison in a person ear” in Hamlet hasdirectly intertwined verbatim and representative meanings. Theliteral significance of this phrase directly refers to all the lieswritten throughout the play. In addition, the phrase implies thatpeople should not always believe what they hear, regardless of thesource because it might be a lie or poison. The symbolic significanceof this phrase is the impact of the dishonestly written in the playon the Denmark state, “the whole ear of Denmark is by a forgedprocess of my death. Frankly abused.” The poison or lies haveconsumed the once pure state and have changed into a rotten land.Additionally, Hamlet was told by the Ghost that, “But know, thounoble youth, the serpent that did sting thy father’s life. Nowwears his crown.” These declarations said to Hamlet by the Ghostcontinue to support the fact that people should not always believewhat is said to them. Furthermore, the serpent represents lies and itreminds of the role played by the snake in “The Garden of Eden.”In conclusion, poison is poured into people’s ears to mislead themfrom the right way and they ends up doing against their will.
Question2
Shakespearerepeatedly has some of his characters talk in soliloquies throughouthis plays. These soliloquies are very essential because they provideopportunities to inform the audience or readers specific informationthat cannot be told through normal conversations. Hamlet,Shakespeare’s title, and character speak in seven differentsoliloquies throughout the play. Each soliloquy leads to developmentsof plots, discloses inner thoughts of Hamlet to the readers andaudience, lastly they create a good atmosphere throughout the play.Additionally, the thoughts and words in each soliloquy belong to theauthor and they make the audience to identify his character the wayhe wants. For example 163 Hamlet says, ’it is not, nor it cannotcome to good.’ He says these words when referring to how his motherremarried quickly after his father’s death. These words give thereader or audience a clue of foreshadowing because this is the firsttime Hamlet talk about the future. Other instances include are “Ohthat this too solid flesh would melt…” (Act 1, Scene 2), “Now Iam alone. O, what rogue and pleasant slave am I! …” (Act 2. Scene2), and “To be, or not to be…” (Act 3, Scene 1). These monologsdepict a confused man who has been wracked by grief and wantsrevenge, but has no idea on want to do concerning what is happeningor even what he is feeling. The audience sees a weak, melancholy, aswell as a powerless man.
Question3
Yes,I totally agree that Hamlet inability to act lead to his downfall.Despite the fact that, Hamlet is described as brave, intelligent,daring and loyal, he is besieged by his own principles.Procrastinating can lead to many consequences. Hamlet’sincapability to take action concerning his father’s murderers, hismother’s marriage to his uncle and his uncle taking over leadershipare proofs of his disastrous flaw of procrastinating. The ghostdemanded “Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder” (Act 1,Scene 5). Furthermore, the authenticity that his own uncle killed hisfather leaves him confused and enraged. Despite the fact that Hamletis aware that in Denmark “something is wrong, he starts to questionwhat the ghost told him.” In addition, in Act 3, which is anexample of a scenario that requires quick decisive behavior, insteadof Hamlet killing Claudius he stops himself from doing it. He doesthis by writing a play and he comes up with a plan of studying hisuncle and determining whether he is guilty. However, even afterconcluding that his uncle was guilty he failed to take actionimmediately. If he had revenged his father’s murder at this point,he would have prevented unfolding of other tragedies.
Question4
Thetheme of role-playing is one of the most imperative subjects inHamlet. This theme triggers many differing events. For example,Hamlet perceives madness as an impact of the act put on by QueenGertrude and King Claudius.
Thequeen and the king are both playing significant roles of pretendingto be benevolent and innocent when they were responsible for thekilling Hamlet’s father. Their role has great impact on otherevents that occurred later on. They put on a significant act, whichinfluences other events throughout the story, for example, theirperceived act of innocence pushes Hamlet towards psychosis.
Hamlet’sperceives insanity for various reasons such as he wanted to seemharmless, and he did not want Gertrude and Claudius to notice hismotive of exposing them for his father’s murder. He starts topretend being insane after the ghost tells him about his father’smurder. In his dialogue with Horatio, he tells him, “ Here, asbefore, never, so help your mercy, how strange or odd soe’er I bearmyself as I perchance hereafter shall think to meet to put an anticdisposition on,” (Scene 1, Act 5)
Inaddition, Hamlet acts crazy throughout the play with the aim ofcommitting crimes without getting himself in trouble. Hamlet acts madto avenge his father’s demise. In fact, he utilizes the act ofcrazy to commit all the crimes he cultivates throughout the story.For example, he kills Polonius while thinking that he was Claudius.This was one of the major scenarios in the play, and it made the Kingto start realizing that Hamlet was dangerous and he threatened tosend him to England.
Apartfrom Hamlet’s insanity affecting the relationship he had with theQueen and the King, it also affected his personal relationship withOphelia. Additionally, after Polonius saw how weird Hamlet was actinghe advised Ophelia to stop the relationship between them.Furthermore, Hamlet’s madness separated him from his lover Opheliaand turned her into an insane woman as well as made her to commitsuicide.
WorksCited
Richardson,Donald J. CompleteHamlet.Place of publication not identified: Authorhouse, 2012.
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