Shakespeare is a world renowned writer who lived in England between the 16th and 17th century. He is renowned for the theatrical works that he wrote and performed in the olden days. Shakespeare wrote both poems and plays that are performed and studied to this day. Many schools and institution have taken his works as a way of studying different literature traits. Among his famous works, there is Romeo and Juliet, the hamlet, and Othello and Macbeth (Branagh et al, 21). He is considered as one of the greatest world writers, and his works have been studied throughout history. Shakespeare is widely renowned for writing tragic stories, where the main character of the story was killed after a tragedy. In the story of the hamlet, several traits are detected such as soliloquy, revenge, and conflict. The story shows of present d
...ay immorality and greed where one kills another for money or power. Greed for power and protection of one’s past mistakes leads to someone causing, even more, conflict and misunderstanding along those around him or her.
The play of Hamlet is staged in Denmark where the reigning king dies and leaves his wife, Queen Gertrude and son, young Hamlet and the late king’s brother; Claudius takes over the kingship. Claudius not only takes up kingship after his brother’s death but takes his brother’s wife, Gertrude as his wife. Young Hamlet continues grieving his father’s death and his uncle Claudius, and mother; Gertrude does not see the reason for his extended mourning. Here, there is conflict as the adults, Claudius and Gertrude does not agree with Hamlet mourning his father for a long period. Further, conflict is
seen, as young Hamlet does not agree with the idea of his mother being married to his uncle a short period after his father’s death. Hamlet laments, “She married; O most wicked speed, to post; with such dexterity to incestuous sheets” (Shakespeare, 150)! The son does not seem to agree with most of what the adults do, and this is clear evidence of conflict.
King Claudius is afraid of young Fortinbras from Norway, who might come to fight him in battle. The Norwegian is seen as a strong man in battle as he fights for nothing but his honor (Bloom & Brett 52). Moreover, the king is afraid of him, and the queen sends a delegation to the Norwegian for him to change his position on the war. Here, more conflict is seen between the two kings where the Norwegian is ready for war but Claudius is not. King Hamlet’s ghost appears to young Hamlet and informs him that he was killed by Claudius through poisoning. The ghost warns Hamlet of disclosing the information but asks him for revenge. Conflict is displayed here when the ghost reveals information concerning Hamlet’s killing. King Claudius is the alleged killer and young Hamlet promises to revenge his father’s death.
Young Hamlet is in love with a girl named Ophelia, but Ophelia’s father does not believe that Hamlet is serious about his daughter. The old man warns his daughter that the prince is just using him and asks his daughter not to return Hamlet's affection. Hamlet is angered by Ophelia’s lack of affection, and he changes his behavior. It is evident that there is a conflict between the two young lovers
as the lady is not returning the affection from her lover (Branagh et al, 31). The conflict is propelled by the lady’s father who is not sure of hamlets intention to his daughter. Hamlets change in behavior does not just originate from Ophelia’s lack of affection but also from the knowledge that Claudius killed King Hamlet. Claudius plans to send Hamlet away to England because he possesses a possible danger to him and his leadership. Here, the conflict between young Hamlet and Claudius is clear as the King plans to send the prince away for fear of being removed from power or being killed.
Young Hamlet is seen to be in conflict with his mother when she attempts to scold him but instead he scolds her for her action (Shakespeare, 170). The prince is angered by the queen’s action with King Claudius and mostly marrying him. The queen cries in fear and regret of what she has done and in the process, Polonius is stabbed and killed. The conflict in the scene seems to have risen to unexpected levels where the queen breaks down and vows to stop living with Claudius. In the process of the argument, Polonius gets killed, and Hamlet hides his body.
The king decides to send courtiers to find out where Hamlet has hidden Polonius body, but the courtiers do not get any information. Consequently, the king sends for Hamlet, who refuses to say where he hid Polonius body. After much persuasion, Hamlet opens up about Polonius body and the king retrieves it and takes it to the chapel. There seem to be a conflict between King Claudius and Hamlet as Hamlet refuses
to give information about the man he killed to both the courtiers and Claudius (Bloom & Brett 72). He only does so after much persuasion, the king decided to send the prince to England, and this time Gertrude agrees with the decision.
While in England, the king sends spies from the court to monitor Hamlet's behavior. The king pursues Hamlet unknowingly as is interested in killing the young man as Hamlet still poses a threat to Claudius. Furthermore, the king sends people to kill the prince while in England, but the prince escapes unhurt. The ghost warns Hamlet of disclosing the information but asks him for revenge. Conflict is displayed here when the ghost reveals information concerning Hamlet’s killing. Conflict is evident here when Claudius decides to kill his nephew who possesses a threat to him, his leadership and wife, the prince’s mother (Bloom & Brett 75). The plot to kill Hamlet is pure conflict as Claudius decides to continue killing for power and protection. Hamlet gets back home where he is met with resistance from Ophelia’s brother who has been told by Claudius that Hamlet killed his sister. Conflict emerges between the two during the burial of Ophelia where each wants the grave of the fallen lady.
Finally, Hamlet makes his way in the palace where he is met with more resistance and conflict. He fights two court guards before gaining entry into the palace. The queen drinks poison meant for the prince and dies on his behalf after telling the price about her poisoning. Hamlet fights with Laertes and after winning two rounds is stabbed with a poisoned sword (Branagh et al, 43). The continue
fighting and exchange swords which Hamlet stabs Laertes and kills him. While almost dying, Hamlet stabs the King and he dies too. This last scene is marked with conflict as all main character dies due to conflict. Hamlet kills his uncle, Laertes, and him, in turn, succumbed to poison from the sword he was stabbed with. The queen dies, and all the conflict ends when all characters die.
Hamlet is well written but ends tragically with all characters dying after conflict. Hamlet seemed to have escaped death from his uncle in England, but his death found him in his mother country. The king, Claudius seem to be in conflict with himself as is not at peace and keeps suspecting that somebody might cause him harm. He is afraid of Hamlet, the Norwegian prince, and kills his brother, King Hamlet, who is in power to take his wife and position. The play is surrounded by tragedy and conflict, and the height is seen with the death of Hamlet, his mother, Claudius and his servant. Shakespeare’s plays will always be studied and performed on big stages such as Broadway as they remain relevant to this day.
Works Cited
- Bloom, Harold, and Brett Foster. Hamlet. New York: Bloom's Literary Criticism, 2008. Print.
- Branagh, Kenneth, David Barron, Julie Christie, Billy Crystal, Ge?rard Depardieu, Charlton Heston, Derek Jacobi, Jack Lemmon, Rufus Sewell, Robin Williams, Kate Winslet, Alex Thomson, Patrick Doyle, and William Shakespeare. Hamlet. Burbank N.p., n.d. Print.
- Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Auckland: Floating Press, 2008. Print.
