From the start of the play, we find out that Hamlet is depressed over the death of his father. He keeps contemplating death throughout all of Act I, and in many ways begins to become obsessed with death. It isn't until Act I, scene v that Hamlet discovers his father was actually murdered by Claudius and is asked to seek revenge.
So, why is Hamlet obsessed with death? While, it may seem that his obsession is a direct result of Hamlet's fathers death, I don't think it is that simple. Hamlet is clearly well educated, more so then most other characters in the play. Thus, it would be reasonable to assume that Hamlet likes discovering truths about the world. When Hamlet's father died, it could be possible that it brought the issue of what happens after die to the forefront of Hamlet's mind. As a result, it has caused him to question to purpose of the living world as shown in the quote:
How wear, stale, flat, and unprofitable
Seem to me all the uses of this world!
Fie on't! o fie! "tis an unweeded garden
That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature
(Act I. sc ii.)
To me, this quote shows that Hamlet sees the world as an inevitably decaying world, that everything is going from good and beauty to bad and gross. Thus, I don't think it was his father's death that put him into a depressed mood, but instead the realization that everything alive is decaying into death that makes him depressed. Because there is no longer any purpose to living in Hamlet's eyes, Hamlet actually wishes he wasn't born as shown in the quote
O that this too too solid flesh would melt,
Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew!
Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd
His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God! O God!
(Act I. sc ii.)
It is clear that Hamlet, seeing no purpose to life, sees life as nothing more than suffering, and as a result wishes he didn't have to go through life anymore because he tired of seeing everything and everyone suffer.
However, Hamlet soon gets a purpose to live once his father asks him to seek revenge on his murderer Claudius. As a result, Hamlet begins to move his intellectual thoughts toward the morality of seeking revenge and redemption. He is still obsessed with death, but it becomes more focused upon the actual events concerning death rather than death itself. He questions the morality of killing Claudius to seek redemption for Claudius killing his father.
Thus, it is clear to me that Hamlet's obsession's are as a result of his continuous searching for answers of issues such as death and morality, and not from his sadness over his father's death.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
The Importance of Magic and Myth in "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
While reading "A Midsummer Night's Dream" as the play progressed (especially by Act II) it became clear that magic and myth would be used widely throughout the play. However, when looking at the love triangle between the characters and their conflicts, it is clear that the magical elements were not absolutely necessary in order to develop the plot. Thus, one must ask themselves why Shakespeare would introduce magic into his play when he could have easily wrote the play without such elements.
To me, the magic is absolutely necessary because it helps create a dream like atmosphere where everything is possible. In a way, he uses words and images that will make the audience feel as if the magic is effecting them as well, making the play more real. The fairies in the play help add a fate like element to events that are happening in the play and contribute to this dream like mood. For instance Oberon helps conjure us images of magic when he says:
"
"A mermaid on a dolphin's back
Uttering such dulcet and harmonious breath
That the rude sea grew civil at her song
And certain stars shot madly from their spheres
To hear the sea-maid's music
(Act II.i. lines150-154)
This quote, along with many others make the stage bigger and takes the imaginations of the audience to celestial levels. It helps them realize that powerful forces are at work, but powerful though they be, they are what brings beauty and purpose to everything else.
So why is it so important for Shakespeare to utilize this dream like mood where magic is everywhere? To me, it is because he wants to show that love is a grand form of magic that had purpose and beauty woven from greater forces. He is using magic as a way to attack the notion that love is nothing more than chemical shooting through the brain. In a way, he is making love more real and have greater value. The fairies are put into place because they are the tool to help bring that magic into the love triangle that develops in the play. While Puck does mess up and delivers the love potion to Lysander instead of Demetrius, this is only done by Shakespeare to add a comedic element to the play. In the end, the most important thing is that love as portrayed by Shakespeare in the play, is a powerful force in the universe that goes beyond natural chemicals firing from the brain. Thus, he makes love more authentic and vital to the play.
To me, the magic is absolutely necessary because it helps create a dream like atmosphere where everything is possible. In a way, he uses words and images that will make the audience feel as if the magic is effecting them as well, making the play more real. The fairies in the play help add a fate like element to events that are happening in the play and contribute to this dream like mood. For instance Oberon helps conjure us images of magic when he says:
"
"A mermaid on a dolphin's back
Uttering such dulcet and harmonious breath
That the rude sea grew civil at her song
And certain stars shot madly from their spheres
To hear the sea-maid's music
(Act II.i. lines150-154)
This quote, along with many others make the stage bigger and takes the imaginations of the audience to celestial levels. It helps them realize that powerful forces are at work, but powerful though they be, they are what brings beauty and purpose to everything else.
So why is it so important for Shakespeare to utilize this dream like mood where magic is everywhere? To me, it is because he wants to show that love is a grand form of magic that had purpose and beauty woven from greater forces. He is using magic as a way to attack the notion that love is nothing more than chemical shooting through the brain. In a way, he is making love more real and have greater value. The fairies are put into place because they are the tool to help bring that magic into the love triangle that develops in the play. While Puck does mess up and delivers the love potion to Lysander instead of Demetrius, this is only done by Shakespeare to add a comedic element to the play. In the end, the most important thing is that love as portrayed by Shakespeare in the play, is a powerful force in the universe that goes beyond natural chemicals firing from the brain. Thus, he makes love more authentic and vital to the play.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Cassius and Brutus: The Significance of their Deaths
After reading Act 5, it has become clear to me that Cassius's and Brutus's deaths were very significant in showing the state of mind of the characters. Both Cassius and Brutus die from a sword through the chest, however the similarities stop there. Cassius dies after mistakenly interpreting the cheers and grabbing of Titinius off his horse as the enemy taking him prisoner, and thus has Pindarus run the sword through his chest while Cassius closes his eyes. When Cassius realizes this he states:
"O coward that I am, to live so long
To see my best friend ta'en before my face!" (Act 5.3 lines 34-35)
and then right before he dies says:
"Now be a freeman, and , with this good sword
That ran through Caesar's bowels...
...Caesar, thou art revenged,
Even with the sword that killed thee." (Act 5.3 lines 34-45)
What these lines show is that Cassius clearly sees that he is about to die as a direct result of having killed Caesar, it is Caesar's revenge for why he is being killed. However, from these lines I got the impression that Cassius isn't seeing his death as a way of making amends and reconciling Caesar's death, but instead as more of a curse / ill fate that is all Caesar's fault. It sounds to me that he is blaming Caesar still for both what he thought was Titinius's captured imprisonment as well as his death. However, the fact that Cassius still decides to kill himself because of what he thought happened to Titinius shows that he felt guilty for bringing about Titinius's fate because he sees that it is a direct result of him trying to stop Caesar that lead to these events. Finally, the fact that Cassius closes his eyes / covers his face shows that he is fearful of meeting his end, and thus in a way it shows that he probably doesn't regret killing Caesar because it was wrong but regrets it because it lead to the end of him and his friends.
On the other hand, Brutus's death is very different. While he dies by a sword as well, he chooses to have Strato hold the sword and has him cover his eyes, while Brutus keeps his eyes open and runs into the sword, killing himself. Brutus before his death states:
"I shall have glory by this losing day,
More than Octavius and Mark Antony
By this vile conquest shall attain unto." (Act 5.5 lines 36-38)
and
"Farewell, good Strato.
Caesar, now be still.
I killed not thee with half so good a will." (Act 5.5 lines 49 - 51)
From these lines it is clear that Brutus sees his death as a way of reconciling his deed of killing Caesar, and that by now killing himself Caesar's ghost can now rest in peace. The fact that Brutus ran into the sword himself with his eyes open, shows that he did not fear death, and maybe in a way wanted it because he couldn't live with himself for what he had done to Caesar. This makes since because Brutus didn't really have anything against Caesar himself in the first place. Also, it shows that unlike Cassius, Brutus is accepting his punishment of death and because he tries to be honorable decides to carry it out himself for the good of Rome. Finally, the fact that he has Strato cover his eyes shows that he cared about other peoples feelings and reactions, which could explain why he accepts his own death because he knows the people of Rome want him to die.
Thus, it is clear that while both Cassius and Brutus acted together to kill Caesar, and choose to die by the sword, their deaths show that down deep in their character they were very different.
"O coward that I am, to live so long
To see my best friend ta'en before my face!" (Act 5.3 lines 34-35)
and then right before he dies says:
"Now be a freeman, and , with this good sword
That ran through Caesar's bowels...
...Caesar, thou art revenged,
Even with the sword that killed thee." (Act 5.3 lines 34-45)
What these lines show is that Cassius clearly sees that he is about to die as a direct result of having killed Caesar, it is Caesar's revenge for why he is being killed. However, from these lines I got the impression that Cassius isn't seeing his death as a way of making amends and reconciling Caesar's death, but instead as more of a curse / ill fate that is all Caesar's fault. It sounds to me that he is blaming Caesar still for both what he thought was Titinius's captured imprisonment as well as his death. However, the fact that Cassius still decides to kill himself because of what he thought happened to Titinius shows that he felt guilty for bringing about Titinius's fate because he sees that it is a direct result of him trying to stop Caesar that lead to these events. Finally, the fact that Cassius closes his eyes / covers his face shows that he is fearful of meeting his end, and thus in a way it shows that he probably doesn't regret killing Caesar because it was wrong but regrets it because it lead to the end of him and his friends.
On the other hand, Brutus's death is very different. While he dies by a sword as well, he chooses to have Strato hold the sword and has him cover his eyes, while Brutus keeps his eyes open and runs into the sword, killing himself. Brutus before his death states:
"I shall have glory by this losing day,
More than Octavius and Mark Antony
By this vile conquest shall attain unto." (Act 5.5 lines 36-38)
and
"Farewell, good Strato.
Caesar, now be still.
I killed not thee with half so good a will." (Act 5.5 lines 49 - 51)
From these lines it is clear that Brutus sees his death as a way of reconciling his deed of killing Caesar, and that by now killing himself Caesar's ghost can now rest in peace. The fact that Brutus ran into the sword himself with his eyes open, shows that he did not fear death, and maybe in a way wanted it because he couldn't live with himself for what he had done to Caesar. This makes since because Brutus didn't really have anything against Caesar himself in the first place. Also, it shows that unlike Cassius, Brutus is accepting his punishment of death and because he tries to be honorable decides to carry it out himself for the good of Rome. Finally, the fact that he has Strato cover his eyes shows that he cared about other peoples feelings and reactions, which could explain why he accepts his own death because he knows the people of Rome want him to die.
Thus, it is clear that while both Cassius and Brutus acted together to kill Caesar, and choose to die by the sword, their deaths show that down deep in their character they were very different.
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