Hamlet
Frequently, the tension in a literary work is created by the conflict between a character and society. Using Hamlet, discuss the nature of the conflict, its effect on Hamlet, on society, and the resulting thematic implications.
“Conscience doth make cowards of us all,” says Hamlet in the novel Hamlet by William Shakespeare. Hamlet cannot take drastic action against Claudius, the King who killed his father and married his mother, because he is plagued by doubt. His conscience is preventing him from doing the bold, brave revenge that must be done; it is making him a coward. Hamlet’s continuous combat with his conscience is formulating tension within himself, society and resulting in thematic implications
When the ghost of Hamlet’s deceased father informs Hamlet of the actual events of his father’s death, Hamlet is enraged. He faces an internal conflict of man versus conscience. His newfound knowledge makes a need for revenge stir within him, and it starts to eat away at Hamlet’s mind, soul and actions. Throughout the novel Hamlet struggles with finding the courage to kill his uncle Claudius once and for all. “What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba, that he should weep for her? What would he do, Had he the motive and the cue for passion that I have? … O, vengeance! Why, what an ass am I!” Hamlet scolds himself for not possessing the will power that the actor has, who is able to shed tears for a fictional character, yet Hamlet is unable to take action for a real person that influenced him so greatly; his father. Hamlet wants to take the role as a hero like the actors do, but he cannot find the emotional strength to do it.
Hamlet’s inability to act and avenge his father’s murder and kill Claudius results in a fury within himself, causing external conflicts of the play. Hamlet’s despondency with himself causes him to act out in a craze hurting many people in the process. When Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude, wishes to speak to him privately he kills Polonius (who is
“Conscience doth make cowards of us all,” says Hamlet in the novel Hamlet by William Shakespeare. Hamlet cannot take drastic action against Claudius, the King who killed his father and married his mother, because he is plagued by doubt. His conscience is preventing him from doing the bold, brave revenge that must be done; it is making him a coward. Hamlet’s continuous combat with his conscience is formulating tension within himself, society and resulting in thematic implications
When the ghost of Hamlet’s deceased father informs Hamlet of the actual events of his father’s death, Hamlet is enraged. He faces an internal conflict of man versus conscience. His newfound knowledge makes a need for revenge stir within him, and it starts to eat away at Hamlet’s mind, soul and actions. Throughout the novel Hamlet struggles with finding the courage to kill his uncle Claudius once and for all. “What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba, that he should weep for her? What would he do, Had he the motive and the cue for passion that I have? … O, vengeance! Why, what an ass am I!” Hamlet scolds himself for not possessing the will power that the actor has, who is able to shed tears for a fictional character, yet Hamlet is unable to take action for a real person that influenced him so greatly; his father. Hamlet wants to take the role as a hero like the actors do, but he cannot find the emotional strength to do it.
Hamlet’s inability to act and avenge his father’s murder and kill Claudius results in a fury within himself, causing external conflicts of the play. Hamlet’s despondency with himself causes him to act out in a craze hurting many people in the process. When Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude, wishes to speak to him privately he kills Polonius (who is