Hamlet

Influences of Parential-like figures 12th Grade

One of Shakespeare’s legendary plays, Hamlet, conveys a significant conflict between a parental figure and their respective child. One theme that is embedded with this particular conflict is perception versus reality. This theme comes into play in the beginning with a mysterious ghost. The ghost actually represents Hamlet’s father which brings about confusion and anxiety to Hamlet. Hamlet finds out that Claudius has betrayed his own father and perceives this situation as a need to seek vengeance, however he is unsure if this the information that the ghost says is true. Hamlet truly does love his father and he says, “so excellent a king, that was to this Hyperion to a satyr; so loving to my mother,” (I,ii,142-5) emphasizing Hamlet’s appreciation of his father and proving that he is an extremely good role model. He denotes that King Hamlet, loved his wife, and to hear that his own mother had betrayed King Hamlet enrages him. In Hamlet’s first soliloquy, he mentions that, “she married. O, most wicked speed, to post with such dexterity to incestuous sheets!” (I, ii, 161-3) Hamlet indicates a violation of the laws against intercourse between close kin. This soliloquy emphasizes a time of mourning for Hamlet, and the fact that his...

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