William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a complete exploration of mortality and the intricacies of life and death. William Shakespeare was inspired to write this play close to 1600 and the tragedies main focus is on Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark. Hamlet is heartbroken when he experiences the death of his father and is even more stunned when his mother, Queen Gertrude, remarries his uncle Claudius. When it comes to Shakespeare’s Hamlet, we see that he dives deep into the themes of revenge, corruption, madness, and guilt making it one of his most intricate and beloved works.
Hamlet, our protagonist, experiences some deep internal conflict. Hamlet commits some impulsive acts not typical of his normal behavior. He plots revenge against Claudius, yet is hesitant to act on it. Hamlet learns that Claudius is responsible for his father’s death, which creates tension within the story’s plot. His delay captures a sense of morality within decision-making and shows what can come from overthinking your actions, while also playing on the theme of revenge. We also see the theme of revenge through Laertes. Following his father’s death, Polonius and Laertes bring an army to the palace seeking vengeance and plan to kill Hamlet. While he does injure him, we see that revenge is not always the answer because Laertes ends up dying as well.
In this play, we also see a theme of corruption and gaining power. Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle and new stepfather, embodies manipulation and deceit. His guilt differs from Hamlet’s struggles because his actions expose appearances and show that truth is elusive. This theme also relates to the Danish court. They are filled with spying and betrayal. Nobody is trustworthy. No wonder Hamlet distanced himself from everyone.
Furthermore, madness is a truly significant theme in the story of Hamlet. Hamlet fakes his madness to allow him to investigate his father’s death without suspicion. However, in the end, there is a blurred line between true insanity and sanity. Ophelia is also driven to madness after experiencing the tragic murder of her father by her lover. She has been driven by obedience to her father the entire story, but is torn between remaining loyal to her father and her love for Hamlet. Her spiraling leads to her tragic death as well, and symbolizes the destructive impact that one’s own mind can have on a person, and can lead to the true defeat of oneself.
Lastly, guilt is portrayed through Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude. She is conflicted, and her new marriage to Claudius starts to raise questions about whether she was loyal and obedient to Hamlet’s father. Scholar, T.S Eliot, even shows particular disgust with Gertrude in one of his essays, “Hamlet and His Problems.” Eliot feels that her character is weak and flawed and states that, “her character is so negative and insignificant”. Hamlet’s disgust is not with his mother alone and extends beyond her marriage to Claudius.
Hamlet has a fatal climax where we see that the quest for justice results in widespread death, including Hamlet’s own demise. The catastrophic ending highlights the consequences of revenge and that it truly is not always the answer. Hamlet remains a timeless work because it addresses everyone’s human experience of doubt, grief, and a search for true meaning. Shakespeare’s intricate language and dramatic plot allow for endless interpretations and many different conclusions. The famous Harold Bloom even says that the play ‘transcends genres’ because of the complexities of the play, and it is truly just a drama. Through observing Hamlet’s journey, we see that the play challenges the audience to confront themselves with uncomfortable truths, the choices we make, and our effect on others’ lives.
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