While many perceive Hamlet's primary motive in killing Claudius driven by the Ghost's plea for revenge, there are many other emotional factors that compel him to take the final step in murder. Consider at least one of the following in its role of shaping Hamlet's behavior and the final tragedy within the confines of Acts I and II: personal anger over the death of his father, anger towards Gertrude, monarchial claims, betrayal by Ophelia, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern, and hatred of Claudius or Polonius. This is an open ended prompt: be organic and thoughtful in your response. You do not have to limit yourself to the motives suggested above. Regardless, be sure to include textual evidence to support your argument.
-Brennan and Jeff
The obvious reason for Hamlet’s motivation to kill Claudius in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” is to seek revenge for his dead father who was allegedly killed by Claudius as Hamlet was informed by the ghost of Hamlet’s father. However, there are many underlying factors why Hamlet wants to kill Claudius, mainly his disapproval and anger towards his mother Gertrude for marrying Claudius yet even a large majority of this anger resulted from the influence of the ghost on Hamlet. The ghost told Hamlet how his “virtuous queen” was seduced by the “traitorous gifts” of that “adulterate beast” which only intensifies Hamlet’s anger towards his mother because she married Claudius even after he killed her husband and the fact that he is only marrying her for his claim to the throne (1.5). Also, Gertrude inability to recognize her wrongdoing increases Hamlet’s anger. Gertrude herself only believes Hamlet’s insanity to be “no other but the main: His father’s death and [her] o’erhasty marriage” (2.2). Therefore, Gertrude knows the reasons for Hamlet’s change; however, she does not want to admit to the deeper meaning of her hasty marriage, to keep her place on the throne. This infuriates Hamlet even more because she is oblivious to that fact that she did anything wrong. With both of these factors combined, Hamlet has a new level of hostility towards his mother stems not only for marriage to his traitorous uncle but also for her inability to admit to any wrongdoing on her part. This oblivion of Gertrude intensely increases Hamlet’s emotions and gives him more motivation to kill Claudius to not only seek revenge for his father, but also to seek revenge for himself because of how Claudius changed his mother for the worst and forcing her to fall under his incestuous influence.
ReplyDeleteI found Hamlet to be the most relatable Shakespeare character yet. When i first read the play, I assumed he was a moody teenager. in fact, I was sceptical when Mrs. Maurno placed him around thirty years of age. He has just returned from university where he was supposed experience immense self- discovery, his father, the king, has been murdered, and his mother has married his uncle. He has a girlfriend, but he's not too sure whats going on there, and everyone seems out to get him. If that's not the picture of teenage angst, I don't know what is. I believe that Hamlet's struggle to absorb and cope with EVERYTHING happening in his life is the driving force behind the play.
ReplyDeleteHamlet has often be accused of indecisiveness. This is because he's bouncing between every motivating factor for action. It is not a single driving theme, but the combined effect of all the premises that lead Hamlet to the little action he does accomplish. The young prince spends the vast majority of his time contemplating everything from religion to suicide to matrimony- "To be, or not to be. That is the question," (3.1). His lack of action led to the mass slaughter that was the final act. If he had been able to avenge his father and kill Claudius, then not everyone need have died.
Hamlet undergoes a struggle while debating whether or not to seek revenge, but what finally pushed him over the edge? The ghosts urges Hamlet to seek revenge on Claudius throughout, so this would be the obvious choice. In all reality Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude, marrying Claudius pushed Hamlet over the top. This action of hers angered him deeply, and even the ghosts points this out that killing Claudius is a way to get even with her. Hamlet realizes in this visitation that as his “mother sits” on the side of his uncle, he will not be capable of looking at her the same. She betrayed him, and the only way to bring her back is to “step between her and her fighting soul” (3.4). To do this Hamlet must kill Claudius and get revenge on his uncle for stealing his mother and killing his father. Though the ghost’s plea for revenge does not go unheard, but the final straw for Hamlet is all the anger he has built up towards his mother.
ReplyDeleteHamlet is compelled to kill Claudius mainly for Claudius’ involvement in Hamlet’s father’s death, but another motive is that Claudius symbolizes all that is wrong with society for Hamlet. Hamlet’s hatred of Claudius has been in place before the ghost ever came into the picture. Because of Hamlet’s accepting what the ghost says about the cause of death, it’s unlikely that Hamlet didn’t already suspect Claudius of this and that he didn’t already loathe Claudius. But this is a justifiable response of the part of Hamlet, considering that his uncle married Hamlet’s mother and became the king shortly after Hamlet’s father’s death. Throughout the play, Hamlet ponders the reasoning behind suicide and examines the pros and cons of dying, and in doing this, he discusses what he has observed of humanity and society. He concludes a negative view of and disdain for people,
ReplyDelete…for some vicious mole of nature in them,
As, in their birth--wherein they are not guilty,
Since nature cannot choose his origin--
By the o'ergrowth of some complexion,
Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason (1.4).
Claudius embodies all that is wrong in society to Hamlet – murder, greed, corruption, going against his own family, and adultery. Claudius has killed his brother to gain personal power and married his sister-in-law, all while pretending that he has done nothing wrong. Hamlet intertwines a personal motive for killing Claudius with an altruistic one – getting rid of Claudius rids the world of one more evil person and will satisfy Hamlet by symbolizing the getting rid of all that is wrong with society. By getting rid of some sin in the world, Hamlet sees killing Claudius as redemption for his own suicide, thus preventing his main fear of suicide leading to hell. As Hamlet desires to both kill himself and Claudius, he decides that he cannot do one without the other, and connects killing Claudius for revenge and for the symbolic redemption of the sins of humanity.
The ghost of Hamlet's father comes to set light on his death. He is conflicted with feelings of hate and confusion. However, this is the ultimate push towards revenge and avenge. He wishes to take revenge upon Claudius for the murder and wishes to avenge the death of his father.
ReplyDeleteNatalie makes a good point that Hamlet did not approve of Claudius even before his father's ghost appeared.
I do not take Hamlet as a stupid man. I believe he had suspicions of Claudius. Thus, the coming of the ghost pushes him to act.
Although Hamlet is not dim-witted, he does walk the line of mental illness. He begins to act outrageously. Hamlet becomes obsessed and overwhelmed with revenge.
Good thoughts everybody. I like the fact that everybody has taken the prompt and run with it. Natalie - your comments comparing his personal and worldly motives was interesting. I liked your modern day parallel description of Hamlet, Kelly. Good work everybody!
ReplyDeleteHamlet undergoes a major behavior change after the death of his father. Hamlet decides to seek revenge against Claudius, who killed his father, and because of this task, Hamlet finds himself becoming a little crazy. Hamlet begins to develop a deep hatred for Claudius, even though he's family, because Hamlet will always be loyal to his father, and taking revenge against his father's killer felt like the right thing to do to Hamlet. His hatred for Claudius begins when the ghost of his father notifies that Claudius is the one who poisoned him and encourages him to seek revenge, "Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder" (I. v. 25). Hamlet becomes mentally insane, with trying to achieve his father's wishes, Claudius, who is now the king, convinces Gertrude that something is seriously wrong with Hamlet, and that he may need some help. Not only is Hamlet seeking revenge on Claudius for murdering his father, but for marrying Gertrude, his mother, after his father was dead. The whole plot of the story revolves around Hamlet seeking revenge against Claudius and, how strong his hatred is for him. However, because Hamlet was so overwhelmed with getting revenge against Claudius, others suffered and dies along with Hamlet and Claudius .
ReplyDeleteHamlet really idolized his father and his death hit him hard. So when both Claudius and his mother tell him that its part of life and he needs to get over it already Claudius even says "why should we...take it to heart.."(I.ii.104-105) after only a few months so Hamlet was upset. Also in scene 4 of act 1 we learn that the king likes to go out on the town regularly and "keeps wassail" (I,iv,10. So when the ghost of the Father who he loved tells him Claudius, who he despises, killed him Hamlet vows revenge. The fact the information came from a ghost as well as what he actually learned probably disturbed Hamlet and after the meeting the first we hear of Hamlet is from Ophelia that he had seen the horrors of hell. All that he learned from the ghost added to his instability from the grief of losing his father and the betrayal of his mother remarrying.
ReplyDeleteOne's life is made up of a serries of emotions and reactions. These things come together to create one's actions. Therefore I do not believe that the act of Hamlet killing Claudious is because of one emotion. Hamlet did love his father. In response to his mother whom told him to stop mourning he state, "Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother,Nor customary suits of solemn black." Also King Hamlet's death lead to Hamlet's depression, and when one is depressed one acts irationally. His depression is displayed by his want for suicide. :"O, that this too too solid flesh would melt
ReplyDeleteThaw and resolve itself into a dew!
Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd
His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God! God!
How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable,
Seem to me all the uses of this world!" Not only was Hamlet sad but he was also mad at his mother, whom married his father's murder, Claudious. Hamlet constantly degrades his mother for this action. Hamlet is also going crazy. Thus when he sees his father's ghost, he wants to avenge his death. These "build up factors" (plus a few more)cause Hamlet's want for revenge. Hamlet attempts to justify things too much. I doubt he would murder Claudious without much tempation... but then again Hamlet is insane.
I think it is clear that Hamlet’s motive in killing Claudius is to avenge his murdered father. However, I think that the ghost’s pleas for revenge are only a small catalyst in Hamlet’s undertaking. Because Hamlet is so indecisive, he needs more than one motive to convince himself that killing Claudius is the right course of action. Personal anger is obviously takes over instantly, as would be expected in anyone whose parent was murdered. However Hamlet is not one to act on such a whim as personal emotions. His anger toward Gertrude amplifies Hamlets feelings enough to drive him to revenge. By the time he does kill Claudius, Hamlet has become somewhat crazy, thus impairing his meticulous judgment.
ReplyDeleteI know we are still missing a few comments so we will give everybody a chance to rectify this before we make our final comments. If anybody is worried about their blog being late, please talk to Mrs. Maurno on Monday. Enjoy the rest of your weekend everybody...
ReplyDeleteThank you Brennan, I was unable to post on Thursday night, and attempted again on Friday. I believe that Hamlet's motives for killing Claudius are a mixture of what Kelly said and what the general consensus of Hamlet wanting to avenge his fathers death. Hamlet is an unstable man, with emotional instability and his attitude towards life is like a time bomb that could explode any minute. I think the Ghost's appearance was the "icing on the cake" and pushed him to actually come to terms with his suspicion of Claudius murdering his father. The ghost called Claudius an "incestuous, adulterous, animal" Hamlet tells the Ghost that he will, "Haste me to kn't, that I, with tings as swift as meditation or the thoughts of love, may sweep to my revenge" I believe that Hamlet wants to murder Claudius to avenge his fathers death and the combination of this and his mere insanity is enough to cause him to act out on his thoughts.
ReplyDeleteGreat posts everyone! It is difficult to consider other aspects of Hamlet's life that drove him to avenge his father's death, especially as the Ghost's persuasion is such a glaring motive. Everybody seemed to come to an agreement that there was not one, single motive that compelled Hamlet to kill Claudius, but rather a combination of all the motives mentioned in the prompt. Great work again!
ReplyDelete