Hamlet Essay

In an essay that demonstrates your wild brilliance and for Pete's sake avoids plot summary at all costs, please explain how this quote (To thine own self be true) contributes to your understanding of the tone and theme of Hamlet.  Specifically: Which character speaks the line/s?  At what point in the play/plot?  How do the words affect the character's own understanding, the other characters' understandings (if applicable), and the audience's understanding?  Top shelf responses will include definitions of these literary elements, demonstrated understanding of the play's central message, tone, and characterization, and application of the concept of Performative Utterance.

"To thine own self be true"

 

 

"To thine own self be true," a phrase that was derived from the play Hamlet, a phrase that has gained mass popularity in the last years, now means more to hundreds of people than it did to whom it was spoken to. The phrase spoken by Polonius was directed at his son Laertes in the play as last minute advice before his son departs on a trip. It is the last, and most pertinent piece of advice Polonius delivers, following up with "And it must follow, as the night the day,/Thou canst not then be false to any man." This phrase, however, also affects other characters, as well as audiences (even today's readers), and aids in setting the tone and theme for this tragic play.

Laertes himself is quite unaffected by the advice his father prompts. What Polonius means by his famous line was that Laertes live up to his name, to not go around doing what he usually does, and act decent. Polonius himself has described his son as a gambler, someone who will borrow money and not pay back, someone who will act as a man with word of honor, yet never have the decency to actually act with honor. Laertes is never true to his name, he is although, true to the identity he has given himself with his actions, and true to his reputation. At the end of the play, when fighting for his father is where he becomes true to himself, the way his father truly wished, he fights for his name, he fights for the honor of his family. What Polonius intended to do was create a locutionary force,  by hoping that his son will remain true and not tarnish their last name, the desired perlocutionary action from Laertes.

Hamlet, although not having been given the advice in the same words, is also told by the ghost to not lose himself, to not lose his head. Unlike Laertes, he actually tries to follow this advice throughout the play, and constantly struggles. Was he himself when he pretended to act mad, did he portray his true self according to others? Was he true to himself when he failed to avenge his father's death? Or when he lost the kindness he used to show Ophelia, the love of his life, was he true then? Hamlet purposefully struggles with being true to others, but he knows who he is. Many readers now attempt to do just that, to be true to themselves, not worrying about how they are seen by others. "To thine own self be true," a phrase that most people wish to apply to their own lives. The audience at the time of Shakespeare may have missed the importance of this line, but generations now have definitely picked up its meaning and have run with it. Many readers attempt to apply this famous phrase to their individual lives, and even attempt to live by it. If this phrase was typed into a search engine millions of 'tumblr' accounts, countless posts, and a multitude of profiles would appear, all advertising this little Shakespeare-ian saying. The phrase has had an immense impact on many readers, and even people who have not had the opportunity to read the play in its entirety.

The tone, as set forth by the author seems vengeful, depressing, and yet questioning. The quote helps Shakespeare and the play set forth a more understanding tone, as though the play itself is seeking vengeance, and questioning everything that occurred in young Hamlet's life, yet it asks of Hamlet and Laertes to remain conscious, to avoid transforming into something dreadful because of the murder of their fathers.  The theme returns to the forces of locutionary, illocutionary, and perlocutionary and the complexity of words and actions. The theme is set forth by the countless phrases Hamlet disguises with double meanings, and the fact that his words make others believe things, such as him being lunatic, and his actions only add to the complexity that he is. His words, his actions, they all remain true to the character that Hamlet is.

"To thine own self be true," many wish to live by this, and Polonius only wished his son would. The quote affects more than just the characters, adding a second dimension to the tone. The entirety of Hamlet encompasses the complexity of actions and words, easily seen with many pairs of characters such as, Polonius and Laertes, Polonius and Ophelia, Hamlet and his father, etc. etc. Be true to yourself, to your name, to who you are, the best advice Polonius could deliver to his son.

Hamlet Notes ~ Act V Scene II

Scene II:

• (Hamlet tells about how he escaped and is now back) > found Claudius' commissionaire (the one that told the English to kill Hamlet) and forged a new one
• New commissionaire > instead of killing Hamlet, kill Rosencrantz and Guildenstern > "He should the bearers put to sudden death."
• Hamlet finally realizes the distress, his once friend, Laertes must be under > wants to explain the situation to him > Hamlet does not know how far off Laertes is
• Osric > hat situation > stuck between showing respect for Hamlet as prince, or following orders from Hamlet as prince ~> REAL MISSION: invite Hamlet to his death, to the fencing match
• Hamlet agrees, casually, knowing that Claudius has placed a bet on him> then has second thoughts knowing that his relationship with Laertes is not good at this time > Horatio wants to say Hamlet is sick > Hamlet tells him to "let it gooo"
• King, Queen, attendants come in with Laertes
• Hamlet shakes hands with Laertes and apologizes, blames his "madness" for his action > Laertes accepts but says he wants to defend his honor
• Hamlet does not check the protection on the swords, accepting any, while Laertes makes sure he gets the correct one > Claudius setting up the backup plan: says he will drink to Hamlet
• They battle, Hamlet being a better fencer > Claudius throws the poisoned pearl in Hamlet's cup and tells him to drink for the two matches he has won, Hamlet refuses and instead Gertrude drinks
• Claudius did not intend to stop Gertrude from drinking, allowed her to swallow her death
• Laertes takes advantage of the moment that Gertrude wipes Hamlet's brow to stab him > Hamlet takes his sword and repays him the cut
• Gertrude collapses and admits it was the drink > Laertes also confesses about the poisoned sword, blaming the King
• Hamlet attacks the King, wounds him and forces him to drink the poison
• In their final minutes Laertes and Hamlet forgive each other
• Hamlet stops Horatio from drinking the poison (BRAVE, unlike Claudius), and tells him that he wants his story to be told
• Fortinbras returning from his victory in Poland > Hamlet says he will probably (should be) King
• Horatio is to tell Fortinbras what occurred
• Horatio tells Fortinbras to put the bodies high on a stage > Fortinbras agrees to pay Hamlet the highest tribute, that of a soldier, cannons to be shot off

Hamlet Notes ~ Act V Scene I

Scene I:

• "to act, to do, to perform"
• clowns - dig so many graves that they are accustomed to it and can make jokes about it and death
• "Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio: a fellow/ of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy:"
• Laertes > says Ophelia will go to Heaven, while Priest is condemned to Hell (Priest was not allowing Ophelia to be buried on holy ground because of her assumed suicide)
• Hamlet (watching from afar) is shocked to see that the grave is for Ophelia (who he actually DID love) > jumps into the grave along with Laertes and begin to fight

Hamlet Notes ~ Act IV Scene IV, V, VI, VII

Scene IV:

• want internally drives us (Captain)
• Hamlet soliloquy > "How all occasions do inform against me,/And spur my dull revenge!" >> all circumstances against his ability to act; also a motivating force
• God did not give us such capability (of learning, of understanding/comprehension, of conscience) to go unused and to waste > experience of learning, conscious learning > Hamlet wonders if he exhibits a flaw which causes him to overthink and not act
• Fortinbras > orders yet he never risks himself >> Soldiers > honored, risk lives for a penny because they simply follow orders without questioning
• "O, from this time forth,/My thoughts be bloody, or nothing worth."

Scene V:

• Polonius' death wasn't really covered > Ophelia has gone loony (traumatized)
• Ophelia wonders why her father was buried backwards > incorrect and without proper ceremony
• Ophelia may also be crazy because of Hamlet and unrequited love
• "My brother shall know of it." > Ophelia threatens Claudius > Claudius attempts to monitor Ophelia > Laertes will cause problems
• Laertes attacks with Danes
• "That drop of blood that's calm proclaims me bastard." (Laertes) > calm derived from someone else other than his father
• Laertes blames Hamlet for his father's death

Scene VI:

• Hamlet escaped, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are still heading to England, Horatio was notified by Hamlet that he escaped and to meet him for an important conversation

Scene VII:

• Laertes set on revenge > kill Hamlet (Claudius is okay with that)
• Claudius + Laertes > set up Hamlet's death > Laertes will murder Hamlet, but an excuse will be given so that it doesn't seem cold-blooded
• Letter from Hamlet arrives
• Laertes will kill Hamlet also to prove his love for his father
• Plan to kill Hamlet : Fencing match, Laertes will have an unbated sword > Laertes then suggests to put some sort of poison on the end > Claudius then says he will give Hamlet poisoned wine
• Queen Gertrude comes in with the news that Ophelia has drowned > Laertes begins to weep for his sister and departs, followed by Claudius

Hamlet Notes ~ Act IV Scene I, II, III

Scene I:

• Ophelia reveals to Claudius that Hamlet has killed Polonius in an act of lunacy
• Claudius fears of the consequences, what will people say, he should have kept Hamlet under control
• Ophelia lies to Claudius saying Hamlet was sorry for what he had done, and that he shed a tear after the deed
• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are told to bring back Hamlet and take Polonius' body to the chapel, Claudius will attempt to get Hamlet out of town quickly > conference with advisors to see what they can do next

Scene II:

• Hamlet is found by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern> refuses to reveal the burial area of Polonius
• insults Rosencrantz, referring to them as sponges, used only when needed, soaking up all the rewards from the king, but when no longer needed they will be squeezed and nothing will remain with them
• Hamlet fools them when he says they should take him to Claudius, afterwards running off (Hide fox, and all after.)

Scene III:

• Hamlet brought in and questioned about the body by Claudius > 3 responses

1. At supper > not where he eats, but where he is being eaten
2. In heaven > insults Claudius and tells him to go search for him in the other place if he cant find him here (Go to hell.)
3. Upstairs > he will begin to stink, able to smell him as one goes upstairs (calls after attendants that their is no need to hurry as he isn't going anywhere)

• Hamlet told he is going to England, understands that the reasoning behind it is not good
• Claudius after all exit > England must obey the orders that go along with Hamlet, to execute him once he arrives "By letters congruing to that effect,/The present death of Hamlet."

HAMLET (THE MADMAN?) Essay

Prompt: Do you think Hamlet's nuts?  After our discussions today I reflected back on all the commentary and all the productions I could remember, and it seems like the overwhelming majority talk about Hamlet being mad.  But I still wonder whether his ability to see the ghost is commentary on Gertrude's blindness to the truth and Hamlet's ability to see right and wrong.  In fact, I wonder if it's the sanest thing in the world to be freaked out by feeling obliged to kill someone, and I also still wonder about Hamlet's ability to plan and say the right things (with double meanings!) under pressure.  I guess he could be an endearingly fiendish sociopath, but he seems too self-critical for that.  What do you think, and what is your evidence?  Especially curious about your perspectives after you read DeBoer's paper. 

The character Hamlet has been described in multiple instances as a 'madman,' and as a man who 'cannot make up his mind,' while in reality he is a very meticulous and calculating person, with an ability to create a sub-persona. Throughout Act I, II, and III, Hamlet clearly depicts his abilities, not only at being precise with his words and actions, but at his ability to masquerade his thoughts and intentions. Hamlet in no instance has ever seemed 'nuts,' rather in scenes where he seems crazy, he has simply unleashed an intense and deep anger, rooted to the murder of his father. Hamlet has complete control of his mind, scared only by the presence of his task and his mother's participation or inability to see reality as shown in the first three acts.

Madman is not the correct term for the young Hamlet, rather he is a man who wishes to control his future. From the day he saw the ghost of his father and was told of the true events of his death, Hamlet has schemed to act mad, going as far as letting his two companions know that he would act strange. Hamlet has a reason behind his every action, unlike someone who if lunatic would act irrational. Hamlet's first plan of tricking those around him to conclude that he is crazy worked because of his commitment to a character, his sub-persona. His anger fueled this action, the first part of his major scheme to murder Claudius. In scenes where Hamlet seems completely lunatic, such as the scene in Gertrude's closet, Hamlet is only releasing his immense anger. In this particular scene Hamlet allows his intense feelings to overtake him, for a moment seeming irrational. However, if analyzed correctly it is easily noticeable that Hamlet is releasing his bottled up emotions, while also attempting to figure out his mother's participation in Old Hamlet's death. All of Hamlet's movements and actions are calculated, except for Polonius' death. The death of this man was simply an accident, Hamlet mistook him for Claudius, and seizing the opportunity to turn his words into actions, Hamlet struck.

Hamlet's task to kill a man would drive any normal person insane. Hamlet handles the task, of keeping his intentions and thoughts secret, quite well. To some he may seem like a sociopath, or guilty of premeditated murder, but he only wants to correct the unfair instances that have occurred. His inability to kill Claudius at first shows his sanity. Hamlet realizes that his actions are not morally correct, which may have fueled his idea to act mad. This realization shows his sanity, his unwillingness to kill Claudius, no matter what the ghost said or told him to do, depicts that he has not been crazed with anger.

Hamlet is not a cold-blooded killer, rather he seeks revenge for his father's life, a man who was his idol, he seeks retribution for the mistakes his mother made towards his father, and overall, he hopes to end the life of the man that completely ruined and destroyed his. Although the death of his father caused him trauma, and the quick remarriage of his mother furthered it, Hamlet is not crazed, not by anger nor by love. Hamlet is simply a young boy angered by the unfair cards he has been dealt, especially with the perfect life he used to have.