Shakespeare's Hamlet: character analysis and themes

Shakespeare's Hamlet: Questions Answered

The Mousetrap play is significant to Hamlet because it shine the light of truth. The court was planning to watch a play and Hamlet seizes the opportunity to expose Claudius for the murderer he is. He gives the players new lines to speak in the play and he gives them cues on how to act ion the stage. Hamlet gives serious consideration to this play because he know that this might just give him the evidence he needs to discover Claudius' guilt. Hamlet realizes that how the king will respond to the play depends greatly on how well the actors are. His instruction for them is to "Suit the action to the word, the word to the action, with this special observance, that you o'erstep not the modesty of nature" (Shakespeare III.ii.19-21), paying special attention to the notion of the natural vs. The fake. He also instructs them to "hold as 'twere the mirror up to nature, to show virtue her own feature, scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time his form and pressure" (III.ii.23-5). Here we see how Hamlet wants the play to feel like real life and not a play. He wants the actors to be so real that they provoke a reaction in Claudius. The scene with hamlet instruction the actors allows us to see how Hamlet understands how art cannot only imitate life but it can influence it. Hamlet wants Claudius to feel as though he is watching himself on the stage. The actors are presenting Claudius with the mirror and upon looking into it; the king cannot help but see his own reflection in it.

Hamlet gets exactly what he wants from the production of the play -- Claudius' guilt. In fact, Claudius is so distraught that he exist the building. This act undoubtedly excites hamlet because he know has the proof that he needs to carry out his father's wishes. This new knowledge invigorates hamlet, inspiring a side of him that has been dormant for far to long. Suddenly, he is confident in himself, the ghost, and his ability to avenge his father's death. He sees Claudius as a "strucken deer" (III.ii.297) that must go weep from the honest action he has just witnessed. Horatio is even aware of the king's reaction. Hamlet seems overjoyed that he has the evidence he needs and he demands that music be played. He states, "If the King like not the comedy, Why, then, belike he likes it not, perdy" (III.ii.319-20). Hamlet emerges from the dark cloud that has drifted over him throughout most of the play and, in these moments, he is more like his foil, Fortinbras. He can see clearly the path he needs to take to avenge his father and he is compelled to do so without doubt or fear.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are significant to the play because they become pawns that end up serving no one any good because they are not smart enough to think about facts beyond serving the king. They are certifiable brownnosers and will. They are present from the beginning of the play and they are supposed to be Hamlet's friends. This becomes important to Claudius' plan, because they can spy on Hamlet without appearing to be suspicious. Claudius brings them to the castle because he wants them to spy for him. He understands how they are and knows that want to please him almost at any cost and he uses this to his advantage. He has no real use for them other than this task. There is more going on than meets the eyes, however. There are two dynamics going on here. The first dynamic is that the two men are not as loyal to Hamlet as we think they should be because they accept the king's offer without protest. Friends from decades back should be loyal but these men abandon friendship to curry favor with the king. The second dynamic is that they are given the opportunity by Hamlet to confess that they are on a mission from Claudius but they do not. The fact that they do go along with the king's plan demonstrates their lack of loyalty to their lifelong friend and their lack of character. They will sell out anyone if it means that they might win approval of the king. They have no real loyalty to nothing than their own advancement in the kingdom and, as a result, are useful to no one for very long. They become pawns because Claudius gets them to kill Hamlet so he does not have to. That Hamlet is able to turn to king's plan upside down also illustrates that the men are simply not useful because they are not bright enough to carry out any plans of real significance

When Rosencrantz and Guildenstern return with word for the king, they are fully convinced that Hamlet is mad. They think he might be fooling them and the three men discuss hamlet and his state of mind. Their discussion with Claudius demonstrates how little respect they have for Hamlet and their willingness to betray him. Another example of their loyalty to the king is seen during the play, when Claudius walks out of the play. R & G. knew that hamlet made changes to the play and could not help but realize the king's anger. They show their allegiance to the king when they follow him out of the building rather than stay behind and support Hamlet as Horatio does. Later, when they fiend loyalty and affection toward Hamlet, he admonishes them because their deception is clear. Hamlet tells them, "Call me what instrument you will, though you [can] fret me, you cannot play upon me" (III.ii.400-1). Hamlet is no fool. Harold Bloom states that no one can play upon Hamlet because he is "cleverer than we are, and more dangerous" (Bloom 54). In addition, Maynard Mack states that Hamlet is full of riddles and Hamlet himself cannot be figured out. Hamlet even "warns Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, from which he will not have his heart plucked out" (Mack 238) Here, Hamlet lets them know that he is aware of what they are doing and they will not be able to play him for a fool regardless of what they think or what the king tells them. This scene is important because it demonstrates that Hamlet is more on top of things than the king or anyone else realizes. When Hamlet looks at Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, he sees the same fools that Claudius does. Even when they are sailing toward England, there is no love lost between thee three men. Each knows where the others stand and we see the ultimate prank when Hamlet switches notes for the king without Rosencrantz and Guildenstern ever noticing. Their foolishness and uselessness to anyone is revealed at this point. They are pawns that allow others to get what they want because they are not wide enough to make their own way in the world.