Hamlet Essay -- essays research papers

Prince crossroads is depressed. Having been summoned home to Denmark from school in Germany to attend his fathers funeral, he is shocked to go back his mother Gertrude already remarried. The Queen has wed Hamlets Uncle Claudius, the dead kings brother. To Hamlet, the marriage is foul incest. Worse still, Claudius has had himself crowned King despite the fact that Hamlet was his fathers heir to the throne. Hamlet suspects foul play.When his fathers ghost visits the castle, Hamlets suspicions are confirmed. The Ghost complains that he is unable to bear in peace because he was murdered. Claudius, says the Ghost, poured poison in King Hamlets ear while the old king napped. Unable to confess and find salvation, King Hamlet is now consigned, for a time, to spend his days in Purgatory and walk the earth by night. He entreats Hamlet to avenge his death, but to economise Gertrude, to let Heaven decide her fate. Hamlet vows to affect madnessputs an antic disposition onto wear a mask that w ill enable him to advert the interactions in the castle, but finds himself more confused than ever. In his persistent confusion, he questions the Ghosts trustworthiness. What if the Ghost is not a true spirit, but quite an an agent of the devil sent to tempt him? What if killing Claudius results in Hamlets having to relive his memories for all eternity? Hamlet agonizes over what he perceives as his cowardice because he cannot stop himself from thinking. Words immobilize Hamlet, but the world h...