Hamlet

Name of Student

Institutional Affiliation

Point of View

The play was written in the third person point of view. The objective third person to be specific was the view Shakespeare employs in the play. Shakespeare wrote it in a dramatic view so that he would present the action through dialogue. Shakespeare might have written the play in the dramatic view with the objective of the play performed.

Plot

Hamlet is a play that presents the tragedy of the protagonist, Hamlet, and it’s tragic ending. Hamlet was a young man who was surrounded by mystery life that he never hoped to face. Claudius his uncle kills his father, and hamlet is convicted that he should revenge his father’s death. Even before two months would elapse from his father’s death, his mother Gertrude marries his uncle Claudius. This situation complicates Hamlet’s revenge. As the play comes to the end Hamlet kills Polonius and Ophelia drowns herself. Laertes hits Hamlet with the poisonous sword which later Hamlet uses to kill Laertes. Gertrude drinks the poisoned drink meant for Hamlet and she passes. Claudius is forced to drink a poisoned drink by Hamlet and he (Hamlet) stubs his uncle to death. Hamlet passes on due to the poisonous sword. The play ends tragically.

Themes

There are several themes in the play Hamlet, the most notable themes are; revenge, Women, religion, corruption, and politics. The theme of revenge shows itself when Hamlet wants to avenge his father and Laertes wants to avenge his father Polonius killed by Hamlet. The theme of corruption is the major concern of the text; Shakespeare is concerned with corruption in Denmark. The play begins with death, decay, and poison which represent the rotten state of Denmark.

Women Characters

Women characters appear to be minor and insignificant in the play Hamlet. However, Gertrude changes this perception. Her son, Hamlet accuses her of betrayal, the fact that she married Claudius the one who killed her husband. Gertrude was not aware that Claudius murdered her husband. She conflicts herself whether to play loyal to Claudius or his son. In the end, Gertrude makes the ultimate sacrifice for his son.

Ophelia is meant to be the lover of Hamlet in the play. However, Hamlet merely uses Ophelia as a means to get his revenge. He does not appreciate her. In the end when Hamlet expresses her mixed feelings for Ophelia she decides to drown herself. Polonius also uses her daughter, Ophelia as a means of spying on Hamlet. These two women develop the other characters and they help them as ends to achieve their goals according to Howard (2007).

Film Adaptation on Hamlet.

Several movies have been produced on the play Hamlet. Oliver’s Hamlet was produced in 1948 and the instances that catch the eye are; the choice of film to have Hamlet have a conversation at her mother’s bedroom gives it incest admiration. The choice to have Hamlet’s voice as ghosts gives the interpretation that his voice may be on the prince’s head.

Zeffirelli’s Hamlet is another version of a film adaptation for the play Hamlet. The film is directed in a manner that Hamlet is in a covert war with Claudius. Hamlet is also created as an action hero rather than a philosopher-prince according to Cook (2011).

References

Howard, T. (2007). Women as Hamlet: Performance and Interpretation in Theatre, Film, and Fiction. Cambridge University Press.

Cook, P. J. (2011). Cinematic Hamlet: The Films of Olivier, Zeffirelli, Branagh, and Almereyda. Ohio University Press.

Shakespeare, The tragedy of Hamlet.