Here are some useful links that may help your understanding.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Relating to the Plot - Tessa
Revenge
Revenge plays a significant role when it comes to the plot development throughout the play. The plot itself partly focuses on the revenge of a few characters. There is 3 main revenge plots intertwined in this play. For example, Hamlet's quest for revenge is the main plot, but Laertes also seeks revenge for the murder of his father, Polonius, by Hamlet and Fortinbras brings his armies into Denmark to avenge the death of his father at the hands of the now dead king. As a result, Hamlet, seeks revenge on Claudius for the brutal murder of his father. This led to the death of many, including Polonius. This drive for revenge is what led Hamlet to act as though he is ‘mad’, possibly even turning mad during the process. Without revenge, the play wouldn't have as much as a bloody and a dramatic end, considering that the deaths in the end are to a certain extent, caused by this strong desire for revenge. Due to this disastrous revenge, Hamlet kills Claudius knowing that he is avenging Hamlet Sr. During the battle between Laertes and Hamlet, Gertrude is accidentally killed along the process. An innocent life was destroyed because of the need for vengeance. The want for revenge from both characters, Hamlet and Laertes, ultimately led to their downfall, they both ended up dying in order to avenge their loved ones, for Hamlet it was Hamlet Sr., and for Laertes it was his father and sister. Thus, the battle itself shows the result of revenge, and tied in with the plot. Therefore, without the revenge, there would not be much to this play, it would not be the same and it would not be as effective.
Laertes
Laertes plays an important role in the plot development. He is a foil to Hamlet, and his drive for revenge is emphasized towards the end of the play Hamlet. Although he is away for part of the play, the deaths of his father and sister led him to want to kill Hamlet in order to satisfy his desire for revenge. Furthermore, this drive is what led to the fencing match in the last scene, causing a bloody ending, and ultimately leading to his death. Moreover, it is through Laertes’ ability to act rashly and his determination to fight for his honour that convinced him to fight Hamlet. Thus, the theme of revenge is more dominant with Laertes’ input, and with this character, the plot becomes more of a bloody tale, and a great tragedy with a base of revenge.
Fortinbras
Fortinbras isn’t a major character in the play, however, when it comes to the plot, we see Fortinbras as a foil to Hamlet. This foil between the two allows us to recognize Fortinbras’ ability to act rashly, while Hamlet thinks more than acting. In addition, he’s also a revenge-seeking character that is a strong-willed leader and is “hot and full” (Shakespeare I.i.96). Although he appears only in a few scenes, he is referred to numerous times throughout the play. He mainly emphasizes Hamlet’s tendency to think far too much, and his want for revenge also contributes to the plot of the play.
Analysis of significance to play - Amanda Large
A foil is a character whose personality and attitude is opposite the personality and attitude of another character. Young Fortinbras and Laertes are both foils for Hamlet. Hamlet’s actions, personality and attitude are very different and very opposing to those of Young Fortinbras and Laertes.
Hamlet | Young Fortinbras and Laertes |
he is calm, composed and thoughtful | hot and full |
he greatly mourns his father’s death | actively seek out revenge for their fathers deaths |
he plans out revenge but never seems to act upon it | act upon revenge at any opportune moment |
he acts very methodically | acts quickly and rashly |
All three characters, Hamlet, Young Fortinbras and Laertes, plan revenge in the play Hamlet. Hamlet’s foils are more direct with their revenge; they attempt acting out their revenge almost instantly. Hamlet, on the other hand, seems always to be stalling his revenge upon Claudius. Revenge is a major part of the play; it adds a sense of adventure and anticipation. Revenge is the most prominent act in the play; the play can be considered a revenge tragedy.
Young Fortinbras’ significance to the play is to show opposition to Hamlet and the contrast between the two characters helps make each of their personalities stand out even more. Young Fortinbras loses his father due to an agreement between the king of Denmark and the king of Norway, who happen to be the father’s of Young Fortinbras and Hamlet. Young Fortinbras plans an invasion on Denmark to get revenge against the Danes and begins to set his plan in action when he is interfered. T he opposite happens with Hamlet as when Hamlet finds out that Claudius is the one who killed his father, he seeks revenge, but constantly finds an excuse why he shouldn’t. These opposing personalities and attitudes are what make Young Fortinbras and Hamlet foils for each other.
Laertes’ significance to the play is also to show contrast with Hamlet, but as well, is to give Hamlet a way of finally expressing emotion and acting upon his revenge, instead of only thinking it through. Laertes wants revenge for the murder of his father, and therefore acts almost instantly by going to confront Claudius, who he originally believes is at fault, and then when discovering that it was Hamlet, seeks revenge against him. Laertes’ want for revenge is accompanied by Claudius’ want to kill Hamlet, and therefore when Laertes acts upon his revenge, Hamlet also gets the opportunity to act upon his. Although Hamlet does eventually act upon his revenge, it takes him a great deal of time. Since Laertes acts almost instantly and Hamlet stalls, Laertes and Hamlet are foils for each other.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Revenge Quotes in Hamlet- Kelly Speagle
“Now, sir, young Fortinbras,
Of unimproved metal, hot and full,
Hath in the skirts of Norway, here and there
Shark’d up a list of lawless resolutes,
For food and diet, to some enterprise
That hath a stomach in’t: which is no other-
And it doth well appear unto our state-
But to recover of us, by strong hand
And terms compulsatory, those ‘foresaid lands
So by his father lost.” -Horatio (Shakespeare I.i.95-104)
1) The reader learns a lot about Young Fortinbras in this passage told by Horatio. It discusses one of the major themes of the play (revenge) and it also presents a foil for Hamlet. Fortinbras wants to avenge the death of his father by creating an army that could overrun that of the Danish. In this quote, we learn that Fortinbras is a young, passionate man that will stop at nothing to get revenge on those who killed his father. The quote is significant because it gives the reader the first concept of someone seeking revenge in the play. Fortinbras is quick and takes action to get what he wants. His personality is opposite to Hamlet’s who thinks about what he wants to do too much, without ever getting to it. In the end of the play, it’s Fortinbras’s speedy actions as opposed to Hamlet’s continual thinking that allows him to get what he wants in the end without really having to do anything.
“O, from this ti
me forth, / My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!”
-Hamlet (Shakespeare IV.iv. 64-65)
2) This is a turning point for Hamlet who, until this moment, hasn’t acted upon his goal to kill the King. When he learns that Fortinbras has gathered an army to gain an unimportant, small piece of land, Hamlet feels ashamed that the Prince of Norway has taken such extreme actions for his own honour. Hamlet, at this point, realizes that he will get his revenge by murdering his uncle. The statement is a contradiction at the same time, since it’s his thoughts that force him to cower from acting. He’s determined to think about nothing but getting his vengeance somehow. It’s interesting that at this point, he resolves to think about nothing but blood. It seems that he’s going to be quick and steadfast in his actions, much like Fortinbras and Laertes. If you only think about what you want instead of acting upon it, you’ll never get it.
“I dare damnation: to this point I stand, / That both the worlds I give to negligence, / Let come what comes; only I’ll be revenged / Most thoroughly for my father.”
-Laertes (Shakespeare IV.v. 131-134)
3) We see a huge change in Laertes’s character compared to the one we knew in Act 1. His anger and depression over the death of his father has lead him to act foolishly. He doesn’t care about anything but avenging his dead father (and later on, sister) and doing anything to get revenge on Hamlet. Laertes acts on impulse, much like Fortinbras. This quote marks an important part of the play because it leads Claudius to make the plan with him to kill Hamlet. In the end, nothing works out well for anybody. I like this quote because it shows that Laertes isn’t really the meek and quiet person that he seemed to be at the beginning of the play. He will do anything for his family. At this point in the play, the reader pities Laertes for the loss of not only his father, but his sister as well. By the end, you kind of want him to come out as the winner.
Of unimproved metal, hot and full,
Hath in the skirts of Norway, here and there
Shark’d up a list of lawless resolutes,
For food and diet, to some enterprise
That hath a stomach in’t: which is no other-
And it doth well appear unto our state-
But to recover of us, by strong hand
And terms compulsatory, those ‘foresaid lands
So by his father lost.” -Horatio (Shakespeare I.i.95-104)
1) The reader learns a lot about Young Fortinbras in this passage told by Horatio. It discusses one of the major themes of the play (revenge) and it also presents a foil for Hamlet. Fortinbras wants to avenge the death of his father by creating an army that could overrun that of the Danish. In this quote, we learn that Fortinbras is a young, passionate man that will stop at nothing to get revenge on those who killed his father. The quote is significant because it gives the reader the first concept of someone seeking revenge in the play. Fortinbras is quick and takes action to get what he wants. His personality is opposite to Hamlet’s who thinks about what he wants to do too much, without ever getting to it. In the end of the play, it’s Fortinbras’s speedy actions as opposed to Hamlet’s continual thinking that allows him to get what he wants in the end without really having to do anything.
“O, from this ti
me forth, / My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!”-Hamlet (Shakespeare IV.iv. 64-65)
2) This is a turning point for Hamlet who, until this moment, hasn’t acted upon his goal to kill the King. When he learns that Fortinbras has gathered an army to gain an unimportant, small piece of land, Hamlet feels ashamed that the Prince of Norway has taken such extreme actions for his own honour. Hamlet, at this point, realizes that he will get his revenge by murdering his uncle. The statement is a contradiction at the same time, since it’s his thoughts that force him to cower from acting. He’s determined to think about nothing but getting his vengeance somehow. It’s interesting that at this point, he resolves to think about nothing but blood. It seems that he’s going to be quick and steadfast in his actions, much like Fortinbras and Laertes. If you only think about what you want instead of acting upon it, you’ll never get it.
“I dare damnation: to this point I stand, / That both the worlds I give to negligence, / Let come what comes; only I’ll be revenged / Most thoroughly for my father.”
-Laertes (Shakespeare IV.v. 131-13
4)3) We see a huge change in Laertes’s character compared to the one we knew in Act 1. His anger and depression over the death of his father has lead him to act foolishly. He doesn’t care about anything but avenging his dead father (and later on, sister) and doing anything to get revenge on Hamlet. Laertes acts on impulse, much like Fortinbras. This quote marks an important part of the play because it leads Claudius to make the plan with him to kill Hamlet. In the end, nothing works out well for anybody. I like this quote because it shows that Laertes isn’t really the meek and quiet person that he seemed to be at the beginning of the play. He will do anything for his family. At this point in the play, the reader pities Laertes for the loss of not only his father, but his sister as well. By the end, you kind of want him to come out as the winner.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
