Velasquez 1

Alexis Velasquez

Michael Wyly

English 002

18 December 2016

Essay #1
In previous endeavors in the discussions of Hamlets character, it can be determined that
his central character dilemma is on whether or not he should take action and take out his revenge
on his uncle or hold back his emotions and be hesitant to kill another man. The conflict and
turmoil of the character is the most challenging obstacle for him to overcome and is the main
focus for his story. If Hamlet were to choose the path of revenge, while he would have the
justice he think that is deserved upon him and his uncle, it would still be the murder of another
man. In that perspective he would be no better that his uncle who got rid of his own brother in
order to fulfill his ambitions and emotional needs. Hamlet would be killing his uncle for very
similar reasons. However if he chose to not kill him, not only would he be holding back his very
serious and painful emotions which could eventually destroy himself but also he would be letting
his uncle get away with his morbid actions. Hamlet chooses to go and be patient with his actions,
however this poses some problems for him later on in the story. Because of his hesitancy Hamlet
must face obstacles such as his family worrying and growing suspicious of his erratic behavior,
and the fact that majority of his family and himself all die within this tragic event, leaving the
royal family completely gone.
As the play continues on, Hamlet's hesitancy isn't exactly a clear path, and still possesses
some consequences. When his uncle and his mother suspecting that there is something that is
making him feel very upset, so they asked two of Hamlet's friends to keep a close eye on him.
And can you by no drift of conference, get from him why he puts on this confusion, grating so
harshly all these days of quiet with turbulent and dangerous lunacy? (Ham.3,1,1-4) This poses
as a problem for Hamlet's path of revenge, because it gives his uncle the idea that there's
something wrong with him, which grows into a suspicion that Hamlet knows about the murderer
of the past king. O good Horatio, I'll take the ghost's word for a thousand pound. Didst
perceive?
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Very well my Lord.

Upon the talk of the poisoning?
I did very well note him (Ham. 3,2,255-258). This is a very significant part in the play because
it signifies that Claudius is aware that Hamlet knows of his terrible secret, and a deadly game
begins to unfold between the two members of the Royal Family. Because Hamlet choices to wait
and play a game with Claudius rather than taking up on his revenge and quickly getting over
with and done, this ends up with others getting caught in the crossfire. While that's going on,
Polonius suggests that Hamlet's irrational behavior is because he is sick in love with his own
daughter Ophelia.This ends up very differently with Hamlet telling Ophelia to go into a nunnery.
Get thee to a nunnery. Why would a style be a breeder of sinners ?(Ham. 3,2,118). Hamlets
true intentions in saying these words to Ophelia were not meant to be taken as something of an
insult. Instead Hamlet is taking up all his pent-up aggression about his mother's marriage to his
uncle out upon Ophelia. Because he sees his mother as being unfaithful and falling for the tricks
of a devious man, he wants Ophelia to go to a place where she can be the most faithful, a place
where she can never marry. However, because he chose to wait and said it was such anger and
expressive power to Ophelia, it reads across to her that Hamlet does not love her , and wishes
her to be gone from his life, far away we can never be married by her. All of these situations
contribute to the main obstacle of Hamlet's hesitancy and unsureness. Because Hamlet is
choosing to wait and plan out his revenge instead of going forth with his action it causes
suspicion because he is acting differently than how we normally presents himself around his
family and friends. This leads to consequences of his actions later on in the story in terms of
fatality.Even though initially it seems as though Hamlet is going about the peaceful way in the
more tactical way of hatching his revenge plan, there are some heavy consequences to his
decisions and choices through the loss of his own life and the majority of the Royal Court. In the
passage of his rage toward his mother in her bedroom Chambers, Polonius, is hiding behind the
tapestry. what ho! Help, help; help!
Home now ! A rat! Dead, for a ducat,dead!
O me,I am slain! (Ham. 3,4,23-25). Hamlet, mistaking Polonius for Claudius, stabs and kills
him behind the tapestry. For this crime he is then banished and then sentenced to be put to death
by the King of England. As well due to the intense emotions that he is feeling, Hamlet rages at
Ophelia, which ultimately leads to her drowning herself later on in the story. Both of these
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circumstances lead to the unanticipated killing of two members of the Royal Court that Hamlet
cares deeply for. If he would have just gone down and killed his uncle none of the the suspicions
would have occurred, and their deaths likely would never have happened. It goes to show how
even using patience and waiting for something to happen can have its down sides that many may
not have foreseen.

Essay #2
At the very end of the story, a prince from another kingdom, named Fortinbras which
Hamlet, as he fades away in his death, wishes to be made king of Denmark. Fortinbras does
come, Horatio is the one who enlightens him on the tragedy that is just stowed upon his beloved
Kingdom. Fortinbras, then has Hamlet carried away, but as a soldier would in the heats of a
Great War. Fortinbras role within this story, is to show how great kingdoms can fall and rise, and
that life, death, and birth are all part of it. Fortinbras position in the story is significant because
he is the one to claim the kingdom after it is destroyed and gone, and he's significant because of
the interactions that his father had with Hamlet's father.

The former king of Norway lost his life to a bet that he made with King Hamlet. And just
like the prince Hamlet, fortinbras feels an incredible amount of rage towards the Kingdom of
Denmark. However unlike Hamlet who contemplates life and death, Fortinbras go straight into
action in pursuit of conquering Denmark. Was, as you know, by fortinbras of Norway, where to
prickd on by a most emulate pride, Dard to the combat in which our Valiant hamlet for so this
side of our Known World esteemed him did slay this fortinbras; (Ham. 1, 1, 82-86). Fortinbras
possess the same passion and energy in the right moment at the right time and acts upon it. He
doesn't wait around for a chance to go. Now, sir, young, Fortinbras of unimproved mettle, hot
and full, half in the skirts of Norway here and there sharked up a list of lawless resolutes. (Ham.
1,1, 95-100). Because of this not only does he accomplish a lot while in an empowered mode but
he gains a lot of land, which poses as a real, legitimate threat to the Kingdom of Denmark. The
two can be seen as very similar characters in that regard, besides one fatal character trait that
separates them. The entire focus of the story is the consequences and actions that come from
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Hamlet's hesitancy. Fortinbras is to show what probably would have happened had Hamlet just
gone off with his revenge and taken that chance.

As Hamlet is dying in the very last scene of the entire show, his dying breath request is 4
a ratio to tell the story of Their Kingdoms fall so that the country of Denmark will at least be
remembered. oh I die Horatio the point of poison quite o'er crows my spirit I cannot live to
hear the news of England but I do prophesy the election lights on Fortinbras he has my dying
voice so tell him with the occurrents more and less what we have solicited the rest is
silence.( Ham. 5, 2, 322-327). This means that the monarchy of Denmark and its people will at
least survive and continue on with a leader to guide them. It just happens to be that Fortinbras is
the one who will take charge.

The action of Fortinbras taking the throne, is symbolic of the Elizabethan chain of being
of the Hamlet family ending in Denmark. The chain of being is meant to have the highest
being( which in this case would be God) and continued on through children and the same family
hierarchy for Generations. Fortinbras is not a part of the Hamlet family bloodline and as such is
part of the hierarchy of a different family. This means did the Kingdom's of his previous family
and New Kingdom has just obtained will flow in the same bloodline. It's symbolic because it
shows that while it was more straightforward and less thoughtful, Fortinbras ultimately gained a
lot more and lived to tell the tale as he pursued his own Revenge. Because Hamlet decided to
wait and didn't go forth with his actions it cost him the entire Kingdom.

With Fortinbras claiming the entire Kingdom, the message of the story is that sometimes going
forth with your actions and trusting it can lead to better results waiting. Hamlet's hesitancy
caused the suspicion of his uncle and his mother ultimately Polonius, who all died because of it.
Ophelia thinking that Hamlet did not love her drowned herself in the river out of sadness. This
causes Laertes (her brother) to grow immense,incredible anger that Hamlet is responsible for the
murder of both his sister and his father which leads to a conflict and the battle with him dying as
well. His own mother, accidentally drinks a poison that was initially meant for Hamlet, and she
dies too. All of these things could have been avoided if Hamlet had just stepped up and stood for
what he wanted to do, but he held back and ended the Royal bloodline of Denmark.
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