Abstract
A detailed investigation of the Shakespearean tragedy of Hamlet's attempt to know himself as well as those around him as he assumed the role of revenger for his father's murder. The paper discusses Hamlet's awareness that to "know thyself" is often a futile preoccupation.

From the Paper
"Poet T. S. Eliot maintained that "Hamlet" is the Mona Lisa of literature. Eliot makes such a comparison because Shakespeare's Hamlet is as immune to absolute analysis as is Da Vinci's immortal portrait of Mona Lisa. Such a dilemma might also apply to knowing one's self as brilliantly expressed in the play by Shakespeare."

Tags:father-son, kingship, evil, human nature, self, Shakespeare, Claudius, Polonius, murder, indecision, revenge

Abstract
The paper attempts to show that the character of Hamlet, from Shakespeare's "The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark", is far from an uncaring coward, but is in fact very cunning, thoughtful and extremely dedicated to his revenge. The paper discusses how Hamlet is very passionate about his revenge, and will go to any lengths to achieve it.

From the Paper
"Despite the common misconception in William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince Of Denmark that Hamlet is a coward and has little heart to pursue revenge, a close examination of the tragedy proves that he is actually extremely driven and very thoughtful in his revenge. In many situations through the tragedy, Hamlet appears to be scared and uncaring for his revenge; he often gives off the impression of a coward who will not stand up to Claudius. However, Hamlet shows a deep passion for his revenge, far from the uncaring character some see. There is also a distinction between thoughtful and being a coward, and if we look a little closer, we can see that Hamlet is simply considering every aspect of his revenge."

Tags:Claudius, Polonius

Abstract
This paper discusses the connection between William Shakespeare's play, "Hamlet" and the Greek tragedy, "Orestes." It describes the parallels between the two plays and the similarities between the plots and the main characters. The paper suggests that the main thing that makes the two plays collude is the attitude of the main hero who hesitates and suffers in front of his ponderous duty.

From the Paper
"In Hamlet however, the psychological complexity of the situation surpasses even that in Oresteia. Modern thought sublimates the tragedy and the decision that has to be made by Hamlet is even more unsettling than that which has to be made by Orestes. Confronted with a state of moral rottenness that reigns over Denmark, Hamlet is, as Showerman stresses, "caught between irreconcilable imperatives": "The Oresteia of 458 BC and Shakespeare's Hamlet both explore the interaction between gods and ghosts and the tragedy of human beings caught between irreconcilable imperatives."(Showerman, 67) Hamlet goes through various states of mind throughout the play, ranging from sheer indignation at the immoral state in which the royal family and implicitly his country is, and reaching almost a state of indifference. Thus, Hamlet's first reaction upon hearing the truth of the murder from the ghost of his father is to state that he is anxious to take his revenge to the end as fast as possible: "Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift/ As meditation or the thoughts of love,/ May sweep to my revenge."("Hamlet", 1.5. 33-35) Gradually however he begins to doubt everything, and loses all assuredness. He begings to see the difficultness that lies in his moral duty: "O cursed spite,/ That ever I was born to set it right!"("Hamlet", 1.5. 207-208) As in Orestes' case, Hamlet sees his father in a aura of distinction, as a sacred representative of monarchy and righteousness: "See what grace was seated on his brow--/ Hyperion's curls, the front of Jove himself,/ An eye like Mars, to threaten or command,/ A station like the herald Mercury/ New-lighted on a heaven-kissing hill." ("Hamlet", 3.4.55-58) The injustice of the crimes grows continuously in Hamlet's mind, baffling his initial decision to take immediate revenge on the murders."

Tags:mythology, text, matricide

Abstract
This paper describes the plot of William Shakespeare's tragedy, "Hamlet', and analyzes the main character of the same name, Prince Hamlet of Denmark. The paper describes how Hamlet sets out upon his quest for revenge of his father's death through a ploy of faking insanity. The paper then discusses how Hamlet missed an opportunity to kill Claudius, the supposed murdered, and relates that Hamlet's disconnection with reality would slip as his level of paranoia rose, largely due to his very correct suspicions that his movements being watched and his conversations spied upon. The paper reveals that by the end of the play, the actions of Hamlet have indirectly resulted in the further deaths of his mother, his uncle, his lover, his two best friends and ultimately, his bloodline. The paper therefore concludes that Hamlet's actions are clearly exhibitive of the fact that he was totally insane.

Outline:
Introduction
The Source of the Silliness
The Means Towards the Abyss
Stepping Over the Threshold
Into the Mouth of Madness
The Conclusive Dissolution

From the Paper
"The tragedy of Hamlet follows the main character of the same name, Prince Hamlet of Denmark. Shakespeare's plays were written during a time and place within which there was extraordinary richness, complexity, and vitality, all of which were integrated into the brilliant poetry put forth by Shakespeare. Furthermore, the religious scene at the time was fraught with conflict and contention which touched the lives of all living within his times, particularly due to their political and doctrinal implications. (Holt 477) The issue of religion and the world of the dead would serve as intrinsic subjects within the play of Hamlet, as his madness would come about as a result of the after-life iteration of Hamlet's father."

Tags:Claudius, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, revenge, insanity, paranoia

Abstract
This paper relates that two of the most prominent characters in revenge tragedy plays are Hamlet, from William Shakespeare's play, "Hamlet" and Orestes, from Aeschylus' play "The Oresteia". The paper notes that, even though there is a vast time period separating the two plays, the main characters, Hamlet and Orestes respectively, are placed in several similar family situations and have identical characteristics that are displayed throughout the texts. The paper further notest that, while there are many situations and characteristics that the characters have in common, there are also differences. The paper attempts to show that Shakespeare and Aeschylus use these familial situations and characteristics so that the audience of the plays can both relate and respond to their dramas.

From the Paper
"Although Hamlet and The Oresteia were both written many years apart, the familial situations surrounding both plays are strikingly similar. In Hamlet, Hamlet is plagued by the death of his father who is murdered by his uncle, Claudius. After his father's death, Hamlet's mother, Gertrude, does not waste any time marrying Claudius. Even though Gertrude does not know until later in the play that Claudius killed her late husband, Hamlet still resents her for abandoning his father so quickly. Shakespeare uses this tragedy-ridden family's situation to elicit a response of shock within the audience when they learn about the state of affairs of Hamlet's family. A family that has a character who is murdered, a widow who marries the murderer, and a son looking for revenge brings shock to the audience and gets their attention. In The Oresteia, Orestes's father, Agamemnon, is murdered by his wife Clytaemnestra after coming home from battle. "

Tags:Claudius, Clytaemnestra, Laertes

Abstract
This critical analysis focuses on Act V of the Shakespearean play "Hamlet". The paper describes the scene of the gravediggers in the the church graveyard and the ensuing funeral of Ophelia. The paper shows how, after losing all those he loves so dearly, Hamlet undergoes a personal transformation. The paper concludes that, however heroic Hamlet was, the end result was still one of tragedy.

Outline:
Objective
Introduction
Hamlet: Scene V Act 1
The Funeral Procession
Act V Continues
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Hamlet was written somewhere around the year of 1600 and was one of Shakespeare's most mature and talented works. Hamlet is believed by many to be the greatest tragedy of Shakespeare. This work of Shakespeare is believed to be a popular play that was remade and was based on historical fiction. The historical Hamlet was son of a Danish "King of the Jutes" who lived during the period known as the dark ages. In the historical tale the murder of one brother by another brother took place and was not actually a murder but was a coup. In superstition of that time, the individual who murdered someone who was insane came under a risk of becoming insane themselves."

Tags:Ophelia, graveyard, murder

Abstract
This paper explains how there are similarities in the tragedies that befall the Loman, Hamlet, and Elesin. By the end of the narratives, all three characters die of broken hearts. It discusses how there is no triumph in their deaths; neither is there happiness. There is only bitterness and humiliation. The conflicts that these characters face come about from a mixture of personalities, personal foibles, circumstances, and from culture.

From the Paper
"Willy Loman is a salesman by trade. Salesmanship for him is also a way of life. Salesmanship defines his very essence. Unfortunately, that is how Willy approaches life, being a husband and parent. Willy Loman's life is all about appearances. Willy is proud of the physical prowess and athletic abilities of his sons. He does not inculcate a value-system in Biff and Happy. The end result is that both his sons are not productive or respectable citizens. Eventually, Willy realizes that, in a way, his philandering is a primary contributor to this. The family dynamic is one of salesmanship "whatever sells or looks good no matter how insubstantial. Willy lives the big lie. He is unable to disassociate salesmanship as a career and a way of life. He constantly denies reality; life in turn denies him peace of mind. In Willy's internal struggle, the salesman in him always wins out and that is his eventual undoing. When Willy dies by running his car into a neighborhood tree, one only feels for his wife. The reader knows that his sons" reaction of sadness will be fleeting at best. This is his legacy. React and move on."

Tags:bitterness, humiliation

Abstract
An analysis of Shakespeare's famous play, "Hamlet", concentrating on the storyline and characters. The author discusses Hamlet's contemplative nature and shows its importance. The author feels that if Hamlet was able to put aside his thoughts earlier, Claudius would have been killed in the second act, and the play would be about forty-five minutes long. But the author of this paper believes that Shakespeare does not make Hamlet's rational thoughts disappear until Act III, at the death of Polonius, making Hamlet one of Shakespeare's longest plays. He feels that Shakespeare uses the death of Polonius to show what happens to a man when he kills another human being. In this play, the author says, the murder of Polonius starts a chain reaction of the rest of the deaths the tragedy has to offer.

From the Paper
"There are people in this world who are thinkers and dreamers, who think things through completely before anything gets done. And there are people who get things done without thinking too much before hand. In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the main character, Hamlet, is a complex character who thinks about everything to the point where things don't get accomplished. Throughout the play, the audience can see that Hamlet is a procrastinator, and he cannot kill Claudius, even when he has numerous chances to do so. The key moment in the play when Hamlet's mindset changes is when he mistakenly kills Polonius. Shakespeare decided to include the murder of Polonius to show that by killing a man, Hamlet's mindset has changed and his rational instincts are gone, allowing him to finally avenge his father's death by killing Claudius."

Tags:death, Hamlet, killing, Shakespeare, tragedy, character, Polonius, Claudius

Abstract
This paper contends that Hamlet, in Shakespeare's tragedy "Hamlet," feigned madness although he was sane. The paper cites evidence from the play to prove this contention.

From the Paper
"According to Harold Bloom, William Shakespeare's "The Tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmark" is said to be his first great tragedy. Bloom Hamlet was written sometime between and - and Bloom asserts that the death of Shakespeare's father and only son around this time and before the final draft of Hamlet was finished, deepened his understanding and sense of tragedy and loss. He weaved this experience into his retelling of the revenge play about Hamlet the Prince of Denmark."

Tags:Feigned, madness, Hamlet

Abstract
This paper examines and compares the plays "Hamlet" by Shakespeare and "Night Mother" by Marsha Norman. The paper shows how the main characters of the plays share common characteristics such as their arguments for suicide, the loss of their fathers, and their similar wishes to die.

From the Paper
"Although Hamlet by William Shakespeare and Night, Mother by Marsha Norman were written about four hundred years apart, they are similar because they both tell tragic stories of people who are tortured by hopelessness, depression and painful circumstances in their lives. "

Tags:tragedy, norman, shakespeare