Fear plays an important role in Shakespeare’s tragic play, Hamlet. Within the play, the main character, Hamlet, attempts to overcome his fear and fulfill his father’s revenge. Hamlet’s apprehension toward death prevents him from carrying out the murder of Claudius. Although confrontation with death is avoided for as long as possible, Hamlet comes to recognize his weakness, and faces this anxiety.
Displaying an ‘antic disposition’, Hamlet first attempts to side step his trepidation by feigning madness. After meeting with his fathers proposed ghost, Hamlet attempts to distance himself from the thought or evidence of death. Hamlet notifies his friends, Marcellus and Horatio, of his plan to distract the kingdom from his real intentions. Although Hamlet proposes this as a way to fool those in Denmark, in the last lines of his meeting with Horatio and Marcellus, he curses that this revenge be placed upon him. This is the first indication of Hamlets reluctance to perform murder. Hamlet then returns to Claudius and Gertrude, at the castle, and acts out his madness for them and for the visitor, Polonius. Upon speaking to Polonius, Polonius picks up upon Hamlets ‘madness’, yet decides that this unnatural nature is because if Ophelia’s behavior toward Hamlet. Indication of Hamlets fear is presented when Polonius asks leave of the prince. Hamlet then states that Polonius can take anything from him, anything but his life. Hamlet repeats thrice this idea of taking anything ‘except [his] life.’ Not only does this indicate how compulsive Hamlets fake insanity is becoming, but how afraid he is of dying. During the ‘To be or not to be’ soliloquy, Hamlet contemplates his view of death. As he go…
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…nd bear the ‘burden’ of his fathers retribution.
Sources Cited and Consulted:
Bloom, Harold. “Introduction.” Modern Critical Interpretations: Hamlet. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York City: Chelsea House Publishers, 1986. 1-10.
Danson, Lawrence. “Tragic Alphabet.” Modern Critical Interpretations: Hamlet. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York City: Chelsea House Publishers, 1986. 65-86
Findlay, Alison. “Hamlet: A Document in Madness.” New Essays on Hamlet. Ed. Mark Thornton Burnett and John Manning. New York: AMS Press, 1994. 189-205.
Goldman, Michael. “Hamlet and Our Problems.” Critical Essays on Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Ed. David Scott Kaston. New York City: Prentice Hall International. 1995. 43-55
Rose, Mark. “Reforming the Role.” Modern Critical Interpretations: Hamlet. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York City: Chelsea House Publishers, 1986. 117-128
Analysis of Alexander Pope’s An Essay on Man
Analysis of Alexander Pope’s An Essay on Man
There are three main issues that Pope talks about in his long poem “An Essay on Man.” First, the poet evokes a timeless vision of humanity in which the universe is connected to a great chain that extends from God to the tiniest form of life. Secondly, Pope discusses God’s plan in which evil must exist for the sake of the greater good, a paradox not fully understandable by human reason. Thirdly, the poem accuses human beings of being proud and impious. Pope feels that man claims more insight into the nature of existence then he possesses.
In “An Essay on Man” Pope is trying to make clear the relationship of humanity to the universe, himself, society and also to happiness. He states “For me health gushes from a thousand springs; seas roll to waft me suns to light- me rise; My footstool earth my canopy the skies” (330). Pope implies that the universe is created for man’s pleasures and needs and so therefore we are all connected to the chain of universal order. Through this connection man realizes that all are part of one stupendous whole. He then suggests that this order extends further then we know; any interference with it could destroy the whole. Pope asks in the poem, “Is the greater chain, that draws all to agree, upheld by God or thee?” (327).
Here he explains that by conforming to the order of the universe we can all agree on and connect to one goal. Through this connection, we would then reach the purest form of humanity. The belief in this poem is that although things do not turn out well for some individuals, everything falls into place in the great chain of the universe. In the long run everything works out for the best, Pope argues. Because humanity is ignor…
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…m with these words: “Whatever is, is right” (333). This implies that things are done or happen for a reason. When humanity tries to change things for individual gain rather than the improvement of the whole it weakens the chain, which in turn affects the rest of the universe. I believe we are all individuals who are connected to a higher power, whatever that power may be. The beauty of humanity is exactly that individuality. I agree with Pope in the sense that we are all connected somehow, but I do not agree with total submission in order to achieve total unity. Rather than total submission, I believe our mission is to connect with the universe by using the special gifts given to us by the power that unites us.
Works Cited
Pope, Alexander. “Essay on Man.” Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces 6th ed. Ed. Maynard Mack et.al. New York: Norton, 1992. 326-333