DRJ 4; Hamlet Acts 4&5
Initial Reaction:
Acts 4 and 5 reminded me of all the Shakespeare dramas I've read. In the end, everyone ends up dead. Usually the hero has to die and the person to live to tell the story is the best friend or a foil character. Like in Braveheart or Troy. I was confused in what was going on when Hamlet was talking to the gravedigger. Reading Hamlet for a second time, I have reached different meanings of the story and can appreciate it better.
Character Analysis:
Gertrude was an interesting character. She was an antagonist like Claudius because she seemed to be on his side more than wanting to be there for Hamlet. She didn't waste a minute in telling Claudius that Hamlet killed Polonius and he was an insane person. She never speaks up for him. Since the beginning of the play, she ignores Hamlet's sadness for his father and wants him to quickly forget and accept Claudius as his father. Hamlet lost his respect for Gertrude because of her wrongdoings. I think Gertrude feels remorseful for the mess she's caused but feels like she is too far deep in the hole there is no way to make things right again with her son. When we are in the middle of making mistakes, we sometimes don't think about the long term conflicts that will arise. Gertrude was not expecting her son to turn away and her life ending because of her disloyalty to her ex-husband and son.
Theme Analysis:
Shakespeare creates a gloomy mood throughout the scenes and characters to make a point of time and mortality. "Death is strict in his arrest." (5.2.337) Shakespeare concludes with this quote that Hamlet had to use his time wisely because death could come at anytime in any form. Ophelia's time was cut short and she never got to find out if Hamlet's affection for her was real or not. Hamlet truly confessed his love for her after he found out she had died. It was too late. Hamlet did not get to tell the true story of his father's demise before he got stabbed by Laertes and Gertrude dies at the moment when she finally shows compassion and care for her son. "The queen carouses to thy fortune, Hamlet." (5.2.284). While we are alive, we have to live our lives to the fullest and grab everything we want to get out of life because death can spring out at anytime.
I really agree about Shakespeare using setting as a literary element. He constantly brings up the weather or the gloomy atmosphere. Nice theme about time and mortality; these two subjects are constantly brought up.
ReplyDeleteI definitely had your reaction when everyone in Hamlet died. I even thought, that was so Shakespeare. I can see Gertrude as an antagonist, because of what she did, and she was like the most deceptive woman in the play. (Furthering the idea of Shakespeare's disgust for women) because she stayed with Claudius to keep her throne, and hints in the play show that she knew about the murder and all that good stuff. It is definitely gloomy, with all the deaths, but it's bitingly funny as well, because I feel that Shakespeare was very sarcastic in this play.
ReplyDeleteI thought the conversation between the grave digger and Hamlet was confusing as well because I did not understand the purpose of it. After reading it more than once I think Shakespeare was hinting at the theme of life and death because he uses the image of the grave as a symbol of death. Hamlet also comes to the conclusion that people become "dust."
ReplyDeleteGertrude definitely annoyed me. How could he do that to his son? Honestly. Hamlet has a lot of respect for his mother and I can understand that Gertrude cares about Hamlet too because that's her blood. Gertrude is still a traitor because she committed adultery, betrayed bother her son and late husband. I only saw few instances in which she cared about Hamlet.
Geretrude does seem to be on Clzudius's side more than Hamlets. Shes a very wish-washy person and I cant really put my finger on her or on her intentions. She should always have her sons back regardless.
ReplyDeleteGertrude never appears to understand Hamlet, and would back herself up from him as if she were defending herself.. Or maybe she knew something all along. You're right about her never speaking up for him. She would always retreat back to Claudius telling him how much of a mumbo jumbo Hamlet's mind has gone. I though she didn't know about Hamlet Sr.'s death, but now I beginning to think she knew.
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