Spirituality in Shakespeares Hamlet Essay - 2389 Words

Can anyone possibly deny the spirituality within the Shakespearean tragedy Hamlet? Yes, some literary critics do. But most critics agree with the contention of this paper – that there is considerable spirituality present in the play. In his essay â€Å"Hamlet: His Own Falstaff,† Harold Goddard sees that Hamlet was made for â€Å"religion† and several other purposes: He [Hamlet] was made, that is, for religion and philosophy, for love and art, for liberty to â€Å"grow unto himself† – five forces that are the elemental enemies of Force. And this man is called upon to kill. It is almost as if Jesus had been asked to play the role of Napoleon (as the temptation in the wilderness suggests that in some sense he was). If Jesus had been,†¦show more content†¦(40) In his Introduction to Modern Critical Interpretations: Hamlet, Harold Bloom finds the Bible in this drama: Horatio, then, represents by way of our positive association with him; it is a commonplace, but not less true for that, to say that Hamlet represents by negation. I think this negation is Biblical in origin, which is why it seems so Freudian to us, because Freudian negation is Biblical and not Hegelian, as it were. Hamlet is Biblical rather than Homeric or Sophoclean. Like the Hebrew hero confronting Yahweh, Hamlet needs to be everything in himself yet knows the sense in which he is nothing in himself. (5) The first soliloquy, or â€Å"act of talking to oneself, whether silently or aloud† (Abrams 289), occurs when the hero is left alone after the royal social gathering in the room of state in the castle of Elsinore. He is dejected by the â€Å"o’erhasty marriage† of his mother to his uncle less than two months after the funeral of Hamlet’s father (Gordon 128). His first soliloquy emphasizes two religious/moral themes: the corruption of the world at large, and the frailty of women – an obvious reference to his mother’s hasty and incestuous marriage to her husband’s brother: O, that this tooShow MoreRelatedEssay about Hidden Spirituality in Shakespeares Hamlet2169 Words   |  9 Pagesthe author of this essay, the obvious presence of considerable spirituality within the Shakespearean tragedy Hamlet. The purpose of this paper is to identify and elaborate on selected spiritual elements in the play. Not all critics appreciate the spirituality in Hamlet. A.C. Bradley’s Shakespearean Tragedy: Lectures on Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and Macbeth presents a different interpretation regarding the presence of spirituality within the play: For although this or that dramatis personaRead MoreWilliam Shakespeares Hamlet Essay751 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Shakespeares Hamlet Hamlet might well claim to be Shakespeares most famous play because of its language and the charm of its central character. Shakespeare wrote some thirty-eight plays. Taken individuallyRead MoreLiterary Criticisms of Shakespeare’s Hamlet Essay1234 Words   |  5 Pages This essay will discuss several literary criticisms of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. After skimming through several articles, I ended up with four peer-reviewed journal articles, each a different critical perspectives of the play: feminist, psychoanalytical/freudian, moral, and new historicism. My previous studies of Hamlet, as well as my rereading of the play this semester, has collectively given me a general knowledge of the text. My familiarity of the play made it easier for me to decipherRead MoreEssay about Indecisiveness in Hamlet839 Words   |  4 PagesShakespeares Hamlet is truly a great play to analyze. It is also unique in that a play based on revenge we dont see any action until the end. Hamlet has immediate suspicion and proof of his fathers murder and does not act. This poses the question, why does it take so long for Hamlet to kill Claudius? H amlets apparent indecisiveness to act is due to his constant habit of over thinking in addition to several conscious and subconscious distractions. Immediately following Hamlets conversationRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakespeare1470 Words   |  6 PagesHamlet was composed by William Shakespeare, first performed in July 1602 and first published in printed form in 1603. 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Industrialism brought out critique from Elliot because it involved decimating people’s livelihood through their connections withRead MoreRevenge In Hamlet Analysis988 Words   |  4 PagesMurder, incest, revenge! This is Shakespeare’s Hamlet. If lovers of literature are asked to make a list of some of the greatest works of literature, undoubtedly, Hamlet would be near the top. Hamlet, an intriguing and complicated character, has been studied by lovers of literature and psychologists alike. It is an interesting examination of human behavior. To set the scene, prince Hamlet’s father has been slyly murdered by his uncle. His father’s apparent ghost comes to him and asks him to avengeRead MoreEssay on Hamlet -- Spirituality1865 Words   |  8 PagesHamlet -- Spirituality  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   Does the Shakespearean drama Hamlet represent a strictly secular writing, or does it veer into the spiritual dimension from time to time? This essay will delve into the spiritual side of the play.    In   â€Å"Judgment in Hamlet† Gunnar Boklund discusses the spiritual dimension of the ghost of King Hamlet:      It is a commonplace to refer to Hamlet’s â€Å"dilemma† and a critical problem to explain in what this dilemma consists. A natural way to come to termsRead MoreThe Spiritual Dimension of Hamlet Essay2181 Words   |  9 PagesIs there a religious dimension to the Shakespearean tragedy Hamlet? Yes indeed. And many literary critics attest to this. This religious dimension will be the subject of the present essay. In his Introduction to Modern Critical Interpretations: Hamlet, Harold Bloom finds the Bible in this drama: Horatio, then, represents by way of our positive association with him; it is a commonplace, but not less true for that, to say that Hamlet represents by negation. I think this negation is Biblical inRead MoreThe Death Of Hamlet By William Shakespeare Essay2134 Words   |  9 Pagesin return for a wrong; returning evil for evil, vengeance† (Webster Dictionary). This play introduces Hamlet, a prince who goes on the quest to take revenge on his uncle who killed his father and Hamlet won’t rest on until he gives his uncle the punishment for killing the king. But this quest for him to get his revenges has some consequences that could lead to many deaths including himself. Hamlet thirst for revenge clouds his judgements, which leads to drastic consequences. The feeling of revenge

Effects Of Binge Drinking On Children - 960 Words

There is a lot of support and treatment for binge drinking. Organisations such as Alcohol know your Limits and like a drink. These organisations provide support and advice to people who are suffering with binge drinking. They provide useful information about alcohol and what each genders drinking guidelines is. In addition they also provide information on the long and short term effects of binge drinking on an individual both physical and mental. Furthermore they have hotlines that people can call in if individuals need advice or help on where to get treatments. There are alcohol rehab centres that provide treatment for binge drinking. These places allow individuals to understand the impacts that their drinking had on family and friends through group talks. Furthermore they provide a safe environment for these people, which ensures that they don’t got out and drink for example and since they are in these safe environment they are away from the reasons they started binge drinki ng (Alcohol Rehab, 2015), (Knowyourlimits.info, 2015). Rationale Binge drinking is the topic I have chosen for sixth form students because it is the age where students have come of age to drink legally and buy alcohol which may make them feel like they are old enough to drink excessively as they may believe it is expected of them at that age, since not only does society expects sixth form students to drink they are also expected by friends to socialise with them by going out to clubs and pubs. StudentsShow MoreRelatedTeenage Binge Drinking and its Consequences1294 Words   |  6 PagesTeenage drinking is among the issues that have received respectable attention from researchers owing to its increase. 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These authors mainly focus on the fact that excessive binge drinking is detrimental to the quality of life and can alter your state of health in a negativeRead MoreBeat the Binge1327 Words   |  6 PagesBEAT THE BINGE â€Å"A national program to reduce binge drinking in teenagers† UTS BEAT THE BINGE â€Å"A national program to reduce binge drinking in teenagers† UTS Beat the Binge â€Å"A national program to reduce binge drinking in teenagers.† Synopsis Alcohol Abuse in Australian teenagers has become an ever-growing epidemic nationwide, in particular teens aged between 14 and 17 years of age. This health issue not only has detrimental effects on teenagers but also has devastating effects on peopleRead MoreAccording To â€Å"College Drinking,† Almost Two Out Of Three1388 Words   |  6 PagesAccording to â€Å"College Drinking,† almost two out of three college students engage in binge drinking. 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Binge Drinking is the act of consuming an excessive amount of alcoholic beverages within a short period of time with intentionsRead MoreBinge Drinking and College Students777 Words   |  3 PagesBinge Drinking Binge Drinking is a problem for college students who are expose to an unlimited access of alcohol for the first time ever. Studies have found that an individual’s critical thinking ability is impaired because of alcohol consumption. â€Å"Binge drinking means drinking so much within about 2 hours that blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels reach 0.08g/dl.† As the CDC reports â€Å"One in six U.S. adults binge drinks about four times a month, consuming about eight drinks per binge† . AlcoholRead MoreAlcohol As A Alcoholic Beverage1362 Words   |  6 PagesAustralian society, alcohol has many roles. Many Australians take alcohol mostly for relaxation, enjoyment and for social reasons, and generally they consume alcohol at levels that cause few adverse effects. 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Many Australians take alcohol mostly for relaxation, enjoyment and for social reasons, and generally they consume alcohol at levels that cause few adverse effects. However, a significant proportion of Australians take alcohol at levels that cause adverse effects. In many countries, Australia inclusive, disease, injury and a considerable burden of death is attributed to alcohol. Families and the broader community are also affected by alcohol-related harm. SomeRead MoreTeens and Alcohol Essay1416 Words   |  6 PagesTeens and Alcohol Everyday teenagers are faced with many decisions. One of the most important of these is whether or not to join in with the trend of teenage drinking. The decision teenagers make can be crucial to their future well being and success in life. Teenage drinking has many causes, namely peer pressure, the attitudes of society, parental influence, and addiction. Changes need to be made in each of these areas for teenagers to be protected from alcohol related problems. Peer pressure

The essay on 1984 by George Orwell Example For Students

The essay on 1984 by George Orwell In this essay on 1984 by George Orwell I am going to give an analysis of the pages 72 until page 77. In this extract Winston, the main character of the book, visits Mr. Charringtons shop. This is not an usual shop, because in this shop there are things for sale that you wouldnt find anywhere else. Here there are things for sale that come from the past, thus forbidden things by the Party and Big Brother. The objects in the shop make Winston experience a sense of the past. Winston looks through the collection of stuff stored in the shop. The first remarkable thing Winston comes across, is a piece of glass with an unfamiliar object in it. It turns out to be a piece of coral that is embedded in a lump of glass. Winston is fascinated by it and decides to buy it. The things that appealed to him about the coral more that its beauty, was the air it seemed to posses of belonging to an age quite different from the present one and it was doubly attractive because of it apparent uselessness, though Winston was guessing that it once must have been intended as a paperweight. Then the shopkeeper takes Winston upstairs, to another room. There the room awakens in Winston a sort of nostalgia, a kind of ancestral memory. This is due to the fact that the room is arranged in a very cozy way: there was a strip of carpet on the floor, a picture or two on the walls, and a deep, slatternly armchair drawn up to the fireplace. An old-fashioned glass clock with a twelve-hour face was ticking away on the mantelpiece. Under the window, and occupying nearly a quarter of the room, was a enormous mahogany bed with the mattress still on it. Everything gave the impression that the room was meant to be lived in. And to Winston it seemed that he knew exactly how it must feel like to sit in a room like this. He imagined that it would be very nice to sit in the armchair beside the open fire with his feet in the fender and a kettle on the hob. He would be very at easy and utterly alone, and also utterly secure because nobody would be watching him, no voice would be pursuing him. In fact, because of the absence of the television screen in the room there would be no sound at all except the singing of the kettle and the friendly ticking of the clock. While examining the room further Winston also spots a picture in a rosewood frame of a vaguely familiar building. The recalls it being bombed somewhere in the past. Mr. Charrington tells him that it used to be a church at one time. St. Clements Dane its name was. Then the shop owner starts to sing a little rhyme from his childhood about churches. After a few lines he stops because his memory fails him. He desperately tries to remember it and keeps trying to finish the song. Lingering, Winston talked to Mr. Charrington some more, not wanting to leave just yet. All that time the half-remembered rhyme kept running through Winstons head and he even got the illusion of actually hearing the bells of the churches. The bells from a London that belonged to the forgotten past. Again a sense of nostalgia came over Winston. The curious thing was that as far as Winston could remember he had never in real life heard church bells ringing.

King Lear - Analyzing A Tragic Hero Essays - King Lear,

King Lear - Analyzing a Tragic Hero Tragedy is defined in Websters New Collegiate Dictionary as: 1) a medieval narrative poem or tale typically describing the downfall of a great man, 2) a serious drama typically describing a conflict between the protagonist and a superior force (as destiny) and having a sorrowful or disastrous conclusion that excites pity or terror. The play of King Lear is one of William Shakespears great tragic pieces, it is not only seen as a tragedy in itself, but also a play that includes two tragic heroes and four villains. I felt that a tragic hero must not be all good or all bad, but just by misfortune he is deprived of something very valuable to him by error of judgment. We must be able to identify ourselves with the tragic hero if he is to inspire fear, for we must feel that what happens to him could happen to us. If Lear was completely evil, we would not be fearful of what happens to him: he would merely be repulsive. But Lear does inspire fear because, like us, he is not completely upright, nor is he completely wicked. He is foolish and arrogant, it is true, but later he is also humble and compassionate. He is wrathful, but at times, patient. Because of his good qualities, we experience pity for him and feel that he does not deserve the severity of his punishment. His actions are not occasioned by any corruption or depravity in him, but by an error in judgment, which, however, does arise from a defect of character. Lear has a "tragic flaw" - egotism. It is his egotism in the first scene that causes him to make his error in judgment - the division of his kingdom and the loss of Cordelia. Throughout the rest of the play, the consequences of this error slowly and steadfastly increase until Lear is destroyed. There must be a change in the life of the tragic hero; he must past from happiness to misery. Lear, as seen in Act I, has everything a man should want - wealth, power, peace, and a state of well-being. Because a tragic character must pass from happiness to misery, he must be seen at the beginning of the play as a happy man, surrounded by good fortune. Then, the disasters that befall him will be unexpected and will be in direct contrast to his previous state. In King Lear the two tragic characters, a king and an earl, are not ordinary men. To have a man who is conspicuous endure suffering brought about because of his own error is striking. The fear aroused for this man is of great importance because of his exalted position. His fall is awesome and overwhelming. When tragedy, as in Lear, happens to two such men, the effect is even greater. To intensify the tragedy of King Lear, Shakespeare has not one but two tragic characters and four villains. As we have seen, the sub-plot - concerning Gloucester, Edmund, and Edgar - augments the main plot. Gloucester undergoes physical and mental torment because he makes the same mistake that Lear does. Like Lear, Gloucester is neither completely good nor completely bad. There is, for instance, a coarseness in the earl, who delights in speaking of his adultery. But he has good qualities as well. He shows, for instance, concern for Kent in the stocks, and he risks his life to help Lear. Gloucester's punishment, his blindness, parallel's Lear's madness. These two tragic stories unfolding at the same time give the play a great eminence. The important element in tragedy is action, not character. It is the deeds of men that bring about their destruction. Lear calls upon the "great gods," Edgar and Kent blame Fortune, and Gloucester says that the gods "kill us for their sport" (IV.i.37). But in reality the calamities that befall both Lear and Gloucester occur because of the actions of these men. Their actions, it is true, grow out of their characters: both are rash, unsuspecting, and vengeful. But the actions themselves are the beginnings of their agony, for these actions start a chain of events that lead to ultimate catastrophe.