universal Themes
Madness |
Madness can be the meaning behind the one's actions, yet defines the line of true insanity.
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Sexual Undertones |
Sexual undertones bring out the true animal-like nature of humans that tends to be forgotten.
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Death |
Death is inevitable to each and every living being and drives people to go mad.
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The Ghost |
The ghost is a very minor role in the entire play, yet stimulates the entire plot and creates the conflict
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Quotes Meaningful today
"frailty, thy name is woman!" (1.2.150)
Hamlet discusses with Ophelia yelling at her about his true feelings towards his mother at the moment, taking his anger out on her instead. This shows a feeling that Shakespeare had of women in the play, which is very discriminatory that can still be seen today.
"give every man thy ear, but few thy voice..." (1.3.74)
Although Polonius is often dim-witted, he has some very intellectual sayings. Before his son ,Laertes, leaves for London, Polonius gives him the advice to listen to people's problems, however do not necessarily have speak your mind all the time.
"Ungartered, and down-gyved to his ankle; Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other..." (2.1.90-1)
The audience now has an idea of what Hamlet's faked madness looks like as Ophelia portrays the picture of him to her father.
"And then , sir, does he this, he does - what was I about tot say? By the Mass, I was about to say something. Where did I leave?" (2.1.56)
The rascal Polonius is rambling on and on here in the quote. He rambles so much that he even looses track of the discussion he was having. This idea of forgetting what one was saying is still seen in modern discussions of today.
"I am but mad north-north-west. When the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw..." (2.2.402-403)
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern always tend to get under Hamlet's skin as he knows what they want and he doesn't like it. Hamlet goes on to toy with them and say that he can obviously tell they are spying on him, comparing them to a hawk and a handsaw.
"This is too long..." (2.2.523)
Ironically, Polonius is the one to whine in this quote, as he is known to speak with out much meaning. The hypocrisy from Polonius can still be seen today as being a hypocrite is socially unacceptable.
"'Tis brief , my lord - As women's love.." (3.2.174-175)
Throughout the play, Shakespeare comments on women and their feelings. Here through Hamlet, the roast on women is that their love can be very brief.
"My words fly up, my thoughts remain below; Words without thoughts never to heaven go..." (3.3.102-103)
The King has just admitted his guilty feeling for killing King Hamlet and now is trying to pray for forgiveness. Yet as Hamlet walks in on him and decides to kill him, he holds back in theory that Claudius could go to heaven. After this, the quote occurs and the audience realizes that Hamlet blew his chance.
"Nothing but to show you how a king may go a progress through the guts of a beggar..." (4.3.34-35)
Hamlet finds himself obsessed with the concept of death and the meaning behind it through the play. Explaining his obsession to the king, he tells that no matter what either of them do, they both will be eaten by worms and then other people will eat foot that contains elements from the worm. This conflict is still an internal conflict from person to person in the world today.
"Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio..." (5.1.190-191)
Perhaps one of the greatest scenes in history, the holding of the skull by Hamlet. His realization that this skull used to be someone that the young prince knew, barely knew at all, and he is traumatized by this. The relation to today is that many today are scared of death and horrified when a close loved one passes.
Hamlet discusses with Ophelia yelling at her about his true feelings towards his mother at the moment, taking his anger out on her instead. This shows a feeling that Shakespeare had of women in the play, which is very discriminatory that can still be seen today.
"give every man thy ear, but few thy voice..." (1.3.74)
Although Polonius is often dim-witted, he has some very intellectual sayings. Before his son ,Laertes, leaves for London, Polonius gives him the advice to listen to people's problems, however do not necessarily have speak your mind all the time.
"Ungartered, and down-gyved to his ankle; Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other..." (2.1.90-1)
The audience now has an idea of what Hamlet's faked madness looks like as Ophelia portrays the picture of him to her father.
"And then , sir, does he this, he does - what was I about tot say? By the Mass, I was about to say something. Where did I leave?" (2.1.56)
The rascal Polonius is rambling on and on here in the quote. He rambles so much that he even looses track of the discussion he was having. This idea of forgetting what one was saying is still seen in modern discussions of today.
"I am but mad north-north-west. When the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw..." (2.2.402-403)
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern always tend to get under Hamlet's skin as he knows what they want and he doesn't like it. Hamlet goes on to toy with them and say that he can obviously tell they are spying on him, comparing them to a hawk and a handsaw.
"This is too long..." (2.2.523)
Ironically, Polonius is the one to whine in this quote, as he is known to speak with out much meaning. The hypocrisy from Polonius can still be seen today as being a hypocrite is socially unacceptable.
"'Tis brief , my lord - As women's love.." (3.2.174-175)
Throughout the play, Shakespeare comments on women and their feelings. Here through Hamlet, the roast on women is that their love can be very brief.
"My words fly up, my thoughts remain below; Words without thoughts never to heaven go..." (3.3.102-103)
The King has just admitted his guilty feeling for killing King Hamlet and now is trying to pray for forgiveness. Yet as Hamlet walks in on him and decides to kill him, he holds back in theory that Claudius could go to heaven. After this, the quote occurs and the audience realizes that Hamlet blew his chance.
"Nothing but to show you how a king may go a progress through the guts of a beggar..." (4.3.34-35)
Hamlet finds himself obsessed with the concept of death and the meaning behind it through the play. Explaining his obsession to the king, he tells that no matter what either of them do, they both will be eaten by worms and then other people will eat foot that contains elements from the worm. This conflict is still an internal conflict from person to person in the world today.
"Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio..." (5.1.190-191)
Perhaps one of the greatest scenes in history, the holding of the skull by Hamlet. His realization that this skull used to be someone that the young prince knew, barely knew at all, and he is traumatized by this. The relation to today is that many today are scared of death and horrified when a close loved one passes.
Satirical Cartoons That Reference The Play
The satire found in the cartoon above is parody of Hamlet's infamous line "To be or not to be". Today, with technology spiking in ways never seen before, it only makes sense to relate the classic to ways of the modern person, who typically has a blog.
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The cartoon above displays satire of the end act when Hamlet finds the skull of Yorick. Having barely knew Yorick, why did Hamlet really care at all. The parody of the cartoon judges Hamlet for his his observation in the play.
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Psychological Studies Stemmed from the play
The study in the link describes the effect of madness that comes with the idea of dehumanizing people when death or murder is around. Dehumanization can occur in wartime, prejudice, discrimination and even bullying. This connects with Hamlet in the sense that the prince is going through a conflict of the burden to kill Claudius and revenge his fathers death.
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In the modern world of today, nearly everyone has a so called smartphone that seems to chain itself to the owner. The constant checking of one's phone comes from the release of dopamine that one gets from using their phone. This idea can ruin relationships between people. Relating to Hamlet is that the prince has an obsession over death and meaning of life, ruining lives of those around him.
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A Song That Relates to the play
The song by Ozzy Osbourne is all about madness and how a lot of people are joining the metaphorical "crazy train". The mentally insane people with mental wounds all come together. This song relates to Hamlet as his insanity leads on Ophelia to become insane and hurt the people around him and drag them onto the train.
All aboard! Hahaha
[Instrumental]
I, I, I, I... [fade]
[Instrumental]
Crazy, but that's how it goes
Millions of people living as foes
Maybe. it's not too late
To learn how to love, and forget how to hate
Mental wounds not healing
Life's a bitter shame
I'm goin' off the rails on a crazy train
I'm goin' off the rails on a crazy train
I've listened to preachers,
I've listened to fools
I've watched all the dropouts
Who make their own rules
One person conditioned to rule and control
The media sells it and you live the role
Mental wounds still screaming
Driving me insane
I'm goin' off the rails on a crazy train
I'm goin' off the rails on a crazy train
I know that things are going wrong for me
You gotta listen to my words, yeah, yeah
Heirs of a cold war,
That's what we've become
Inheriting troubles,
I'm mentally numb
Crazy, I just cannot bear
I'm living with something that just isn't fair
Mental wounds not healing
Who and what's to blame
I'm goin' off the rails on a crazy train
I'm goin' off the rails on a crazy train
[Instrumental]
I, I, I, I... [fade]
[Instrumental]
Crazy, but that's how it goes
Millions of people living as foes
Maybe. it's not too late
To learn how to love, and forget how to hate
Mental wounds not healing
Life's a bitter shame
I'm goin' off the rails on a crazy train
I'm goin' off the rails on a crazy train
I've listened to preachers,
I've listened to fools
I've watched all the dropouts
Who make their own rules
One person conditioned to rule and control
The media sells it and you live the role
Mental wounds still screaming
Driving me insane
I'm goin' off the rails on a crazy train
I'm goin' off the rails on a crazy train
I know that things are going wrong for me
You gotta listen to my words, yeah, yeah
Heirs of a cold war,
That's what we've become
Inheriting troubles,
I'm mentally numb
Crazy, I just cannot bear
I'm living with something that just isn't fair
Mental wounds not healing
Who and what's to blame
I'm goin' off the rails on a crazy train
I'm goin' off the rails on a crazy train