How does Shakespeare display Hamlets limitations as a conventional revenger Essays

How does Shakespeare display Hamlets limitations as a conventional revenger Essays How does Shakespeare display Hamlets limitations as a conventional revenger Essay How does Shakespeare display Hamlets limitations as a conventional revenger Essay the son of a dear father murdered , Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, Must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words. The simile here refers to Hamlets general lack of action, but is ironic in that he is talking at length about the fact that he talks too much. There is clearly an element of self loathing in this quotation and the frustration shown here might give some reason for Hamlets suicidal tendencies. This is another aspect of the play that modern audiences could relate to, as even though Hamlets reasons for not committing suicide would be more relevant to an Elizabethan audience, the contemplation of suicide is definitely a current issue. According to a survey, almost half of all people under twenty one have considered suicide at some point. One major limitation of Hamlet as a revenger is his mistrust of the messenger, his fathers ghost. His initial reaction upon their first encounter is one of fear. Angels and ministers of grace defend us! This feeling persists for a major part of the play. Hamlets mistrust represents a crucial part of Hamlets character, his analytical mind. He refuses to take what he sees at face value . This causes deep suspicion in several situations which comes to the fore in a confrontation with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Why, look how unworthy a thing you make of me! You would play upon me; you would seem to know my stops. Hamlets state of mind has led him to doubt his friends (with good reason). His fear of being taken advantage of is effectively represented by the metaphor of being played like a musical instrument. Hamlets deliberation and instinctive mistrust again strongly contrasts with the mind of a traditional revenger. They possess a mind of action, not of careful thought and consideration. When we compare Hamlets uncertainty over the provenance of the ghost to Laertes reaction to his fathers death, Laertes is clearly far more decisive. Hamlets mind is far more academic than that of a typical revenge hero. His ability to analyse leads to careful consideration of all actions. However, this intense analysis often prevents Hamlet from carrying out a productive course of action, he loses the power of action in the energy of resolve. A good example of this is when he comes upon Claudius at prayer Now might I do it pat, now he is praying; And now Ill dot and so he goes to heaven ; And so I am revenged that would be scanned. Hamlet clearly states here that he must consider his actions, and eventually decides not to kill him at that point, but instead to wait until, when he is drunk asleep or in his rage. The irony comes when Claudius reveals that he could not pray, saying my words fly up, my thoughts remain below. This makes a mockery of Hamlets careful deliberation and shows that a conventional revenger would have been more suitable for this task. A major cause for Hamlets seclusion at the beginning of the play is the emotional trauma he had suffered due to his mothers remarriage. His constant references throughout the play show his obsession. Horatio: My lord, I came to see your fathers funeral. Hamlet : I pray thee, do not mock me, fellow-student; I think it was to see my mothers wedding. He is clearly bitter and makes no attempts to conceal his view of the situation. As a result of his sense of betrayal, Hamlet feels a shadow has been cast over the moral purity of the entire world. How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable Seem to me all the uses of this world! Fie on t! O, fie! Tis an unweeded garden That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature Possess it merely. This constant analysis of moral values clearly limits his effectiveness as a conventional revenger. As a revenger he must be able to put morals to one side as he completes his task. Laertes apparently does this with ease, as is shown by his determination to have revenge, To cut his throat i the church. Nearing the end of the play, Hamlet is fatalistic. This lack of fear of his own death causes him to shed the constant suspicion that burdened him earlier in the play. If it be now, tis not to come; if it be not to come; it will be now; if it be not now, yet it will come He suspects no foul play, when previously it would have been uppermost in his thoughts. It is here then, at the end of the play, that he finally accepts his role as a revenger. I believe that Hamlet is a far more realistic portrayal of a revenger than typical revenge heroes. The confusion and distrust he feels towards the ghost is a rational reaction. It is much more easy to sympathise with the obviously fallible Hamlet than the self-righteous heroes of old revenge tragedies. As a modern reader, I feel that I can identify with his individualist stance. Hamlet cannot be shaped by conventional form and expectations.

More Than One Meaning for Poke

More Than One Meaning for Poke More Than One Meaning for Poke More Than One Meaning for Poke By Maeve Maddox One of my favorite country expressions is pig in a poke. For those unfamiliar with the expression, a poke is a sack. To buy something without first looking at it is to buy a pig in a poke. (As we do when we buy things online.) I once used the word with a group of eighth-graders and discovered that poke can be used with a sexual connotation. With that age group, just about any word can be. The OED lists six entries for poke as a noun and three for poke as a verb. Some of the entries have more than one definition, but Ill just list some of them. Poke as a Noun 1 A bag, now esp. a paper bag; a small sack; a beggars bundle (obs.). Also: a bagful. Now regional exc. in pig in a poke 2 A projecting brim or front of a hat or bonnet; the peak of a cap. Now hist. and Brit. regional. NOTE: My Southern grandmother told me that when she worked in the fields, she wore a poke bonnet, This was a cloth hat that tied under the chin. The sides of the bonnet completely protected her face from the sun. Nowadays women go out of their way to get a suntan, even paying to use use tanning beds. In my grandmothers day, girls did all they could to maintain their pallor. Tanned skin was considered unattractive. She said that another name for that type of bonnet was a kiss-me-quick. 3 A plant (of uncertain identity) used by North American Indians for smoking; the dried leaves of this plant. 4 Virginia poke, Virginian poke. Pokeweed, Phytolacca americana. Also (with distinguishing word): any plant of the genus Phytolacca. NOTE: My grandmother, no doubt wearing her poke bonnet, gathered this kind of poke to eat. She called it poke salat. She cooked and ate the leaves and used the red berries to dye clothing. Molly McBee, writing on the Garden Web edible landscapes forum, offers some helpful in-formation about poke salat and the extent to which it is poisonous: Poke salat, when it matures, develops purple colorations on its stalk, flower stem, and berries and seeds. It is the MATURE leaves, and purple stem and seeds that contain the poisonous sub-stances. Young plants are safe, as is the juice. 5 The action of poking (in various senses)An act of poking; a thrust, a push, a nudge. Also colloq.: a blow with the fist, esp. in to take (or have) a poke at. 6 The green heron, Butorides striatus. Also: the American bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus. Poke as a Verb 1 To jab or push (a person) with ones hand or finger, the point of a stick, etc., esp. so as to induce action or movement. Also (regional) (of cattle): to gore, jab with the horns. 2 trans. To put in a bag or pocket. Also with up: to stash away in a bag or pocket; to hoard. In quot. a1400 fig.: to suppress. Now rare. Chiefly Sc. in later use. 3 trans. To put a poke (POKE n.5 6) on (an animal). A few other expressions with poke Cowboys are known as cowpunchers and cowpokes. Children who dont move fast enough for the ones behind them are called slowpokes. One can poke around in an attic or at a garage sale. In mysteries amateur sleuths are warned not to poke their noses into matters that do not concern them. Poke is still taking on new meanings. For example, Facebook has a poke feature. Im not exactly clear as to its purpose. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:10 Rules for Writing Numbers and NumeralsAnyone vs. EveryoneContinue and "Continue on"