Essay about The Nature of Evil in William Shakespeares...

The Nature of Evil in William Shakespeares Hamlet Works Cited Missing Hamlet is a Shakespearean revenge tragedy, which was a strong, and entertaining form of drama popular in the Elizabethan era during which Shakespeare (1562-1616) lived. Hamlet, like many of Shakespeares plays has been inspired by another famous tragedy, in this case, The Spanish Tragedy, a revenge play written by Thomas Kyd. The great political turbulence that was taking place in England with conspiracies against the Queen and those in power could also have prompted Shakespeare to write a play like Hamlet. Though†¦show more content†¦In Hamlet, Shakespeare has portrayed evil as something that corrupts and deceives and upon analysis, one finds images which give the feeling of disgust and sickness, as in the Ghosts speech in Act 1, Scene 5, where he describes the effect of the poison Claudius had poured in his ears by saying, And curd, like eag er droppings into the milk/The thin and wholesome blood. So did it mine/And a most instant tetter barkd about/Most lazar-like with vile and loathsome crust. Such graphic imagery is found again in Act 5, Scene 4 where Hamlet asks his mother to accept her mistake and not to use Hamlets madness as an excuse for his words - Lay not that madness upon your soul/That not your trespass but my madness speaks/It will but skin and film the ulcerous place/Whiles rank corruption, mining all within/Infects unseen. The continuous use of this sort of vivid and revolting imagery gives a feeling that the world is sick and disgusting and the audience would therefore make the audience realise the fact that evil causes corruption and sickness in the world. Though Hamlet intensely despised Claudius, it was his lustful relationship with the queen, which brought out the fiercest criticism from Hamlet, asShow MoreRelatedThe Nature of Evil in William Shakespeares Hamlet Essay1739 Words   |  7 Pagesgood and evil since the emergence of civilization and, just as humankind has evolved over time, so has the definition of evil. Evil was first used to describe someone who placed themselves above others and it wasnt until the Old and Middle English period that evil became associated with wrong-doing. As time passed, the definition continued to become increasingly more specific until it reached its modern day definition: â€Å"extreme moral wickedness.† (www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=evil) HoweverRead More Claudius as Evil in Hamlet by William Shakespeare Essay990 Words   |  4 PagesClaudius as Evil in Hamlet by William Shakespeare The abstract concept of evil has vastly transformed throughout human history, ranging for the supernatural and mystical to the very humans amongst whom we live. In modern times, evil has become an entirely ambiguous term. Who is evil? What is evil? Men like Adolph Hitler and Saddam Hussein have been garnered with the term ‘evil’ for their atrocities against fellow humans. Now it seems evil has a solely human significance; when a person violatesRead MoreThe Plays of William Shakespeare681 Words   |  3 PagesShakespeare’s Plays William Shakespeare, a British playwright and poet, is born in 1564. The exact day is not known. Shakespeare is baptized on April 25, so they say his birthday is April 23, 1564 (Boyce, Shakespeare). As an infant, he survives the plague that kills tons of people living near him. He is the son of John and Mary Arden Shakespeare. â€Å"His father is a prosperous and prominent tradesman, bailiff, and alderman, who suffered a decline in fortune and prestige† (Burt, Shakespeare). His fatherRead MoreWilliam Shakespeares Hamlet981 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Shakespeare is a historic writer that is well known and wrote many plays in his lifetime. In most of his plays, if not all, he has incorporated hidden meanings and messages. The majority of his hidden meanings are controversial topics of his time period. In Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, the controversial topic that is throughout the play is religion and the afterlife. Afterlife plays a big role in Hamlet and is discussed t hroughout the play. Multiple authors have written on the topic of afterlifeRead More The Works of William Shakespeare Essay1429 Words   |  6 PagesThe Works of William Shakespeare William Shakespeare is customary regarded to be the finest dramatist the world has ever seen and the greatest poet who has created his plays in the English language. Besides, Shakespeare has been the world’s most famous author. No other writer’s works have been published so many times or read so broadly in so many places. Shakespeare knew human nature as few other writers have. He could notice in a particular dramatic case the qualities that refer to all humanRead MoreElements of Religion in the Renaissance Portrayed in Hamlet by William Shakespeare751 Words   |  4 PagesRenaissance Portrayed in Hamlet by William Shakespeare Literature of the Renaissance was far different from that of the previous eras. Man was now thought of as the center of life, as opposed to God being the center in earlier times. Also, man was thought to have free will over his life, not being simply a pawn of the Gods. These new ideals were presented in the theaters as well as written literature. The esteemed William Shakespeare incorporatedRead MoreClaudius as Evil in Hamlet by William Shakespeare Essay1029 Words   |  5 Pagesconcept of evil has vastly transformed throughout human history, ranging for the supernatural and mystical to the very humans amongst whom we live. In modern times, evil has become an entirely ambiguous term. Who is evil? What is evil? Men like Adolph Hitler and Saddam Hussein have been garnered with the term ‘evil for their atrocities against fellow humans. Now it seems evil has a solely human significance; when a person violates the individual rights of others on a massive scale, he/she is evil. In ShakespearesRead MoreAn author can reveal characteristics of characters in literature through several different methods.900 Words   |  4 Pagesmethods. Some common methods of characterization include one’s appearance, speech, thoughts, name, actions, and emotions. However, unconventional means can also be used, such as imagery, which is visually descriptive or fig urative language. In Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, imagery is used to characterize central characters to the play. Firstly, Hamlet’s characteristics are revealed through the imagery of death in his speech. Secondly, Claudius’ characteristics are revealed through the imagery in theRead More Comparing the Supernatural in William Shakespeares Hamlet and Macbeth 921 Words   |  4 PagesComparing the Supernatural in William Shakespeares Hamlet and Macbeth  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚   In the time of William Shakespeare there was a strong belief in the existence of the supernatural. Therefore, the supernatural is a recurring theme in many of Shakespeares plays. In two such plays, Hamlet and Macbeth, the supernatural is an integral part of the structure of the plot. It provides a catalyst for action, an insight into character, and an augmentation of the impact of many key scenes. TheRead More Comparing Shakespeares Hamlet and Marlowe of Conrads Heart of Darkness1192 Words   |  5 PagesComparing Shakespeares Hamlet and Marlowe of Conrads Heart of Darkness Prince Hamlet, of Shakespeares famed tragedy, and Marlowe of Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness, are similarly situated characters. Despite superficially different settings and plots, there is a remarkably similar thematic element shared between both works. Prince Hamlet and Marlowe are brought to the very brink of insanity by their immersion in worlds gone mad, yet still succeed. At their roots, the