Essay outline Q' "Hamlet's real cause of problem is his mother " - how far do you agree with this statement?
c
So why his mother?
King Hamlet instructs Hamlet to leave Greatue out of Hamlet's revenge jouney.
the play - hamlet fails to leave his mother out of this
but what if he handled things well with his mother?
His first reaction to his mum's instant remarriage to Claudius - gets extremely overwhemled/emotionally unavailable
what if/only if... he was able to handle his emotions well to a certain extent (balanced action v thoughts, no extreme narricism or obsession) in a way he lacks emotional intelligence and maturity.
While Gertude indeed is a catalyst for tragic events, i dont agree with the statement to the extent where Gertude is all responsible for hamlet being the danger to the play. no
so what are the external factors?
there probably wouldnt have been: a successful revenge where only claudius is murdered, no killing polonius on accident, no gretude dying on poisoned drink on accident, no spies, no snitches
what are the hamtet's "problems" - personality disorder (cynically depressed, unhealthy obsessive thoughts, unbalanced personality, negative narcissism, oedipus complex
contexual analysis - elizabethan patriarchy/mysoginy, view on women - gertude is left with no choice but to secure her position - she may justify this saying this is her mother's nature to protect hamlet
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"Hamlet is dominated by an emotion which is inexpressible, because it is in excess of the facts as they appear" - TS Elliot - "Hamlet goes mad in a revulsion of rage and nausea". DH Lawrence
Criticisms/commentary
Hamlet
Gertrude
"Gertrude believes that quiet women best please men, and pleasing men is Gertrude's main interest" - to some extent agreed - her ability to attract powerful men - sexuality - a big problem for hamlet
"hanlet denies the existence of romantic values" - G wilson Knight - he's puritanical - hates low activities;sex;being sexually opressed;drinking
"Hamlet was in love with his mother and inhibited from killing his rival" - is this why he was so upset and bothered? - he thinks they've commited incest.
"Gertrude isn't the stereotypical lustful woman of revenge drama, she's far more sympathetic" - Cedric Watts - she kinda is, women were left with limited choices - had to secure political and social standing = safety
"women were everything men were not: silent, submissive, powerless" Belsey
A.C. Bradley - "Gerdude's marriage provided a violet shock to Hamlet's moral being - caused him to sink into melancholy" - Full support
Ernest Jones "Hamlet's reluctance to kill Claudius is that Claudius (by killing Hamlet's father and marrying his mother) has enacted the prince's own repressed desires"
"Gertrude chooses a brother over a dead Hamlet, Ophelia chooses a father over a living Hamlet" Kay Stanton - her characterisation here is very weak, no solioguy, we actually have no clue what she is thinking about. - one argumentitve point
"Hamlet's disgust at the feminine passivity in himself is translated into violent revulsion against women" - David Leverenz - Supported.
if he had little to no personality disorder - eg)his extreme idealism, absolutism, black or while unbalanced thinking style
he starts by going mad, acts sus (because he doesnt really know how to act does he?) - scepical claudius, gets spied, abuses ophelia, accidentally kills polonius, turns many people into enemies - eventually killing everybody including him
Hamlet simply being the wrong man for the job- late king hamlet demanded way too much. probably the king had issues parenting hamlet too
Development of my argument - yes, i do agree to this statement, however, i can present other factors causing hamlet and
Gertrude's social depravity is to blame for Hamlet's melancholy - AC Bradley
William Hazlitt - Hamlet is the 'prince of philosophical speculators'. He cannot complete his revenge because he cannot have it perfect.
Hamlet uses madness to mask his weakness - Oscar Wilde
Spot out Gertude's flaws and issues
rompts the audience to empathize with Gertrude's predicament. As the queen, she is navigating a court filled with political intrigue, and her marriage to Claudius is likely influenced by a desire to maintain stability and protect herself in a male-dominated environment.
outline hamlet's personality disorder.
external factors - gertude being the victim of elizabethan mysoginy - her characterisation in the play is not respected. King hamlet's pressure on hamlet, him being more of a thinker led him turn out this way.
modern audience vs elizabethan audience
quotes
Solioquy
Hamlet vs gertrude in her bedroom
O, speak to me no more!
These words like daggers enter in my ears.
But look, amazement on thy mother sits. O, step between her and her fighting soul. Conceit in weakest bodies strongest works. Speak to her, Hamlet.
Hamlet's psychological problems are caused by a 'lack of this strong father figure' - Avi Erlich
'the relationship between Gertrude and Claudius is never sexual at all'