Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Hamlet As a Moral Judge
So, as the story of Hamlet has continued to progress, we've been
able to see the young, distraught prince in various different lights. It seems
as if Hamlet's array of emotions appear to be the cause of the many faces we've
seen of him. When Hamlet's feeling a little bit over joyous, he fits the role
of the fool; when he's feeling a little sneaky, he fits the role of the artist
(let's be honest, Hamlet's directional role in the play was actually quite
good........but he only uses his powers for evil. What's this guys deal?); when
he's feeling all mighty and high, he seems to fit the role of not only the
philosopher but also the moral judge. Hamlet attempting to "play god"
as if he really is an all mighty being has occurred far often, and is beginning
to reveal some hidden traits about him that are far from attractive. For starters,
his abusive, judgmental ways towards his mother and Ophelia has begun to really
make me question how he truly feels about women, mothers, etc. After Ophelia
and Hamlet break up in Act III, it seems as if Hamlet genuinely is upset about
the situation at hand and wishes that he could simply live out his life with
his one true love without her actually being under her fathers command;
however, as their interactions further on, and Ophelia attempts to make some sort
of amends with the prince, Hamlet says to her "get thee to a nunnery"
(act III, scene I, line 128). Sure, the mentioning of a nunnery can be looked
at as Hamlet attempting to save Ophelia from the "wretched" ways that
are man, however, as he continues to say things such as "ha, ha, are you
honest?" (Act III, scene I, line 110) and "do you think I meant
country matters?" (act III, scene II, line 117) it makes me believe that
Hamlet is blatantly attempting to call Ophelia to a whore, and believes that she
is destined to live out her life in a nunnery since he views her as some form
of prostitute. Who is he really to judge (Hamlet's all talk......he can't
really declare someone as being something they say they're not when he himself
is basically fake)? Why does he suddenly feel the need to harshly lay his
opinions upon others? His sudden attempt to tell Ophelia her fate brings fourth
his madness, however, not in a sense of actually "crazy" ways but
more so in a sense that he's allowing his anger to get the best of him. Hamlet,
being as intelligent as he is, is fully aware that he himself isn't a moral judge;
however, he uses his high level language as a weapon to make other's feel as if
the actions of their lives relate to the fate that Hamlet has created for them.
His previous actions are quite evil in a sense, and leads to one thinking how
this man can be a "pure" moral judge when he speaks of drinking blood
and attacking his mother with daggers...? All of his language is really quite
dark and sadistic, and his attempt to morally decide Claudius's fate while he
believes he's confessing is far from what one would think a moral judge would
act like. Hamlet speaking of tripping Claudius so "that his heels may kick
at heaven" (act III, scene III, line 97) is more so something of a demonic
tendency rather than that of an angelic, moral judge and makes it quite clear
that Hamlet is simply "seeming" when he's attempting to portray
himself as someone full of wisdom on other's fait. Ya feel me?
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