After reading the first act of Shakespeare's Hamlet, it's almost difficult to pin point the real villain of the play. We learn about the possibility of Claudius being our villain through the ghost of the late King Hamlet. The ghost claims that while he was asleep in the orchard poison was poured into his ear by the one that now wears the crown. Yet, the ghost procedes to tell his son Hamlet that he was a sinful man while all the while Hamlet had believed his father to be a great king, as well as a great father and husband. We learn that the ghost lives in pergatory during the day and is forced to roam the halls at night. Could it be possible that the ghost of King Hamlet is the villain or should we take his word regarding that Claudius is our villain of the play?
We also learn about how Gertrude quickly falls into the arms of Claudius and marries him only after her late husband has been dead for a month. Only based on Hamlet's words, she moarned so hard after she lost King Hamlet, but then turned to his brother. This does not make Hamlet happy at all, but he does not have the heart to speak of it to his mother. Could it be that the ghost is seeking revenge because he loved his wife so much and he knows how Hamlet is feeling about his mother's marriage to Claudius? He tells Hamlet not to seek revenge on his mother, but only on Claudius. Maybe he can't stand the thought of Gertrude moving on or handle that his brother has taken over his kingdom.
I think it's a tough call. It could very well be that the ghost of King Hamlet is truthful, but there is also the possibility of him creating unnecessary accusations to cause his own son to go mad. If he loved his son, then why would he want his son do be sinful as he was? This could only destroy Hamlet if he were to seek the revenge that his ghost father asks of him, and potentially bring his kingdom down. It's hard to decide which character to trust. Claudius seems to love his wife and his new son, but he could very well be the villain that bears the stolen crown. We have seen quite a few of Shakespeare's characters create havoc to benefit themselves in raising their positions, such as Richard III and Iago.
2 comments:
I really liked your post and I have to agree with it as well. I was very much confused as to who was the villian as you were. It seemed like at first Claudius was the villian, but reading further into the play it then seems that the ghost of the late King Hamlet is as well. It's made very clear that Hamlet doesn't approve of his mother moving on so quickly after his fathers death and the fact that she married his brother. I do think that King Hamlet is getting revenge He loved his wife so much and he knows how his son feels about the marrige between his mother and Claudius. So I think a way for him to express his feelings after death is he's going to do everything in his power to seek revenge for his wife moving on so quickly and his brother for taking over his kingdom.
After two plays with such clear villains, it is true that the opening of Hamlet leaves us a little wanting. I like the idea that Gertrude is played as a villain here, as we rarely see female villains in Shakespeare. But she certainly could be portrayed that way!
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