Hamlet- Suicide Essay - 2453 Words

William Shakespeares Hamlet- Signifying Death Regardless of a persons age or literary preference it is undeniable that William Shakespeare had a flair for composing dramatic tragedies. Tragedy, when evident is a powerful underlining theme which portrays the qualities of the human capacity. In one of Shakespeares most brilliant plays, Hamlet, tragedy is portrayed through the protagonists constant contemplation of suicide. Shakespeare often alludes to powerful images of death by using pathos and bereavement in life to be inconsequential. In the play, Hamlet, William Shakespeare produces a tragedy which illustrates the suggestion of suicide and the imagery of death as solutions to problems through Ophelias demise, the minor†¦show more content†¦After ending her relationship with Hamlet, and having her father killed by her previous lover, Ophelias character begins to change. A flower can resemble Ophelias character; for even the most beautiful flower can be deceiving, and this i s first seen in her character as a calm, delicate, and a controlled young lady (1.3.45-51 136). Once her father passes away and Hamlet is out of reach her state of being becomes confused, ill, insane and bitter (4.5.46-64). Ophelia starts wearing flowers like rosemary which is to be worn in memory (4.5.173). It is evident by the course of events that Ophelia commits suicide and her demise results from her own actions. Secondly, throughout Denmark inevitable justice is proficient with the minor characters that shape the reflection of death. One of the first minor characters that play a major role to reflect death is Horatio. Horatio is the definition of a true friend. He remains a complex character that is honest and loyal to his companion Hamlet (3.2.56-57). By the end of the play, Laertes stabs Hamlet with a poisonous sword (5.2.387-89). Dearly honoured by Hamlet, Horatio insists on drinking what is left from the poisonous cup which killed Gertrude (5.2.330-32). In act five, scene two Horatio declares to Hamlet that he will drink the poison; an act of committing suicide indicating how deeply he is moved by Hamlet suffering (5.2.331) Horatio states Never believe it: I am more anShow MoreRelatedEssay on Suicide in Hamlet1624 Words   |  7 PagesWilliam Shakespeares Hamlet, suicide is an important and continuous theme throughout the play. Hamlet is the main character who contemplates the thought of suicide many different times throughout the play, since the murder of his father. Hamlet weighs the advantages of leaving his miserable life with the living, for possibly a better but unknown life with the dead. Hamlet seriously contemplates suicide, but decides against it, mainly because it is a mortal sin against God. Hamlet continues to sayRead MoreSuicide Soliloquy in Hamlet Essay1210 Words   |  5 Pages William Shakespeare is a famous English playwright. His play Hamlet centers around Hamlets decision on how to seek revenge for his father’s death. However, Hamlet is unsure of what course of action he wants to take to exact his revenge. He discusses the idea of suicide as a possible option in his â€Å"To be or not to be† soliloquy. In this soliloquy, Shakespeare uses metaphors, rhetorical questions, and repetition to express Hamlet’s indecision regarding what he should do. Shakespeare uses metaphorsRead MoreEssay about Suicide in Hamlet1448 Words   |  6 PagesIn Shakespeare’s Hamlet, suicide is treated differently on the aspects of religion, morals, and philosophical views. Suicide is the act of deliberately killing yourself in contrary to your own best interests. In today’s society suicide is highly looked down upon. But Shakespeare used suicide and violence in almost all of his most popular plays. Many of his tragedies used the element of suicide, some accomplished, others merely contemplated. Shakespeare used suicide as a dramatic device. A character’sRead More Death and Suicide in Hamlet by William Shakespeare1100 Words   |  5 PagesSuicide, originating from the Latin phrase sui cadere, â€Å"to kill oneself†, is one of the top leading causes of death worldwide. Every year, more than a million people commit suicide, successfully ending whatever feelings of despair, pressure, or suffering they felt when alive. Yet statistics show that the number of nonfatal suicide attempts exceeds that of actual completed suicides. Failed attempts of taking one’s own life reveal the deep, undermining uncertainties humans have about death. Such inquiriesRead MoreEssay about Suicide in William Shakespeares Hamlet2962 Words   |  12 PagesSuicide in William Shakespeares Hamlet In two of his soliloquies, Hamlet questions whether life is worth living. With characteristic ambiguity and indecision, he wavers as he considers both the Christian and the classical perspectives on suicide. Much of the debate surrounding Shakespeare’s treatment of suicide in Hamlet develops from interpretations of those soliloquies. Focusing primarily on his most famous soliloquy at the start of act three, much critical debate has arisen over the subjectRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet - Suicide And Selfhood Essay1365 Words   |  6 Pages â€Å"This above all, to thine own self be true† (Shakespeare 1.3.78)--suicide and selfhood: two issues that Hamlet ruminates on throughout Hamlet. Shakespeare reveals the connection between these two ideas through his references to Christianity throughout the play. By juxtaposing characters’ treatment of suicide and murder--two equally grave sins in a world governed by Christian morals--Shakespeare presents suicide a s the greater sin because it represents something worse: the annihilation of the selfRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet - The Contemplation Of Suicide And Murder1941 Words   |  8 PagesShakespeare’s Hamlet, the protagonist: Hamlet, contrasts the ideas of life and death to understand whether life is worth living with all the pain one must endure. Hamlet battles an internal struggle throughout the play to decide if suicide is the correct method to alleviate his hardship and dismay, or if he should face the daunting task of avenging his father’s death. The struggle Hamlet is faced with leads him to debate suicide in his â€Å"To be, or not to be† soliloquy. The contemplation of suicide and murderRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet As A Play That Contains Frequent Meditations On Suicide Essay1590 Words   |  7 Pages(Shakespeare 3.1.56). Audiences know Shakespeare’s Hamlet as a play that contains frequent meditations on suicide, yet despite suicideà ¢â‚¬â„¢s obvious religious connections, audiences do not often consider how religion as a whole functions within the play. This lack of awareness partially results from the subtlety of many of Hamlet’s religious elements. Through his religious references and the resulting emphasis on the gravity of the sins of murder and suicide, Shakespeare clarifies the contradictory attitudeRead MoreThe Significance of Suicide in Hamlet1525 Words   |  7 PagesThe Significance of Suicide in Hamlet The concept of suicide is one that is greatly contemplated and discussed by Hamlet and other characters in William Shakespeares play. It can be seen through two of Hamlets soliloquies and his overall demeanor throughout the play. Hamlet has many issues that he must deal with such as the death of his father and the marriage of his uncle and mother. These two incidents led Hamlet to consider the extreme act of suicide to escape the fate that he had been bestowedRead MoreTheme Of Suicide In Hamlet1443 Words   |  6 Pageslost, do not give up. Because if you choose suicide, you will never live to see it get worse, however, you also pass up the chance to see life get better. Suicide is an important, recurring theme in William Shakespeares, Hamlet, and it is a topic that Hamlet contemplates quite often throughout the play. Hamlet often goes back and forth between to be or not to be, but continues to believe that people although capable of suicide, choose to live. Hamlet is adamant that t he unknown, the inconclusiveness