Conflicts in Hamlet
The first work I selected is from the following course/activity: AP English
Grade Level: Senior Year, 1st Semester
Explain the Activity in 2-3 sentences: After reading Hamlet by William Shakespeare, our English class had to write a paper about the conflicts found in Hamlet. I choose to explain in depth all the forms of conflict found in Hamlet.
Grade Level: Senior Year, 1st Semester
Explain the Activity in 2-3 sentences: After reading Hamlet by William Shakespeare, our English class had to write a paper about the conflicts found in Hamlet. I choose to explain in depth all the forms of conflict found in Hamlet.
I did not exactly select this item’s topic. We had to write about Hamlet, and I thought the topic of conflict would be the easiest for me to write about and understand. This assignment challenged me to not simply summarize the book. While typing the paper, I wished that I had taken notes over the book to summarize my ideas. It was challenging to remember every single event of conflict throughout the book. It was also difficult for me to put my thoughts into words. When writing this paper, I learned that the length of the paper doesn’t matter as long as the ideas are clearly conveyed. If I were to write a paper similar to this, I would summarize every chapter after reading. I will use what I learned to start summarizing books that I read, so it will be easier to write papers.
Conflicts in Hamlet
Hamlet is a tragic story dealing with Denmark’s royalty. Throughout Hamlet the reader sees many examples of conflict; conflict is essential to any drama. From the time Hamlet sees the ghost to when Hamlet takes his last breath, outward and internal conflicts have arisen many times.
One of the most obvious conflicts in Hamlet is the conflict between Hamlet and King Claudius. The conflict between Hamlet and King Claudius is internal and external. There is tension in the air whenever Hamlet and King Claudius are in the same scene or room. Early in the book, the reader learns that Claudius killed Hamlet’s father. Claudius killed King Hamlet so Claudius could be king, and Claudius’s plan succeeded so Claudius became the king of Denmark. A ghost appears to Hamlet in act one, scene five. The ghost is King Claudius, and King Claudius says,
“A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark
Is by a forged process of my death
Rankly abused: but know, thou noble youth,
The serpent that did sting thy father’s life
Now wears his crown.” (Shakespeare)
Now that Hamlet knows that Claudius killed his father, Hamlet seeks to avenge his father’s death. This starts the conflict between Hamlet and King Claudius. Not only did Claudius kill Hamlet’s father, but Claudius also married Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude. It is more difficult for Hamlet to kill King Claudius because his mother is married to Claudius. It might cause Gertrude grief because she would lose two husbands. Hamlet has internal conflict towards killing Claudius because he doesn’t want to cause Gertrude more pain over losing a husband, but Hamlet wants to avenge his father’s death (Hamlet).
Throughout the book, Hamlet is seen with a woman named Ophelia. Hamlet’s attitude towards Ophelia changes constantly. It is hard to tell if Hamlet loves Ophelia or if she is the cover for Hamlet’s madness. Hamlet is internally conflicted regarding his feelings for Ophelia. Hamlet will rebuke Ophelia and be cruel to her, but in later scenes he will say that he loves her (Delaney). In act three, scene one Hamlet tells Ophelia,
“I did love you once.”
Ophelia replies,
“Indeed, my lord, you made me believe so.”
A few lives down, Hamlet tells Ophelia,
“I loved you not.” (Shakespeare)
This excerpt from Hamlet shows Hamlet’s internal conflict dealing with his love for Ophelia. There are also external conflicts between Hamlet and Ophelia. Hamlet tells Ophelia to go to a nunnery which is cruel to Ophelia (Smith).
Hamlet acts like a mad man so Claudius does not suspect that Hamlet knows about the murder. Hamlet is internally conflicted as to when he should try to kill King Claudius so he acts mad until he has a plan. Polonius tries to convince King Claudius that Hamlet is mad with his love for Ophelia. Claudius believes for a short time that Hamlet is mad for Ophelia, but after Hamlet’s play, Claudius realizes the real reason for Hamlet’s madness (Shakespeare).
“To be, or not to be” are the famous words of Hamlet. In this scene, Hamlet is contemplating suicide. This is internal conflict because Hamlet is deciding whether to kill himself of not. He was working up the courage to commit suicide but his mind was not fully committed to the idea (Shakespeare).
Hamlet tries to kill Claudius in act three, scene four to end their conflict. Hamlet goes to speak with his mother and believes King Claudius is hiding behind a tapestry. Hamlet stabs Polonius on accident because he thought it was the King. This is an example of an external conflict between Hamlet and Polonius. Hamlet is then internally conflicted because he does not immediately know what to do with Polonius’s body (Evans).
Hamlet is putting on a play for the King and Queen that mimics the murder of King Hamlet, Hamlet’s father. Hamlet hopes to get a reaction out of King Claudius. If Claudius reacts strongly to the play, the ghost was right about Claudius killing King Hamlet. Hamlet’s play made King Claudius have to get up and leave during the play. Hamlet then knew that the ghost was telling the truth, and Claudius did kill King Hamlet. The conflicts of Claudius and Hamlet intersect when they both realize what the other knows. Hamlet is satisfied to know Claudius is guilty of killing King Hamlet. Hamlet decides to kill Claudius to get revenge, but Hamlet finds Claudius praying in the church. Claudius praying in the church makes his murder more obvious because innocent people do not storm out of a play to go pray. Hamlet has internal conflict on whether or not to kill Claudius or wait till a later time. He believes that if you kill someone while they are praying, they will go to heaven. Hamlet does not want Claudius to go to heaven so he waits to kill Claudius at a different time. This is very cruel of Hamlet. Hamlet has a serious internal conflict; he either wants to kill Claudius in the church or kill Claudius later so Claudius will go to hell. Claudius and Hamlet have a major external conflict because Claudius is trying to escape Hamlet, and Hamlet is trying to kill Claudius (Shakespeare).
Claudius protects himself by sending Hamlet to England, but Hamlet finds his way back to Denmark. Hamlet is walking past a graveyard when he realized Ophelia is being prepared to be buried. Hamlet is internally conflicted because he loved Ophelia, but she is now dead. Laertes and Hamlet struggle in Ophelia’s grave which shows external conflict. Laertes is mad because his sister is dead, and Hamlet is mad because his love is died. Claudius concocts a new plan with Laertes. Laertes is mad at Hamlet now because he lost his father and sister from Hamlet’s actions. Laertes agrees with King Claudius to fence Hamlet with a poisoned sword. If Laertes does not scratch Hamlet with his poisoned sword, King Claudius will have poisoned Hamlet’s refreshing drink. Their actions are all external conflict plans (Shakespeare).
The whole fight scene at the end of Hamlet is external conflict. During Hamlet’s and Laertes’s duel, Hamlet hits Laertes first. King Claudius offers Hamlet a drink break, but Hamlet refuses to take a break. The drink that was ready for Hamlet’s drink break was poisoned. Gertrude drinks it instead and is poisoned. Hamlet realizes what is happening, and he gets stabbed by Laertes’s poisoned sword. After Hamlet is stabbed, Laertes gets cut by his own poisoned sword. Laertes has internal conflict because he gets stabbed by his own sword. Hamlet finally has a chance to kill King Claudius and stabs him with the poisoned sword. Hamlet also forces Claudius to drink from the poisoned drink. King Claudius died before Hamlet so Hamlet had his revenge on Claudius. Hamlet has internal conflict because he will either die in pain or drink the poisoned cup to die faster. Hamlet drinks the poisoned cup and die after he is successful to fulfill his revenge (Hamlet).
There are many points of external conflict and internal conflict. The external conflicts outnumber the internal conflicts, but the internal conflicts are more important to the story. Without the internal conflict, the external conflicts would not make sense. From the time Hamlet sees the ghost to when Hamlet takes his last breath, outward and internal conflicts are shown many times.