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#Written by David Tam #
#davidkftam@netscape.net Copyright 1999#
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Important Themes in Hamlet -- Grade 12 English
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An almost infinite number of themes could be thought up of from the play
Hamlet. However, the three most important themes were: revenge becomes an
obsession, revenge leads to self-destruction, and the loss of innocence. The
entire play was based on the revenge that Hamlet wished to seek. Through this
one objective, all of the characters were affected. Hamlet wore the mask of a
madman and proceeded to his goal. From that decision onward, Hamlet never
ceased his antic-disposition, which symbolized his obsession. Later in the
play, this obsession was triggered in Laertes, who also wanted to seek revenge
upon the slayer of his father. He charged back from Paris and spent the rest
of the play seeking the revenge. Both Hamlet and Laertes allocated all of
their time and energy on seeking revenge, turning it into an obsession.
Evident in the last scene of the play, revenge led to the destruction of the
avengers. By playing the madman, Hamlet caused Claudius to worry about his
position as King of Denmark. Claudius realized the situation and was able to
plot with Laertes to kill Hamlet in the duel. In general, Hamlet's seeking of
revenge led to his own destruction. Laertes' strategy, to lace the sword with
poison, was successful but that same sword also pierced his own flesh. This
theme of revenge leading to self-destruction was illustrated clearly through
Hamlet's and Laertes' actions. The loss of innocence can be seen in Ophelia,
Laertes, and even Hamlet. Ophelia was the most innocent of all characters who
were affected by Hamlet's mission of revenge. At the beginning, she was an
innocent girl who obeyed her father, but also loved Hamlet. This created a
conflict of loyalties causing great distress in her life. Through the
experience, she had lost her innocence. She was an innocent victim in the play
who became insane and committed suicide. Laertes was an young, innocent lad
who lost his innocence because of the death of his father. His decision to
seek revenge upon the criminal revealed his rage. He developed an evil mind by
plotting secretly with the King, and lacing the sword with poison. Laertes
lost his innocence and became a corrupt man. The situation was similar for
Hamlet. He had lost his innocence when the ghost of King Hamlet told him about
the foul play. His seeking of revenge led directly to the deaths of Polonius,
Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Laertes, and Claudius. His wish to kill
king Claudius illustrated his loss of innocence and his fall into the depths
of evil. All of the young characters in this play, Hamlet, Ophelia, and
Laertes, experienced a loss of innocence by encountering some form of evil.
Revenge becomes an obsession, revenge leads to self-destruction, and the loss
of innocence, these three themes were important because they were evident
throughout the play. There were many other possible themes in this play but
those that were mentioned above provide moral lessons that should be realized
by the reader.
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