Hamlet Act 1 Fishbowl
posted by annes at 10:46 AM
Friday, November 17, 2006
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55 Comments:
Having only read Act 1, i think it's a little difficult to distinguish which type of play it is. PLus what is the difference, what is a problem play?
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Tragic play or a problem play?
Ghost is the problem...
I agree with Levi that the play is going to be a tragic play and not just a problem play, because I believe that the play is geared towards the tragedies of Hamlet...
I would say that Hamlet isn't a tragedy like the Greek tragedies such as Oedipus the King. While we see some elements of a tragedy, I think that Hamlet's characteristics have not yet been shown well enough to define the play as tragic. Hamlet is simply dealing with problems that affect him as of yet, and he hasn't shown any great flaws that could classify him as a tragic hero.
I believe Hemlet is more of a problem play. You see a man (hamlet)who was killed and his spirt can't rest so it apears at night as an aspiration telling his son hamlet jr. who killed him, which is his uncle claudious, which is his mothers new husband.
For it to be a tragic play, Hamlet the obvious main character needs to meet some form of tragedy, so far nothing has happened to him in order to call it a tragedy.
Although it's still early in the play, I think Hamlet fits the tragic hero role, similar to Oedipus. He hasn't shown any heroic characteristics, but I think we will see his tragic flaw later on in the play. I would definitely say that the play is a tragic one with several problems going on, but I don't believe it is a problem play.
I agree with david. We have only read ACT I. I don't think we can really tell if it is a tragic or a problem play. And how do we defne a "problem" play or a "tragic" play. I think later in the play we will find out...
I also agree with daved when he says it is hard to tell what type of play it is because it is to early in the play to find out we still have 4 Acts to go it could change from a problem play to a tradgic play.
I think that Hamlet is a tragedy because it is very comparable to Oedipus. Hamlet's father was killed, and Oedipus's father was killed. I predict that the outcome between the two will be the same because they are both starting out the same way. Also, I think that Hamlet's vow to avenge the murderer as Steph said, is the same as when Oedipus promised to find the murderer and kill him.
It is too early to tell if Hamlet is a hero. I get a vibe that he is similar to Oedipus.
It is very interesting that the only person that the ghost will talk to is his son. Why is the ghost comfortable revealing himself to anyone but will only talk to Hamlet. It's clear that he asks Hamlet to take revenge but why wouldn't the ghost choose to tell everyone that Claudius murdered him?
I think that possibly Hamlet's downfall might later be partially due to his own father's lust for revenge rather than Hamlet's. Although we don't yet know how his downfall comes about, I think if the ghost had never appeared and asked Hamlet to get revenge for him, then Hamlet might never become a tragic hero. This also relates back to the play as a problem play, because Hamlet's father's ghost creates a problem for Hamlet to deal with rather than an inner trait of Hamlet creating a problem for him.
Ghost is really Hamlet's father?
I had this same question as well, but now that amy has said that the ghost only talks to Hamlet makes me think that the ghost is really his father.
I agree with Scott. I think that the Ghost is almost imagined, as if it is just a way for him to speak his mind and think out the situation. Hamlet evaluates and problem solves through the Ghost. For example, I the Ghost never really answers Hamlet's in depth thoughts, instead, it makes Hamlet think out the problem.
I think shakespeare uses the ghost because it is a dirct revelation of who muredered him. Coming directly from the ghost of Hamlet it means more, because if it passed along from stories, it may not be as believable.
The ghost does add a intersting aspect to the play. He does create a conflict. Hemalet is the only one who can see the ghost. Other people might thinkg Hamlet is crazy in the head and not believe him. Might thinkg he is making stuff up.
I think that by telling Hamlet not to be mad at his mother, it shows the humbleness of the king... thus making the relationship that Hamlet shares with his father stronger... a justified healthy father-son relationship?
Could Hamlet's tragic flaw be that he lives for revenge for the rest of his life? It says in Act I that he will no longer fill his mind with meaningless quotes from books, etc but that the words of the ghost will consume his thoughts. Is that foreshadowing his flaws in the future?? living the past possibly??
If the dead King didn't want to hurt the Queen, why would he have Hamlet seek revenge on Claudius? This would only give more grief to the Queen, and most likely condemn Hamlet as well.
Matt's comment is basically the saying "Hate the sin, not the sinner." I think that Hamlet's comments on page 29 prove that Hamlet loves his family, but he focuses his hatred towards Claudius because he is an easy scapegoat.
IS the goast of hamlet real?i believe it is just a apiration he has made up hin his head to give reason for his fathers death. You see how stong his bond to his father, is the idea of making up this goast is not to face fetched? People do crazy things when they need answers, they can even go as far as believeing other people telling him they saw the goast when they never really saw it.the idea of this is just resasonable as of him seeing his fathers goast.
Well hamlet could blame his mother too, claudius didnt make her marry him she also consented to marry him, its a two way thing
Why isn't Hamlet's father mad at his wife but Hamlet is furious with her for marrying Cladius so quickly after his father's death?
I agree with jeff, kinda. It is easier to place the blame on someone else, especially when it is someone that you feel has betrayed you, and i think thats how Hamlet feels towards Claudius because he married his brothers wife right after he died. id be mad.
I think Hamlet is still learning how he should deal with the situation of is mom and Cladius. He seems to take it on other people around him. He takes a lot out on his mom. He is very outraged with his mom, and does not understand how he could love his father so much and then get married 2 months after his death. As Smith said, he would rather die then live in this situation.
Hamlet really looks up to his father, so I don't think he wants to be angry towards anyone related with him. It is interesting that Hamlet's mother "betrays" the family by quickly marrying another man, yet Hamlet demonstrates his anger more towards Claudius.
For someone who has such a close relationship with his mother, it is hard for him to be angry at her. Whereas Claudius caused everything that broke up his family, so obviously he would be much angrier at him. He blames Claudius for everything, even his mother's wrong doings. Yet he still blames her for much as well, but obviously Claudius is the bigger problem in his eyes.
I don't think that the ghost loves the queen at all... I think that he is the link that connects Hamlet to finding his heroic qualities... I agree that women are however a weak symbol put throughout the play...
Caitlin=, you make a good point, is it possible that hamlet's mother had something going on with Hamlet sr's brother before his death. Maybe she wanted Hamlet gone so she could be with claudius.
Sophocles and Shakespeare both demonstrate their feelings towards women through their stories. Both of these writers show that women are weak and are the reason for the downfall of love and relationships.
Is it just sterio typical of the time to portray women as being week or is it just how Shakespeare needs the women to be in order to set up his plays in the way he wants?
I had the same question as Caitlin. Is there a possibility that Hamlet's mother is behind King Hamlet's death? I mean she moved on quickly and does not show nay emotion on her husbands death. Did she use King Hamlet for something?
Is Shakespeare saying that women are a downfall because they are intelligent and cunning or because they are weak and brainwashed?
I think Matt poses a good question. Hamlet's idolization of his father will lead him to constant inferiority, belittling, and constant failure. Hamlet will never be able to live up to his father's figure because he puts so much pressure on himself. He sets himself up for failure, destruction, and downfall.
Kurt says that Hmalet is more mad at his mothers decision than he is at her...I can agree, but when you disagree with a decision someone makes you tend to disagree with them as well. you cant be mad at someones decision and not be mad at them.
On the topic with Laretes and Ophelia, Do Laertes and Ophelia have a good relationship? Would you want to have your brother/ sister talk to you like that, when s/he is not that much better than you?
I believe that the father son relationships are still prominant in todays time. I know the my father and I have a stonger relationship than my mother and I just because it is easyier to relate to someone that is the same gender as you who has gone threw the same things and thinks the same. I believe that the relationship and the wanting to find reasons for why is father died is not out of line but its just the bond that naturally forms between father and son.
Is it possible that the ghost comes back and is only claiming that he was murdered by claudius to spite his wife?
I think that this proves that the ghost is imagined. I think that this proves that Hamlet is going crazy, and his conscience, or ghost, is the only thing that keeps him with reality and makes him act in a slightly rational way.
Hamlet seems that he needs help on many things. He takes advice from the ghost and other people around him. Can he do anything on his own? Can he turn himself into a hero? Would he be able to handle making decisions on his own?
I know everyone has agreed that Hamlet is not a hero, but if you stretch it a little, could his heroic quality be that he stands by his beliefs no matter the obstacles and what is going on around him? He IS a whiner, but is he trying to stand by what he thinks is the right thing to do?
where does the ghost tell Hamlet to take revenge? just curious, I can't really find it or understand it
He is a tragic hero but only because of his fate of being in such a high position.
Emily- i think that might be the end, hamlets downfall, when he gives in to sin and murders claudius, it is the best way for him to seek justice.
Marie, I understand what you are saying, but I don't think that they were visually seen. I think that the Ghost is a symbol of a higher being that helps in rationalizing everyone's ideas. The Ghost is like a conscience, everyone has access to it. But everyone is in such shock, that they imagine it's "physical appearance."
I don't think that ghost ever calls for revenge but rather tells Hamlet what would be the best for his people... He doesn't say you should kill Claudius, he just says that Claudius should not be in power...
scott just said how its a let down to people seeing how royal familys not being perfect are a let down to the common folks. yet this is not the first time we have seen this. we saw the falling apart of Oedipus and his family and revealing to the pesents and then running because the are afraid letting people see the true person inside.Is something similar starting to happen with Hamlet and his family?
Jeff- I totally didn't see the ghost that way but I definitely think that that's a good possibility and makes a lot of sense... I think that the ghost is used to rationalize, but ironically it is the thing that could make Hamlet go crazy.
Claudius is the type of guy who wants something and is using Hamlet's mom to get it. He is like the guy in movies who marries the lady for money or to hurt somone! he is scum
Going on what Claire says... If leadership is acquired and learned maybe shakespeare thinks the same thing... so by writing of these aristocracies, Shakespeare is satyrizing them through their pitiful "family feuds."
Hamlet is a wimp. Not a hero.
I disagree that Hamlet is the bad guy. Yea he has not done anything for his father's death but i think he is still learning and is not quite sure what to do!! he is learning a lesson HELLO!!
Smith brought up the question of cludious and what we see of him. I see him as being a cocky arrogant guy. he kills Hamlet then he marries his wife. Hamlet jr. sits on the side and is embarrased by cludiuos saying that he is still a little boy and know that claudious has beded his mother Hamlet jr. can't powerless.
Hamlet has no clue what he should be doing...he is lost
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