The Dramatic Force of Hamlet

The Dramatic Force of Hamlet Roger Ganesh 23/12/11 Mr. Santin ENG 4U

The dramatic force of a story can come from many different elements. The play Hamlet by William Shakespeare is an excellent example that shows the dramatic force of a story can come from the characters in the play. These characters are Hamlet, Claudius and King Hamlet. In the play Hamlet is the main character, King Hamlet is the former king in the form of a ghost and Claudius is the current king of Denmark. Each character is directly related through a series of events that provide the dramatic force of the story. It is without any doubt that Hamlet furthers the dramatic force of the play Hamlet. Through the comparison and reasoning of the actions and thoughts of Hamlet, Claudius and King Hamlet a conclusion will be drawn that Hamlet furthers the dramatic force of the play the most. In the play Hamlet, Hamlet is the subject of observation throughout the play. Be you and I behind an arras then; Mark the encounter. (Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 163-164) This takes place when Polonius tells Claudius that he recalls that Hamlet takes daily walks in the afternoon. Polonius says at that moment he will allow Ophelia to talk to Hamlet and Claudius will spy on them from afar. This alone suggests that the actions of Hamlet will determine the actions of Claudius and Polonius. Due to the fact that Hamlet is being spied on, he furthers the dramatic force of the play. To further explain this, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlet s best friends were also sent to spy on Hamlet. That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court some little time, so by your companies to draw him on to pleasures, and to gather so much as from occasion you may glean, whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus, that open d lies within our remedy. (Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 14-18) In this quote, Claudius is asking Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spy on Hamlet and lure him into male pleasures. He asks them to gather as much information about Hamlet s actions and behaviours and to report back to him. In this

quote it shows how much others are concerned with the actions of Hamlet. The fact that Claudius needs to know what Hamlet is doing, shows that controlling Hamlet is very important to him. This concern supports the fact that Hamlet is the most important character in terms of dramatic force. In a sense Claudius treats Hamlet as a threat to him and his power and takes evasive actions. Thus, by being observed in the play his actions determine the dramatic force of the play over all. In addition to being spied on, Hamlet is also responsible for avenging his father s death. Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder. (Act 1, Scene 5, Lines 25) Hamlet s father appears to Hamlet in the form of ghost in the play. The ghost on Hamlet s first encounter explains that he was murdered by none other than his brother Claudius. He asks Hamlet to avenge him because he was murdered. In this case the dramatic force of the play is on Hamlet s shoulders. The fact that he is responsible for avenging his father s death shows that the outcome of the play is dependent on Hamlet and Hamlet alone. Thus the dramatic force of the play mostly comes from Hamlet s thoughts and actions. The effectiveness of how Hamlet handles the happenings of the play is what really sets him apart from the rest of the characters. Hamlet s transformation from calmness and inability to act throughout the play clearly shows that he in fact furthers the dramatic force of the play the most effectively, even when his innocence is taken advantage for in the play. Most generous and free from all contriving, Will not peruse the foils (Act 4 Scene 7) Close to the ending of the play Claudius abuses Hamlet s character when he tells Laertes that Hamlet is too stupid to check the sword that he will poison, thus plotting Hamlet s murder. Hamlet, being the direct target is the deciding factor of how the play will unfold in the future. Hamlet in a sense furthers the dramatic force of play because the actions of others are dependent on his actions.

The trigger character of any story is important. In the play Hamlet, Claudius can be seen as such character. In the play Claudius triggers a multitude of reactions due to his one action. In the play, the ghost of Hamlet s father informed him that his own brother Claudius had murdered him. 'Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, 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. (Act 1, Scene 5, Lines 35-40) The act of killing his own brother turns Claudius in to one of the most important characters in the play. This alone furthers the dramatic force of the play through the simple fact that murder is a huge stimulant for revenge. The murder of the king is the main premise of the play, the rest of the play is simply dramatic result of this. Every reaction from the death of the former king is therefore seen a furthering the dramatic force of the play. Thus Claudius furthers the dramatic force of the play. As such, Hamlet is in constant search for a chance to get revenge for his father s death. Now might I do it pat, now a is a-praying; And now I'll do't. (Act 3, Scene 3, Lines 73-74) While on his way to his mother s room, Hamlet passed the castle s chapel. In there, he finds Claudius praying and contemplated whether to murder him there or to wait for another time. He eventually chooses not to, due to the fact that if he were to kill him there, Claudius would go to heaven and it would be an inadequate revenge, and he will in turn go to hell. This alone shows how much Hamlet has changed from the beginning of the play. At this point, all Hamlet wanted was revenge for his father s death. The fact that Hamlet wants revenge furthers the dramatic force of the play. Thus Claudius is one of the important

characters that further the dramatic force of the play. As stated before, Claudius can be seen as a trigger character. As such, his soul action can be seen as trigger for many other actions. This is a valid statement, because the dramatic force of the play becomes greater as the play progresses. Eventually, Claudius suspects that Hamlet knows that he murdered his father. With this knowledge, Claudius uses his opportunities to find ways to eliminate Hamlet. He eventually decides to use Laertes after his initial plan failed....so that, with ease, Or with a little shuffling, you may choose A sword unbated, and in a pass of practise Requite him for your father. (Act 4, Scene 7, Lines 136-139) In this quote Claudius suggests that Laertes revenge his father s death. This alone furthers the dramatic force of the play. It creates a foreshadowing of play. This proves that Claudius actions further the dramatic force of the play through these actions. Despite that fact, he still does not suffice for the most important character. He is only important due to the fact that his murder plots create dramatic reactions in the play. In the play, the ghost of Hamlet s father appears to him and provides Hamlet with information that changes Hamlet s perspective on his uncle Claudius. Murder most foul, as in the best it is; But this most foul, strange and unnatural. (Act 1, Scene 5, Lines 27-28) This intelligence provides Hamlet with an elevated level of animosity. This hatred provides Hamlet with a viable reason to take action. Therefore this action could be seen as furthering the dramatic force of the play. Without knowing the details of his father s death, Hamlet would have not acted as he would have throughout the play. He would not have created The Mouse Trap play and confirmed that his uncle indeed murdered his father. The act of telling Hamlet about the murder changed Hamlet s perspective of his uncle. This changed perspective also furthered the

dramatic force of the play, through Hamlet s choice of words around his uncle. Further in the play Hamlet s father appears to him in his mother s room and reminds him of his initial goal of avenging his death. Do not forget: this visitation is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose. (Act 3, Scene 4, Lines 110-111) At this point in the play, Hamlet had just confirmed that his father was indeed murdered by Claudius. The act of urging Hamlet to achieve his revenge only fuels Hamlet s need to take action towards Claudius. This urgency furthers the dramatic force of the play because by telling Hamlet that he should, with no hesitation kill Claudius, he saying that Hamlet s only priority is to avenge him. By telling Hamlet to avenge himself is very important because the theme of revenge is really prevalent in the play. Hamlet s elevated need to get his revenge only causes him to act more vigorously towards his goal, thus furthering the dramatic force of the play. If Hamlet s father ghost had not reappeared to Hamlet, he would have never told his mother that he is in fact acting crazy on purpose. The reasoning behind it was to fool Claudius into believing he was reacting from his father s death until he had confirmed that Claudius in fact had murdered his father. At this point Hamlet s father s dramatic significance is dependent on the way Hamlet carries out his revenge. In a sense the play would have not turned out the way it had if Hamlet s father had not provided the much needed intelligence to Hamlet. Despite this the ghost does not suffice for the most important character, rather he is seen as least most important in terms of dramatic force and significance. Hamlet s father also introduces the idea of death to Hamlet. In Hamlet s famous to be, or not to be soliloquy, Hamlet expresses his thoughts about life. Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing, end them. (Act 3, Scene 1, Lines 57-60) In this quote Hamlet contemplates whether

he should put up with his terrible luck or take his revenge. In this case Hamlet is referring to his father s death. If Hamlet s father had not died the play would not have the same premise. Therefore Hamlet s father s urgency for Hamlet to carry out his wishes creates dramatic force in the play. Hamlet is unsure about what he should do. Hamlet contemplates whether it would be best to hold his head high and represent his father s legacy or to take revenge. The dramatic significance of his doubt shows that the dramatic force of the play is at a crossroads at this point in the play. If Hamlet s father had not appeared before him, the dramatic force of the play would have been at a standstill this is because Hamlet acts on his father s will. The fact that the death of his father takes a toll on Hamlet s emotions and actions furthers the dramatic force of the play as the play progresses. Hamlet s passion and desperate need to get revenge is therefore stirred up by his father s reappearance after his death. The character that provides the most dramatic force in the play is by no doubt Hamlet. This is because he is the subject of observation, he is responsible for avenging his father and his innocence is taken advantage for in the play. Claudius is also important in the play because he murdered his own brother, he is the subject of Hamlet s revenge and he also tried to kill Hamlet throughout the play. The former King is also important because he changes Hamlet s perspective on his uncle, he urges Hamlet to kill Claudius and he introduces thoughts of death to Hamlet. All of these reasons support each characters importance in the play. Hamlet furthers the dramatic force of the play the most because his actions ultimately define how the play will unfold.

Works Cited Shakespeare, William, Hamlet, Toronto: Longmans Canada Ltd., 1996, Play.