Love Loss And The Court Of King Claudius :: essays research papers

Love, Loss, and the Court of King ClaudiusShakespeare worked with the simplest of principals, writing at the minds ownspeed, using everything he read, but reworking it first, and depending upon characters forthe defining trait or flaw. One theme which constantly emerges throughout small town is thetheme of roll in the hay and loss, revealed by the characters of Hamlet, Laertes, and Ophelia. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, is a young man subjected to much watch ache in thecourse of this play. His first loss being the suspicious death of Hamlets be savourd andrespected father, Hamlet Sr. even Hamlets Uncle/Step-father, King Claudius, noted inspeaking with young Hamlet that his mourning was serious. Tis sweet andcommendable in your nature, says Caludius of Hamlets behavior, . . .But to bear onin obstinate condolement is a course of impious stubbornness. Tis unmanly grief. . .(Act I, Scene II, lines 90-98). Hamlet was heartbroken at the loss of his father, which wasreflected in his outlo ok on life. He regarded Denmark as a prison and spoke toRosencrantz and Guildenstern of having bad dreams. Unfortunately Act I is not the onlytime where young Hamlet expresses pain from love and loss. Although he is cruel andunkind to Ophelia in their meetings of both Act III, Scenes I and II, he is only expressingthe frustration that has built up inside of him toward all women, and enjoin it atOphelia because she was available. Hamlet had not ceased to love her. He explains histrue feelings for Ophelia upon arrival at her burial, completely shocked that his belovedmaid has died, saying, What is he whose grief bears such an emphasis, whose phase ofsorrow conjures the wandring stars and makes them stand like wonder-wounded hearers? This is I, (Act V, Scene I, lines 267-271). He then goes on to say he would do anything toprove his love, including be buried with her. Hamlet lost yet another person dear to him,his lover, fair Ophelia.Hamlet is only one character in the play who experi ences love and loss. Ophelia isanother. In Act III, Scene IV, after the performance of The Mouse Trap and The Murder ofGonzago for the royal court, Hamlet mistakenly kills Polonius, the father of Ophelia andLaertes. Ophelia already believed she had lost the affections of her Hamlet due to theirdialogue from Act III, Scenes I and II. She had sacrificed his love because her father andbrother had ordered her to turn him away. And now, to learn that her respected father,