Hamlet’s Values Prevail Essay

Mark Twain one time stated, It is curious curious that physical courage should be so commons in the knowledge domain, and moral courage so rare. The zealous struggles between internal and external gratification and somatic and ethical honour have incontrovertibly direct to mans continual battle for integrity pride versus ethics. Religious teachings impart that one show respect to all and utilize the power of address to convey ideologies yet religious crusades have instigated the bloodiest and most(prenominal) deadly battles in human history. Mans universal and timeless question asks whether it is ethical to underpin ones honour through brutality or if the use of language and moral lessons are sufficient to deliver the message. Analogously, William Shakespeares The Tragedy of settlement bequeaths enlightenment to its audience of the universal beauties and faults of mankind on the comprehensive debate of integrity.The tragic hero, Prince small town of Denmark, vies to compre h conclusion his uncomfortably altered environment, while he relentlessly endeavors to stress morality, logic, and reason in a world where corruption and greed autonomously dictate action. His mothers precipitous remarriage, the tormenting death of his father, and the forsakenness village feels from those he held death lead him to render epiphanic cognizance. Shakespeares use of soliloquys bestows unto the audience a voyeuristic view into settlements personal meditations, highlighting villages introverted state. though his vulnerability and pathos at times render him ineffectual and indecisive, it is purely reflective of his humanity and that is what entices him to the audience. Hamlet is in an internal battle with the imperfections of the world around him.In the hypocritical nation of Denmark, Hamlet is thrust into witnessing indecencies, both externally and in his own home thus Hamlets lose of action is conjured not by feebleness of character. It is the moral contradictions and duplicity in the world before him that hinder his actions he operates therefore with ethics, prudence, and wisdom. Heroic valor sets Hamlet apart from the supplementary nobility in Denmark. After the enigmatic death of the erstwhile King Hamlet Senior, goes unquestioned, Hamlets morals compel him to seek answers. Before Hamlet can pursue the truth he must however come to terms with his mother Gertrudes remarriage to his fathers brother, Claudius. letdown in his mother and grief for his father, lead Hamlet to his first soliloquy, wherein he describes the consequences of suicide and his mothers immorality. Even in his melancholia Hamlet understand the magnitudes of self-slaughter, as the Everlasting has fixed / his canon gainst it (1.2.135-136).His ability to look past the superficial transient benefits of iniquitous actions helps Hamlet to stay firm in his beliefs throughout his journey. Though dismayed as to how rotten in the state of Denmark it is, Hamlet expresses his emotion s by reacting to his surroundings in a gallant manner (1.4.90). Upon meeting the ghost of the latish King, Hamlet is incensed by the horrific crime his uncle-father has committed (2.2.399). However, Hamlet does not immediately take the words of the ghost as factual in his second soliloquy he concludes the spirit that he has seen / may be a devil and that he cannot trust him without evidence (2.2.627-628). Hamlet decides the figure outs the occasion / wherein he will catch the conscience of the poof (2.2.633-634). Hamlet realizes the depravity of slaughtering a man based on the conjecture that he is a murderer. He refuses to place much(prenominal) marginal worth on an individual life as to take it without knowing the truth.In the most famous soliloquy of all the Shakespearean plays, Hamlet debates the value of life and the consequences of death Hamlet asks to be or not to be (3.1.64). Realizing that death is a misleading and temporary fix, as one knows not of what lies hereafter possibilities of eternal suffering from the pangs of despised love and lifes unanswered questions Hamlet concludes conscience does make cowards of us all and with over compend action is lost (3.1.74-96). Though the ghosts words attest to be true as the players reenact the murder of the late King Hamlet in The Mousetrap, Hamlet waits to execute his plan. Morality often stifles ones acceptance and trust in others. As his family has forsaken him, his childhood friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern comply with the will of the king to remove him, and those living within the walls of Elsinore Castle perceive him to be insane, Hamlet has but one true confidant Horatio.Hamlets most enlighten epiphanic moment comes as he prepares for the match against Laertes he finally untangles the webs of deceit which have been clouding his moral judgment. He responds to Horatios worry for the battles conclusion by telling him, not a whit, we defy augury he further explains, man does not control fat e if it is meant to happen, it will (5.2.231-238). Hamlet has hitherto looked at life like a slow moving game of chess, evaluating each move he makes by weighing the consequences of the subsequent moves he now understands he must leave his fate in the hands of providence. Hamlets dawdling journey comes to a rapid close in the final act of the play. During the match against Laertes Hamlet is made witness first hand to his uncle-fathers crimes Claudius accidentally murders both Gertrude, with the wine he had poisoned for Hamlet, and Laertes, by the poisoned marque intended for Hamlet.Hamlet no longer stands idly by whilst the injustices of Claudius tear his country down. Though he too is poisoned by Laertes blade, Hamlet fights for the justice of Denmark and slays Claudius once and for all. The tragic resolution leaves a bloodstained Denmark distraught and uncertain, yet the heroic legacy of Hamlets valor and morality live on. Horatio recounts Hamlets tragic tale as Fortinbras of Nor way captures Denmark. Hamlet is buried like a soldier to a stage, / for he was likely, had he been put on, / to have proved the most royal (5.2.442-444). Though Hamlet never wishes to be king, his pure humanity and strong morals prove to manifest his capabilities, even after death. It is integral for either actor playing the role of Hamlet to be well versed in the characteristics of his Hamlet predecessors, and to embrace their qualities while learning from their frailties.Whether on stage or on film, Hamlet is one of the most challenging roles for any actor to play. Two contemporary silver screen adaptations of Hamlet by Kenneth Branagh and Franco Zeffirelli portray the unripened Prince as a grieving individual vying to keep his virtue as corruption ensues. Branagh presents Hamlets famous To be or not to be soliloquy as the cinematic essence of the unraveling of Hamlets layers. Hamlet questions the meaning of right and wrong, while searching for his own purpose within the mirrors . alas for Hamlet, the mirrors neither hold truths nor divulge answers, thus he is left feeling a forsaken sense of betrayal. Branaghs acting and directing are impressive in this scene, his emotions depict Hamlets internal conflict he attempts to keep hold of his morals in a world void of any such ethics. Zeffirellis interpretation of Hamlets renowned To be or not to be soliloquy captures a darker side the tragic hero.Though Mel Gibsons superb acting highlights Hamlets emotional conflict of where he morally stands, the distrait directorial choice to locate the scene in the family crypt conveys too vile a mood and is confusing to the audience. Zeffirellis redemption comes in a glorious form his interpretation of Hamlet and Horatios conversation in the plays final act. Zeffirelli shows an excellent understanding of the plays overall purpose. He depicts Hamlets epiphany as a monologue rather than the end of a discourse between friends. By omitting Horatio from the latter portion of this scene, the audience is able to see Hamlets shift in perspective give out on its own.Hamlet overlooks the ocean and its horizon as he decides let his fate rest in the ebb and flow of life. Contradictorily, Branagh, using Shakespeares superior context, does not enhance the viewers perception of Hamlets conflict. Rather Branagh chooses to show the intimate relationship between Hamlet and Horatio. Kenneth Branaghs tick off of symbolism in Hamlet delves into the true meaning beneath the pages of Shakespeares written word. He surpasses the usual film adaptations of a drama, which fail to provoke the imagination. He probes the audience with strong symbolism forcing thought, questioning, and imagination beyond the physical. Franco Zeffirelli, dissimilarity attempts to engage the viewer by shortening the scenes and speeches apropos to the common Hollywood adaptation.While the stride may be more exciting, it loses in cinematic depth. A great production of Hamlet incorporates the str ife between the external forces pulling man from his set and learned morals. Hamlet should be portrayed by his struggle to protect his humanity while those he cares for try to strip the essence of morality from him. As Hamlet traverses grief, the actor should have the emotional depth to connect with the viewer, and versatility to surpass the realm of pure poignancy to enter profundity.Hamlets instructions to the players should be heeded by any director let your own / discretion be your tutor. Suit the action to the / word, the word to the action, with the special / observance, that you overstep not the modesty of / constitution (3.2.17-21). Plays should convey a universal struggle of man and act as a window to the natural world, where the audience members are permitted to view the intimacies of a golf-club contrasting their own to this rule, Hamlet is no exception.Works CitedHamlet. Dir. Franco Zeffirelli. Perf. Mel Gibson, Glenn Close, and Alan Bates. DVD. Hamlet. Dir. Kenneth Branaugh. Perf. Kenneth Branaugh, Julie Christie, and Derek Jacobi. DVD. Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Ed. Barbara A. Mowat. Simon & Schuster, 2003. Print.