Hamlet;_Intense_Human_Relationships

“Ultimately in this Shakespearean drama, it is the representation of intense human relationships that captivates the audience” Explore the representation of at least ONE intense human relationship in Hamlet, evaluating its significance in the play as a whole. Shakespeare's revenge tragedy, Hamlet, was written in the Elizabethan era during the Renaissance period. The play Hamlet, conveys numerous intense human relationships. Intense human relationships are the main and most powerful bonds between any characters, and are the relationships that have the most significant effect upon the play. They are also significant to the play as they aid in building the drama of the play, which goes hand in hand with captivating the audience, with the use of dramatic techniques. The intense human relationships presented in Hamlet have been constantly interpreted by the different perspectives of countless people since its conception in the Elizabethan era. The Relationships which have had the greatest impact are those of the three main protagonists, Hamlet, Gertrude and Claudius. The interaction between them drives the plot and allows the reader to critically evaluate the relationships of the time, as well as comparing them to modern day relationships, and in doing so possibly gain an insight in to the working of the human psyche. It is clearly seen that the intense relationship between Hamlet and his uncle, Claudius, is not a very sturdy bond but rather an antagonist relationship. It is believed that Hamlet's mistrust and uncertainty towards Claudius arose from his mothers “o'erhasty marriage” and also sprung forward Hamlet's suspicion. After the appearance of his father informing Hamlet that Claudius had in fact murdered him, Hamlet decides to put on an “antic disposition” so that he may discover the truth behind these claims. In Act 2, scene 2, we witness the mechanism of both Hamlet and Claudius's plans. Claudius instructs Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to keep an eye on Hamlet and see if they can learn the cause of his recent, odd behaviour. This also conveys the mistrust between the relationship. Claudius asks them to report what they find so that he can tell. “whether aught to us unknown afflicts him”, this seems to indicate suspicion rather than concern over Hamlet's well being. Claudius also decides to allow Polonius to conduct his own investigation on Hamlet's motives with his daughter Ophelia.The concept of surveillance appears as a central motif in within the play. Act 4, Scene 3, can also be referred to when viewing the relationship between Hamlet and Claudius. In this scene Claudius confronts Hamlet over the murder of Polonius. This scene depicts Hamlet continuing to appearing to be insane in order to throw him off or possibly mess with Claudius' head. At this stage in the play, Hamlet has discovered Claudius' secret and has proclaimed him guilty. Due to this knowledge it is believed that Hamlet has no respect for Claudius and therefore speaks in riddles as a way to scare and confuse him. This madness can be seen when Hamlet farewells Claudius and refers to him as 'mother', “ My mother. Mother and father is man and wife, man and wife is one flesh, and so, my mother”. Hamlet succeeds in unsettling Claudius, and so he decides to act and plans to send Hamlet away to England where Hamlet would be murdered upon arrival, this greatly conveys the fear that exists in the relationship between the two. It is believed that Claudius would always fear the actions of Hamlet once he discovered the truth about King Hamlet's death. One of the most important and controversial relationships within the play appears to be that between mother, Gertrude, and child. This relationship defines Hamlet's relationship with all other women. He feels betrayed by his mother and thus is unable to trust those around them. The close and emotional bond between mother and son is never lost, but the remarriage of Gertrude to Claudius motivates Hamlet's mixed feelings towards her. This is most succinctly expressed through Hamlets soliloquy in Act 1, scene 2, when he declares “frailty thy name is woman”. This conveys his confusion at his mothers abrupt marriage to Claudius after her devoted expressing of love towards King Hamlet. Gertrude's dialogue acts as evidence towards her character not being particularly evil or sinister, but only seeking calm and safety and so does what she can to maintain her station and formalities around her. The scene that sparks this controversy in the relationship is the closet scene, Act 3 scene 4. The controversy arises from the Freudian reading of Hamlet, one tat shoes the implications of a somewhat sexual relationship between Hamlet and Gertrude, known as the Oedipus complex. The more sexual aspects of their relationship can be acknowledge through Hamlets language and the numerous private interactions with his mother, along with the rivalry with Claudius for Gertrude's attention. Within Act 3 scene 4, Hamlet's true feelings can be seen. In this scene Hamlet confronts his mother about her relationship with Claudius and her involvement with the murder of King Hamlet. Whether the relationship is sexual or not, his anger and disgust, is believed to be a result of Claudius' “whoring” of his mother. In this scene Hamlet urges Gertrude to “throw away the worse part” of her heart, and to become pure again. It is obvious he only wishes to protect his mother. Even though Act 3, Scene 4, shows Hamlet becoming angry, lashes out and perhaps shows violence towards his mother, Gertrude remains faithful to him protecting him from the king. The true loyalties of any mother, it seems, will lay first and fore mostly with her son. The relationship connecting Gertrude, Hamlet and Claudius, is the driving force behind the play Hamlet. This intense relationship are shown in Act 1, scene 2 and Act 5, scene 2. These scene show the Hamlets contempt for his uncle and disgust towards his mother, that Hamlet holds throughout the play. In Act 5 scene 2 there is an increased tension between the three protagonists as the play comes to a climax. Claudius plan to kill Hamlet succeeds and backfires, as Gertrude and Claudius end up poisoned along with Hamlet. Throughout the play Hamlet cannot bring himself to kill Claudius when he is given the chance, but as Gertrude lay dying as a result of poisoning, his true feelings emerge and he finds it within himself to take vengence. Gertrude having the ability to die for her son, Hamlets willingness to die to avenge his mother and Claudius preference to death instead of life without Gertrude, these are the extreme bonds and intense relationships that leads the downwards spiralling of the play and ultimately, the death of all. Intense human relationships within Hamlet are the very core of the play, 'Hamlet' by William Shakespeare, and these relationships play a major role in building the drama of the play. The relationships between the main protagonists Hamlet, Gertrude and Claudius, have the most significant effect upon the play, resulting in not only making the story appealing and engaging for the audience, but also enchanting and something that can be related to by the reader.