Essay: Hamlet by William Shakespeare: Examining Right and Wrong in Death Situations

Everyone has their own gut feeling on what is right and wrong and react accordingly. Specifically, the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare is a play that represents the way character’s actions revolve around the death of others. First, the death of King Hamlet has two points of view as Claudius thinks it was good and Hamlet sees it as bad. Secondly, the death of Claudius sees Hamlet as now the one who is content and Polinus the one who would be unhappy if he were alive in the situation. Lastly, the death of Ophelia shows the reason as to why Ophelia positive while her brother Laertes would be mal for the loss of his sister. Thus, Hamlet by William Shakespeare shows that there is no definite right or wrong as everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
With proper insight, the validity of Hamlet’s claim that there is nothing good or bad “but thing it makes it so” is shown to be true through the death of King Hamlet. Hamlet is the one during this situation that thinks that that killing of his father was wrong no matter what Claudius’ end goal was. When Hamlet meets his deceased father’s ghost, King Hamlet says, “Revenge his foul and most foul and unnatural murder (1.5.25) which fuels Hamlet’s anger for the rest of the play. This is one of the most important comments that Hamlet receives throughout the whole play as his father tells him that Claudius murdered him and that he wants him to get revenge for his foul actions. On the other hand, Claudius is the one during this situation that thought it was okay to kill King Hamlet. When talking to Hamlet about the rewards for killing his father, Claudius states, “That cannot be, since I am still possess’d of those effects for which I did the murder– My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen” (3.3.53-55). The word possess’d gives off a negative mood as it shows the small remorse Claudius has for the killing of Hamlet as he is “possess’d” by his previous actions. This statement shows that there may be some remorse felt for the murder of Hamlet’s father but in the end Claudius’ end goal was met, to be king, to have authority and be with Gertrude so he is happy with his decision. The way both characters feel about the death of King Hamlet contrast and show how even with the same situation there is not a definite right or wrong but thinking a certain way makes it so.
An alternate death that supports the validity of Hamlet’s claim that there is nothing good or bad “but thing it makes it so” is the death of Claudius. Hamlet is extremely content with getting revenge on his father’s killer as he states “Now might I do it pat, now he is praying; and now i’ll do’t. And so he goes to heaven and so am I revenged. That would be scann’d. A villain kills my father and for that, I, his sole son, do this villain send to heaven (3.3.74-78). But as for Polonius, if he were alive he would see this event as abominable. Polonius had a strong connection and much respect for King Claudius as he took care of Ophelia and Polonius. When talking to the King, Polonius says to the King, “It should work. But I still believe that his madness was caused by unrequited love.—Hello, Ophelia. You don’t have to tell us what Lord Hamlet said. We heard it all.—My lord, do as you please. But, if you hold it fit, after the play let his queen mother all alone entreat him o show his grief. Let her be round with him, and I’ll be placed, so please you, in the ear of all their conference. If she find him not, to England send him or confine him where your wisdom best shall think” (3.1.176-187). This statement shows the respect Polonius had for Claudius as he is stating that if they cannot find out Hamlet’s secret, Polonius will do anything to make Claudius happy by helping him out in any way possible. Without much inference it may seem like that the death of King Claudius was clearly a good thing as Hamlet finally got revenge for the death of his father and this evil leader was dethroned, but from Polonius’ perspective it shows that he had respect for the new king and that he was most likely saddened by the situation in the end. These characters both present how the death of the perceived “evil” King Claudius is not only seen as good, but can also seen as wrong for others.
The final death that supports Hamlet’s claim that there is nothing good or bad “but thinking it makes it so” is the death of Ophelia. Ophelia is the one during this situation that believes that her own action’s were the right thing to do. Gertrude explains Ophelia’s suicide to Laertes as she says “There is a willow grows aslant a brook that shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream. There with fantastic garlands did she come of crowflowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples, that liberal shepherds give a grosser name, But our cold maids do “dead men’s fingers” call them. There, on the pendant boughs her coronet weeds clambering to hang, an envious sliver broke, when down her weedy trophies and herself Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide, and mermaid-like awhile they bore her up, which time she chanted snatches of old lauds as one incapable of her own distress, or like a creature native and indued
unto that element. But long it could not be till that her garments, heavy with their drink, pulled the poor wretch from her melodious lay to muddy death” (4.7.162-180). As Gertrude explains Ophelia’s death, she explains it was suicide as she drowned herself in the stream still in all of her garments. Ophelia thought this was the right choice as she had built up a lot of depression after Hamlet said he did not love her and her father was killed, so this for her was an escape from the real world. Contrary to Ophelia, Laertes was the one who was devastated by this situation and saw it as bad. Once finding out about his sister’s death from Gertrude Laertes was holding back his tears as he states “Too much of water hast thou, poor Ophelia, and therefore I forbid my tears” (4.7.185-186). When he states this, he means “Too much water has though” as a larger meaning. Water could represent all the bad things in life, as in Ophelia has had too much “water” and this is the reason why she took away her own life. Laertes is clearly depressed by the news as he just lost his sister. Through the event of Ophelia’s death, it can see the differing views between if it was right or wrong through the views of Ophelia and Laertes.
Ultimately, Hamlet by William Shakespeare is a play that represents the different ways, different characters’ actions revolve around the death of others. First of all the death of King Hamlet shows the how meaningful the message from his father was to get revenge for him, and for Claudius, how important it was to him to have a high status and be with Gertrude. In addition, the death of Claudius shows how Hamlet finally carried out what his father said to him and killed his father’s killer, while Polonius lost his new respected friend in Claudius. Lastly the death of Ophelia shows the escape from the real world for Ophelia by taking her own life while her brother Laertes sorrows over his sister’s death. Hamlet by William Shakespeare is the perfect play to show how there is no set right or wrong and all is determined by one’s perspective.