Tragedy Drama Analysis: Themes of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet

Tragedy Drama Analysis: Themes of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet from Andini Azis

Tragedy Drama Analysis: Theme and Sub-Themes of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet

By: Andini Azis

Abstract

In this writing, the writer tries to analyze the instrinsic element of Hamlet by William Shakespeare. The purpose of this analysis is to understand the theme and sub-themes in the drama. The writer uses the theory of theme with close reading, listening and viewing methods in analyzing the drama. The writer finds that revenge, as one of the themes of Hamlet, leads the characters of Hamlet to their own downfalls. In conclusion, after analyzing the themes of Hamlet, we know that  Hamlet by William Shakespear is cruel, full of sorrow and complex, yet so fascinating drama.

Keywords: drama, tragic flaw, theme

1. Introduction

Drama is one of genres in literature. It is a work of literature which is being performed on the stage. Drama has several types; comedy drama, tragedy drama and tragedy-comedy drama. All genres of literature, including drama, have intrinsic elements in common, like theme, character, setting, and plot. In this paper, we will discuss about a tragedy drama, a drama which presents serious subject matter and ends up in the downfall of the protagonist, which is written by William Shakespeare entitled Hamlet. Hamlet is a famous drama which is known as one of the best dramas of Shakespeare. Hamlet as the example of tragedy drama shows us the tragedy that happens in the life of its protagonist, Hamlet.

2. Purpose of the Study

         The purposes on this study are:

            1. To understand the themes of the drama.

            2. To appreciate a work of literature.

3. Scope of the Study

        The scope of this study is the analysis of themes in a drama entitled Hamlet by William Shakespeare.

4. Biography of William Shakespeare

      There is no exact date of William Shakespear’s birth. However, it has been accepted that Shakespear  was born on April, 1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, England. His parents, John Shakespeare and Mary Arden, had eight children, including Shakespear. Shakespeare himself was the eldest son of the family. He never recorded attending university, but he was ever educated in Stratford, at the King’s New School, a  free grammar school. In 1582, Shakespear married Anne Hathaway, and had three children with her. His work, whether it is poem or play, was played all over the word, and he was known as the greatest dramatist of all time. However, he himself is somewhat a mistery.

5. Summary of the Play

      The ghost of King Hamlet, Hamlet’s father, haunts the Elsinore Castle in Denmark. He tells Hamlet how he died, and Hamlet finds out that the new King, his Uncle Claudius, is the one who kills his father. The fact that Claudius is the murderer of his father and Claudius’ marriage with Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother, build a strong will that he needs to avenge. This feeling grows stronger when the betrayal of Claudius is proven. The revenge eventually leads to the deaths of the major characters.

6. Discussion

     Revenge is the main theme of Hamlet; however, Hamlet itself has several sub-themes which are madness, loyalty and betrayal.

a. Revenge

     Hamlet play is known widely as a tragic bloody revenge play. From here, we can know that revenge itself is the most prominent theme of the play. It can be seen clearly that the main motif of the events in the play is revenge which leads to the deaths of the major characters. Hamlet, Fortinbras and Laertes who come from three different families feel that they need to avenge the deaths of their fathers. As the heads of their families have been killed, they have a willingness to take a revenge in order to bring back the honour of their families. Prince Hamlet has eagerness to make his uncle, the new King of Denmark, pays the price for poisoning his father, the former king.

  “HAMLET: A villain kills my father, and I, my father’s only son, send this same villain to heaven.”  (Act 3, scene 3, page 3, line 77-79)

       As for Fortinbras, his father who is the former King of Norway was killed by King Hamlet during a man-to-man battle, and he wants to take a revenge for that.

“HORATIO: ...In that fight, our courageous Hamlet (or at least that’s how we thought of him) killed the old King Fortinbras, who –on the basis of a valid legal document –surrendered all his territories, along with his life, to his conqueror. But now old Fortibras’s young son, also called Fortibras –he is bold, but unproven- has gathered a bunch of thugs from the lawless outskirts of the country. (Act 1, scene 1, page 5, line 81-90)

     While Laertes himself comes back to Denmark after knowing that his father is killed by Hamlet, and he makes up his mind to kill Hamlet by his own hands.

“LAERTES: And so I’ve lost my noble father, had my sister driven insane –my sister who once was (if I can praise her for what she once was, not what she is now) the most perfect girl who ever lived. But I’ll get my revenge.” (Act 4, scene 7, page 2, line 25-29)

b. Madness

      The theme of madness is portrayed by several characters in the play. Throughout the play, Hamlet pretends that he is mad. His madness is being questioned by people around him although the truth is Hamlet just wants to make Claudius suffers for his sin; killing King Hamlet. From the beginning, we can know that Hamlet is not insane, but he is really sad about his fathers’s death and his mother’s remarriage until he makes a plan to kill Claudius by pretending to be mad first. Meanwhile, after his father’s death, Ophelia becomes mad and falls in a great depression. She also thinks about Hamlet who changes towards her. She can’t take the weight of her life anymore after that great loss, and her madness leads her to a suicide. As for Laetres, his madness is controlled by his rage to take a revenge on Hamlet who killed his father. His madness grows up when he knows that his lovely sister, Ophelia, has died.

c. Loyalty

       Through their acts and words, we can find out that several characters have great loyalty to their families, especially to their fathers; Hamlet, Fortinbras and Laetres are cases in the point. They are very loyal to their fathers until they are be able to take a revenge. Horatio also shows his loyalty and faitfulness towards Hamlet, while Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are in the other side, they give their loyalty towards Claudius.

d. Betrayal

    The theme of betrayal is showed clearly by several characters like Gertrude, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Claudius and Polonius. Claudius betrays his own brother, King Hamlet, by poisoning him and taking his throne. While not too long after King Hamlet’s death, Gertrude decides to marry Claudius which makes Hamlet disappointed with her. As for Polonius, he betrays his son’s faith by sending a spy to France in order to make sure that his son doesn’t lie to him. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, on the other side, betray Hamlet by being loyal to Claudius.

7. Conclusion

        Hamlet is one of the greatest drama of William Shakespeare. This drama is cruel, full of sorrow and complex, yet so fascinating. Besides the story, Prince Hamlet himself is like magnet that captures the imagination, the attention and the curiousity of the readers of the script and the audiences of the play. Hamlet is one of the greatest tragedy drama in regard to its prominent characters, its complex plot and themes, its fascinating dialogues and its moral value. From here, we can understand that we musn’t repay anyone evil for evil, but evil with good. Living a life without committing everyday sins is impossible, indeed, but as long as we can keep ourselves from doing evil things, and even we learn to do a good things everyday, our lives will be better.

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