CRITICAL / ANALYTICAL - Hamlet

FEAR AND FORESIGHT

ENGLISH 30-1

HENDERSON

Erin Williams

Although variation throughout the animal kingdom is phenomenal, there are also many similarities between species which lie within instinct. Instinct to eat, instinct to breathe, instinct to reproduce. However what sets humans apart from animals is the ability to feel emotion. Although the instinct for flight or fight for animals is just a method of survival, to humans it becomes a psychological question, which is often inspired by fear. Despite the marvelous feelings that can accompany emotion, the opposite can occur and these feelings can be detrimental. Through the use of characters, Claudius, Laertes and Hamlet in the play Hamlet, the author Shakespeare suggests that fear can distort the future because an individual is solely obsessed with the present. By studying the character Hamlet, it can also be argued that continual feelings of fear can prevent growth and instead stimulate rot and corruption.

Despite having a major role in Hamlet, a great deal of information can be gathered about Claudius’ character through the way he carries himself and reacts to other characters. Near the beginning of the play, Claudius believes that Hamlet is not mad but that he is dangerous and believes “madness in great ones must not unwatch’d go,” (Act III, Scene i, l.190). When Claudius realizes that Hamlet is going to get revenge for his father, Claudius’ fear is magnified by his quilt and this predicament becomes Claudius’ only priority. His foresight becomes blinded by his need to protect himself from danger and ultimately from Hamlet. Claudius does not debate the possibilities of Hamlet finding out about “…letters conjuring to the effect, / The present death of Hamlet,” (Act IV, Scene iii, l. 65-66), or his plan to have Rosencrantz and Guildenstern spy on Hamlet and only briefly considers the possibility of something going wrong during the fencing match with Laertes. However, as his fear becomes more apparent, his decisions become more severe with less thought, “We’ll put the matter to the present push” (Act V, Scene I, l. 289), Because Claudius’ judgement and foresight are not clear, he is simply unprepared when his plans unfold incorrectly.

Although Laertes has a smaller role in the play, the change in his character after being affected by dear is one of the most severe. Before the plot line begins to unfold, Laertes could be described as graciously obedient, sensitive and resourcefully intelligent. However after the events of his father and sister being murdered, he becomes afraid of Hamlet, but wants to take revenge as well. Laertes may have been afraid that Hamlet was going to kill him as well, or perhaps Laertes was afraid of being the only one left in his family, but either way, he begins to act irrationally and out of character. When planning Hamlet’s murder with Claudius, “…where the offence is let the great axe fall,” (Act IV, Scene v, l. 215), his fears cause him to act on account of his feeling, and not on account of himself. However, after Hamlet stabs Laertes and his fears have disappeared, he returns to his normal self before he passes and states to Hamlet “mine and my father’s death come not upon thee. / Nor thine on me” (Act V, Scene ii, l.322-324), assuming that Laertes is trying to confess to Hamlet that he realized he acted irrationally due to his fear and wanted Hamlet’s forgiveness before he passed.

The most prominent illustration of the effects between fear and foresight naturally came with the main character, Hamlet. At his most life-altering moment, when debating Claudius’ murder, Hamlet was overcome by a wave of emotions. The fear of being a murderer, as well as the frustration “when [Claudius] [was] fit and season’d for his passage,” (Act III, Scene iii, l. 87), snaked its way into Hamlet’s mind, and caused him to lose sight of how he originally planned to avenge his father. To Hamlet, his decision did not seem important at the moment because he could not clearly think of his future. And although Hamlet’s decision “prolong[ed] [Claudius’] sickly days,” (Act III, Scene iii, l. 97), he could not have anticipated the bloodshed and corruption that would occur after the moment of indecision, nor could he anticipate the hurt and anger he would cause his loved ones.

Shakespeare’s works have been widely famous for many years because the themes of which he based his plays are still relevant today. In Hamlet, Shakespeare demonstrates the flaws of fear on the human condition. He demonstrates that when confronted with a life-altering decision in the face of fear, humans rarely make the right decision, because fear can temporarily alter our perception on the future and about ourselves. However, by taking a closer look at the play, Shakespeare suggests that this occurs simply as result of being human, and that every individual is affected similarly by fear.