“Shakespeare’s Plays Are Consciously Designed to Explore Particular Ideas or Values Which Seep Into the Audience’s Consciousness and Stay There.” Discuss This Viewpoint in Relation to Shakespeare’s Exploration of Duty
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- Category: English: Shakespeare
- Date Submitted: 07/07/2014 11:10 PM
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Exploring particular ideas or values in a play is something that Shakespeare consciously ensures for the audience’s benefit. Whether or not the ideas remain in the audience’s consciousness is dependant on the era of the responders and their own context. However, it is safe to say that even though there are these differences, Shakespeare’s exploration of duty through Hamlet is one that does remain in the audience’s consciousness. Using a range of dramatic and language techniques like soliloquys and characterisation he explores the themes of action versus inaction, through cowardice, and with the constant idea of revenge.
Action versus inaction is a key idea that Shakespeare intends to keep with the audience’s consciousness. This is due to the constant lack of action by Hamlet, initially starting with a burning desire to avenge his father’s death and then failing to do so for over two months. This inaction adds to the characterisation of Hamlet as this provides the responders with his flaw: cowardice. Through the use of soliloquies the audience is given a rare opportunity to glimpse at the extent of Hamlet’s character. “But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue”, “But I am pigeon-livered, and lack gall” and “thus conscience does make cowards of us all” are quotes from the first, second and third of Hamlet’s soliloquies respectively. The responder has the chance to constantly consider why he would be berating himself for not serving out vengeance instead of just doing it. Simply killing the man that murdered your father should not be such a fussed or complicated action, however, it is for Hamlet. His sense of duty that he feels for the Ghost is not enough to make him act. In this sense he looks like a coward. Along with the quotes is the timing in which they placed. The textual integrity of these are lines are immense since if Shakespeare did not put these lines in, there would a lack of the constant reminders for which Shakespeare uses so effectively. They...
Action versus inaction is a key idea that Shakespeare intends to keep with the audience’s consciousness. This is due to the constant lack of action by Hamlet, initially starting with a burning desire to avenge his father’s death and then failing to do so for over two months. This inaction adds to the characterisation of Hamlet as this provides the responders with his flaw: cowardice. Through the use of soliloquies the audience is given a rare opportunity to glimpse at the extent of Hamlet’s character. “But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue”, “But I am pigeon-livered, and lack gall” and “thus conscience does make cowards of us all” are quotes from the first, second and third of Hamlet’s soliloquies respectively. The responder has the chance to constantly consider why he would be berating himself for not serving out vengeance instead of just doing it. Simply killing the man that murdered your father should not be such a fussed or complicated action, however, it is for Hamlet. His sense of duty that he feels for the Ghost is not enough to make him act. In this sense he looks like a coward. Along with the quotes is the timing in which they placed. The textual integrity of these are lines are immense since if Shakespeare did not put these lines in, there would a lack of the constant reminders for which Shakespeare uses so effectively. They...