Hamlet: A Tool of a Higher Power

Essay by angelfr0gHigh School, 12th gradeA+, January 1997

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Hamlet: A Tool of a Higher Power

Throughout Shakespeare's Hamlet, it seems that a higher spiritual power is influencing the events taking place in the state of Denmark. A ghost of the recently deceased King Hamlet appears to Young Hamlet telling him of his 'most foul and most unnatural murder' (1.5.30). This begins a chain of events leading up to the martyrdom of Hamlet, and the spiritual cleansing of the throne of Denmark.

Firstly, Hamlet sees the evil and contemptible state of life in Denmark. Gertrude, Hamlet's mother and the Queen of Denmark, marries his Uncle soon after the death of his father. '. . .The funeral baked meats did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables' (1.2.189-90). Depressed, and most likely confused, Hamlet speaks his first soliloquy in the play, else named 'the dram of evil' speech,

'. . . Frailty, thy name is woman!--

A little month, or ere those shoes were old

With which she followed my poor father's body

Like Niobe, all tears--why she, even she

married with my uncle .

. .

With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!

It is not, nor it can not come to good.'

(1.2.152-158,163-4).

In addition, Hamlet sees the corruption in Denmark when the ghost of his recently deceased father appears to him. The ghost claims that he is 'doomed to walk a certain term to walk the night / And for the day confined to fast in fires' (1.5.15-16). Also, the spirit explains how Claudius murdered him by pouring the 'cursed juices of Hebenon' in the porches of his ears. Hamlet is encouraged further by the spirit to take revenge upon his father's death.

Because Hamlet is a philosopher and a dreamer, illustrated in his famous 'To be or not to be' speech (3.1.64-98), he needs additional proof before...