哈姆雷特悲剧形象剖析

AnAnalysisofHamlet’sTragicImageAbstract:Hamlethasbeenacontroversialcharacterintheworldofliterature.Thereasonsofhistragicimagehavebeenbeingarguedbyscholarsandcriticsforcenturies.Althoughtherearemanyauthoritativecommentsonthisissue,thereisstillnotasatisfyingone.ThusthisthesisaimstogiveananalysisonHamlet’stragicimageinamorecomprehensivewayonthepurposetogainsomeaccesstobetterunderstandingofHamlet.ThisthesisfirstlydisplaysthefeaturesofHamlet’stragicimage,andthenanalyzesthereasonsofHamlet’stragicimageinthelightofbothobjectivereasonsandsubjectivereasons.AndfinallyitdrawsaconclusionthatHamlet’stragicimageiscausedbymanyaspects,butnotsimplybecauseoftheweaknessofhisownpersonalityortheenvironmentthathelivesin.Keywords:Hamlet;tragicimage;reason哈姆雷特的悲剧形象剖析摘要：哈姆雷特这一形象历来是一个很有争议的人物,形成他悲剧形象的原因更是被众说纷纭。虽然有很多关于这方面的权威性的评论。但是至今都没有一个令人满意的评论。所以,为了达到更深入了解莎士比亚作品的目的，这篇文章试图从更全面的观点来剖析哈姆雷特这一悲剧形象。这篇论文首先分析了哈姆雷特悲剧形象的特征表现，然后从客观和主观两大方面，对哈姆雷特这一悲剧形象进行剖析。从而得出结论，哈姆雷特的悲剧形象的形成是由多方面共同作用形成的,而不是由于单方面的性格特点或者他所处的社会环境造成的。关键词：哈姆雷特；悲剧形象；原因中国最大的论文知识平台www.lwxiezuo.com CONTENTSIntroduction11.TheGeneralIdeaofHamlet12.TheFeaturesofHamlet’sTragicImage32.1HumanismofHamlet32.2ComplexCharacteristicofHamlet42.3DelayinAction42.4TragicEndofHamlet43.ReasonsofHamlet’sTragicImage53.1SubjectiveReasons53.1.1WeaknessofPersonality53.1.2IsolationfromPossibleForces73.1.3ReligiousSuperstitionofHamlet93.1.4OedipusComplexofHamlet103.2ObjectiveReasons113.2.1SocialStatusofHamlet113.2.3SocialReality143.2.3LimitationofShakespeare154.Conclusion16Bibliography18中国最大的论文知识平台www.lwxiezuo.com IntroductionShakespeareisconsideredbymosttobethegreatestwriterofalltime,andHamletiswithoutquestionShakespeare’sgreatesttragedy.Hamletisabrilliantplayandamasterpiece;itiscertainlyoneofthecornerstonesofEnglishliterature.Therearesomanyimmortalphrasesandlinesinthisplay,themostfamousbeing“tobeornottobe”.Atanyrate,HamletisoneofthemostfamousofworksofShakespeare.MorehasbeenwrittenaboutthecharacterHamletthananyotherfiguresinhistory,exceptChrist,solittlecanbeaddedsomefourhundredyearsafteritwaswritten.HamletisthemostcomplexoneofShakespeare’splays.Manyofthethemescoveredareloveversushate,actionversusnon-action,revenge,andjealousy.AndtheargumentonHamlet’stragicimageisamongthehottesttopics.SuchascharactercriticismbytheRomanticsandA.C.Bradley,Freudianpsychoanalysis,Bakhtin’scarnivaltheory,feministcriticismandsoon.Althoughtherearemanyauthoritativecommentsonthisissue,thereisnotasatisfyingone.ThusthisthesisaimstogiveananalysisonHamlet’stragicimageinamorecomprehensivewayonthepurposetogainsomeaccesstobetterunderstandingofShakespeare’splaywriting,aswellashisspecialplays.First,wewillofferthegeneralideaofHamlet.Then,wewilldisplaysomefeaturesofHamlet’stragicimageinatragicperspective.Andafterthat,wewillanalysisindetailonthecauseofHamlet’stragicimage.AndfinallywewilldrawaconclusiononthesocialmeaningofHamlet’stragicimage.1.TheGeneralIdeaofHamletHamlettellsastoryabouttheDenmarkprinceHamlet’srevengeplan.Hamlet’sfatherdiedtwomonthsbeforethestorybegins.HisfatherwasKingofDenmarkandHamletwashisonlyson.Thekingdiedastrangedeathwhilehewassleepinginthegardenofhiscastle.Itwasbelievedthathehadbeenbittentodeathbyapoisonoussnake.Hewassuchawiseandkindkingthathewaslovedbyallthepeopleinthe中国最大的论文知识平台www.lwxiezuo.com nation.Hisson,Hamlet,ofcourse,lovedhimfarmorethananyoneelseintheworld.Hamletwassosadandsorrowfulthatheneverstoppedwearingblackclothes.TherewassomethingelsewhichmadeHamletevensadder.Hismother,Gertrude,marriedHamlet’suncle,Claudius,whowasabrotherofthelateking.AfterHamlet’sfatherdied,ClaudiusbecameKingofDenmarkandmarriedGertrude.YoungHamletdidnotlikehimbecausehewasnotaswiseandkindashisfather.Hewasamanofunkindlycharacter.Hamletdidnotintheleastwanthismothertomarrysuchaman.Hebecameangrywithbothofthemandcametodespisehismotheraswellashisuncle.Thebellofthecastlewasringing.Itwasexactlymidnight.Suddenlyaghostintheformofthelatekingappearedinthedarkness.Itlookedpaleandsad.Lookingattheghost,thetwoguardsofthecastleandHoratio,Hamlet’sbestfriend,weresurprisedandterrified.TheywonderedifsomethingbadwasgoingtohappeninDenmark.Theydecidedtotelltheirprincewhattheyhadseen.ThenextdaytheywenttoHamletandtoldhimthattheyhadseentheghostofKingHamlet.Hamletdoubteditatfirst,butwantedtomakesurehimself.Heaskedthemtotakehimtoseetheghostthatnight.Theyagreed.Lateatnight,Hamlet,Horatioandoneoftheguardswenttothetopofthewalls.Itwasverycoldanddarkthere.Sometimeaftertheygotthere,theghostinarmorsuddenlyappearedoutofthedarkness.Ashisfriendshadtoldhim,Hamletsawthattheghostwasexactlylikehisdeadfather.Hecalledout,“King,Father!Whydidyoucomehereoutofthegrave?”Theghostdidnotanswerhim,butlookedathimsadlyandmadeasignforhimtofollow.HisfriendsdidnotwanttoletHamletfollowtheghostbecausetheythoughtitmightbeanevilspiritanddosomethingbadtohim.Buthedidfollowtheghost.WhileHamletandtheghostwalkedawayintothedarkness,hisfriendshadtowaitanxiouslythereworryingabouthissafereturn.AttheendofthewallsofthecastletheghoststoppedandbegantotalktoHamlet,“Iamtheghostofyourfather.IwantedtoruleDenmarkpeacefullyuntilyougrewupandbecamekingafterme.Buttwomonthsago,whileIwassleepinginthebeautifulgardenofhecastle,mybrotherClaudius中国最大的论文知识平台www.lwxiezuo.com cameandputpoisonintomyear.Iwasinstantlykilled.Hamlet!Bebraveandkillhimforme.Butneverkillorhurtmywife,forsheisyourmother.Letherrepentforwhatshehasdone.Thatisenoughforher.WhatIhavetoldyouistrue.Itellyouagain.Iwasnotkilledbyapoisonoussnake,butbymybrotherClaudius.NeverforgetwhatIhavetoldyou,mydearson.Good-bye,Hamlet!”Thentheghostdisappearedintothemistofthedarksky.Uponhearingthis,HamletbecameexcitedandwasevenmorefuriouswithClaudiusandhismother.Hemadeuphismindtokillhisuncleandlethismotherrepentforhersins.Hamlethastotakeontheresponsibilityofrevengeandrestoresthewholenation.Thesocietyiscorruptivefromthehighsocialclasstothelowsocialclass.Apartfromtheabovehisownpowerisnotstrongenoughtofightagainsttheenemyandrescuethewholenation.Duetothesereasons,hisspiritualstruggleisdeducedfromhisplanofrevenge.Thenhebecomesverymelancholy,hesitantandindecisiveandfinallydiedasatragichero.ThusHamletwasconsideredasatragicimage.2.TheFeaturesofHamlet’sTragicImage2.1HumanismofHamletTheleadingactorHamletistheimageofahumanistinthelatertermofRenaissance.Heconsidershumanbeingasa“greatcreature!Theyhavedignitylogos!Theyhavegreatstrength!Theyhaveelegancyappearance!Theyarelikeanangelinaction.Theyarelikedeityintheirswisdom.”Whenhewasyounghelivedintheopeningemperorpalace,heobtainedakindofhumanismeducationandhadagreatideal.Suddenly,hisfatherdied,soonhismotherremarriednewking——andthekingwashisuncle.Thisfactmadehimevenmoreheadache.Newkingtoldhimhisfatherdiedbecauseofthebitebyasnakewhenhisfathersleptinthegarden.Buttheprincedoubtedwhathisunclesaidandfeltpuzzled,thenoneday,ghostofhisfathercameoutandtoldhimthe“snake”wasjustthenewkingandaskedhimtoavengeforhim.Theprinceisahumanist,hethoughtthatavengewasawholesocialproblem.Hesaidhehadtheobligationtoremovetheworld,buthecouldnotfindtheexactwaysto中国最大的论文知识平台www.lwxiezuo.com solvethisproblem.2.2ComplexCharacteristicofHamletThecharacteristicofHamletissocomplex.Hamletexhibitsacombinationofgoodandbadpoints.Beingacomplexcharacter,hedisplaysavarietyofcharacteristicsthroughouttheplay’sdevelopment.Sometimesheisahumanandsensitivehero,atothertimesheismelodramaticallyviolent,cold-bloodedlycallous,orevengleefullybloodthirsty,bothinwordanddeed.AtfirsteveryoneseesHamletasasensitiveyoungprincewhoismourningthedeathofhisfather,theKing.Inaddition,hismother’simmediatemarriagetohisunclehaslefthiminevengreaterdespair.ThecombinationoftheseemotionsleavesonefeelingsympathetictoHamlet.Thenhebecomesavery“human”character.Oneseesfromtheverybeginningthatheisaverycomplexandconflictedman,andthathistragedyhasalreadybegun.Hamlet’sangerandgrief,whichprimarilystemmedfromhismother’smarriagetoClaudiusbringhimtothethoughtsofsuicide,whichonlysubsidesasaresultofitbeingamortalandreligioussin.Thefactthathewantstotakehisownlifedemonstratesaweaknessinhischaracter.Hisdecisionnottokillhimselfbecauseofreligiousbeliefsshowsthatthisweaknessisbalancedwithsomesenseofmorality.SuchanobviousparadoxisonlyoneexampleoftheinnerconflictandturmoilthatwilleventuallyleadtoHamlet’sdownfall.2.3DelayinActionHamlethastheintellectualwaysofthinking,whenknowingthefact;hisfirstreactionisnottofollowhisfather’srequirementtotaketherevengeintoactionbuttosetdowntheevilstohistables.Hamlet’smindissoquestioningandcontemplativethatinthefollowingcourseofrevenge,hehasarepeatedmediationuponthecrimeofhisuncle,thusperceivessomethingrotteninthestateaffairs.Hamlethassomesuperstitionfactors,forhethinksthatifhekillsClaudiusnow,hewouldsendhissoultoheaven;andhewouldkillsoulaswellasbody.Thathemissesthebestchancetokillhisuncleandhisdelayinactionfinallyleadstothehardnessonhisrevenge.中国最大的论文知识平台www.lwxiezuo.com 2.4TragicEndofHamletHamletwenttoplayfoilswithLaertes.WhenhesawLaertes,HamletvolunteeredtoaskLaertestoforgivehim.ThekingpreparedthepoisonedwineforHamlet,butunfortunatelyitkilledHamlet’smother,thequeen.Atthesametime,Hamlet’spoisonedfoilhurtLaertes,andthenLaertesdiedaswell.Hamletfinallyknewallthesearehisuncle’strapsandkilledthekingdecisively.Andatlastfourpeoplealldied.Buthehimselfwasdiedaswell.ThatisamanifestationofHamlet’sTragicImageeither.3.ReasonsofHamlet’sTragicImage3.1SubjectiveReasonsThecharactersomehowdecidesthefate.Thisisaverity.Hamlet’stragiccharacterindicateshistragicfatefromthestart.Underthepressureofhischaracteristic,hewastormentedbyhisrevenge.Revengebecametheonlythingthathewantedtodonow.Alltheseleadtohisindifferencetohismother,turningablindeyetohislover,killinghislover’sfatherbyhimself,fallingintothetrapsetbythepersonalenemies.Finally,hisdesireofrevengecomestrue,butallthebeautifulthingsarebrokendown.SoHamlet’spersonalreasonisthemainsubjectivereasonthatleadstohistragicimage.SosubjectivereasonforHamlet’stragicimagecanbeanalyzedasfollows:3.1.1WeaknessofPersonalityAswelearnfromthedrama,melancholyistheimportantpersonalityofHamlet.TheplayopenswithHamlet,theprinceofDenmark,appearinginamoodofmelancholyoccasionedbyhisfather’srecentdeathandbyhismother’shastyremarriagewithClaudius.Thatseemstobethedirectreasonresultsinhismelancholy.Sohedoubtseverythingaroundhim,whichisthehypocriticalofhumannatureandinconstancyofhumanrelationship.ThiscanbereflectedintheconversationbetweenHamletandhismother.QUEENIfit中国最大的论文知识平台www.lwxiezuo.com be, Whyseemsitsoparticularwiththee?HAMLETSeems,madam,Nay,itis.Iknownot‘seems’.Tisnotalonemyinkycloak,goodmother,Norcustomarysuitsofsolemnblack,Norwindysuspirationofforc’dbreath,No,northefruitfulriverintheeye,Northedejectedhaviorofthevisage,Togetherwithallforms,moods,shapesofgrief,Thatcandenotemetruly.Theseindeedseem,Fortheyareactionsthatamanmightplay;ButIhavethatwithinwhichpassethshow- Thesebutthetrappingsandthesuitsofwoe.(ActI/SceneII)TheconversationshowsHamlet’srealismandhumanism.Itmakeshimagainsttheimperialcourt.Besides,Hamlet’shesitationandindecisionincarryingouthistaskofrevengeisalsoobvious.Heevenappearstobeshrankandslowsometimes.HehasseveralgoodchancestokillClaudiusbuthejustletsthemslipby.Sometimes,whenhefailstomakegooduseofachance,hehastofindsomeexcusesforhisinactiontocomforthisguiltyconscience.Forinstance,onhiswaytohismother’schamberwhentheplayshowends,hemeetsthekingpraying,hecouldhavedrawnouthisswordandkilledthekingonthespot.Buthefailsagainonthepretextthathemightsendthekingtoheavenifhekillshimthenbecausethekingisprayingatthatmoment.Oftenhereproacheshimselfbitterlyfortheneglectofhisduty.Heevenaskshimselfingenuinebewilderment,“whatshouldsuchfellowsasIdocrawlingbetweenearthandheaven?DoIlinger?Canthecausebecowardice?WhatisitthatmakesmesitidlewhenIfeelitisshamefultodoso,andwhenIhavecause,andwill,andstrength,andmeanstoact?”WhydidHamletnotobeytheghostatonce,andsavesevenofthoseeightlives?IfhehadbeenLaertesorFortinbras,hewouldhaveaccomplishedhistaskinaday,yet中国最大的论文知识平台www.lwxiezuo.com HamletisnotLaertesorFortinbras.Therefore,hisrevengebecomesacomplexmentalstriving.Melancholy,hesitationaswellasindecisionbecomesmainpersonalreasonsthatleadtohistragicimage.Becauseofthesecharacteristics,Hamletdelayshisrevenge.Hischaracteristicsalsodeterminehistragicimage.3.1.2IsolationfromPossibleForcesHamletdoesn’trealizetheimportanceofunitingallthepossibleforcesintheprocessofusurping.ApartfromhisclosefriendHoratio,hehasnootheralliance.Someneutralforcesthatshouldbeunitedarepushedintotheoppositesidebyhisarroganceandindignity.Strugglingsingleisdoomedtofailure.First,takePoloniusforexample.Ophelia,daughterofPolonius,whohavethepassionstowardHamlet,praiseshimas,“O,whatanoblemindishereoverthrown!Thecourtier’s,soldier’s,scholar’s,eye,tongue,sword;Theexpectancyandroseofthefairstate,Theglassoffashionandthemouldofform,Theobservedofallobservers,quite,quitedown!”(ActIII/SceneI)ButHamlethurtOphelia’sfeelingscruellyandkilledhisfatherPoloniuswhichlosesagoodsupportingforce.RosencrantzandGuildenstern,theformerschoolfellowsand“excellentgoodfriends”(ActII/SceneII)ofHamlet,arespyingonhimundertheorderoftheking.Hamletperceivestheirintentionattheverybeginning,“BeggarthatIam,Iamevenpoorinthanks,butIthankyou,andsure,dearfriends,mythanksaretoodearahalfpenny.Wereyounotsentfor?Isityourowninclining?Isitafreevisitation?Come,dealjustlywithme:come,come;nay,speak.Iknowthegoodkingandqueenhavesentforyou.”(ActII/SceneII)Atthattime,RosencrantzandGuildensternhavenottotallydisgraced,fortheycanfeelthesorrowandmelancholyoftheprincefromhiswords“Denmarkisaprison.Denmarkisbeingoftheworst.”(ActII/SceneII)中国最大的论文知识平台www.lwxiezuo.com IfHamletpersuadedthemtohelphim,maybehecouldbuildhisownforcesgradually,butinsteadofmakinggooduseofthem,Hamletsatiresthembitterly,“Why,lookyounow,howunworthyathingyoumakeofme!Youwouldplayuponme;sblood,doyouthinkIameasiertobeplayedonthanapipe?Yetyoucannotplayuponme.”(ActIII/SceneII)Lateron,HamletsatiresthembitterlyfortakingthemasspongewhenRosencrantzandGuildensternarespyingontheinnersideofhim.ROSENCRANTZWhathaveyoudone,mylord,withthedeadbody?HAMLETCompoundeditwithdust,whereto‘tiskin.ROSENCRANTZTelluswhere'tis,thatwemaytakeitthenceandbearittothechapel.HAMLETDonotbelieveit.ROSENCRANTZBelievewhat?HAMLETThatIcankeepyourcounselandnotmineown.Besides,tobedemandedofasponge,whatreplicationshouldbemadebythesonofaking?ROSENCRANTZTakeyoumeforasponge,mylord?HAMLETAy,sir;thatsoaksuptheKing'scountenance,hisrewards,hisauthorities.ButsuchofficersdotheKingbestserviceintheend.Hekeepsthem,likeanape,inthecornerofhisjaw,firstmouthed,tobelastSwallowed.Whenheneedswhatyouhavegleaned,itisbutsqueezingyouand,sponge,youshallbedryagain.(ActIV/SceneII)中国最大的论文知识平台www.lwxiezuo.com WecanlearnfromtheaboveconversationthatinsteadofmakinggooduseofRosencrantzandGuildenstern,Hamletsatiresthembitterly.Sohelosesanothergoodsupportingforce,either.SomecriticscommentthatHamletdoesn’thavebetterchancetodefeatClaudius.Dothingsreallygolikethat?Readingthedrama,itcanbeeasilyfoundthattheredobemanypeoplewhoareagainstClaudius.Thegrievanceofthecommonpeopleisagoodexample.Laertescomeswithacrowdofcityplebeianstoaskthekingforhisfather’srevenge,andtheycry:“Choosewe!Laertesshallbeking!”(ActV/SceneV)SinceLaertescangainsupportfromthemasses,nottomentionHamlet.FormidablepoliticalforcesmustsupportHamlet,thelawfulsuccessortothethrone,whoholdsahighersocialpositionandmorepopularitybythepeople.Tothefactisthat,asascholarprince,hejustmissessuchagoodchancewhichwasmadegooduseofbyClaudiuswhosucceededintransferringthegrievanceofLaertestoHamlet.KINGCLAUDIUSGoodLaertes,ifyoudesiretoknowthecertaintyofyourdearfather’sdeath,youwilldrawfriendandfoe,Winnerandloser?LAERTESNonebuthisenemies.KINGCLAUDIUSSoyoushall;andwheretheoffenceisletthegreataxefall.Iprayyou,gowithme.”(ActIV/SceneIV)ComparedwithHamlet,ClaudiusisarealpoliticianwhocanhandlewiththecrisiseasilyandmakegooduseofLaertes.Fromtheanalysisabove,itcanbeconcludedthatthoughbeingprogressiveinthinking,Hamletlackspoliticalstrategyandsupportingforces,soinsucharottencourt,beingisolatedfrompossibleforce,Hamlet’sstrugglingagainstthedarkforces中国最大的论文知识平台www.lwxiezuo.com aloneisboundtodefeat.That’salsooneofthereasonsthatleadtoHamlet’stragicimage.3.1.3ReligiousSuperstitionofHamletHamlet,evenShakespearelivesintheearlyperiodoftheRenaissancewhenwasnotlongafterthetransitionfromtheEuropeanmedievalages.Christianityhasverygreatinfluenceonpeople.Hamletcertainlybelievedthatmostpeoplewouldgotohellafterdeath,andhethoughtwhattheghostdescribedaboutthehellwastrue.Soononehand,Hamletwhocouldnotbearthedarkrealitywantedtoopposehisuncle,ontheotherhand,hewasafraidoffailure.Failuremeantdeath,yetdeathwasnotwhathewasafraid.Butwhereshouldhegoafterdeath,toheaven,ortohell?Thismadehimhesitate.Inhisopinion,accordingtoChristianidea,apersonwhodiedwhileprayingwouldgotoheaven,evenifhewereavillain.Sowhilehesawhisunclepraying,hedidnottakeactionbutidlebetweenrealityandideal.TosumupHamlet’stragicimagecannotbesimplydescribedasjusthispersonaltragicorthesocialtragic.Therearemanyaspects.3.1.4OedipusComplexofHamletHamlet’sOedipusComplexistheinitialfactorofhistragedy.OedipusComplexisagrouporcollectionofunconsciouswishes,feelingsandideasfocusingonthedesireto“possess”theopposite-sexedparent.And“eliminate”thesame-sexedparent.InthetraditionalFreudianview,theOedipalstage,whichcorrespondsroughlytotheages3to5,andischaracterizedasauniversalcomponentofdevelopmentirrespectiveofculture.Thecomplexisassumedtobecomepartlyresolved,withinthisclassicalview,throughthechildmakinganappropriateidentificationwiththesame-sexedparent,withfullresolutiontheoreticallyachievedwhentheopposite-sexedparentis“rediscovered”inamature,adultsexualobject.Here,IwanttoanalyzetheOedipusComplexofHamlet.IthinkasachildHamlethasexperiencedthewarmestaffectionforhismother,andthis,asisalwaysso,hadcontainedtheelementsofadisguisederoticquality.Thepresenceoftwotraitsinthe中国最大的论文知识平台www.lwxiezuo.com Queen’scharacteraccordingwiththisassumption,namedhermarkedlysensualnatureandherpassionatefondnessforherson.NeverthelessHamletappearstohavewithmoreorlesssuccessweanedhimselffromherandtohavefalleninlovewithOphelia.TheprecisenatureofhisoriginalfeelingforOpheliaisalittleobscure.Maybeheunconsciouslyseekshismother’simagefromOphelia.Ophelia’smanytraitsofresemblancetotheQueen,perhapsjustasstriking,arethetraitscontrastingwiththoseoftheQueen.Thereareindicationsthatevenheretheinfluenceoftheoldattractionforthemotherisstillexertingonhim.Buthisfather’sdeathandhismother’ssecondmarriage,buriedhishappiness.Naturaldesirecannolongerbeconcealedfromhisconsciousness.Feelingswhichonce,intheinfancyofsolongago,arepleasurablememories.Butnow,becauseofhisresentment,onlyfillshimwithrepulsion.Thelong“repressed”desiretotakehisfather’splaceinhismother’saffectionisstimulatedtounconsciousactivitybythesightofsomeoneusurpingthisplaceexactlyashehadoncelongedtodo.Withouthisbeingintheleastawareofittheseancientdesiresareringinginhismind,areoncemorestrugglingtofindconsciousexpression,andneedsuchanexpenditureofenergytoagain“repress”themthatheisreducedtothedeplorablementalstatehehimselfsovividlydepicts.Atlast,hetransitsalltheseconflictedfeelingstorevengeoftheusurpingClaudius.Heunconsciouslywalkstowardtotheprophetictragedyfatestepbystep.Soinmyopinion,Hamlet’sOedipusComplexistheinitialfactorthatleadstoHamlet’stragicimage.Tosumsup,becauseofthesepersonalitiesofHamlethimself,Hamlet’srevengetowardthekingisdelayed,andhispersonalreasonsaresubjectivereasonsleadingtohistragicimage.3.2ObjectiveReasonsHamletisfullofgrandideasandintentions,buthefailstoactandtocarryoutthedeedthedestructionofClaudius.Therearesomeobjectivereasons中国最大的论文知识平台www.lwxiezuo.com 3.2.1SocialStatusofHamletHamletwasspeciallybornanoble,princeofDenmark,soHamlet’ssocialstatusdeterminesthateverythingisconnectedinHamlet,includingthewelfareoftheroyalfamilyandthehealthofthestateasawhole.Theplay’searlyscenesexplorethesenseofanxietyanddreadnessthatsurroundsthetransferofpowerfromonerulertothenext.Throughouttheplay,charactersdrawexplicitconnectionsbetweenthemorallegitimacyofarulerandthehealthofthenation.DenmarkisfrequentlydescribedasaphysicalbodymadeillbythemoralcorruptionofClaudiusandGertrude,andmanyobserversinterpretthepresenceoftheghostasasupernaturalomenindicatingthat“somethingisrotteninthestateofDenmark”(I.iv.67).ThedeadKingHamletisportrayedasastrong,forthrightruler,underwhoseguardthestatewasingoodhealth,whileClaudius,awickedpolitician,hascorruptedandcompromisedDenmarktosatisfyhisownappetites.Soasaprinceofthecountry,Hamletnotonlyhastorevengeforhisfatherbutalsohashisresponsibilityforthecountrytocorruptdowntheevilpower.Astheprinceofthecountry,Hamlethashisresponsibilitiesforthecountry,andHamletgivesupseveraltimestokillthekingforthat.AndHamlethashisownreasonsforhisinaction.HAMLETNowmightIdoitpat,nowheispraying?AndnowI’lldoit.Andsohegoestoheaven,AndsoamIrevenged.Thatwouldbescanned.Avillainkillsmyfather;andforthat,Toheaven. Why,thisishireandsalary,notrevenge! Hetookmyfathergrossly,fullofbread, Withallhiscrimesbroadblown,asflushasMay; Andhowhisauditstands,whoknowssaveheaven? Butinourcircumstanceandcourseofthought,中国最大的论文知识平台www.lwxiezuo.com ‘Tisheavywithhim;andamIthenrevenged, Totakehiminthepurgingofhissoul, Whenheisfitandseasonedforhispassage? No. Up,sword,andknowthouamorehorridhent. Whenheisdrunkasleep;orinhisrage; Orinth’incestuouspleasureofhisbed; Atgaming,swearing,oraboutsomeact Thathasnorelishofsalvationin’t- Thentriphimthathisheelsmaykickatheaven Andthathissoulmaybeasdamn’dandblack Ashell,wheretoitgoes.Mymotherstays. Thisphysicbutprolongsthysicklydays.(ActIII/SceneIII)Asaresult,hemissesthegoldenopportunitytotaketherevenge.BeingaprinceofDenmark,Hamlet’sloveforthecountryaffectshisaction.Hamlethastobecautiousandcarefulwhentakinghisaction,hemustknowclearlyaboutthefacts,sincehisrival,theking,issofierceanddangerous,andakingisrepresentativeofthecountry,thepeopleandtherights.Atthattime,beingagainstthekingisunmoralandunacceptabletotheideologyofhumanists.Sohemustprovetheghost’sword.Inordertoprovewhyhisfatherdied,heconceivesandarrangesaplayscenebeforetheKingandtheQueen.Theplayisalmostthesameastheactualmurderofhisfather.Hisuncle’smotionsbeingaroused,helooksnervousandshowseverysignoffearashewatchedtheplay.Hecriesout“givemesomelight.Away!”Hegetsupquicklyandleavestheperformanceduringthemurderscene.Whentheplayerhasspokenonlysixlinesonthestage,theKingstartstohisfeetandrushesoutofthehall.Atthemoment,Hamletisbeyondhimselfwithjoybecausehisdeviceproveswhathehasbeentoldbytheghostistrue.Thingsarequiteclearnow.Hamlethasseenenoughtobesurethattheghosthadspokentrulyandthatthemurderhadbeendone.Claudiuscrimeisrevealedtohimself.中国最大的论文知识平台www.lwxiezuo.com ThisconfirmsthathisfatherwasreallymurderedbyClaudius.Nowheknowsthatitishisdutytorevengeforhisfather.Hisdeterminationofrevengecouldn’tbedelayedanylonger.Butheisonlysatisfiedwithlearningthetruthanddoesnothing.Aftertheperformance,hesaysinhissoliloquy.“Tisnowtheverywitchingtimeofnight.NowcouldIdrinkhotblood?AnddosuchbitterbusinessasthedayWouldquaketolookon.”(ActIII/SceneIII)Itseemsthatheisabouttotakeaction,buthedoesnot.Instead,hescansandgivesuptherevengingopportunity.IndeedwhathereallyshrinksfromistheresponsibilityofpremeditatingmurderingofaKinganditspoliticalresult,becauseatthattimetheabruptdeathofthekingmightcausepanictothepeopleanddangertothestate.Sowhatheconsidersnowisnolongerhispersonalrevengebutthefateofthecountry.Thismakeshimtakethesituationasawholeintoconsideration.Sohemustdelayhisaction.Thus,beingaprinceisaninvisibleheavyburdentoHamlet’sboundlesssuffering.Hehasaclearsenseofthesociety,soherealizesthathisuncle’sdeathcan’tsolvealltheproblems.Heknowsclearlyinhismindthathisresponsibilityistosavethewholecountry.InfrontofsuchasituationHamletwassomuchsufferedfromthedifficulty.Sohebecamemelancholy,hesitatingandindecisive,soHamlet’ssocialstatusisalsoaveryimportantreasonthatleadstohistragicimage.3.2.3SocialRealityInthelaterofRenaissance,thecentralstatepowerwasverystable.TheKingchargedthesystemofgovernment.Meanwhile,heabandonedthecapitalistclass,arbitrarilyanddictatorially,heforciblyoccupiedallthebenefit;inpolitical,hewentagainsttheprogressivemeasure,thenthefeudalforcehadthechancetostateacomeback,andallthecountrywasfilledwithfoul,eachtryingtocheattheother.Undersuchbackground,thecapitalhumanistswereangryatit.Alltheordinarypeople中国最大的论文知识平台www.lwxiezuo.com evencouldnotbeartheexploitationcomingfromthefeudalandoriginalaccumulation,buttheycoulddonothingtohelpthemselves.Suchphenomenonwasjustaboutwhichhappenedbeforethebourgeoisierevolutionaryin1645.HumanistshadthethoughttoremovetheunforgivableKingandreversethesituation,buttheyfellintohesitation,becausetheresponsibilityforthemwashardtocomplete.TakingthecourtofDenmarkintheMiddleAgesforthebackground,accordingtothestoryofHamlet’srevengeforhisfather’sdeath,HamletdescribesthetruthEnglandandtheEuropesocietyinthelaterRenaissance.Itrevealstheauthor’sself-questioningonRenaissancemovementandhiscarelessnessonpeople’slifeandfuture.TheRenaissancepromotesEuropeintothetimeawakeninghumanbeings.People’sbelieftoGodbegantoshake,undertheflagof“personalityliberation”;itwasthecustomtodowhatyouliketo.Foroneside,people’sthoughtliberated,whichpromotedthedevelopmentofthesocialcivilization.Intheotherside,especiallyinthelaterofRenaissance,itwasfullofoverflowofselfishdesireandsocial’sconfusion.Encounteringsuchanenthusiasmandconfusingtime,insteadoftheoptimisticandromanticbroughtbythehumanism,Shakespeareshowsusthehiddendangerwhichhidedintheidealandprogress.Itisdestinedtofailforhumanists.Hamletisthereflectionofsuchsocialphenomena.SoHamletwaswrittenasatragicimageofhumanist.3.2.3LimitationofShakespeareHamlet,writtenin1600-1601,wasoveratimewhenstormcloudsgathered,theco-operationbetweentheCrownandtherisingbourgeoisie,whichwasthebasisoftheElizabeth’sregime.Shakespeareisbasedonasystemofinstitutionalizedsocialinequality,whichpervadedallaspectsofsociallife;ElizabethinheritedtheEnglishthroneatatimeofpoliticaleconomicchaos.TheEnglishreformationhadforcedthecountryintoacomparativelyisolatedpositioninEurope,andathomethereligiousupheavalshadtakentheirtollonthenation’sstability.WarsagainstFrance,whichbeganinMary’sreign,haddevastatedtheeconomyandletlooseafurtherroundofinflation.Thepersonalinterestsofthepowerfulindividualnoblemencontinually中国最大的论文知识平台www.lwxiezuo.com compromisedthetheoreticallysupremepowerofthemonarch.Andthesenoblemenconstitutedheraristocracy,andattimes,presentedaveryrealdangertothecrown.ThroughouttheTudortimes,therewerealwaysthreatsofaristocraticrebellion.TheNorthernRebellionof1579-70wasthelastofthegreataristocraticrebellions.Andtheeconomicandsocialcrisis,whichbeganattheendofElizabeth’sreigncontinuedrightuptotheEnglishRevolution(1640).ItwasinthisatmosphereofgeneralunrestthatShakespearecreatedhisgreattragedyHamlet.Therefore,therearegreatsimilaritiesbetweenHamletandShakespeare.Shakespeare,justlikeHamlet,canseethroughthesocialcontradictionsofthetimewithhisuniquepenetrations;while,asHamlettoo,Shakespearecannotfindthewaytosolvetheseproblems.First,Hamletneverthoughtofusurpingthepowerbyforce;Shakespearetoo,didnotgoallthewayagainstthefeudalrule.Shakespeare,asahumanistofthetime,wasshockedbythefeudaltyrannyanddisunityandinternalstruggleforpoweratthecourtwhichledtocivilwars.Inhisplays,hedoesnothesitatetodescribethecrueltyandanti-naturalcharacterofthecivilwars,buthedidnotgoallthewayagainstthefeudalrule.Inhisdramaticcreation,especiallyinhishistoriesortragedies,heaffirmstheimportanceofthefeudalsysteminordertoupholdsocialorder.“TheKing’sgovernmentmustbecarriedon”——butcarriedonforthegoodofthenation,notforthepleasureoftheKing.Also,Shakespeare’shistoryplaysaremainlywrittenundertheprinciplethatnationalunityunderamightyandjustsovereignisanecessity.Second,Hamletisnotrootedinthecommonpeople,andShakespearealsocontemptthecityplebeians.Shakespearefearsanarchy,hatesrebellionanddespisesdemocracy,thus,hefindsnowaytosolvethesocialproblem,intheend,theonlythinghecandoasahumanististoescapefromtherealitytoseekcomfortinhisdreams.Inaway,Hamlet’stragedyisthecrisisofShakespeareasahumanistattheendofthe16thandthebeginningofthe17thcenturies.SoHamletwasatragicimagethatreflectsthetragedyofthehumanistsatShakespeare’stime.中国最大的论文知识平台www.lwxiezuo.com 4.ConclusionWhydidShakespearecreateHamletasanimageoftragichero?LookingthroughtheconditioninwhichHamletlived,youcanfindtheanswer:thereisabiggapbetweentheidealofhumanistandtheevilreality.ThepainofHamletisnotonlythepainofhimself,butalsoisthemelancholyofthenationandhispeople.Hamletisjustawinnerinmoralityandjustice,buthecannotgetthevictoryasamatterofact.Thisworkreflectstheidealofthefreshbourgeois.SoHamletisatragedyofhumanist.ThisplayalsoreflectsthepoliticssituationofBritainduring16and17century.Atthattime,bourgeoisisrisingandthewholesocietyinvolvedinagreatchange.Sowecancallthisplayhumanistplay.SothetragicimageofHamletisnotonlycausedbyhispersonalreasonbutalsotheenvironmentthathelivedin.AcknowledgementsIwouldliketotakethisopportunitytothankmytutor——Wangwei,whooffersmeacademicandconstructiveadviceoncomposingthispaper.Hisencouragementandhelpareworthyofhighacknowledgement.AndIalsowouldliketotakethisopportunitytothankMs.HanXiaoya,whoismythesiscourseteacherandgivesmesomeadviceonhowtowriteapaper.Atthesametime,IwouldliketothankalltheleadersandteachersoftheSchoolofForeignLanguagesandCultures.Here,IwouldliketothanklibraryofZhejiangUniversityofScienceandTechnologyforitoffersmeveryusefulmaterialsthathelpsmewiththispaper.中国最大的论文知识平台www.lwxiezuo.com 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