What is the main moral of Hamlet?
Shakespeare’s Hamlet’s major theme is death. Moreover, it is the death of the King Hamlet that triggers the events in the play one after another.
Virtues and values are indispensable for people from the past to the present. Sometimes, people are willing to devote their whole life to do one thing such as Newton uses his entire life to invent new products. There are not only many instances in real life, but also, many authors and poets describe characters with great virtues in their texts.
Hamlet by William Shakespeare portrays a tragedy about a prince successfully revenges for his father but dies eventually with other main characters; Dylan Thomas’s poem, “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night,” lists four distinct types of men about their reactions toward death and appeal people to fight for hope until they die.
Analyzing both contexts, readers are able to set connections between the protagonist Hamlet’s actions in Hamlet and Wise men and good men’s contents in “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night” in order to reveal pivotal virtues in characters and how they are important for life.
To begin with, Hamlet in Hamlet like the wise men in the poem possesses the same virtue of not being a slave to death but trying to create something great in the world. In the poem, “Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night” (“Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night” 5) unfolds the truth that wise men will fight to the death. In this Stanza, Thomas uses personification to make the boring description more vivid and convincing; Plus, by using this rhetorical device, this stanza conveys that wise men will not submit to death until they have made an impact in the world that they so desire.
In the play, Hamlet, Prince Hamlet is very intelligent because when he knows his father’s murdering news from the Ghost, he does not immediately run to the palace to kill his uncle; Instead, he cautiously plans for revenge. Even he finds a chance to kill King Claudius, he chooses not to due to the fear of killing during prayer will send Claudius to heaven. “Do you hear me, old friend? Can you play ‘The Murder of Gonzago’?” (Hamlet 115) shows Hamlet’s smartness of testing Claudius about whether he truly kills the last King Hamlet or not.
When King Claudius reveals the guilt from watching the play, Hamlet finally makes sure that his uncle is his right revenge target.
Furthermore, Hamlet possesses characteristics of good men which describes in “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night.” In this poem, “Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light” (“Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night” 8) suggests that good men are willing to do something positive to the society, and they will keeping doing
things that they believe in order to make some changes for nature and mankind. In this Stanza, the poet also uses personification as a main rhetorical device to emphasize the quality of good men. This part unveils those good men, because they seek to do good in the world. In addition, rage against the dying of the light. Until they have brought about great change or contributed to beauty, hope, and love.
Hamlet is definitely a representative figure of good men.
As a good friend, he treats Horatio well, and he trusts Horatio. Which is why he ultimately tells his revenge plan to Horatio in order to gain his support and help.
Having internal conflict and emotional struggle, Hamlet does not give up his life and commit suicide. Because he knows he has to do something meaningful such as revenge for his beloved father before death. He overcomes depression eventually and starts to think things in a positive way; In the meantime, Hamlet dedicates his whole life to accomplish one goal. “To a nunnery, go, and quickly too” (Hamlet 133) shows how determined Hamlet is to do one thing and does not care about the feeling of love. As readers know, Hamlet loves Ophelia deeply; however, many things to worry about, Hamlet cannot think about Ophelia anymore. So he puts all his bad attitudes on Ophelia, and even says that he does not like Ophelia at all.
In conclusion, overall, Hamlet insists on revenge in the name of his father.
In a nutshell, Hamlet in Hamlet shows the quality of good men and wise men’s virtues. Which is also present in “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night.”
Without these values, Hamlet cannot be so determined, dedicated, and intelligent. To plan and successfully avenge his father’s death. Moreover, in fact, people in the real world are supposed to have these virtues too. Because life is short, and for the best, they need to live in a meaningful way.
Lastly, many elders regret about what they did not do before when they were young. So, in order to not be regretful about the past and too late to do one thing. When people have some goals, they just need to go for it. Furthermore, try their best to reach the target and complete their goals. Time will never wait for people, before death, people should make something great that they will be proud of.
What is the main moral of Hamlet? Written by Katherine Tang
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