Arguments Around the Treatment of Hamlet by Shakespeare - Article Example

Arguments Around the Treatment of Hamlet by Shakespeare Mathhew Harkins has articulated his arguments around the treatment of ‘Hamlet’ by Shakespeare as a young character, specially this characterization addresses the ideology of age categorization in contemporary settings. The author has presented beautifully various facts from the history as well as from the literature to support his argument. In this connection the references to King Lear where he has drawn a comparison of age differences of Hamlet and King Lear and how it narrates the ideological thread of the age. The logical order of his argument while providing sufficient literary and historical evidence of his standpoint shows a strong grip of the author over the issue. The author has outlined the characteristic of Shakespearean youth and how it negates the age labeling into old and young by the character of Hamlet. However the conduct of author while examining the subject of the article cannot be declared unbiased as no reference in favor of age categorization despite its ideological existence in the society does not appears in the article. There must have been some roots to the ideological bifurcation of age groups in ‘young’ and ‘the wiser’ and it seems as if the author has deliberately avoided their appearance in his article. The whole discussion is surrounded by the play and how Hamlet has broken the shackle of contemporary categorization of youth and old age. The characterization of Hamlet is done within the political shell but it negates such age divide at larger scale. Another important aspect evident by the reading of the article is the use of word and phrases from the text of the play by the author to prove his argument. This at certain places hampers the literary taste of the article by a discontinuation of a thought or obscuring an idea. The bit and pieces of the evidence from characters expressions deem to be an intricate use of the text to support his standpoint. The theme of the article is to provide the textual evidence for the presence of an ideological bifurcation between old and young age. The author has cited ample references from the text of Hamlet for the existence of this “ideological categorization” in the contemporary settings. However, the buildup of Hamlet character is used by Shakespeare to negate the any such bifurcation. The culture superiority of the old and subordination of the youth at this age is quite evident by the literary evidence provided by the author. The old age was sign of wisdom and prudence whereas the young age was considered an era of less intellect and sensational wilderness. The age categorization was so evident that the instead of using the term younger and the older Gabriel Harvey describes them as "the younger" and "the wiser." But this was considered a political phenomenon by the Shakespeare and his treatment of Hamlet’s age as a devise for symbolic insight into the contemporary age categorization ideology is arguable. This is because the Claudius was only interested in keeping the throne beyond the reach of Hamlet and in that he always tried to equate his young age to imprudence and immaturity. The author has presented sufficient evidence from the text to validate his understanding of age categorization as it existed in that era. The Claudius expression about the Hamlets immaturity and impiousness is the major evidence in this connection where he utters, to persever In obstinate condolement is a course Of impious stubbornness, 'tis unmanly grief, It shows a will most incorrect to heaven, A heart unfortified, a mind impatient. An understanding simple and unschool'd. (I.ii.92-7) In addition to this the author has highlighted the use of stereotype characters like, Forinbras and Laertes to symbolize the wilderness, immaturity and lack intellect in youth. There are several examples to this effect in the text, however the character of Hamlet stands out differently and he poses a danger to this ideology. The examples of old and wise man stereotypes were Polonius and Claudius who have targeted youth to somehow show a distorted image of them to the public which suggest their inability to rule the kingdom. Even to the limits that an unwanted behavior by the old man used to be interpreted as ‘proper’ unlike the youth, who have to make ‘common’ mistakes. Apart from the critical review of the Author’s treatment, the subject itself has many aspects of literary interest and criticism. The existence of age categorization between young and the old as a divide between the “wild”, “subordinate” and “the wiser”, “the prudent” is arguable itself. Although the age difference between the Hamlet and Claudius may have been symbolic but its connection with the contemporary ideology requires a profound investigation of the subject. The character of Hamlet in Hamlet has some peculiar personal traits and personification of such qualities was actually the need of the play script and Shakespearean characters have always been symbolic in their manifestation and expression. Finding some link between the age of Hamlet and the treatment of age categorization ideology by Shakespeare is not beyond the scope of the play but it has to be tackled within the contemporary setting and there has to be some evidence of rebel and hatred for any such ideological difference or divide among youth and which is missing the play. Specially, the demographic evidence “An analysis of England's population shows numbers of youth at a ‘peak in 1576, and a sustained rise until 1621’ as young people ‘became more visible’.” presented by the author sounds a little embroidered in the absences of any such statistical proof in that age. Secondly, in the graveyard scene Hamlet is depicted as thirty years old and at the same time his maturity is outlines by the author, this however negates the argument of Hamlet’s young prudence or what he calls making “young Hamlet”. If he is prudent at this age then it is the negation of the statement by the author, “Hamlet fractures ideological justifications for early modern constructions of youth and age”. This negates the author’s point of view when he argues, “Hamlet fractures ideological justifications for early modern constructions of youth and age”. Read More