Comparison of Hamlet and My Last Duchess - Term Paper Example

assignment is due Art from its very beginning has played the role of upgrading the value of thesociety. Literature works have taken the responsibility of improving the value of the degraded societies. Literature works are the perfect mirrors of the nature, culture and practices prevailed in societies existed in different ages. Literature of twentieth century would differ from that of the twenty-first century. The characters of the literature works are the representatives of the generation of that period. Poets and authors were very much aware and bothered about the society and people and used their pen as a sword to destroy the evilness that existed. The best way to learn history and culture and the life of early generations is to move through the literature works of that particular period. Plays of famous playwrights and poems of certain poets beautifully illustrate the whole generation of that age. It will also reflect the dialect and standard of the generation. Writings in particular have the capability to touch the very base of the society by criticizing and applauding its activities, conventions, customs and practices. All the plays, novels and other works have something good to exhort to the society. A piece of writing will be highly influenced by the background of the author and the place which he represents. My last Duchess by Robert Browning and Hamlet by William Shakespeare are two examples of such works that contain high moral and social theme in it. Hamlet, the wonderful play of William Shakespeare is an example of beautiful depiction of moral and social values of the society that prevailed then. Hamlet, however, reflects the social and moral state of affairs that prevailed in the society where the play was born. Here also arises the question of morality and justice. This revenge tragedy refines the traditional notions of justice, goodness and earnestness. The hero of the story confronts a tough situation where two different kinds of justice and morality fight each other preventing him to take any action. On the way to accomplish justice, he finds that he is breaking a different mode of justice which is also very much important. In My last Duchess by Robert Browning poet highlights arrogance, haughtiness and certain other unacceptable characters of the sixteenth century. The poem helps understand the social values of the society that prevailed then. The poem reflects the values of the Elizabethan times. Historical criticism Historical criticisms are evident in several literary works. My last Duchess by Robert Browning and Hamlet by William Shakespeare are two works that historically reflect the period of the works. The background of Robert Browning’s poem ‘My last Duchess’ is Renaissance Italy. It tells us about the renaissance period and the Victorian perspective on renaissance period.’ My last Duchess’ include historical events that describe the story of Alfonso, the Duke of Ferrara. Alfonso, the Duke of Ferrara was a man of the sixteenth century. Through the poem the poet prepares a notable historical context for Alfonso, the Duke. The values of the Duke are highlighted by setting the poem in the background of Renaissance Italy. By reading this poem we understand that the characters like haughtiness, arrogance, possessiveness and craze for power were unacceptable for the nineteenth century readers of the poem. These characters are still undesirable, even in the twenty-first century. The nineteenth century Renaissance aristocrats possessed the objectionable characters highlighted in the poem. Critics of ‘My last Duchess’ have always applauded the historical accuracy of the poem. The poem is a wonderful reflection of the Renaissance period. William Shakespeare’s celebrated play Hamlet also reflects the period of the play. The background of the play pertains to the Elizabethan times. The conflicts and revenge-taking we find in Hamlet is the real nature of the society of Elizabethan times. Even though the conflicts in Hamlet appear to be personal, they reflect the political and historical nature of the period. Shakespeare generally includes current political and social commentary in his plays. In Hamlet also we find social and political commentary. We find several references to this in Hamlet. In Hamlet, we find references to contemporary politicians. Hamlet helps us understand the nature of Elizabethan periods. Gender criticism Gender criticism is not uncommon in literary works. The gender criticism is a crucial aspect of the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare. It is evident in the very saying ‘Frailty thy name is woman’. Women’s chief nature is frailty according to Hamlet. This attitude reflects the society of that period. Hamlet’s feelings towards women are sexist in nature. He hated his mother’s sexuality and her unfaithfulness to his father who was killed. This hatred made him hate all women, even the helpless Ophelia. The play Hamlet highlights the notions of masculinity. Hamlet’s attitude towards women shows the state of women of those periods. The play helps us understand the roles women were supposed to play during those days. Women in the play are abused and misunderstood throughout the play. Men abuse women. Like all plays of the same period, women of Hamlet were vulnerable that they could not live without hanging on men. This vulnerability of women shows the nature of women of Elizabethan times. Women were submissive to men during those days. In Robert Browning’s poem ‘My last Duchess’ also we find a good deal of gender criticism. The poem throws light on the issues that existed in the Victorian era. Gender expectations of the society are evident in the poem. The poem is not a mere story of a Renaissance nobleman who had a disobedient wife. The poem is rather a reflection of the role women were supposed to play during those days. We find Duke giving some remarks that makes us suspect he killed his wife. The plight of women of those days is evident in the poem. William Shakespeare’s Hamlet reminds me of the influence of hatred, wickedness and revenge in making a tragedy. Presentation of these themes constitutes the most crucial dramatic element in Hamlet. Hamlet the Protagonist in the play Hamlet is the Prince of Denmark. He is a full of hatred, bitterness, depression and deception. He is cynical, indecisive and often hesitant. His heart is full of hatred for his uncle. The very doubt that his uncle might have killed his father made him erratic. He often falls into some strange insanity and upsets others with his speech and sharp remarks. All actions if Hamlet is based on hatred. He was neither happy with the happenings of his family nor with the affairs of his state. He is dissatisfied and disappointed and even hates his mother for quickly marrying his uncle. He even repudiates the women whom he once loved. He later fills his heart with hatred for women folk too. No morality theory would be able to justify the actions of Hamlet in Hamlet. Hamlet is synonymous to deception. In Hamlet the hero Hamlet is confused how to kill his uncle Claudius when being deceptive enough so that no one would find out about the ghost. Claudius makes use of various deceptive methods to safeguard himself from the prosecution of the murder of the king. The deal with Gertrude is also unknown to everybody as she also deceives all the secrets. Various forms of deception is found in Hamlet as everybody want to protect someone or themselves as they know very well that truth is more hurting than lies. Claudius deceived everybody in numerous ways in order to keep the secret of the assassination of the king. Claudius also gave such a speech following the funeral as well as the wedding, about the king’s death and the matter with Fortinbras. This clearly shows that Claudius is not guilty or sad about the death of his brother and is trying to conceal the truth, thereby deceiving everybody. Hamlet’s deception is the most dangerous aspect of the play. It is more cruel and complex. Even though it is true that Hamlet’s deception is derived from that of Claudius, it was more dangerous as it killed everybody. He tried to keep the secret that Claudius murdered his father. This resulted in the assassination of Polonius and Laertes and the all the other deaths. At last when Hamlet was confiding in Horatio, during his final moments, he confesses. He reveals it to Horatio as everybody who could be hurt by the truth was no more alive. It is quite evident that Hamlet is actually deceiving everybody by keeping the secrets to himself. This deception resulted in the death of all others since they did not know what the truth was. Hamlet used the wicked route to accomplish his purpose. He used deception to tackle deception. He used murder to revenge for murder. There is no truth in Hamlet. All characters in the play choose the path of deception. Queen Gertrude also engaged in deceptive methods that were mysterious and complex. It is still unknown whether she was associated with the death of king Hamlet. Even though her part in the death of King Hamlet is still unknown, she was found to be marrying Claudius. Hamlet attempts to accuse her to make her confess but she denies. Many people used deceptive methods in this play to protect themselves and others. Deception means concealing the truth. Concealing of truth resulted in the death of many people in the play. Ophelia killed, Hamlet went mad and several other problems happened because of deception. The deception of Hamlet is however the most dangerous one that appears in the play. It led to the death of many people. He kept all secrets to himself and planned the entire events. All his actions are preplanned. He acted out of this hatred-filled heart. He does not appear to repent at any part of the play. He is cruel and hard hearted. He can well be termed as a wicked person. Hamlet is a tragedy, filled with revenges and deaths. Revenges and the subsequent deaths played a very crucial role in the play. Readers can smell death in each and every page of Hamlet as revenge mood conquers all the characters. Revenges and death makes Hamlet a tragedy. Revenge mood makes all the characters in Hamlet to hastily act with anger and emotion. Their actions were not based on any reason. It was rather founded on the principle of a tit for tat. An eye for an eye is not the right strategy for a successful end. The fate of the characters of Hamlet makes us understand this truth. Fortinbras, Hamlet and Laertes were desperately trying to avenge their fathers’ deaths. They proceeded with emotion, anger and fury driven by their plan to revenge the deaths of their father. Their thoughtless moves resulted in the downfall of two, and the enthronement of one. As the heads of the families were killed, their eldest sons who were supposed to inherit the throne felt the need to revenge the death of their fathers. These revenges make the play Hamlet. Revenge ultimately resulted in the death of Hamlet and Laertes. Revenge, being the motivating force of all the characters, the play Hamlet turns out is a great tragedy. Hamlet makes revenge the central thought of his life. Revenge thoughts ultimately consume him. It is this fury that finally drives him to revenge and murder. It appears ironic that revenge thoughts finally contributed to the death of Laertes, Claudius and Hamlet. They are destined to die with the same sword. Revenge triggered all the actions of the principal characters of the play. Revenge resulted in the downfall of two while it resulted in the enthronement of one. Revenge and deaths filled almost all pages of the play, with readers smelling blood in each and every scene. Hamlet thus makes a prefect revenge tragedy. My last Duchess the dramatic monologue by Robert Browning in which the Duke of Ferrara speaks of his previous wife. The setting of the poem is late Italian Renaissance period. It seems that the Duke is showing some artworks to his second wife and her family. Duke unveils the painting of his late wife. Duke describes his wife as happy and flirtatious. It is obvious that Duke is unhappy with his wife’s flirtatious behavior. He is not reluctant to say that his wife could be easily impressed and she didn’t necessarily require her husband’s presence to be happy. He further says that the purpose of curtain over her painting is that he wants her to smile only at him. We understand from the poem that the Duke killed his wife because of jealousy. According to the poem Duke was of the belief that his wife was not faithful to him. Duke thinks that she had relationship with other men and might have slept with them. This made him hid her behind the curtain that she is exclusively available for him. Jealousy and hatred are the central themes of the poem. Duke hated her as she smiled to other men. As Duke believed that he could not control her life, he took her life off. Even though Duke loved Dutchess very much, she was so unhappy with her unfaithfulness. Duke is speaking with his future Dutchess. He appears to be giving her a warning. Duke loved last Dutchess so much though she ignored his feelings and disrespected her. Duke never wants her to look others. He kept her private by killing her and keeping her image behind the curtain. In the lines from 43 to 46, we find that the Duke ordered to stop her character. As he tried to put his foot down, she became unhappy. She no longer had interest in him. This made her lose her life. Now she belongs to him forever. We find that Duke feels proud for owning her. He gained control of her. Controlling the Dutchess is compared to controlling a sea-horse. Duke could do that impossible task. The poem highlights the theme of hatred and jealousy. Read More