I think that the role of the parents in Hamlet truly make the story what it is. It's the relationships between the parents and children that cause certain events and reactions. The parents themselves, how they act, and how they parent greatly influence the story and the characters in it. Even though there are no young children in the play and the characters are older, the parents still have very important roles in their lives. I think what adds on to this is that they are royalty, and the kids are dependent on their parents. If they were on their own, trying to survive in the real world, this story would be entirely different.
One of the parents who stands out the most to me is Gertrude, Hamlet's mother. We still haven't found out why Gertrude married Claudius or if she knew about Old Hamlet's murder - but one thing is for certain - she acted selfishly. Gertrude was definitely not thinking about her grieving son or nation in her actions following the death. It is a well known fact that if a person has a child, his or her life must revolve around the child. Being a parent is a selfless job, and Gertrude fails at it. She should have been consoling Hamlet and trying to help him get over his father's death not betraying him. I feel her actions ostracized Hamlet and led to his suicidal thoughts in the beginning of the play. After Old Hamlet died, Hamlet didn't just lose a father but a mother as well. And I truly believe that this is what motivated him. In my opinion, Hamlet wanted to avenge his father's death but also the memory of the life he lost.
And then there is Polonius, who is another "model" parent. Polonius is Ophelia and Laertes' father. He comes off as very controlling and abrupt. As a father, he isn't very endearing or trustworthy. He's actually quite quick to spy on his son and use his daughter. I think Polonius' role as a father is crucial to the play because it's a major factor in Ophelia's descent into madness. First, Polonius tells Ophelia she can no longer see Hamlet; showing that he cares more about his reputation than her happiness. Then, he uses her to spy on the one she loves, which is taunting her. We will never know how Hamlet and Ophelia's relationship would have progressed because whatever was there, was terminated against their will. Polonius basically takes away Ophelia's will all together which I believe is a big factor in her mental deterioration. What else do we have as humans but free will? If Polonius had been a different type of parent, I think Ophelia would have turned out fine even after his death.
Although he's really not a father figure, I think Claudius does have a role as a parent in the play. He could have certainly gone about marrying Gertrude in a different light. Instead of treating Hamlet like he was wrong to feel remorseful and betrayed, Claudius could have a worked a completely different angle. If I was in his position, I would have sat Hamlet down ("man to man") and explained to him that he felt Hamlet wasn't ready for the throne and he married Gertrude because he was worried for her well being and stability. It's a very awkward situation, but Claudius made it worse by alienating Hamlet. This action consequently fueled Hamlet's anger and resentment leading to his need for revenge.
One of the reasons Shakespeare's plays have lasted so long is because they perfectly capture humanity. His plays explore human emotions and reactions. They surround love, betrayal, despair and other essential feelings that create a realistic atmosphere and help the audience relate to his stories. In Hamlet, Shakespeare captures the relationship between parent and child. He emphasizes flaws and moves away from the picture perfect family - an idea that many can relate to. The parents in this story basically shape and mold the events. Their actions affect their children and change their lives. I think that it is a clear representation of how influential parents are in their children's lives and shows how destructive their mistakes can be. We are nothing more than a reflection of our parents.
5 comments:
Nice Post. I thought the best part was your thoughts on the commitment parenting is. And although Hamlet is older I still agree with you that Hamlet should have been Gertrude's number one priority, not Claudius. Also, I thought you provided an interesting solution to the whole problem with the "man to man" talk. I wonder how Hamlet might have reacted to to this?
I didn't think at all about how Hamlet essentially lost both his father and his mother. This fact really makes me understand better how Hamlet slowly lost his mind through the story. I also didn't consider that the fact that the "children" in the play are all royalty. I think maybe if things didn't come so easily to them their whole lives, when things started to go wrong they would have handled everything better instead of going mad.
I like the way you ended your essay with we are nothing more then a reflection of our parents. THis kind of makes me think of Gertrude. She is a women in this play and we know that in this time period women don't have many rights. Men are suppose to provide for you and you are suppose to do the house chores. Maybe that is why Gertrude married so quickly. Old Hamlet provided for her all her life she needed someone else to provide for her after she died. She is reflected how her mother was treated with her father. I also like the way you put your side of view with Claudius and Hamlet, nice post.
Great essay. I liked how you wrote that Hamlet lost both a father and a mother. I hadn't even thought of that. Shakespeare portrays parents who seem almost unfit for parenthood. I wonder if they, at least in the case of Gertrude and Polonuis, are just so completely out of touch and unconcerned with how their actions affect their children, or if they hold the view that unless they can be used, children are burdensome. Either way, I think today families unfortunately deal with similar issues of disconnect between parents and children.
Nice job Krista. At some point do you think that parents give up some responsiblity for their children? Or do you think that once someone is a parent - that person is always a parent? Do you think that there is ever a time to step back and think about self preservation and let your children handle their own lives? For instance, what other options did Gertrude have? If she was not subservient to a husband, she would have been subservient to a son. Is one really better than the other?
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