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Hamlet Analysis

Tim Parr
AP Literature
1/09/10-Hamlet Analysis
The interesting conversation between Hamlet and his friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, begins with Hamlet’s abrupt statement that “Denmark’s a prison.” Before this encounter, Hamlet tells Horatio that he will pretend to act as if he has lost his mind in order to divert attention from himself, but also be able to remain sane. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are supposed to spy on Hamlet and report any evidence of his madness, and they receive more than they can handle. They complement Hamlet by reassuring him that he is “ambitious” and his mind makes Denmark his prison. Cleverly, or strangely, Hamlet continues to say that “a dream itself is but a shadow”, without knowing the definition of the very words he speaks. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern   can do nothing more but agree with such a profound statement, being that they have no knowledge on how to counter it. Perhaps in an attempt to distraught his own personal spies, Hamlet unintentionally confuses himself-“For by my fay, I cannot reason” It’s debatable whether or not Hamlet has lost his mind due to his unorthodox strategy, however, it’s brilliant. Monarchs and Heroes, Hamlet later states, are not willing to dirty their hands. Both sides are born that way, and are often one in the same, hardly ever to we witness a heroic act from a beggar. President Barak Obama recently received the Nobel Peace Prize because he was the first black president of the United States of America. Bono from the band U2, whom of which has effected and changed the lives of millions of families from across the world, received nothing. A fireman rescues a woman from a burning building, and receives a thank you-nothing more, nothing less. Those that have power are often rewarded more than those that live ordinary lives, those that deserve the most respect. “Merely beggars’ shadows”, a bold statement to say the least, cannot be further from the truth. Rarely do we witness a phenomenon...