On May 25, 2011, at 4:03 PM, Dennis Claxton wrote:
> At 12:50 PM 5/25/2011, Shane Mage wrote:
>
>> Hamlet's only "quest" is to reclaim the crown to which he was heir
>> and which had been stolen from
>> him by the machinations of his uncle and mother.
>
>
> And avenging his father's death?
The revenge motive is perfectly real and grows in importance as Hamlet realizes that murder and not merely usurpation had taken place. But it is a negative emotion, a "purpose-blunting" temptation that Hamlet has to resist because an act of pure revenge would be regicide, not justice, and would mean his own death (thus Hamlet uses the fact of Claudius at prayer as a way of using the revenge-drive against itself in order to overcome his desire to kill Claudius, suicidally, then and there). In the emotional turbulence of his mother's chamber he forgets himself and does kill Claudius--who turns out to be Polonius. He recovers from the setback caused by his emotional impulsivity by the brilliant diversion of Claudius's murder plot from himself to Rosencrantz/Guidenstern. Returned home, waiting for the needed proof in the form of the English King's letter confirming execution of the plot ("Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead") he once more, fatally this time, falls victim to his emotions. Prompted by guilt over the suicide of Ophelia he cannot keep to his patient strategy but accepts the fencing match with her brother minutes before the decisive letter arrives. The tragedy of Hamlet is that a brilliant, rational, man of action falls victim to his own negative emotions, guilt and revenge.
> If it's just getting the crown back why is the ghost there?
"'Tis an honest ghost"
> And what did his mother have to do with his father's murder?
Perhaps nothing except her own availability, but she certainly makes herself central to the usurpation by marrying Claudius instead of acting as regent for the legitimate heir. (Polonius clearly was involved in both).
Shane Mage
"scientific discovery is basically recognition of obvious realities that self-interest or ideology have kept everybody from paying attention to"