bating

The use of bating in Hamlet takes place all over. Reynaldo is used to bate Laertes in France, Rozencranz and Guildenstern are used to bate Hamlet, Ophelia and Gertrude are also used to bate hamlet. Hamlet used the play to bate King Claudious. Basically the bating becomes a themes that doesn't end well. Reynaldo, well it doesn't matter what he discovered because Polonious is dead before he ever finds out what his son was doing in France. The reason Polonious is dead is because when Gertrude was bating Hamlet Polonious was behind a curtain and well Hamlet stabbed him. Ophelia get's yelled at and called a whore when she is used for bating and in the end she dies and it never mattered if Hamlet loved her or not. Whem Hamlet used the play to bate the king, claudious became determined to get rid of his nephew and in the end they all die, rosencranz and guildenstern included. Bating doesn't end well, spying and the use of deciet end in death or at least so it seems in Hamlet.

The World Views of Hamlet

Hamlet has alot to deal with when it comes to his family; not only was his father murdered, but the murderer married his mother. On top of that he grew up thinking that he was going to become king someday, but when he finally is suppose to assume that position his uncle takes that from him. He has to deal with everyone, inlcuding his parents thinking that it's alright to get drunk and be drunk whenever they please. He lives in a state of capture because there is all this stuff going on around him and he doesn't agree with it all and it seems as if he has no control. He supposedly had no choice about becoming king, yet he doesn't get to. His mother and uncle seem to think incest is okay and avengeing murder is expected. There is alot to take in and handle.

Claudius's assumptions

I believe that Claudius may think that Hamlet is faking or at least knows something. First of all as soon as the play ends he tells Rosecranz and Guildenstern to take Hamlet to England as soon as possible at the begining of act 3.3. Another issue that points to Claudius's awareness is that he is so concerned with why Hamlet is mad. He sends for Hamlet's friends to spy on him, he agrees to test Polonius's theory and continue to use him just to figure out why his nephew/ son is acting insane all through Act 2.2. He does all this when as Gertrude has a perfectly reasonable explanation, that his father had just died and she re-married rather fast. I guess I think that Claudius just acts as if he has somthing to worry about where Hamlet's madness is concerned. I think that Claudius thinks that if Hamlet knows what he did he could either have gone insane or that he would do whatever it takes to get revenge. Claudius is smart, he managed to kill his brother and marry his wife and Hamlet has made a few connections from conversations his Uncle has had in his own insane speeches, if Claudius ever picked up on any of those, he could think that Hamlet is faking.

Questions...? Hamlet 3:3

My first question is Does King Claudius think that Hamlet is on to him? Cause as soon as the play ends he wants Hamlet taken away to England. The second question is why didn't Hamlet just kill his uncle? He was right there, he has putting on this madness act so can figure out if the ghost is lieing and then kill Claudius, why is his consciense getting in the way, especially if it was expected to revenge murders?

Hamlet's feelings for Ophelia

Personally, I think Hamlet never really loved Ophelia, but that he lusted her or maybe thought he loved her. Hamlet puts a whole lot more thought into the 12-16 lines for play that Hamlet believes might incrimate Claudius then in the love letter he wrote to Ophelia in Act 2.2 lines 116-127. I think he wanted Ophelia to think he loved her, otherwise he have spent more time on expressing his feelings. Besides, like Polonius told Ophelia, Hamlet can't be sure he would even be allowed to marry Ophelia because it would have to be the best option for all of Denmark, not just himself. Another thing to consider is the fact that if Hamlet is pretending to be mad, as I believe he is, then I believe he would have found away to tell Ophelia what he was going to do, so she wouldn't offended or hurt. If he really loves her she will never want to speak to him after how he has acted towards her since he went "mad". Either he is in love and stupid because he thinks Ophelia is just going to forgive him when it is all over, or he never really loved her and Laertes and Polonius were right back in Act 1.3, which is what I believe is the case. It is a good thing Ophelia promised to obey her father and kept that promise.

Hamlet's madness 3:1

In Act 3:1 Hamlet is expressing his "madness" to Ophelia as she tries to figure out if he loves her. He sounds mad, but with a saness twist to it. It is as if he is crazy because he tells Ophelia to go to a nunnery over and over again, as if he is saying I love you, but I don't. He tells her that to protect herself from marriage and giving birth to sinners. This all seems a little strange, but thought had to go into this madness, which I believe suggests that he is faking. Polonius, Claudious, and Gertrude were watching; Hamlet can't stop being insane ever if he is to pull off his act. Yet, as I said before it seems as if he put thought into his madness. How can a really crazy person seem to sane every once in awhile? King Claudious seemed to agree in lines 165-167. I'm still not sure exactly were I fit in this argument, because I guess an insane person go through sputs of saness as they go insane, I don't really know how the process works. I am leaning towards Hamlet is just putting on an act, there seems to be more evidence in that direction.