Cameron Mattern

Mrs. Bradley

AP English 12

27 February 2017

Im Just a Ham and Life is a Nightmare

The primary conflict of the Shakespearean play Hamlet is Hamlets struggle with

whether or not to kill his uncle, as the ghost of his father would want, despite the strong

bond they had previously shared. This conflict reaches its climax during Act III, Scene II,

when Hamlet has a play performed that both reveals to him that his uncle is truly his

fathers murderer, giving him the strength to attempt the task for the first time, and

reveals to his uncle that Hamlet knows what he has done, giving him a reason to get rid

of Hamlet.

In Act I, Scene V, the ghost of Hamlets dead father appears to him with a

mission, setting up the central conflict of the play. The ghost reveals that the serpent

that did sting [Hamlets] fathers life now wears his crown," (1.5.45-46) referring to the

fact that he was murdered by his brother, Claudius, whom Hamlet was raised by.

Claudius has recently married Hamlets mother and is now king. Although Hamlet wants

to follow his fathers order to Claudius, his high status and his role in Hamlets childhood

makes him postpone the act.

In Act III, Scene II, Hamlet reveals to Horatio his plan to observe [his] uncle

while watching a play in which his fathers death is recreated (3.2.85). Up until the play,

Hamlets plan to kill his uncle was not much more than that - a plan. However, with

Claudius discomfort at watching the play, Hamlet realizes that what his fathers ghost
told him was true. Claudius flees during the scene in which poison is poured in the

kings ear while Hamlet comments how the murderer soon gets the love of [the kings]

wife (3.2.290). The obvious similarities between the kings murder in the play and King

Hamlets murder makes it clear to Claudius that he has been found out, and needs to

come up with a plan to cover his tracks. His reaction also confirms Hamlets suspicions,

and Hamlet is ready to carry out the order his father gave him.

In the scene after this, Scene III, Hamlet comes closer to killing his uncle than he

ever has. He sees his uncle in the hallway praying and realizes that with his uncle

unaware, he could kill him right then and there. However, he realizes that were he to kill

his uncle now, he would be fit and seasoned for his passage to Heaven (3.3.91) while

his father was unable to go to Heaven because he was killed before having the chance

to pray. Although he does decide to put off killing his uncle, it is the first time he seems

to have been close to completing the act.

After realising that Hamlet knows of his deed, Claudius also shows a desire to be

rid of Hamlet. In Act IV, Scene IV, he says that until Hamlet is dead, his joys will neer

begin (4.4.77). With Hamlet knowing what Claudius has done, Claudius cant feel safe

until he knows that Hamlet is gone. Although Claudius too feels emotionally connected

to Hamlet, having been like a father to him, Hamlets previous actions give him much

reason to suspect that he plans on killing him.

The play in Scene II is what triggers Hamlet and Claudius race to kill one before

they are killed by the other. This is the root of all the tragedy that occurs for the rest of

the play. In this way, it is the turning point for the central conflict of the story of Hamlet.