Camacho 1

Joshua Camacho

White

AP English Lang/Composition

10 March 2022

Analysis

With recent and currently ongoing progressive movements, such as the Black Lives

Matter movement and the Women’s Rights movement, it is evident, through Shakespeare’s

Hamlet, that such issues were also present within Renaissance and Elizabethan culture. In

Hamlet, through the lives of Ophelia and Gertrude, it is evident that women’s roles were

primarily dependent on the men. Within the last century, women have fought for much of their

civil rights and liberties, particularly their suffrage, to establish equality between men and

women and defy traditional gender roles. Regarding the Black Lives Matter movement and its

relation to Hamlet, the movement arose due to certain groups being privileged over black

citizens. Similarly, in Hamlet, there is evidence for the rich and higher class having more

privilege than those of the lower class. By learning the truth behind flaws in society and

understanding the social issues present, the issues can be resolved, and progress can be made.

Hence, Shakespeare, through his writing, helped establish an understanding of these issues for

people in Renaissance times. Those advocating for change are willing to sacrifice their lives with

the hope that the truth of their hardship is spread. Similarly, Horatio is left to spread the truth and

establish justice, particularly for Hamlet, after the numerous casualties at the end of the play.

Shakespeare’s Hamlet, with its presence of madness that occurs primarily due to an inadequate
 Camacho 2

sense of justice, establishes the theme: truth is essential to the establishment and continuation of

justice.

In Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, tragedy in five acts by William Shakespeare, Horatio has

two primary principles: loyalty and truth. Throughout the play, Horatio has much favor towards

Hamlet, considering his needs and addressing him as not only a superior but as a friend.

Regarding King Hamlet’s ghost, Horatio states:

What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord,

Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff

That beetles o'er his base into the sea,

And there assume some other horrible form,

Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason

And draw you into madness? Think of it.

The very place puts toys of desperation,

Without more motive, into every brain. (1.4.72-79)

Horatio fears Hamlet will obey the ghosts commands or requests solely because it has the

appearance of his father. Hence his questioning: “What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord,

/ Or...takes on some other horrible form that drives you insane.” Horatio understands how easily

Hamlet could be tempted or persuaded into performing acts that could cause him arm, simply

because the ghost is his father’s. Thus, he makes Hamlet wary of how the ghost could lead him

to potentially harm himself, and he expresses his concern for Hamlet’s wellbeing. Moreover,

Horatio references madness stating, “Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason / And
 Camacho 3

draw you into madness”. With Hamlet blinded by the ghost, Horatio warns Hamlet of the

“madness” that could ensue in his dealings with the ghost, “depriv[ing Hamlet his] sovereignty

of reason” and leaving him to act solely on the ghost’s desires other than his own, “draw[ing

him] into madness”. With his questioning of the ghost, Horatio shows that he not only desires to

discover the truth of the ghost’s intentions, but he also desires to ensure Hamlet’s safety. While

valuing Hamlet as a friend, as portrayed in Horatio’s concern, he also values Hamlet as a

superior as evident in his reference to Hamlet as “lord”. Horatio does not attempt to prevent

Hamlet from seeing the ghost. Instead, he gives Hamlet his own personal insight on the matter

and allows Hamlet to make his own decision whether to listen to the ghost or not. Thus, Horatio

understands that Hamlet, as a superior, can make his own decisions. Regardless, Horatio, as a

friend, also offers his insight on Hamlet’s personal matters, out of concern for his friend and the

friendship they have. With an understanding of the “madness” that can occur regarding Hamlet

and the ghost, Horatio first seeks out the truth to ensure that Hamlet is not left “without more

motive,” without his own desires and goals in his pursuit of the ghost’s desires. In placing

emphasis on Hamlet’s own desires and goals, Horatio further portrays how he values Hamlet as a

friend. Also, his search for the truth emphasizes his principle of truth, which is also represented

in Hamlet’s dying wish. Hamlet states:

Give me the cup. Let go! By heaven, I’ll have ’t.

(takes cup from HORATIO) O God, Horatio, what a wounded name,

Things standing thus unknown, shall live behind me!

If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart

Absent thee from felicity a while,

 Camacho 4

And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain

To tell my story. (5.2.339-345)

Horatio, with his strong bond and friendship with Hamlet, was willing to die alongside Hamlet

and drink from the poisoned cup. Nevertheless, Hamlet expresses his concern for Horatio in his

exclamation, “Give me the cup. Let go! By heaven, I’ll have’t.” Not only did Hamlet care for

Horatio’s life, but Horatio was the only individual Hamlet trusted to spread the truth of what

occurred in Denmark. Hamlet states, “If thou ever didst hold thy heart... draw thy breath in pain /

To tell my story.” With Hamlet trusting Horatio to tell his story, it is evident that Hamlet, not

only values Horatio as a friend, but he emphasizes Horatio’s principle of truth in the trust Hamlet

places within Horatio to “tell [his] story”. With Horatio following through with Hamlet’s wishes

and living to tell Hamlet’s story, it is evident that Horatio was loyal to Hamlet. In fact, Horatio’s

loyalty was even portrayed in his willingness to drink from the poisoned cup and die with

Hamlet. Ultimately, with Hamlet placing his trust in Horatio and Horatio willing to maintain

Hamlet’s legacy, it is evident that Horatio’s value of Hamlet as a superior and as a friend

emphasizes his principles of truth and loyalty. Being loyal to Hamlet, Horatio wanted to establish

justice for Hamlet’s “wounded name” and tell the truth on the matter:

“And let me speak to th' yet-unknowing world

How these things came about. So shall you hear

Of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts,

Of accidental judgments, casual slaughters,

Of deaths put on by cunning and forced cause,

 Camacho 5

And, in this upshot, purposes mistook

Fall'n on th' inventors' heads. All this can I

Truly deliver”. (5.2.380-387)

Even after Hamlet’s death, Horatio held his principle of loyalty, and he remained loyal to

Hamlet, willing to carry out his wish and spread the truth. While Hamlet valued the truth of his

life to be spread, Horatio held a principle of truth, not only for himself, but for the truth of others.

Regardless of the harsh reality of the truth, Horatio was still willing to spread it. He stated, “...So

shall you hear / Of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts, / Of accidental judgments, casual

slaughters, / Of deaths put on by cunning and forced cause”. Because of his loyalty to Hamlet

and his principle of truth, Horatio was determined to spread the truth of the revenge story that

took place, even if it meant speaking on the “carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts”. Nevertheless,

this story could have ended without “casual slaughters [and] deaths” if Hamlet were to have

never enacted his revenge. When Hamlet first interacted with the ghost, Horatio warned him of

the possibility of the ghost “draw[ing him] into madness”. While the ghost did not tempt

“[Hamlet] toward the flood... Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff,” it drove him mad, focused

only on vengeance for his father. Not only did this vengeance lead to the death of Hamlet, but it

led to the massacre Horatio discusses. Hence, Horatio’s principles of truth and his desire to

discover the truth gives insight to avoid temptation that could be harmful by understanding the

possible externalities that could occur. This truth was essential to ensure that, not only would

Hamlet’s name attain justice, but that such events would not occur again. With the people

understanding the madness that drove Hamlet’s revenge and the death that occurred as a result,

the events were less likely to be repeated. Similarly, history is less likely to be repeated when

individuals come to an understanding of what occurred in the past. Hence, the teaching of history
 Camacho 6

in schools. Thus, discovering and understanding the truth is essential to bring about justice.

Horatio intended to achieve justice for Hamlet’s name with the truth, and, if Hamlet had

previously listened to Horatio’s warning and sought the truth with Horatio, the chaos would not

have been left “Fall’n on the inventors’ heads.” The massacre and bloodshed would not have

occurred if Hamlet held Horatio’s principle of truth and sought to question the ghost’s motives

and consequences that could occur as a result. Much of the consequences that "[fell] on the

inventors’ heads,” are evident in the effects on the women and the roles they played.

A major idea throughout the play is the varying roles women play, and how they shifted

as a result of the externalities of Hamlet’s madness and false sense of justice. In the play the

women’s roles are quite dependent on the men in their lives, and their roles varied. For instance,

Gertrude’s roles shifted under her different husbands, King Claudius and King Hamlet. King

Claudius states:

Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen,

Th' imperial jointress to this warlike state,

Have we—as ’twere with a defeated joy,

With an auspicious and a dropping eye,

With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage,

In equal scale weighing delight and dole—

Taken to wife. Nor have we herein barred

Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone (1.2.8-15).

 Camacho 7

In the eyes of Claudius, Gertrude is seen primarily to gain royal status and power. Hence, his

acknowledgement of her as an “imperial jointress to this warlike state”. King Claudius based

Queen Gertrude’s value based on what she had to offer: her abilities as a leader in combat and

royal status. Hence, his willingness to marry her after he murdered King Hamlet. Claudius

continues to state, “In equal scale weighing delight and dole— / Taken to wife.” With the desires

of the people for Queen Gertrude to find a King quickly after the death of King Hamlet, Claudius

used the public’s view of the queen as his “sometime sister” to make himself a viable candidate

for king. Ultimately, it is evident that Queen Gertrude’s role under King Claudius was merely a

means for Claudius to gain power and knowledge, as emphasized in his willingness to marry her

so quickly and his acknowledgement of her abilities as a leader in war. On the other hand, Queen

Gertrude’s role under King Hamlet is quite different as King Hamlet held a genuine love and

affection towards her as explained by Hamlet:

So loving to my mother

That he might not beteem the winds of heaven

Visit her face too roughly.—Heaven and earth,

Must I remember? Why, she would hang on him

As if increase of appetite had grown

By what it fed on (1.2.140-145).

King Hamlet’s genuine love and affection for Queen Gertrude is established in Hamlet’s

statement: “that he might not beteem the winds of heaven / Visit her face too roughly...” While

she was married to King Hamlet, Gertrude played more of a family role due to King Hamlet’s
 Camacho 8

actual love for her in contrast with King Claudius’s view of her to gain power. Furthermore,

Hamlet states, “...she would hang on him / As if increase of appetite had grown / By what it fed

on.” Though King Hamlet and Queen Gertrude were so close with one another and were

constantly in each other’s presence, Queen Gertrude wanted nothing less than to always be with

him and receive his love. Her “appetite [for King Hamlet] had grown.” With Gertrude’s

willingness to move on from these genuine feelings of love for King Claudius, it is evident that

she had become dependent on the men in her life to satisfy this “appetite” she held. While King

Claudius used her to gain power, Gertrude relied on him to satisfy this “appetite” she had held so

long for with King Hamlet. While also heavily reliant on the men in her life, Gertrude ironically

believed Ophelia relied too much on the men in her life. Gertrude states:

Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide,

And, mermaid-like, a while they bore her up,

Which time she chanted snatches of old lauds

As one incapable of her own distress,

Or like a creature native and indued

Unto that element. But long it could not be

Till that her garments, heavy with their drink,

Pulled the poor wretch from her melodious lay (4.7.171-178).

Without a man in her life, Gertrude believes Ophelia was driven mad “chant[ing] snatches of old

tunes” and “incapable of her own distress”. According to Gertrude, following the death of her

father and the absence of her brother, Ophelia was unable to even struggle in her drowning death.
 Camacho 9

Ironically, Gertrude was quite like Ophelia, in that, she heavily depended on the men in her life.

Like Ophelia, Gertrude to become “like a creature native and indued”. Ophelia became “like a

creature”, in that, after the men in her life were gone, she became thoughtless and unable to think

clearly, leading to her madness and unintentional suicide. Regarding Gertrude, she became “like

a creature” with her “appetite [that] had grown”, and she was in search of a means to satisfy that

appetite. Hence, her willingness to marry Claudius. Ultimately, it is evident that Gertrude’s role

was partly dependent on the man in her life, just as Ophelia’s was. While she was the queen

under both of her husbands, she filled different roles for each of them, and Ophelia was left

helpless and distressed without the men in her life. Gertrude and Ophelia are perfect examples of

the effects of Hamlet’s madness, which was caused by his false sense of justice and

unwillingness to seek the truth. Also, Hamlet offers insight to women’s roles in Renaissance

culture and women’s reliance on men at that time. With this insight, future generations have

come to understand the social issues of the past, and progress for women has occurred.

Ultimately, through Shakespeare’s references to the roles women played in Renaissance times,

he took part in paving the way for women’s progressive movements, and advocacy for women’s

justice, through an understanding of the truth behind the social issues. Regarding the madness

that influenced the women’s roles in Hamlet, it is essential to understand that such madness

derived from a false sense of justice in Hamlet's desire for revenge.

With Fortinbras, Hamlet, and Laertes seeking revenge throughout the play of Hamlet, it is

evident that revenge is a major idea in Hamlet and even perceived as a false sense of justice.

Fortinbras seeks to gain revenge on Denmark for taking Norway’s land and the death of his

father. Hamlet seeks to gain revenge on Claudius who murdered his father, King Hamlet. Lastly,

Laertes seeks revenge on Hamlet for the death of his father, Polonius, and sister, Ophelia. In his
 Camacho 10

quest for revenge, Hamlet desires nothing less than for Claudius to meet the same fate as his

father. Hamlet states:

When he is drunk asleep, or in his rage,

Or in th' incestuous pleasure of his bed,

At game a-swearing, or about some act

That has no relish of salvation in ’t—

Then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven,

And that his soul may be as damned and black

As hell, whereto it goes. My mother stays

This physic but prolongs thy sickly days (3.3.90-97).

Hamlet wanted Claudius to suffer like his father suffered, with his “heels [kicking] at heaven” as

he approaches the same fate as Hamlet’s father in Hell. To ensure Claudius meets this fate,

Hamlet refuses to kill King Claudius until he is “about some act / That has no relish of salvation

in’t”. Not only did Hamlet want to rid Claudius of his chance at salvation, but he was also

willing to sacrifice his own chance at salvation in order to do so. By killing Claudius, Hamlet

was committing the sin of murder, meaning he too would be cursed to Hell with his father and

Claudius. Nevertheless, his desire for revenge was so great that he was willing to murder his own

uncle “that [Claudius’s] soul may be damned and black / As hell, whereto it goes.” With Hamlet

sacrificing his own salvation, it is evident that this false sense of justice, this vengeance, had

severely affected him and driven him “mad”. Because he refused to seek the truth of the

consequences of the ghost’s desires like Horatio, justice was not achieved. Rather, Hamlet fell
 Camacho 11

into the curse of Hell alongside his father and Claudius. Like Hamlet, Laertes regretted not

seeking the truth before enacting his revenge. He states:

It is here, Hamlet. Hamlet, thou art slain.

No medicine in the world can do thee good.

In thee there is not half an hour of life.

The treacherous instrument is in thy hand,

Unbated and envenomed. The foul practice

Hath turned itself on me. Lo, here I lie,

Never to rise again. Thy mother’s poisoned.

I can no more. The king, the king’s to blame.

(5.2.309-316)

After getting his revenge on Hamlet, Laertes felt a sense of guilt for all the death that was

caused. He states, “The foul practice. Hath turned itself on me,” referencing his regret in taking

revenge on Hamlet. This act of revenge that he believed would give him a sense of fulfillment

instead left him with dread and guilt. Laertes saw the severity of his actions and states, “Lo, here

I lie, / Never to rise again. Thy mother’s poisoned. / I can no more.” Laertes sees that his desire

for revenge did not only affect himself and left him dead, but it left Hamlet and his mother dead

as well. He realized the consequences of his action of revenge and saw, firsthand, the impact

revenge can have on not only himself but those around him. His false sense of justice left him

filled with regret and left him apologetic. Also, this madness that ensued as a result of their

vengeful madness, did not result in justice. It simply left them, and their loved ones left dead. In
 Camacho 12

saying, “The king, the king’s to blame,” Laertes saw through the King’s lies and regretted not

seeking out the truth first. If he had sought the truth, perhaps all the death would not have

occurred. Shortly thereafter, Fortinbras returns to find the “mayhem” his own vengeance could

have caused. He states, “This quarry cries on havoc. O proud death, / What feast is toward in

thine eternal cell, / That thou so many princes at a shot / So bloodily hast struck?” (5.2.364-367).

Fortinbras, in finding all this death, realized the impact his revenge-driven madness could have

had on himself and his people. He states, “This quarry cries on havoc,” referencing the madness

that occurred. Thereafter he questions death, saying, “O proud death, / What feast is toward in

thine eternal cell,” questioning why so much death had to occur simply due to a few men’s false

senses of justice. Unlike Hamlet and Laertes, Fortinbras sought to understand the truth of his

situation. His uncle informed him of the reasoning behind his father’s death and why he should

not enact his vengeance on Denmark, which prevented his false sense of justice from causing

more madness. With all the death caused by Hamlet and Laertes’ false senses of justice,

Fortinbras was left with the throne of Denmark, and he achieved justice for his father simply due

to his previous discovery and understanding of the truth of the situation that left his father dead

and his land taken. On the other hand, Hamlet and Laertes did not achieve their justice as they

were left dead, along with their loved ones.

Ultimately, it is evident that justice can only be achieved and maintained with the understanding

and discovery of the truth, which can only occur when the truth is being sought out. Horatio was

left to spread the truth of what occurred in Denmark to attain justice for Hamlet’s name. Through

his writing and description of women’s roles within Renaissance and Elizabethan culture,

Shakespeare assisted in spreading the truth of social issues that occurred during Renaissance

times, and he assisted in paving the way for the progressive movements that have combatted for
 Camacho 13

and continue to combat for women’s justice by presenting the truth and offering an insightful

understanding of the issue in Renaissance times with literature. Also, as evident from Hamlet,

Laertes, and Fortinbras’ desires for revenge, Hamlet shows, that developing an understanding of

truth allows for justice to be achieved properly. Fortinbras, unlike Hamlet and Laertes who acted

on their false senses of justice, was the only one of the three to not only attain justice for his

father’s murder but regain his country’s lost land from Denmark and acquire the throne. Thus,

justice can only be attained when it is first understood and when truth and understanding is

sought for and discovered. Without truth, an adequate sense of justice cannot be formed, and

individuals are driven into madness. Hence, justice is essential for the maintenance of order, but

it cannot be obtained without truth, and it is still in the progress of being achieved with ongoing

movements that continually learn and understand newly discovered truths.

 Camacho 14

Social Issue

Throughout Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, tragedy in five acts by William Shakespeare,

there are numerous social issues, particularly emphasized by the issue of justice. These issues

were not only present in Renaissance/Elizabethan Culture, but also in present culture. King

Hamlet’s ghost introduces the conflict of justice, implementing a false sense of justice, a desire

for vengeance, within Hamlet with its request for Hamlet to kill King Claudius. With an

adequate sense of justice being related to the Bible and Christian values within Hamlet, it is

questionable as to whether the ghost's request for Hamlet to murder King Claudius is justifiable.

Furthermore, it is questioned whether Ophelia should receive a Christian burial since her death

was a result of suicide. Ultimately, with an inadequate sense of justice, Hamlet is driven mad to

gain what he believes is justice for his father’s death. His madness affected numerous individuals

around him, and, with the death of Ophelia, left gravediggers questioning whether her Christian

burial was a just burial in relation to the hierarchy. Throughout Hamlet, justice is an issue in

reference to the madness a false sense of justice can cause and its relation to a social hierarchy

regarding women’s roles and social status.

In Renaissance Culture, madness was generally viewed to have been fueled by an intense

passion or desire to achieve and/or reach a particular goal. Generally, it was a widely held belief

that madness would lead to death, which is evident in Shakespeare with the deaths of Hamlet and

Ophelia, along with others. False senses of justice are evident amongst Hamlet, Laertes, and

Fortinbras in their desire for revenge. Their madness was fueled by an intense passion or desire

to enact revenge. Vengeance itself is a false sense of justice. Both Laertes and Hamlet learned

the consequences of their false senses of justice with the deaths of all of those they held dear to

them and their own deaths. On the other hand, unlike Hamlet, Fortinbras achieved justice after
 Camacho 15

his decision to not act on his false sense of justice. Wylie Sypher states, “Hamlet is dangerous in

the ‘serious’ world of intelligible conduct, for he exists only in his acts, which happen

automatically and ‘absurdly ‘. We cannot ‘explain’ [Hamlet’s] conduct; his ‘existence’ precedes

his ‘being’” (1). With all the death that resulted from Hamlet’s madness, it is evident that

“Hamlet is dangerous in the ‘serious’ world of intelligible conduct,” as his entire reality was only

his own acts which occurred “automatically and ‘absurdly’”. There was no regard or regret for

the death that Hamlet had caused with his madness fueled by a false sense of justice, nor was he

concerned with what was going on or who was affected in his madness. Hamlet’s “existence

precede[d] his being” as he left behind all his own values and principles with the sole desire of

enacting revenge and attaining what he falsely believed was justice for his father’s death. In his

attempt to achieve justice for his father, Hamlet, “exist[ing] only in his actions” affected the

people around him, including Ophelia who was also driven mad. Ophelia’s madness led her to

unintentionally commit suicide. While preparing a grave for her burial, gravediggers question

whether Ophelia should have a Christian burial. While suicide was seen as a sin that would not

result in a Christian burial, Ophelia was given a Christian burial solely due to her social status.

On the other hand, those with lower social status than Ophelia would not have had a Christian

burial after death by suicide, emphasizing the social hierarchy within Hamlet and a need for a

justice system not benefiting or favoring the rich. Referencing this corrupt world, Wilks states,

“...Hamlet’s predicament evokes that of man, in that not only is he confronted by a fallen world

in which ancient evil bafflingly presents an aspect of goodness, but in being called upon to

oppose that evil, is in the end mortally disabled by its mysterious intimacy with his own soul, the

‘dram of eale’ which insidiously corrupts man’s virtues and undermines the integrity of his

motives” (1). In a world where his father’s murderer is seen as “an aspect of goodness” while
 Camacho 16

evil, Hamlet believes he is sent by his father’s ghost to “oppose that evil”, but, instead, he is

blinded by this false sense of justice, which “corrupts man’s virtues and undermines the integrity

of his motives.” Hamlet, while believing he was getting justice for his father, instead was left

leaving behind all his values and goals to pursue his father’s murderer. Trying to attain this false

justice, Hamlet was left without desires of his own and the “integrity of his motives” was

“undermine[d]” with the chaos and mayhem his actions resulted in. Regardless of his intent,

Hamlet’s actions had harmful and fatal effects on all the individuals he held closely. Ultimately,

it is evident that justice was an issue throughout the play. False senses of justice led to numerous

casualties and harmful effects, and there was no justice between the social classes as those of a

higher class were more benefitted and favored by the justice system. This false justice is still

present today. Hence, the need for numerous movements advocating for justice and spreading the

truth of justice.

The play does maintain purpose in the 21st century, regarding the social issue’s relevance,

as false justice is a common issue within society that has also led to an emphasis on a variety of

other social issues. For instance, the women’s movements in the early 1900s were fighting for

justice, so that they might have equal status in society with men and be able to vote. With the

Black Lives Matter Movement today, there are numerous individuals advocating for change in

society that fixes a justice system that is corrupt due to its history. Ultimately, false justice

derives from a corrupt government, or a false ideology of what justice really is. It is essential to

develop a correct definition of what justice is in society to maintain equality and ensure that all

individuals are treated justly, whether that be regarding the justice system or their day-to-day

lives. Justice should bring about equality for all individuals. As seen in Hamlet’s Elizabethan

culture, Hamlet’s false justice, which was fueled by his personal desires, led to much death and
 Camacho 17

other issues. Hence, justice should work towards benefiting the people and society, rather than

benefiting one individual or group over another. In understanding that justice should benefit the

people in their entirety, society has made progress since the Renaissance times, but it is essential

to continue to make progress until justice is adequately understood and granted to all individuals

equally.
 Camacho 18

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. “Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, Tragedy in Five Acts.” SparkNotes,

sparknotes.com/nofear/shakespeare/hamlet/.pdf. Accessed 3 Jan. 2022.

Sheidley, William E. “Hamlets and Hierarchy.” Peace Review, vol. 11, no. 2, June 1999, p. 243.

Advanced Placement Source. Accessed 22 Feb. 2022.

Steggle, Matthew. “CRITICAL READINGS: What Kinds of Prison Are in Hamlet?” Critical

Insights: Hamlet, Jan. 2019, pp. 134–48. Literary Reference Center Plus. Accessed 22

Feb. 2022.

Sypher, Wylie. “Hamlet: The Existential Madness.” Nation, vol. 162, no. 25, June 1946, pp.

750–51. Points of View Reference Center. Accessed 22 Feb. 2022.

Wilks, John S. “The Discourse of Reason: Justice and the Erroneous Conscience of Hamlet.”

Shakespeare Studies (0582-9399), vol. 18, Jan. 1986, p. 117. Advanced Placement

Source. Accessed 22 Feb. 2022.

 Camacho 19

Annotated Bibliography

Steggle, Matthew. “CRITICAL READINGS: What Kinds of Prison Are in Hamlet?” Critical

Insights: Hamlet, Jan. 2019, pp. 134–48. Literary Reference Center Plus. Accessed 22

Feb. 2022.

This source speaks on imprisonment during Renaissance times. This includes the conditions of

the prisons and the sentences of the prisoners. Specifically, it speaks on the process of

individuals being placed into the prison system, including the time it took for them to

enter the prison system and what people were placed in prison for. It describes how

several of Shakespeare’s colleagues had been in the prison system, offering him insight

into what captivity was like and how to portray such captivity in Shakespeare. The source

also shows how imprisonment and incarceration differentiated in Renaissance versus

Elizabethan culture.

This source could be used to speak mostly about Renaissance culture.

Particularly, it could reference how Shakespeare’s Elizabethan culture relates to

Renaissance culture and how Renaissance/Elizabethan culture and its social issues relate

to today’s social issues. With descriptions of the prison system during Renaissance times

within the source, those systems and processes can be related to current prison systems

and processes. This could be used to compare the views of prison systems and their

relation to justice in Renaissance times versus the 21st century. Also, it could emphasize

the relevance of rightful justice today compared to its relevance in Renaissance times.

Sheidley, William E. “Hamlets and Hierarchy.” Peace Review, vol. 11, no. 2, June 1999, p. 243.

Advanced Placement Source. Accessed 22 Feb. 2022.

 Camacho 20

This source speaks on social hierarchies as portrayed and represented within Hamlet and even in

historical culture, “revealing the corruption of the privileged faction.” This corruption is

evident in Ophelia’s Christian burial, which she had even though she died by suicide.

Because of her high social status, Ophelia was granted this Christian burial, and the

gravediggers question if she deserves the Christian burial though she committed suicide.

Hence, the gravediggers emphasize the social hierarchy present in Hamlet and corruption

in Hamlet with its false justice. The source takes interpretations of this corrupt hierarchy

from the different performances of Hamlet. These different interpretations and

viewpoints offer insight into the social hierarchy within Hamlet and its effect on the

story.

This source could be used to speak specifically about the distinctions between the social classes

within Hamlet. Particularly, it could be used to discuss how the higher social classes are

favored and benefited far more than the lower classes. For instance, while Ophelia was

given a Christian burial after her suicide, it is unlikely that a lower-class individual would

receive such a burial after the act of suicide. Also, it could relate the corruption of the

hierarchy to the corruption of Denmark under Claudius after his murder of King Hamlet.

In speaking on this corruption, it can also be related to Hamlet's madness and desire to rid

Denmark of this “corruption”, more so out of vengeance for his father.

Sypher, Wylie. “Hamlet: The Existential Madness.” Nation, vol. 162, no. 25, June 1946, pp.

750–51. Points of View Reference Center. Accessed 22 Feb. 2022.

This source speaks on Hamlet’s madness, referencing “absurd sensibility” and

“existentialism”. Hamlet’s madness is a result of a constant conflict between his will to

live and to die and the will for power. In the entirety of the world, Hamlet’s reality is only
 Camacho 21

his own actions and that which is going on around him. There is no consideration for

those around him, nor other individuals in the world of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Hamlet

feels that his whole purpose in life is to die with a feat to be remembered by. In the case

of the play, this feat is killing his father’s murderer, King Claudius. The madness Hamlet

experiences is him simply rejecting the world as objective, and instead, only perceiving

his own thoughts and actions to be objective. Hence, his maddest moments are his most

existential moments.

This source could be used, specifically, to speak about Hamlet’s madness that

drove him to revenge throughout the play. It could be used in reference to the big idea

paragraph on revenge and to discuss how Hamlet's revenge was fueled by madness.

While characterizing Horatio, primarily through his relationship to Hamlet, Hamlet's

madness can also be referenced and Horatio’s willingness to stay with him regardless.

Moreover, it could explain how Ophelia was driven mad and its effect(s) on her and her

eventual death in the women’s roles paragraph. Lastly, it could assist in relating Hamlet’s

madness to a particular theme that supports the idea that madness deteriorates

relationships.

Wilks, John S. “The Discourse of Reason: Justice and the Erroneous Conscience of Hamlet.”

Shakespeare Studies (0582-9399), vol. 18, Jan. 1986, p. 117. Advanced Placement

Source. Accessed 22 Feb. 2022.

This source highlights the fact that the Shakespearean world of Hamlet is already

corrupted, yet society has a general view of the world as good. Hamlet is either a victim

of his own self-deception, or he half-realizes that he has become an insight that never

takes an explicit judgment. The ghost is the first moral struggle of justice in Hamlet as it
 Camacho 22

is questioned whether the ghost’s requested murder of King Claudius is just or not.

Regarding the Christian faith, the Ghost’s command to murder King Claudius is

completely contrary to the teachings of the Bible. Justice in Hamlet is primarily

dependent on the teachings of the Bible and the religious beliefs. While Hamlet refuses to

kill Claudius fearing that he might go to Heaven other than Hell, Hamlet is willing to

give up his own life in Heaven to murder King Claudius at the wishes of the ghost.

Hence, the questioning of justice and morality.

Throughout Hamlet, there are numerous instances where justice is questioned in

reference to the Christian faith. The primary instance is King Hamlet’s ghost demanding

that Hamlet murder King Claudius. At the expense of his own salvation, the ghost desires

that Hamlet kill Claudius to gain a false sense of “justice”, in a biblical sense as Hamlet

will be sentenced to Hell along with Claudius. Also, when the gravedigger is burying

Ophelia, it is questioned whether she deserves a Christian burial as she died via suicide.

Hence, it is evident that the richer and higher ranked people were more privileged in

cases of justice. This source will assist in explaining the consequences of Hamlet’s false

sense of justice.