Theme of Family in Hamlet Literary Analysis Essay Example

Every family struggles with relationships, because no one is perfect, however in Hamlet, a play written by William Shakespeare, that’s a whole other story. The play starts off with Hamlet, the prince of Denmark, learning about his fathers death. He later learns that it is his uncle, Claudius, who killed his dad. This then causes a series of events, which leads to the downfall of Hamlet and his family. In Hamlet, Hamlet and Claudius's relationship illustrates power, through the themes of revenge, madness, and corruption.

Hamlet demonstrates power in Hamlet's relationship with Claudius, which points to themes of madness, through Hamlet’s pseudo madness and his declaration of being really mad. We see Hamlet’s pseudo madness, in act one, scene 5 of Hamlet, where Hamlet is talking to the ghost, about his plan to kill Claudius. "How strange or odd some'er I bear myself (As I perchance hereafter shall think meet to put an antic disposition on)." (Shakespeare 1:5:90-92) By this, Hamlet is saying he is not crazy, but he will pretend to be crazy, so that Claudius doesn’t think he’s a threat, when in reality, he plans to kill him. This quote is significant, because it’s the first reference to madness that we get in Hamlet. As the story progresses we can slowly see the power of Hamlet’s madness grow, till he eventually acts upon this. Another example of Hamlet demonstrating madness is in act 5, where Hamlet explains that his real “enemy” was not Claddius, but himself. "Then Hamlet does it not; Hamlet denies it. Who does it, then? His madness. If't be so, Hamlet is of the faction that is wronged; His madness is poor Hamlet's enemy"(Shakespeare 5:2:250-253) Hamlet states that he is his own weakness, and his madness is the one to blame, not Claudius. This quote shows how Claudius and Hamlet's relationship represents power through madness, by Hamlet’s abuse of power, and how it can be extremely detrimental. At the end of this story, Hamlet’s power of madness consumes him, and he kills Claudius, losing his life along with him. Hamlet’s relationship with Claudius represents how power through madness can corrupt the mind, and lead it to its downfall. 

Hamlet illustrates corruption in power, through Hamlet and Claudius’s relationship, because of the depth of revenge it caused Claudius, and because of how it clouded Hamlet’s moral compass. In act 5, after Hamlet returned from his fight with Laertes, he talks with Horatio, saying how he is sad to have battled with Laertes, because they are quite similar. “But I am very sorry, good Horatio, that to Laertes I forgot myself; for, by the image of my cause, I see the portraiture of his.” (Shakespeare 5:2:80 ) Although the fight did not directly include him, this fight was caused by Claudius. Laertes was upset over his dad and sisters death, so Claudius was able to convince him that it was Hamlet’s fault, which then led to them fighting, and ultimately their deaths. This is significant, because it shows that an individual can become so corrupt, to the point that they use other people’s grief in order to fuel their revenge. This is exactly what Claudius did to Hamlet, through Laertes. It very clearly shows the corruption in their relationship by the depths of Claudius’s revenge in general, along with the depths of revenge he possesses towards his nephew, of all people. An additional example of corruption in Hamlet is when Hamlet’s mother dies. She dies via poison, which Claudius made, which was intended for Hamlet. Hamlet is furious, and lashes out at Claudius. “Here, thou incestuous, murderous, damnèd Dane, drink off this potion. Is thy union here? Follow my mother.” (Shakespeare 5:2:320-322) For some context, Hamlet’s mother has just died, due to a poison she drank. The poison was made by Claudius and intended for Hamlet. Hamlet says this quote as he is killing Claddius, out of anger and hatred at the current situation. Why this matters is because it shows how warped Hamlet’s mind is. So warped, that he literally mocks his (newly) dead mother, and curses out Claddius as he dies. This furthers the idea that Claudius and Hamlets relationship is fueled by corruption, because of what it empowers them to do to each other. This shows just how much power can corrupt someone, and what it can lead to.

The last example of how Hamlet and Claudius’s relationship confirms powerful revenge through Claudius’s manipulation and Hamlet’s devotion to revenge. Act 4, scene 7, shows this, when Claudius is talking to Laertes and convincing him to get revenge on Hamlet. "...revenge should have no bounds." (Shakespeare 4:7:127-128) A few scenes prior, Laertes’s father, Polonius dies, due to Hamlet “accidentally” stabbing him. In the previous lines of this scene, Claudius asks Laertes what the depths of his love for his father are, and if he really loved him. By this, Claudius is attempting to manipulate Laertes into doing Claudius’s “dirty work,”which is killing Hamlet. This is important, because it shows how far Claudius is willing to, in order to get revenge on Hamlet. This aspect of their relationship affirms the dysfunction in their family, and the extent of how far revenge can drive someone, and how it can corrupt power. Another expression of Hamlet and Claudius’s revenge is by Hamlet’s declaration of hatred to Claudius. “From this time forth, My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!” (Shakespeare 4:4:65) In this quote, Hamlet explains that from that point on, he will solely view Claudius as evil, and will only feel hatred and revenge towards him. This offers the theme of revenge between Hamlet and Claudius, because it shows Hamlet's total dedication to killing Claudius.This means that he will achieve it by any means necessary, including almost murdering him in a church. Hamlet’s consistent rage and hatred towards Claudius further fuels his revenge and proves the power that revenge holds.

The extremely dysfunctional relationship between Hamlet and Claudius expresses themes of madness, through Hamlet’s pseudo insanity and declaration of being really mad, as well as expressing corruption via Hamlet’s lack self-understanding, along with clouding Hamlet’s moral compass, and conclusively, presented themes of revenge through Claudius’s manipulation and Hamlet’s devotion to revenge. This all together, demonstrates extreme power and what it can wield if used incorrectly. In the end of the story, Hamlet and the majority of his family and friends have all passed, due to the decisions made by Hamlet and Claudius that were influenced by the repetitive topics of revenge, corruption, and madness, through the abuse of power.