Poetry Essay Question 2

                Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” clearly shows an inner conflict within the main character, Hamlet, that tears him between two choices. His choice between live for revenge or death is what drives the theme and plot of the play. He is often portrayed as a mad man throughout the play as it fits his mental instability brought by these conflicting choices. Through Hamlet’s inner conflict Shakespeare is able to convey his theme of revenge.

                Due to a series of events Hamlet contemplates between the choice of life and death. His father has died and his mother remarried to his uncle. He wonders if life is still worth living and considers suicide to be an escape. He finds purpose when confronted by the ghost of his father who reveals that it was Claudius who murdered him. Hamlet seeks to carry out an act of revenge which gives him a reason to live. Despite finding purpose Hamlet still considers suicide to be a viable choice. The option of suicide gives birth to an inner conflict in Hamlet. He could carry out his act of revenge and possibly feel inner peace at the end or he could just end his life where he stands and be rid of his nightmare. Hamlet’s indecisiveness leads him to becoming mentally unstable and causes him to carry out rash actions of revenge.

                The choice of suicide is what offer Hamlet an escape which for Hamlet is an attracting choice, but the thought of his uncle going unpunished for his crimes drives him towards a mad plot of revenge. The looming choice of suicide is present throughout the play. Hamlet wants to end his suffering in an instant but can’t due to his plot for revenge. The thought of suicide clearly shows Hamlet’s state of mental instability and Shakespeare uses this to drive the plot of the play