Today...
Today has been pretty good...I pretty much slept until 3:00...then I woke up and worked on my paper and talked to Courtney...I'm almost done with my paper...it's pretty good considering it's crap...(yeah)...
Well...I'll probably post my paper later...
Daniel Price
4/18/05
Ms. Case - Honors Brit. Lit.
Man’s Internal Struggle
One of the most common conflicts in Shakespearian works is not only the discord between man and another man, but it is the conflict between man and himself, the internal conflict. Hamlet and King Lear are prime examples of this internal conflict. Not only are the title characters struggling in their hearts, but even secondary characters are in disagreement with themselves more than anyone else.
In Hamlet the key character, Hamlet, has many outward problems. However, the majority of Hamlet’s problems reside in his own soul. He seems to be a frail-minded individual incapable of living in his surroundings. “We may be sure, however, that Shakespeare never intended to present Hamlet as a delicate flower, too intellectual and sensitive to cope with the rude milieu of the Danish court....Only since his father’s death has he succumbed to melancholy which has temporarily made him apathetic...” (Wright 61). The untimely demise of Hamlet’s father has caused him to need vengeance on the murderer, Claudius. He is struggling with the fact that he needs retribution and yet, he is a perfectionist so it must be flawless.
His problem is not so much in his procrastination as many say; although, he has been trained to think very thoroughly before he does anything. “By training, such a man [as Hamlet] learns to analyze problems, and his responses are never automatic because his decisions come from contemplation rather than impulse. Though [Hamlet] may be slow to make a decision, that decision will be based on reason” (Wright 64). Hamlet’s reason for not killing Claudius when he has the chance while he is praying is not because he is afraid or even because he is procrastinating. His reasoning is because he would have sent him to heaven for killing him in an act of repentance rather than an act of sin. “Had he reacted automatically...he would have killed Claudius and realized too late that he had slain him...and given him the rewards of heaven” (Wright 65). He wants his revenge to be perfect and sending Claudius to heaven would make that impossible. Yet, although Claudius appeared to be praying, he was not, for after he was done he said, “My words fly up, my thoughts remain below. / Words without thoughts never to heaven go” (III.iii.97-99). Hamlet’s struggle is not for closure, but it is in his own mind as to how he would get the perfect closure.
Another character in Hamlet that suffers from a struggle that is clearly internal is Ophelia. This stems mainly from bad relationships, be it romantic or even parental. “Polonius is a bad parent, no doubt about it, bringing the manners of his work home with him, egotistical and untrusting as men alone with their children can be” (Pennington 72). Ophelia is too kind-hearted and soft-spoken to say anything contradictory to Polonius. The farthest she would go to contradict her father was when he said that Hamlet did not love her. “My lord, he hath importuned me with love / In honorable fashion” (I.iii.110-111). Even in death she has no voice to command respect. “The last we see of her, she is being thrown about in a grave, just as she was thrown about in life: shouted over by two assertive young men vying with each other over who loved her more, when there is no great evidence that either of them did very much” (Pennington 76).
In King Lear the major character, King Lear, suffers from an almost unbelievable lack of knowledge about his status in the kingdom. All he knows is what everyone always tells him. “...his initial lack of self-knowledge springs in part from the prerogatives of kingship” (Novy 85). He knows nothing other than the privilege of being king. When he is no longer the king and he is no longer treated like the king, he is confused and heartbroken. The fool says it best when he says “I am a Fool, thou art nothing” (I.iv.200). Lear does not know how to deal with this. He tries to continue to act like a king, expecting to still be treated as one. When he is not, it eventually kills him.
Although not always as apparent as the external conflicts, the conflict between man and himself is the most important part of a Shakespearian tragedy. Without them, the plays would be nothing more than a story of a feud.
later...
Well...I'll probably post my paper later...
Daniel Price
4/18/05
Ms. Case - Honors Brit. Lit.
Man’s Internal Struggle
One of the most common conflicts in Shakespearian works is not only the discord between man and another man, but it is the conflict between man and himself, the internal conflict. Hamlet and King Lear are prime examples of this internal conflict. Not only are the title characters struggling in their hearts, but even secondary characters are in disagreement with themselves more than anyone else.
In Hamlet the key character, Hamlet, has many outward problems. However, the majority of Hamlet’s problems reside in his own soul. He seems to be a frail-minded individual incapable of living in his surroundings. “We may be sure, however, that Shakespeare never intended to present Hamlet as a delicate flower, too intellectual and sensitive to cope with the rude milieu of the Danish court....Only since his father’s death has he succumbed to melancholy which has temporarily made him apathetic...” (Wright 61). The untimely demise of Hamlet’s father has caused him to need vengeance on the murderer, Claudius. He is struggling with the fact that he needs retribution and yet, he is a perfectionist so it must be flawless.
His problem is not so much in his procrastination as many say; although, he has been trained to think very thoroughly before he does anything. “By training, such a man [as Hamlet] learns to analyze problems, and his responses are never automatic because his decisions come from contemplation rather than impulse. Though [Hamlet] may be slow to make a decision, that decision will be based on reason” (Wright 64). Hamlet’s reason for not killing Claudius when he has the chance while he is praying is not because he is afraid or even because he is procrastinating. His reasoning is because he would have sent him to heaven for killing him in an act of repentance rather than an act of sin. “Had he reacted automatically...he would have killed Claudius and realized too late that he had slain him...and given him the rewards of heaven” (Wright 65). He wants his revenge to be perfect and sending Claudius to heaven would make that impossible. Yet, although Claudius appeared to be praying, he was not, for after he was done he said, “My words fly up, my thoughts remain below. / Words without thoughts never to heaven go” (III.iii.97-99). Hamlet’s struggle is not for closure, but it is in his own mind as to how he would get the perfect closure.
Another character in Hamlet that suffers from a struggle that is clearly internal is Ophelia. This stems mainly from bad relationships, be it romantic or even parental. “Polonius is a bad parent, no doubt about it, bringing the manners of his work home with him, egotistical and untrusting as men alone with their children can be” (Pennington 72). Ophelia is too kind-hearted and soft-spoken to say anything contradictory to Polonius. The farthest she would go to contradict her father was when he said that Hamlet did not love her. “My lord, he hath importuned me with love / In honorable fashion” (I.iii.110-111). Even in death she has no voice to command respect. “The last we see of her, she is being thrown about in a grave, just as she was thrown about in life: shouted over by two assertive young men vying with each other over who loved her more, when there is no great evidence that either of them did very much” (Pennington 76).
In King Lear the major character, King Lear, suffers from an almost unbelievable lack of knowledge about his status in the kingdom. All he knows is what everyone always tells him. “...his initial lack of self-knowledge springs in part from the prerogatives of kingship” (Novy 85). He knows nothing other than the privilege of being king. When he is no longer the king and he is no longer treated like the king, he is confused and heartbroken. The fool says it best when he says “I am a Fool, thou art nothing” (I.iv.200). Lear does not know how to deal with this. He tries to continue to act like a king, expecting to still be treated as one. When he is not, it eventually kills him.
Although not always as apparent as the external conflicts, the conflict between man and himself is the most important part of a Shakespearian tragedy. Without them, the plays would be nothing more than a story of a feud.
later...