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In life, the death of a loved one or the occurrence of a devastating natural disasters are both tragic events that could institute a change or turning point in ones life. Similarly, in Shakespeare's masterpiece Hamlet, tragic events serve as catalysts for turning points to occur. The death of Polonius, Claudius murder of King Hamlet, and Hamlets visit to the graveyard shortly after Ophelias demise, are all tragic events that also act as major turning points in the story. In the play Hamlet, Polonius death is a turning point. This event spurred two major happenings in the play: Ophelias lunacy and Laertes secret return from France to avenge his fathers death. First, for Ophelia, the loss of Polonius, along with grief from Hamlets rejection, became too much for her to bear.
The combination of these two events eventually drove Ophelia to madness. King Claudius spoke of Ophelias madness and the cause of it although he blamed it solely on Polonius? death. King: O, this is the poison of deep grief; it springs All from her fathers death poor Ophelia, Divided from herself and her fair judgment, Without the which we are pictures, or mere beasts: Last, and as much containing as all these. (Act 4, Scene 5, lines 74 - 5, 82 - 5) He later continued his speech, telling of Laertes secret return from France to obtain revenge. King: Her brother is in secret come from France Feeds on his wonder, keeps himself in clouds. (Act 4, Scene 5, lines 86 - 87) Polonius death caused his son Laertes to return from France to avenge his fathers death. Laertes returned and also demonstrated his loyalty to Polonius, saying he would get revenge at any cost.
Laertes: How came he dead? Ill not be juggled with; To hell, allegiance! Vows, to the blackest devil! Conscience and grace, to the profoundest pit! I dare damnation: to this point I stand, That both worlds I give to negligence, Let come what comes; only Ill be revenged Most thoroughly for my father. (Act 4, Scene 5, lines 128 - 134) This excerpt states Laertes was most determined.
This tragic incident was a turning point because Polonius? death caused both: Ophelias madness and Laertes hasty return from France, two significant sub-plots in the play. Another turning point in the play Hamlet occurs after the murder of the Old King Hamlet. King Hamlet is poisoned by his brother Claudius. This tragic event then starts, in motion, the chain of events on which the entire story is based upon. The most notable outcome of this turning point happens in Act 1 when the ghost speaks to Hamlet, tells him the truth of the Kings death, and instructs him to kill Claudius so his soul can rest.
This is an important turning point because, after the ghost speaks to Hamlet, he decides to turn all of his efforts toward killing Claudius. The Ghost tells Hamlet what he must do. Ghost: If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not; Let not the royal bed of Denmark be A couch for luxury and damned incest. But, howsoever thou pursuant this act, Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive Against thy mother aught; Hamlet: Yea, from the table of my memory Ill wipe away all trivial fond records, All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past That youth and observation copied there; And thy commandment all alone shall live Within the book and volume of my brain. (Act 1, Scene 5, lines 82 - 7, 99 - 104) It is in this conversation that a turning point occurs and the story changes. In the excerpt, The ghost tells Hamlet that he must not let the royal bed see incest as his brother and wife have married and also not to harm his mother. Hamlet responds to the Ghost by saying he will wipe his memory clear, and the Ghosts order will be the most important task in his life.
This event is a turning point in the play because after his encounter with the ghost, Hamlets entire purpose for living changes. This sudden turning point in Hamlets main objective is rooted with the tragic death of King Hamlet. A third turning point in the play happens indirectly with the death of Hamlets one-time love, Ophelia. It is after Ophelias tragic death when Hamlet and Horatio visit the graveyard where a gravedigger is working.
The structure and changing mood of the encounter serve to move Hamlet and the audience closer to the realization that death is inevitable and universal. Early in the scene, during Hamlets observations on death as relating to types of people, Hamlets musing is purely intellectual and ironic, and his mood is one of wonderment and detached pity as there is no personal connection with the dead. However the mood changes dramatically as Hamlet stumbles upon the skull of Yorick, a childhood friend. Hamlet is now confronted by an individual rather than a type. This event allows Hamlet to clearly recognize the similarities between Yoricks death and eventually his own inevitable end. This turning point is recognized by changes in Hamlets observations from third to first person.
Where earlier he asks, ? where be his quiddities now, his qualities, his cases, his tenures, and his tricks? ? now he remarks? to what base uses we may return? (Act 5, Scene 1, lines 101 - 2; 206). This demonstrates the more personal and immediate view of death gained from seeing Yoricks skull. Hamlet awakens to the inevitability and universality of death.
Hamlet: Imperious Caesar, dead and turned to clay, Might stop a hole to keep the wind away. O that that earth, which kept the world in awe, Should patch a wall texel the winters flaw! (Act 5, Scene 1, lines 218 - 222) The significance of these lines changed from when Hamlet viewed the gravedigger at work and dissolved into a realization of his own morality. The encounter with the gravedigger is clearly a turning point for Hamlet when he realizes the two truths that are the theme of the play: death is inevitable; death is universal. Turning points are often the result of tragic events. In Hamlet, tragic events such as the deaths of Polonius, his daughter Ophelia, and the murder of King Hamlet, are all turning points. Whether these turning points cause characters to go mad, realize death or make solemn oaths to avenge their fathers, they have in some way shifted the course of action for characters in the play.
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Research essay sample on Examining The Key Turning Points In Hamlet
