Hamlet as a Living Death in the Midst of Life in Hamlet by...

Hamlet as a Living Death in the Midst of Life in Hamlet by Wlliam Shakespeare In claiming that Hamlet is a living death in the midst of life, Knight depicts Hamlet as a character who is entirely a corrupting force in the lives of others, rather than a morally superior character attempting to orchestrate justice. In that Hamlet is secluded and absolutely isolated from those who experience life, Knight condemns Hamlet to the title of being an emotionless element of malevolence. It is important however to consider Hamlet’s circumstance before labelling him as an ‘element of evil’. This title portrays a being that has no conscience and feels little, if any, emotion; it could be argued however, that†¦show more content†¦Knight focuses on the contrast between Hamlet and the court and its guests in the opening scene, as it is clear to see that Hamlet in comparison can be seen as a morbid figure, and the crowd a mass figure of life. The court is a joyful place, it is full of exhilaration, however Hamlet is brooding, contemplative and in such grief and despair that he does not want to celebrate. In this seclusion, Shakespeare makes Hamlet a different element altogether, and in comparison with the court, could be perceived as a living death by those perhaps less sympathetic to Hamlets dilemma. Claudius is clearly a well-organized man, and he has sensible ideas about not letting recollections of the past obstruct the promise of the future; ‘So much for him. - / Now for ourself, and for this time of meeting.’ The requirement for a leader to be strong, is a preoccupation present not only in an Elizabethan society, but of any society; Claudius, as a politician, can not afford to be scrupulous, and it is through this obligation of emotional detachment and public reputation in Claudius that the audience is able to associate more with Hamlet and his dilemma than with Claudius and his. Another such example of this would be Machiavelli; it was a focus on practical success and public image, even at the expense of traditional moral values, that earned Machiavellis schemes