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Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries From Genuinely Interested Students 3.15.97: Top | Help
Don't you think that both Hamlet and Laertes express
sincere regret with their dying words? Maybe I misunderstood
what you were trying to say, but I do not think that either
Laertes or Hamlet were experiencing moments of satisfaction
as they died. Laertes' sorrowful apology to Hamlet, coupled
with his condemnation of his co-conspirator (and manipulator)
Claudius indicate that he's just realized the gravity of
his mistake. Laertes' true revenge in the play comes from
Hamlet's slaying of Claudius, not his own murder of Hamlet.Hamlet's dying words are far from expressing the sentiment
that "Well, I'm dying, but at least I sent that rat Claudius
to hell first." In my mind, one of the most poignant aspects
of Hamlet's death is that everybody, Hamlet included, knew
that this wonderful soul was destined for great things. He
was a noble spirit, soon to be king himself, and instead he
dies a wracked, painful death with poison leeching away his
life. To me, his final words always ring with the sentiment,
"What a waste!" In any event, I don't think that he's
considering his murder of Claudius to be a great success.If I've misunderstood you, please correct me!
Posted by Scott Schiefelbein on April 01, 1997 at 15:40:00
In Reply to "Hamlet and Laertes don't fail..." posted by Justin Bacon on April 01, 1997 at 14:56:33
Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries From Genuinely Interested Students 3.15.97: Top | Help