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Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries From Genuinely Interested Students 3.15.97: Top | Help
There are occurrances in literature in which there are actually two climaxes: one major climax and one following. This happens to be one of those occurrances.
A very good defininition of a climax is the point of decision, of inevitibility and no return. The high point of conflict and tension. The major climax actually occurrs during Act III. The outcome of the play-within a play is a definite climax. Hamlet's conflict up to this point is to prove to himself not only that Claudius is guilty, but also that his father's ghost is trustworthy and he is not mad for listening to it. Once he discovers Claudius' guilt, there is no turning back...his father's murder WILL be avenged. That is now inevitable.The second climax doubles as the catastrophe. Act V is indeed, very tense and climatic. There is great conflict and it is the point in the play where Hamlet finally kills Claudius, and is also killed, along with all of the rest of the main characters still alive.
Catastrophe is defined as the point in the play in which things are explained and put into place. That makes this, though very exciting, the catastrophe and not the major climax, because EVERYONE is definately put into place ( although these places all end up being graves!!).Posted by Alicia on April 01, 1997 at 22:42:39
In Reply to "Climax :"Lights, Lights!!"" posted by Mare on March 27, 1997 at 23:35:46
Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries From Genuinely Interested Students 3.15.97: Top | Help