Question

For a Hamlet essay, we are given this topic: Hamlet finds his world "stale, weary, and unprofitable." What would he think of our world? What would he think of our world?

So we're supposed to write about if Hamlet was in our world, what would he think, according to his character, values and beliefs in the play. I'm having trouble of relating his thoughts to our world. I know that his beliefs in the play is mainly that he is dissatisfied with his life and he thinks that life is meaningless. Any ideas?

Answer 1

One idea that comes to mind - Hamlet was irked by the idea that man's actions held little or o consequence in the grand scheme of the world. I don't remember the exact lines that prove it, but I'm sure you could find it somewhere in the text. You could demonstrate how many current events give the feeling of powerlessness or inconsequentiality. For example, with the political system, you could argue voting and campaigning has no real connection to the people anymore, because it is decided by electoral college and PACs and lobbyists. So going in and casting our vote has little meaning - this is a cynical view, but it mirrors Hamlet's cynical view towards his society.

Answer 2

ohh good idea, thanks!

Answer 3

i can't seem to find the line, is it the part where hamlet is talking to rosencrantz and guildenstern about how meaningless life is?

Answer 4

Hmm. Can't quite find it, I haven't read it in years and I don't have my copy of the play with me. I think that line could work, is the one thats like "there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so".

Also, there's the to be or not to be, of course, which can be interpreted as a skeptic take on living versus dying (it doesn't matter if I live or die, because nothing humans do is of consequence

Answer 5

ohhh thanks :)

Answer 6

So how did you do on this assignment?

Answer 7

uh good?