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Quote:
“Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.”
(Act 1 Scene 5, line 25)

Analysis:

The ghost is Hamlet’s father (Prince Hamlet). He came and brought this message to his son as he wanted him to do right by his father by killing his uncle Claudius to avenge his death and remove him from the throne of being king. This is the Inciting incident because the rest of the play is essentially and primarily focused on Hamlet being faithful to his father by killing Claudius. The next few acts also show a different side of Hamlet to be more specific an unthinkable and dangerous side of him is unleashed.

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Quote:
“I’ll have these players Play something like the murder of my father Before mine uncle. I’ll observe his looks. I’ll tent him to the quick. If he do blench, I know my course. The spirit that I have seen.”
(Act 2, Scene 2, line 555-560).

Analysis:
This quote proves this is the rising action because Hamlet gets what he wanted by seeing a reaction out of Claudius. Furthermore, this raises the concern of what Hamlet continues to think of Claudius, and the next move he will make whether that be killing him now or continue to wait. Hamlet did have the perfect opportunity to finally avenge his father’s death, however, Claudius was on his knees praying and Hamlet knew killing him now would mean he would go to heaven rather than hell which was not what he wanted as in his eyes and his father’s eyes he deserved to go and stay and hell for what he did.

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Quote:
“Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell. I took thee for thy better. Take thy fortune. Thou find’st to be too busy is some danger. Leave wringing of your hands. Peace. Sit you down And let me wring your heart.”
(Act 3, Scene 4, line 35).

Analysis:
Hamlet has stabbed Polonius in this scene as he thought it was Claudius hiding behind the arras listening in on Hamlet’s conversation with Gertrude. This is the Climax of Act III because the moment Polonius was stabbed, it completely changed everything as the play moved forward. Polonius was seen as a good father to his children Laertes and Ophelia and was in a good relationship with Claudius. Hamlet has put himself into an unforgettable as well as the unavoidable situation as his anger and rage caused him to take the life of the wrong man. Due to this, he knows there will be consequences between him and Claudius.

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Quote:
“O Gertrude, come away! The sun no sooner shall the mountains touch But we will ship him hence, and this vile deed We must, with all our majesty and skill, Both countenance and excuse.”
(Act 4, Scene 1, line 30).

Analysis:
In this act, Gertrude informs Claudius that Hamlet stabbed and killed Polonius. Due to Hamlet’s behavior and acts, Claudius decides that the best option is to send him to England. This part of the play becomes the falling action as this is the unfortunate part where things start ending as well as lives being taken away. Hamlet was being sent to London under a trap by Claudius and Laertes as they were forming a plan to kill Hamlet with poison in a sword fight, Queen Gertrude announced the death of her daughter Ophelia, etc. Furthermore, there was no bright side coming from this as everything and certain individuals were finally reaching an endpoint.

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Quote:
“Let four captains Bear Hamlet like a soldier to the stage, For he was likely, had he been put on, To have proved most royally. And, for his passage, The soldiers' music and the rites of war Speak loudly for him. Take up the bodies. Such a sight as this Becomes the field, but here shows much amiss. Go, bid the soldiers shoot.”
(Act 5, Scene 2, line 400-405).

Analysis:
Even with everything that happened throughout the course of this story, there was still a powerful ending. The quote above can be referred to as the end because it is the very last line said in the book by Fortinbras and it pays tribute and respect to Hamlet as the soldiers are asked to fire their guns in the air to honor Hamlet’s life as everything officially comes to an end.

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Quote:
“Now, Hamlet, hear.'Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, A serpent stung me. So the whole ear of Denmark Is by a forgèd process of my death Rankly abused. But know, thou noble youth, The serpent that did sting thy father’s life Now wears his crown.”(Act 1, Scene 5, line 34-40)

Context:
The ghost that has been seen at night identifies himself to hamlet as his father. Furthermore, he explains to Hamlet that Claudius is the one who murdered him.

Analysis:
This comes in as a big moment in the play from a reader’s understanding as many see a different side of Claudius. The tactics used here was a lie as many thought Prince Hamlet was bit by a poisonous snake, however, it was Hamlet all along who committed such an awful and terrible crime. Claudius now has the crown, however, the way he went about by killing Hamlet’s own father is unforgivable as he has to sit with the reality that his own uncle took a good and innocent man’s life.

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Quote:
“Let’s further think of this, Weigh what convenience both of time and means May fit us to our shape. If this should fail, And that our drift look through our bad performance, 'Twere better not assayed. Therefore this project Should have a back or second that might hold If this should blast in proof.—Soft, let me see.— We’ll make a solemn wager on your cunnings.— I ha ’t! When in your motion you are hot and dry, As make your bouts more violent to that end, And that he calls for drink, I’ll have prepared him A chalice for the nonce, whereon but sipping, If he by chance escape your venomed stuck.”(Act 4, Scene 7, line 146-157)

Context:
Claudius and Laertes have a very lengthy discussion regarding Hamlet and devising a plan to finally kill him, allowing Claudius to no longer worry.   |

Analysis:
Claudius describes to Laertes that when he is dulling Hamlet in the Swordfight, they will purposely use a sword with poison on it in the final round. Doing this will put harm in Hamlet’s way as he would be unaware of it and cause him to die instantly once it touches any part of his body. The backup plan in a scenario where Hamlet wins, he will be offered a poisons drink that would also kill him. Claudius’s main motive in this whole plan is to get rid of and kill Hamlet for good.

This plan eventually did not work out how Cladius expected it to. He ended up dying in act 5 due to Hamlet forcing him to drink poison. This goes to show the power and authority Claudius gained from killing Prince Hamlet went over his head. He knew Hamlet was the one individual in his way and truly stayed that way showing that Claudius really went from being a competent ruler to being killed by a plan he devised.

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Quote:
“My words fly up, my thoughts remain below. Words without thoughts never to heaven go.” (Act 3, Scene 3, line 98-99)

Context:
Claudius was on his knees, he was praying to God which shows he is looking for a positive outlook, however, his prayer was essentially meaningless.

Analysis:
Claudius was unaware that Hamlet was behind while he was praying and ready to potentially kill him, however, what Hamlet did not know was that once he had left Claudius had admitted that he could not be granted forgiveness for killing Prince Hamlet because it would mean giving up the throne as the new king and his queen Gertrude. This was something Claudius was unwilling to give up regardless if he could not be forgiven by God for killing his brother.

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Quote:
“I am still possessed Of those effects for which I did the murder: My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen.”(Act 3, Scene 3, line 55)

Context:
Without a doubt, Claudius had a motive of gaining power, authority, marriage with Gertrude the Queen of Denmark, etc.

Analysis:
Clearly this is what Claudius wanted, in many ways he felt as though he was in a shadow behind Prince Hamlet and felt as though he deserved more which he got being the King of Denmark. Even with all the numerous benefits, Claudius has gained there is still guilt built up inside regardless of what he has gained knowing he took his brother’s life.

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Quote:

“His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God, God! How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable Seem to me all the uses of this world! Fie on ’t, ah fie! 'Tis an unweeded garden That grows to seed. Things rank and gross in nature Possess it merely. That it should come to this.” (Act 1, Scene 2, line 135)

Explanation:

This quote shows Hamlet is not in the right state of mind by the way he is talking. Clearly Hamlet is in a place where he would rather be dead than alive right now knowing that his mother remarried his uncle which was a big shock for him, however, the death of his father has played a bigger role in his life. Hamlet's father meant a lot to him and knowing he will no longer be there causes him to feel so much anger, pain, emotion, etc, towards himself and others around him.

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Quote:

“To be, or not to be: that is the question.”

(Act 3, Scene 1. 56-90)

Explanation:

In this quote, Hamlet constantly thinking in his mind if he would rather continue to live the life he does or die/commit suicide to get away from it all surrounding the pain and anger he faces. Even with Hamlet thinking like this his mind is quite different from others as he eventually comes to the conclusion that it is better to live until he makes up his mind as he constantly questions himself and everything he does. The conflicts and emotional anger he faces are one of the main reasons that cause Hamlet to think this way. Furthermore, Hamlet also realizes he does not know the reality of death or what happens when you die.

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Quote:

“I am myself indifferent honest, but yet I could accuse me of such things that it were better my mother had not borne me.I am very proud, revengeful, ambitious, with more offences at my beck than I have thoughts to put them in, imagination to give them shape, or time to act them in. What should such fellows as I do crawling between earth and heaven? We are arrant knaves, all. Believe none of us. Go thy ways to a nunnery.” (Act 3, Scene 1, line 131).

Explanation:

In this quote Hamlet clearly describes himself as an unpleasant person “proud, revengeful, ambitious,” which goes to show that Hamlet does not see any good in him nor does he think good of himself in terms of what he is saying. Everything said in the quote provides insight that Hamlet’s thoughts and his mind played a role in his own downfall. In addition, he tells Ophelia “Go thy ways to a nunnery.” He essentially tells her by doing this she won’t give birth to a child like himself and who thinks and acts like him. It is hard for Hamlet to show the same affection and love to Ophelia due to his mind being focused on greater things such as killing Claudius.

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Quote:

“Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell. I took thee for thy better. Take thy fortune. Thou find’st to be too busy is some danger. Leave wringing of your hands. Peace. Sit you down And let me wring your heart.” (Act 3, Scene 4, line 35).

Explanation:

This quote was essentially one of the biggest turning points in the story as killing Polonius caused negative conflicts to occur for Hamlet. Once Claudius had heard what Hamlet did he sent him to England for the main purpose of killing him by devising a plan with Laertes. Although Hamlet did not mean to kill Polonius as he thought it was Claudius his anger and emotion shows a horrific level of madness. This quote also shows that Hamlet plays a role in his own downfall because if he did not kill Polonius none of this would have happened nor would he be sent to England to be killed. His actions and judgment are unthinkable at times causing him to get involved in these dangerous conflicts with people with more power and authority than him.

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Quote:
“My fate cries out And makes each petty artery in this body As hardy as the Nemean lion’s nerve. Still am I called.—Unhand me, gentlemen. By heaven, I’ll make a ghost of him that lets me. I say, away!—Go on. I’ll follow thee.”

(Act 1, Scene 4. 86-91)

Analysis:

In this case, the ghost is Hamlet’s fate. This relates back to the theme as Hamlet has no control in this situation as the ghost has the power. By Hamlet's Free will he asks that both Horatio and Marcellus let go of him to approach the ghost and find out who it is and what it wants from him.

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Quote:
“Happy, in that we are not overhappy. On Fortune’s cap we are not the very button.” (Act 2, Scene 2. 217-218)

Analysis:

Guildenstern’s statement relates to the theme as with free will an individual can be happy and lucky, however, fate will decide how happy you can be and how much luck you can really have.

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Why is this theme the most prominent in the play?

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Why is this theme the most prominent in the play?

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Fate vs Free will is the most prominent in the play because throughout the whole play it has clearly been seen. For example, Hamlet is a character who fits perfectly with this theme unlike any other. When Hamlet agreed to avenge his father’s death in act 1 he basically agreed to have his fate predetermined as well because in the net few acts this theme was continuously brought up as Hamlet free will determined his fate as his priority was to go after Claudius. This can also be seen near the end as trying to avenge his father’s death caused him to die along with numerous characters too. In addition, Fate vs Free will fit the storyline perfectly from start to beginning.

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Quote:
“There’s a special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, ’tis not to come. If it be not to come, it will be now. If it be not now, yet it will come—the readiness is all.”

(Act 5, Scene 2. 205-210)

Analysis:

Hamlet is essentially saying that he is not the one nor does he or anyone else have the power to control there own fate or free will. In addition, It is clear in his statement that he believes everything happens for a reason and that free will can not change his fate due to him killing Claudius Hamlet knows God is truly the man who controls everything and that with time everyone including himself will soon die regardless if you are prepared or not.

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Quote:
“And let all sleep—while, to my shame, I see The imminent death of twenty thousand men, That for a fantasy and trick of fame Go to their graves like beds, fight for a plot Whereon the numbers cannot try the cause, Which is not tomb enough and continent To hide the slain? Oh, from this time forth, My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!”

(Act 4, Scene 4. 58-65)

Analysis:

The first part of the quote relates to fate as seeing the death of thousands of men and dealing with the death of his father is ultimately out of Hamlet's control. The second part relates to free will as Hamlet essentially said that with his own control if his thoughts aren’t always surrounded by the violence they are worthless to him.

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Quote:
“To be, or not to be: that is the question.”

(Act 3, Scene 1. 56-90)

Analysis:

In this quote, Hamlet is basically saying to live or to die. In this case, Hamlet asks himself whether or not he should make the decision upon his own free will to die/commit suicide as he feels as though death would allow him to lose that pain he’s been holding in. However, in the quote, he comes to a realization that no one truly knows what comes after death. Furthermore, he waits on this decision which relates back to fate as Hamlet would rather have fate do the unexpected to him than make the decision himself.