Friday, October 28, 2011

Hamlet Act 1

133 comments:

  1. Class: What do you think the ghost represents? Do you think it is pure insanity that they are all seeing this, or is it real?

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  2. Alexa: I think that the ghost may represent insanity, but I think what the ghost said also may be true and prove to let the audience know the foundation for the story. Even if Hamlet is crazy, I think it might still be real in the sense that the information is real and valuable.

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  3. Alexa: I actually believe that the ghost is real because I feel that is it too big of a coincidence that all of the men saw it. Plus the ghost went into great detail of how the King was murdered which is information that only the King would know.

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  4. Alexa: I believe that the ghost is real because the ghost talked to Hamlet and told him how he was murdered. Also, there were a couple of witnesses that Hamlet talked to that saw the whole thing. So it is probably real.

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  5. Alexa: I don't think I would say it is pure insanity considering everyone sees the ghost, and the ghost tells the group information that no one knew before (except for Claudius of course). I believe it is real and possibly has the most significant role in the play. The ghost sets the play in motion.

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  6. Alexa: Going off of Katy's comment, I think the purpose of the ghost is to present to the audience the facts of what happened to King Hamlet.

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  7. Kati: What if the ghost was just a figment of his crazy imagination and the whole story about his father's death was just fabricated within his brain? The story would be completely different and he would be seen as a crazy villain who was trying to avenge a murder that never took place. I feel like the book would be a lot more interesting if that was the case. Is it enough to act on something you only hear and see from a ghost, or should Hamlet wait for more proof?

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  8. Alexa: I agree with Kati that the ghost probably might represent insanity, but I don't think the ghost is real. I think he is just a figment of their imagination but for a true story to arise the author makes the ghost seem real.

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  9. Class: Do you think that it is selfish of the ghost to ask Hamlet to commit a horrible sin to avenge the King only to let the ghost pass on?

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  10. Alexa: I believe the ghost is real not just a figment of there imagination. Also the ghost of his father could be part of his descent into hell, as part of the heroes journey, because considering every thing that is going on and then a ghost appears it would seem like he is in a hellish place.

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  11. Alexa: I don't think the ghost is supposed to represent insanity because more than just Hamlet can see and talk to the ghost. The ghost is way of showing the audience the reasoning for Hamlet taking his revenge, also giving Hamlet a reason to take his vengeance.

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  12. Alexa: What do you mean by the word "real"? Like tangible?

    I think that the ghost represents all of the things that King Hamlet could not bring himself to tell son Hamlet, when he was alive. In Act 1 Scene 5, the ghost approaches Hamlet and tells him that Claudius killed King Hamlet (which is the person that the ghost clearly embodies).

    Class: What is the significance of the random scene with Ophelia and Polonius?

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  13. Alexa - I defiantly think that the ghost is real. Partial because a couple other people can see it too, but also because it talked to Hamlet.

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  14. Alexa: I think that Hamlet should wait to get more proof but I don't think Hamlet would because he doesn't like his uncle so now he has a reason to get rid of his uncle.

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  15. Olivia: I agree the ghost sets the play in motion. I do not think that anything would happen in the story if the Ghost and the story of the murder jump started Hamlet's rage.

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  16. Alexa: The ghost is a required component of Hamlet. Without the ghost and his request for revenge against his brother, Hamlet would have no hero's journey to embark on. However, it is unclear as to if the ghost is real. Other than the fact that more than hamlet saw him, his words spoken to hamlet painted the worst possible picture. It is possible that hamlet only imagined these words that where spoken in order to have an excuse to hate/kill his uncle.

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  17. Alexa: I think that you are correct, even though a few people SAW the ghost, Hamlet is the one that actually TALKED to the ghost which I think is very significant. I think there is a big possibility that Hamlet is crazy and should definitely wait for more proof, but I don't think he will. I think that he seems impulsive and will act on the words of a ghost, which kind of proves he is somewhat insane whether or not the ghost is real.

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  18. Anna: I think that it is somewhat selfish, but I think that it would be selfish of Hamlet not to avenge his father.

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  19. I have a question, do you think that what the ghost tells Hamlet is 100% true? Is there a possibility that he is lying?

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  20. Alexa: Going back to the previous conversation asking what are hero like qualities? I don't think Hamlet possesses many hero like qualities, considering Hamlet further on in Scene 2 considers suicide. No hero would ever consider that, a hero would try to figure out a different solution to help with solve his problems.

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  21. Madeline: Although it seemed random at the time, I'm sure the significance will surface shortly. I think it was probably just to introduce us to those characters because if we wouldn't have learned about them in act 1 it may seem even more "random" later.

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  22. Mitch: I personally think his father might be lying to his son.

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  23. Anna: I believe it is selfish of the dead king to ask Hamlet to avenge his murder. I think he knows his son will do anything and is manipulating him. It's sad that he would make his son sin, just so he could be relieved of his own sins. I don't see, though how if King Hamlet's son killed his murderer, how that would absolve him of his own sins.. Do you understand the connection between those?

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  24. Mitch: Well, it says that the king is already being tormented in the afterlife for his wrong acts. I think it would be unlikely he would lie if it might increase his punishment.

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  25. Madeline: I mean "real" like not just something he is hallucinating. He couldn't be tangible because then he would not be a ghost. There is the possibility that only one guard saw it and then by the power of suggestion the others thought they saw it and Hamlet is so upset about his Uncle marrying his newly widowed mother that his brain could have made up that he did the horrible act of killing his father.

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  26. Anna: I think it is sort of selfish because Hamlet shouldn't have to commit a terrible sin in his life just to allow the ghost to pass on. Also, if Hamlet commits the sin, he ruins his chances to reach heaven when he dies. It just doesn't seem fair.

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  27. Anna:I can see why you think that the ghost is forcing Hamlet into committing a horrible sin. I believe that is was selfish of the Ghost to do this because, considering the fact that the ghost is King Hamlet, he knew that Hamlet was going to believe what he said and did what he said to do. This is selfish because the ghost is taking advantage of Hamlet. So yes, i agree with the fact you said he was being selfish.

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  28. Dani: I think it would be really interesting if the King was lying to Hamlet! What makes you think that?

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  29. Anna: Was that the only reason the Ghost wants Hamlet to kill King Claudius? If it is the only reason, I think we need to consider the time period and what is important in Hamlet's life. In class on Wednesday we discussed how Hamlet was a Christian or some type of Christian. It doesn't seem like Hamlet would avenge his father's death based on just that fact. But if Hamlet is a tragic hero, then we would expect that he is blinded by his want for revenge and ends up committing the murder.

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  30. Dani - I don't think that he necessarily isn't a hero because he considers committing suicide, I believe he has entered the sate of chaos, thus feeling very unsure about everything going on in his life

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  31. Mitch: I agree, I think some of it could be in Hamlets mind because he still has some anger towards his uncle too. Maybe that is really what Hamlet thinks. He can just support killing Cornelius by the ghost of his father.

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  32. Mitch: I think that the ghost is telling the truth because I don't think that he really has any reason to lie.

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  33. Anna & Finlay: I think it is selfish that the ghost would ask Hamlet to kill the current king. The only reason why the old king wants Hamlet to take revenge is because he can't move on to the next life since of his sins he could not rid of before he died. Which to me seem like a really selfish reason

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  34. Olivia: I also agree that it is somewhat strange that the ghost is convinced that the murder of his brother will wipe away his sins. I am thinking that maybe it is more rage that the King wants his brother dead rather than actual revenge and may be a hint that the ghost is not entirely truthful.

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  35. Alexa: In terms of Hamlet and the hero's journey the ghost does not matter, Hamlet had already been through stage one of the hero's journey by experiencing death. The whole point of the ghost is to inform Hamlet of the evil of Claudius the King. Which would be stage 2 of the hero's journey which is awareness of evil. Whether the ghost is real or not it does not matter, since the whole idea of the apparition is to inform Hamlet of the crime that Claudius committed.

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  36. Class: Is young Hamlet Insane? Does this have anything to do with why he wasn't given the title of king immediately?

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  37. Mitch: I don't think the ghost is lying but there might of been some details that might of been left out or some information that both sides didn't know about.

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  38. Jere: I think there is definitely a possibility of insanity with Hamlet. Anybody who is immediately willing to accept advice from a ghost could definitely be insane in my opinion.

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  39. Finlay: His reason to lie would be because he is upset about his wife marrying his brother. He makes it very obvious at how disgusted he is with her. He probably still loves her and would be happier if she were not married and loving another. He has a clear motive to tell his son to kill his brother.

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  40. Mitch: He has hero qualities like we discussed before, but that fact that he considers suicide to escape these problems in the easiest way possible shows to me he is not a hero. He should find another way to help his father, and also not have to murder his own brother.

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  41. Anna - if Hamlet really loves his father he should not only want his father to move on to the next life but also he would be willing to take any necessary action to do so. While still on earth Hamlet can be forgiven of his sins but King Hamlet does not have that luxury

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  42. Jere: I wouldn't say he is insane. The most likely cause for him not asking the throne is his age. Claudius obviously wanted to be king, so he would tell everyone that he is not ready. If the ghost is not real, it would be grief that is causing the illusion, not insanity.

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  43. Jere: I don't think that Hamlet is insane, just very distressed. We have evidence in the book that Hamlet has sad thoughts about life which may suggest suicidal thoughts from Hamlet. I think one reason he may not have been given the title of King before Claudius did because he is younger and doesn't have as much life experience.

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  44. Anna: That makes sense to me. So do you think that the way in which he was murdered was the truth or was he lying just so he could get Hamlet to kill King Claudius? Or do you think he is lying when he says he needs his son to kill Claudius to be able to fully pass on? Or maybe both?

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  45. Jere: I agree with Kati. The fact that he can talk and see the ghost means there is a possibility that Hamlet might be insane.

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  46. The fact that the ghost of Hamlet Sr. asked him to avenge his death is selfish. Part of being a hero is taking care of your kin and it would be expected for Hamlet to take care of his father even if that means killing someone.

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  47. Dani: I think one of the reasons he is considering suicide to get out of his misery is because he is in the Chaos stage of the Hero's journey. He is overwhelmed with feelings and doesn't know how to handle them so he considers the easy way out.

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  48. Jere: I think that there is a chance that Hamlet is insane because anyone who accepts what a ghost says is sort of crazy. He doesn't even know if the ghost is actually his father so I think that he might actually be a little crazy.

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  49. Kati: Thank you for clarifying!! And that is what I thought, I just wasn't quite sure.
    Alexa: That is a good point. Your response could sort of be compared to little kids and faking injuries. Such as, one child might say that his stomach hurts, and it really does, but the other one but just say it does, out of the intention of wanting to do the same thing. It is amazing how people in life change the way they think about things just to fit in. I can definitely see where that statement could apply to the scene where all three men "see" the ghost. In addition, do you remember in the Kenneth Branaugh version of the first scene, where the three men are in the courtyard and only one of the men can see the ghost? This shows that the producers of this version definitely thought the same thing you do.

    Mitch: YES! I definitely think that the ghost could be lying. Because, like i said before, the ghost could possibly be taking advantage of Hamlet's emotions.

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  50. Ben: Is a person who considers suicide just distressed? I think when it comes to that measure it can definitely be translated into at least an early stage of insanity in my opinion. A distressed person may be confused about life, but not willing to end it yet, I think.

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  51. Class: Why do you think the ghost didn't talk to the guards, but only Hamlet?

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  52. Jere: I do not believe that Hamlet is insane nor do I believe that was the reasoning he was made King. If what the ghost said is true then the King's brother killed him to become King. Hamlet seems to be weak and very upset after his father's death which would make it easy for Claudius to push him aside and take the power of King.

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  53. Jere - I don't think Hamlet is insane, there is nothing in the play so far that would lead me to believe that. Like it was said in the inner circle, the reason he hadn't gotten the throne immediately is because that rule had not be in place when this play was written.

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  54. Class: What are Hamlet's feelings about life and suicide?

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  55. Class: Has it been said that a hero can't be depressed? I feel that thoughts of suicide decrease the amount of heroism Hamlet could have, but I don't know if that is an actual trait.

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  56. Ben: Hamlet obviously is confused about life and its meaning and even whether or not it is worth all of the problems. Do you think the ghost serves as a way to keep Hamlet's will to live? Maybe by giving him a task, it gives him something to care about and strive to achieve?

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  57. Jere: I do not think Hamlet is insane. Even though the ghost has only spoken to Hamlet doesnt mean this isnt actually happening. The guards were able to visually see the ghost but never spoke to him. I think the ghost has only spoken to Hamlet because he hasnt had a reason to speak to anyone else. The ghost trusts no one else to avenge his death.

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  58. Kati: I am not sure that just because your distressed means that your insaine.

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  59. Danni G - I think that the ghost didn't talk to the guards simply because it doesn't have any connection with them, thus the reason he talks to Hamlet is because he is his son and he wants someone to help him escape purgatory

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  60. DGrogan77: I feel like the ghost wanted to make it seem more personal to convince Hamlet that he is actually his father. If he had talked to Hamlet and the guards, then it would have made it seem less personal.

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  61. Dani: I think that the ghost only talked to Hamlet because he didn't want other people to know that he wants Hamlet to kill Claudius.

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  62. Dani:The ghost probably didn't talk to the guards because the only reason it appeared was to find Hamlet of the information he knows and to ask him to take revenge against Hamlet's uncle.

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  63. Dani: I agree, but I personally do not think that Hamlet is just distressed. As I said above, I think he acts in a way that possibly proves he is insane.

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  64. Dani G: I think the Ghost did not talk to the guards because he knew if Hamlet heard it from the guards and didn't hear or see it for himself, he would dismiss them. He wanted the message to stay clear in Hamlet's head. He didn't want it to be like a game of telephone where, by the end, the message is so misconstrued, it doesn't even have the same look as it did in the beginning.

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  65. Dani G: I think that the reason the Ghost doesn't talk to the guards for the sole reason that the ghost is King Hamlet, Hamlet's father. I believe that the King only trusts is son with the information of how he was killed; also he does not want to deal with the other men.

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  66. I have a question, in terms of the hero's journey, what do you believe is Hamlets tragic flaw or harmatia from what we have read so far?

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  67. Finaly,Ben, Mitch: But why would the King show his ghost to the guards in the first place if they had no significance.

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  68. Jaden - I completely agree, the thoughts of suicide defiantly decrease the heroic abilities, but it does not discard the option that he could still be a hero

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  69. Kati: Thanks for the comment. I think that you have a good idea. The idea that the ghost is trying to keep Hamlet alive by giving him a task is convincing. It's ironic though, that the task given to him is to take someone else's life.

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  70. Conor: I'm quick to say it might be pride because that is typical of a tragic hero, but I'm not sure it has completely surfaced yet. What do you think?

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  71. Olivia: When thinking about the journey of a hero, I think that right now Hamlet is only seeing part of the picture and is blinded by the love of his father that the ghost could be lying. The way the King died could easily just have been the illness that took him. The ghost may be jealous of his brother for now having everything King Hamlet once had which could be a reason for him to want Claudius dead. Do you believe that Claudius actually murdered King Hamlet?

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  72. Jaden: I agree, a hero is suppose to be proud and extremely strong, not depressed. Even if someone dies a hero should be angry and vengeful if anything, not mourning over the loss. He should be stronger after the death.

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  73. Dani G: I think that the reason the ghost didn't talk to the guards because the ghost is Hamlet's father and therefore doesn't want to explain his murder to anyone but his son.

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  74. Dani G - simply because he wanted to get Hamlet's attention, Hamlet is royalty and doesn't go walking about the house alone at night. The ghost needed to show himself to the guards so they would find Hamlet.

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  75. Dani G: The king would show himself to the guards because if Hamlet was the only one that saw the ghost and talked to him by himself then when he came back and talked to whomever he may talk to, he would seem crazy. The fact that the guards saw the ghost make Hamlet's conversation wit the ghost more "real."

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  76. Ben: I agree! I think that definitely proves a lot more about Hamlet's views on life. It seems taking somebody's life is the only thing that can keep him somewhat sane, whether it be his own life or some other person's.

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  77. Danni G: I think that the ghost showed himself to the guards just so they could get the message that he is the dead king and he has a message for his son. The Ghost has a very important message and didn’t want any mistranslation to his son, and the information giving could cause chaos.

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  78. Madeline: Then do you think that the ghost is telling Hamlet the truth or is he stretching it so that he will have more motivation to kill Claudius?

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  79. Conor: I think that his flaw right now is the Hamlet is lost. He is seeing his dead fathers ghost who is telling him to kill his Uncle. Why would his father give him that ultimatum.

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  80. Dani: I think that the ghost showed himself to the guards because he knew that the guards would go to get Hamlet and that is all that the ghost really wanted.

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  81. DGrogan: If the ghost came to hamlet first, Claudius might have seen him. The new king could have been so afraid of the ghost of the man he murdered, he would kill young Hamlet to protect himself. Because the ghost showed himself to a close friend Hamlet, Hamlet would come to see the ghost for himself.

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  82. ConnorM: I think that his tragic flaw right now is how angry he is about his father's death and the marriage of his mother and his uncle. Not being able to forgive and letting it destroy his life will eventually lead to his demise. I infer that it would overrun everything else that he believes in and he will try to kill his uncle which will destroy his life.

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  83. Alexa: I agree. I think his depression has really proved to change his perspective on life and that definitely has a possibility to lead to his death. It already almost has.

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  84. Class: Based on what Mrs. Smith is talking about right now, do you think that by avenging his fathers death Hamlet would deserve to go to hell? Is it justified, because his uncle killed his father?

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  85. Conor: Hamlets tragic flaw his weakness. He is depressed, which is a major sign of weakness. Also he seems to do what ever people want him to do, which is very weak.

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  86. Anna: Do you have any predictions for the other half of the picture Hamlet is not seeing?
    I can see how King Hamlet would be jealous of his brother for taking the throne and his wife, but why else would Claudius do that unless he was so hungry for power? I think this happened in the first place because Claudius was jealous of King Hamlet and that compelled him to kill his brother.

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  87. Kati: Going off of what Smith just said about how Hamlet probably knows that if he killed Claudius not only would Claudius go to hell but Hamlet would as well. Wouldn't this make Hamlet feel less inclined to kill someone? Maybe the ghost represents something else that is trying to make Hamlet insane?

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  88. Jaden: I dont think that the ghost didnt come to hamlet first because of Claudius seeing him. Wouldnt it cause more chaos in town if you only see something and not hear it. Many more questions come up around town and i wonder if that will start to cause a problem for Hamlet because people want to know whats going on and only Hamlet knows.

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  89. Class: Would Hamlets flaw be pride in his father? He is not proud in himself because he considers suicide, but he jumps at the opportunity to avenge his father.

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  90. Jere: No, i do not think he is insane. I think the reason why he was not given the role of king once his father died because he was young. I think that when Shakespeare wrote this play, he intended that Hamlet be young man, like between 17 years and 25 years. Therefore, Claudius, being the overpowering, "influential" uncle (in my opinion) takes the initiative to step and take over. Claudius could give the excuse that "Hamlet was too emotionally unstable because of his father's death." Relating to what the inner circle just said about King Hamlet apparently being Hamlet's best friend, I can totally see why Claudius would want to step in and take over. I believe that Hamlet is livid about the fact that Claudius did this, considering Hamlet is a young man, you could say that he is a hot head and that he just wants everything to be his way. Therefore, this could be the reason why Claudius stepped in. Moreover, I believe that Hamlet is NOT insane.

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  91. Alexa: I've wondered that too. I think it would be justified for him to go to hell because he is not ensuring the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people. He would be ruining his own life and also taking away another person's in order to get his dad to heaven. I think it can be argued either way though.

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  92. ConnorM: I agree with Alexa but I also think that Hamlet's tragic flaw is that he is still young and so he hasn't mature enough to understand how to deal with things going on around him like the death of his father and his mother and uncle's marriage.

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  93. Kati: Hamlet doesn't really display any large pride or arrogance in the beginning of the play. usually a tragic hero shows a sort of arrogance in their entrance but with Hamlet this is not the case. In my mind it seems that Hamlet's tragic flaw is his action on irrational thoughts. Hamlet shows a large amount of misogyny which shows that he has irrational ideas. he also is tasked with killing claudius which will lead Denmark into even more chaos.

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  94. Jaden: I am a little confused by your question. Do you mind clarifying it?

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  95. Jaden: I don't know if that could count as pride, by having pride in another person. I see what you are saying, though. His father definitely is his major flaw in my opinion.

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  96. Alexa: I don't think that if Hamlet avenges his father's death that he deserves to go to hell because he is being ordered by his dead father to kill his uncle.

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  97. Madeline: Hamlet is a good son. He is wiling to go to hell if it means getting his father to heaven. Would this be a tragic flaw, as it will most likely lead to his death?

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  98. Class: How does death/ the idea of death influence the character's actions?

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  99. Jaden: I think that his flaw right now is his father. Hamlet is already depressed and him seeing his dead father doesnt seem to help the situation.

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  100. Olivia: The other half might be that the ghost of his father may not actually be his father or may not be telling the truth. How can he really know for sure? The fact that he is not even considering that the ghost can be anyone other than his father shows that he is not thinking logically but only with the love of his father.
    At this point in the story, however, I agree and think that the ghost really is his father and is telling the truth about this murder. Maybe that will change when we read more of the story though.

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  101. Ben: I think that is probably true. I think Hamlet knows the difference between right and wrong, but I don't know what else the ghost could represent. Do you think the ghost is just representing insanity?

    Conor: I agree with you. I think that his depression and anger are proving to deteriorate his mental health and have a possibility of leading to his death which demonstrates the possibility of it being his tragic flaw.

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  102. Kati: I agree, it would be quite a sacrifice. He would be sending himself to hell in the act of helping his father find piece. Is that worth it to him? Does he care about him that much? Would it make him more of a hero if he was that selfless to do so.

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  103. Anna: Yes i do think that the ghost is DEFINITELY stretching the truth in order to make Hamlet want to kill Claudius. I know I've said this multiple times, but the ghost is taking advantage of Hamlets weak emotions. So no he is not necessarily telling the truth.

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  104. Alexa: I personally think his vengeance for his father is justified, but the Catholic Church says that no matter what you will go to hell. Maybe this is his test that if he gets vengeance for his father, he will live his life happier knowing his father is in peace. He may or may not go to hell in the end but he can live his life happier.

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  105. Jaden: does Hamlet jump at the thought of avenging his father? Hamlet doesn't show any initiative when he is tasked with avenging his father. Hamlet even seems to procrastinate as at the end of Act 1 hamlet just walks away with Bernardo and Horatio and doesn't show any trace of a plan to avenge his father. would Hamlet's tragic flaw be inability to act? or is this just coincidence?

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  106. Ben: Hamlet is fully motivated by death. There is a possibility that he even is obsessed with it. He looked up to his father so much, that now that he has gone through death, Hamlet may want to follow those actions because life is not worth living if the one he admired and cared about more than anyone else is gone. I think that death will for sure be a main theme throughout this play.

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  107. Ben: It seems that it is not actually death that influences Hamlet because he doesn't even want to be alive. I think it is the fact that it is a sin and that he will go to hell that hinders his decision to commit either suicide or murder.

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  108. Ben: I think that death is inlfuencing Hamlet to think about suicide. It seems to make him angry and confused, and therefore creating that inner conflict inside him that Mrs. Smith was talking about.

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  109. Alexa: Do you think Hamlet cares about being a hero? If he does, then he would probably be willing to sacrifice his life to seem heroic. At the same time though, he is so depressed and at a very low point. Do you think he has the capability or drive to even kill anybody? I don't think it would make him more of a hero, but I also think that he doesn't care about being a hero so it may not affect his decision.

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  110. Jaden: That is a good assumption. I can see how he would be too prideful in his father. He mourns his father so much to the point of suicide, saying he has nothing to live for, until he sees his father's ghost and has something to live for. He also won't commit suicide because he said it was against the law of God.

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  111. Kati: I think, based off the conversation in the inner circle, that the ghost doesn't represent insanity, I don't know what he could represent. I think Hamlet looks like he is going crazy because of his situation: father dying, mother remarrying, losing girlfriend, etc.

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  112. Conor: I thought he did have a plan, because he told his friends that he will be acting in a strange way around his uncle. I thought that was the beginning of his plan.

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  113. Jere: Good point! Is it worth living your life happier and easier knowing that hell is waiting once you die? Would he be able to live his life happily if he knew he would soon join his uncle in hell? I also think it should be justified and he should not end up in hell.

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  114. Madeline: I agree that Hamlet's weakness and love for his father is blinding him to the fact that the ghost may be lying. If the ghost really is lying what is the real reason he would want Claudius dead? And will the ghost move on if Claudius is murdered and it is not really to avenge his death?

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  115. Ben: So based off of that, do you think the ghost is real or that Hamlet is just seeing him out of this distress or possible insanity to refer back to the first question?

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  116. Dani - like was said in the inner circle, the feeling of suicide in this part of the play is completely natural. This could also, like Joe said, be his tragic flaw (unstable emotion and youth).

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  117. Ben: I believe that Death is affecting Hamlet and the other characters, much more than they want it to. Think about, in life when you lose a loved one, or an influential person in your life. You're affected so badly by it, but its your decision whether or not to take it negatively and mourn over it, or to take it as it comes, and accepting the fact that he/she is gone and move on. Hamlet is taking his father's death negatively, which is reasonable; but what isn't reasonable is the fact that he is letting it affect almost ALL of his actions.

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  118. Class: So is the ghost there or not?

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  119. Anna: I think that the idea of going to hell is pretty much just like death. When one thinks of hell, they don't feel happy, they feel sad and depressed, which could represent death.

    Alexa, Jeff: What about the death of his relationship with Ophelia and the death of his relationship with his mother?

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  120. Kati: I don't think Hamlet has a concern about being a hero. I think he wants to do whatever is right and his problem right now is that he does not know what that is exactly. I think that he would have the drive to kill someone. He loves his father so much I would not be surprised if he went to extremes to make him happy.

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  121. Class: If he kills his uncle, he will be going against God and thus committing himself to Hell. Then, after he completed his task, would he kill himself because he believes he is already going to hell?

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  122. Ben: I'm sure the end of his relationship with the two important women in his life is probably just the cherry on top. He will reach a breaking point if more horrible things happen.

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  123. Anna: I'm not sure if it would be possible for Hamlet to consider it was anyone but his father. The guards already thought it was King Hamlet without even talking to Hamlet first. You do make a good point though.

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  124. Dani: It is tough to really tell if the ghost is there or not but it seems like the ghost is there, but I don't think the ghost really exist.

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  125. Alexa: I agree. I think that Hamlet will do what his father asks despite what he thinks the consequences will be out of love for his father.

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  126. Class: Do you think the ghost is abusing the emotional state Hamlet is in and using it to his advantage?

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  127. If the ghost really is lying what is the real reason he would want Claudius dead? And will the ghost move on if Claudius is murdered and it is not really to avenge his death?

    I think the reason why the ghost would want Claudius, his own brother, dead would simply be for the reason of jealousy. If the ghost is lying about the way he died, then we do not know the ACTUAL way he died. Therefore, we can infer an infinite amount of reasons. I think that King Hamlet has always had a bit of jealousy towards his brother. Possibly, because he may have done alot better than King Hamlet in life. Also, he may just have had better luck. Therefore, once Claudius marries Gertrude, the ghost blows up, and makes up a lie in order to ruin his life.

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  128. Alexa: It seems as though no matter what Hamlet does the end result is the same. He can live his life depressed being mocked by his uncle, almost in a hell like state and eventually go to heaven. Or kill his uncle and live a happy life and eventually go to hell with his uncle.

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  129. Kati: I think now that the ghost is real but his intentions are evil. As Hamlet is going through this tough time though, it is a convincing argument that Hamlet made up the ghost to give himself a reason to live. But still why would he make up something to tell him to kill someone, which will ultimately send him to hell?

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  130. Jaden: but doesn't "acting strangely" seem a little odd? it sounds like something that hamlet is doing just to delay Hamlets action even more. I think that Hamlet will hurt more people than he will help if he just acts strange instead of taking initiative and killing claudius relatively quickly.

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