Something is rotten in Denmark……….

                When you think of the character of Claudius, King of Denmark, you are filled with thoughts of a deceitful man, power hungry and cunning. His distrustful nature is predominate throughout the entire play, whether he is assassinating the true king, having Hamlet spied on, or just talking to the lords and ladies of the court. To consider him as a flawed human you must first be able to see him as anything other than a monster.

In the beginning of the play when he is addressing the court he seems to be justifying his actions, marring his dead brother’s wife, by stating how it benefits the country of Denmark. His remarks in act I scene ii    in line 19 when he says, “Or thinking by our late brother’s death our state to be disjointed and out of frame,” which is his way of justifying why he has taken his late brother’s wife. To me this entire speech was thought out and prepared, sort of premeditated.

We see this to be the case in Act I scene v when the ghost of Hamlet sr. is describing his murder to young Hamlet. In line 45 the ghost tells Hamlet, “So to seduce; won to his shameless lust the will of my most seeming-virtuous queen;” describing the fact that Claudius had every intent to take the queen for his own, and his plans to murder the king had been put into play long before the actual act of murder. Then in line 61 when he describes the actual murder to Hamlet by stating, “Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole with juice of hebona in a vial,” demonstrating that the murder took special planning. First he had to get the extract from the henbane, and then he had to watch the King’s habits, maybe even for weeks, to find the best time to strike.

Later in the play Claudius sends Polonius to spy on Hamlet, and then he even employs Hamlets own friends to spy. None of these actions say that Claudius is anything but a self-serving monster. In act IV scene vii Claudius conspires to get Laertes to kill Hamlet for him when he tells Laertes that Hamlet has killed his father. Feeding into the grief with anger and hatred the king tells him in line 122 when he asks, “Hamlet comes back, what would you undertake to show yourself in deed your father’s son more than in words?” egging Laertes on in his grief to prove his love for his father as to kill Hamlet.

All through the play we see King Claudius plotting and planning to murder, undermined, and deceive all of Denmark. 

A look at Hamlet, the prince of Denmark

                As one of Shakespeare’s great tragedy we expect to see dark depressed characters, and we do with the main character of Hamlet. After returning home to find his father dead and his uncle on the throne the reader finds Hamlet to be such character.

                In scene two we find a great example of these characteristics while his uncle, mother, Laertes, Polonius, and Hamlet are sitting in a room in the castle having a conversation. In line 66 the king leads in when he asks Hamlet, “How is it that the clouds still hang on you?” referring to the depression apparent in the expression of Hamlet. This is further brought to the reader’s attention when the Queen, Hamlet’s mother, tells him in line 68, “Good Hamlet cast thy knighted colour off,” talking about his clothing he is wearing, that is the color of morning, black. Hamlet goes on to fully reassure the reader of this in lines 77-79 when he tells his mother, “    ’Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother,

                                                                Nor customary suits of solemn black,

                                                                Nor windy suspiration of forced breath,”

To me he is clearly talking about paying respect for his father and how the pains of his lose has caused him great laborious pains to breathe.

                Hamlet is reluctant to do what the ghost has asked of him because he wants proof, proof the ghost is honest and proof that his uncle is guilty. In act III scene ii he gets his proof when a small troop of actors are visiting the castle. Hamlet instructed the actor to perform the play, "The Murder of Gonzago" which mirrors the way his father was murdered. The king however seems to be unmoved then leaves rather ubruptly.
             
 

Love can be unexpected.

Both Anton Chekov and D.H. Lawrence paint a beautiful picture about the uncontrollable feeling of love. Whether it is Dmitri and Anna, the womanizer and unhappy bride, or Jack Fergusson and Mabel, the town doctor and the daughter of a horse traitor, you cannot control whom you fall in love with or how your views will change when you fall in love.

Love can be a release in the story by Anton Chekov, as he weaves a tale of deceit and adultery in the story “The Lady with the Pet Dog.”  Both Dmitri and Anna are married to partners they do not love and long for more.  Dmitri has been married to a wife he does not love as he states in paragraph 3,”and he secretly considered her unintelligent, narrow, inelegant, was afraid of her, and did not like to be with her at home.” He then goes on to talk of his many affairs that were unsatisfying to him yet he still look forward to each new experience.  As the story progresses the love Dmitri feels for Anna starts to take over his life, especially when he returned to Moscow.  In paragraph 67 while Dmitri is at home in Moscow we read, “When in the evening stillness he heard song or the organ at the restaurant, or the storm howling in the chimney, suddenly everything would rise up in his memory.” Anna has become more than just a love to Dmitri but an obsession, and in the four section Dmitri even goes to the town of “S----“ to try and find the girl he is so in love with. I get the impression that Chekov is saying that love is uncontrollable and uncontainable. That once we find love we will suffer any discomfort to have that love even if it becomes painful and discomforting.

Yet love can also be a life changing event as we see in the story written by D.H.Lawrence, “The Horse Dealer’s Daughter.” His story shows the reader that love is uncontrollable and can consume your thoughts even when the protagonist isn’t even looking for love. Jack is in fact doing just the opposite; he tries to hold his position as a reason he cannot be romantically involved with his patients. Yet in paragraph 104 when Jack passes Mabel in the graveyard cleaning her mother’s tombstone her very image consumes his thoughts, “There remained distinct in his consciousness, like a vision, the memory of her face, ” ,”It seem to mesmerize him.” He has never looked at her in this way before and it confuses him. This descriptive passage gives way to him saving her from drowning herself in the family pond, then her regaining consciousness to ask does he love her. While he tries at first to deny it, we read in paragraph 147, “He had never thought of loving her. He had never wanted to love her.” Yet in the end love concurs all and he gives in to his feelings of pain and joy to say in paragraph 189, “I want you, I want to marry you, we’re going to be married, quickly, quickly-.”

 

                                                 Two Different Styles of being indirect

                While both Earnest Hemingway and Alice Munro are both masterful writers with a subtle way of discussing relevant matters without actually mentioning the true subject. They have very different ways of achieving this. While neither one ever states the actual subject of the short stories they have different ways of getting the reader to figure it out.

                Earnest Hemingway uses a very informal style of dictation throughout the story letting the characters dialect tell the story in a very intimate fashion. The couples, the American and Jig, are at a train station in Spain and are conversation gives the reader the sense they are close. Early in the story we read, “I might have,” the man said.” Just because you say I wouldn’t have doesn’t prove anything.” This gives the reader the impression that the two are a couple. Later in the story Jig says, “Would you please please please please please please please stop talking?” which may be acceptable in a conversation but not common practice in writing.

                While Alice Munro uses a more neutral style of dictation, her style is similar in the fact that she never really reveals the true subject matter but hints around at it through the actions of her characters. Munro’s use of contractions is a tell tell sign of a neutral style when the girls are talking, “Jesus, we’ll freeze are legs off.” Or when the boys are talking, “Where is it. I don’t see no boat.” Showing a very laid back way of talking.

                Hemingway’s uses of subtlety by letting the characters explain the entire story while never actually mentioning the actual subject matter. For instance they never mention what the procedure is just, “It’s really an awfully simple operation, Jig,” the man said. “It’s not really an operation at all.” Then later Jig says, “And afterward they were all happy.” Talking about people she knew that had the operation and were happier after. He also spends less time describing the setting and lets the characters do more to set the mood then the setting.

                Munro seems to let the characters actions demonstrate their characteristics rather than to explain in detail much about the five kids. In the early part of the story we see that the children come from poorer families in the description of the house they go too to fix the boat. She also lets the characters actions demonstrate the way they were raised. When Eva has to heat the tar Munro writes, ““Please may I put the pot on the stove?” said Eva, who was brought up to talk politely to parents, even wash-and-iron ladies.” Munro also uses a very subtle form of indirect irony in her story. If you take Eva, for example, early in the story the reader sees her attraction to the boy Clayton when Munro states, “and who for some reason especially wanted to make a good impression on Clayton’s mother.” Then later in the story stands in front of Clayton naked and lets him spit water all over her breasts just to go on and say, “I hate them anyways. I really do. Don’t you hate them?” To me she is trying to hide her attraction to him while seeking Carol’s approval.

                                                 Two Different Styles of being indirect

                While both Earnest Hemingway and Alice Munro are both masterful writers with a subtle way of discussing relevant matters without actually mentioning the true subject. They have very different ways of achieving this. While neither one ever states the actual subject of the short stories they have different ways of getting the reader to figure it out.

                Earnest Hemingway uses a very informal style of dictation throughout the story letting the characters dialect tell the story in a very intimate fashion. The couples, the American and Jig, are at a train station in Spain and are conversation gives the reader the sense they are close. Early in the story we read, “I might have,” the man said.” Just because you say I wouldn’t have doesn’t prove anything.” This gives the reader the impression that the two are a couple. Later in the story Jig says, “Would you please please please please please please please stop talking?” which may be acceptable in a conversation but not common practice in writing.

                While Alice Munro uses a more neutral style of dictation, her style is similar in the fact that she never really reveals the true subject matter but hints around at it through the actions of her characters. Munro’s use of contractions is a tell tell sign of a neutral style when the girls are talking, “Jesus, we’ll freeze are legs off.” Or when the boys are talking, “Where is it. I don’t see no boat.” Showing a very laid back way of talking.

                Hemingway’s uses of subtlety by letting the characters explain the entire story while never actually mentioning the actual subject matter. For instance they never mention what the procedure is just, “It’s really an awfully simple operation, Jig,” the man said. “It’s not really an operation at all.” Then later Jig says, “And afterward they were all happy.” Talking about people she knew that had the operation and were happier after. He also spends less time describing the setting and lets the characters do more to set the mood then the setting.

                Munro seems to let the characters actions demonstrate their characteristics rather than to explain in detail much about the five kids. In the early part of the story we see that the children come from poorer families in the description of the house they go too to fix the boat. She also lets the characters actions demonstrate the way they were raised. When Eva has to heat the tar Munro writes, ““Please may I put the pot on the stove?” said Eva, who was brought up to talk politely to parents, even wash-and-iron ladies.” Munro also uses a very subtle form of indirect irony in her story. If you take Eva, for example, early in the story the reader sees her attraction to the boy Clayton when Munro states, “and who for some reason especially wanted to make a good impression on Clayton’s mother.” Then later in the story stands in front of Clayton naked and lets him spit water all over her breasts just to go on and say, “I hate them anyways. I really do. Don’t you hate them?” To me she is trying to hide her attraction to him while seeking Carol’s approval.

                                                 Two Different Styles of being indirect

                While both Earnest Hemingway and Alice Munro are both masterful writers with a subtle way of discussing relevant matters without actually mentioning the true subject. They have very different ways of achieving this. While neither one ever states the actual subject of the short stories they have different ways of getting the reader to figure it out.

                Earnest Hemingway uses a very informal style of dictation throughout the story letting the characters dialect tell the story in a very intimate fashion. The couples, the American and Jig, are at a train station in Spain and are conversation gives the reader the sense they are close. Early in the story we read, “I might have,” the man said.” Just because you say I wouldn’t have doesn’t prove anything.” This gives the reader the impression that the two are a couple. Later in the story Jig says, “Would you please please please please please please please stop talking?” which may be acceptable in a conversation but not common practice in writing.

                While Alice Munro uses a more neutral style of dictation, her style is similar in the fact that she never really reveals the true subject matter but hints around at it through the actions of her characters. Munro’s use of contractions is a tell tell sign of a neutral style when the girls are talking, “Jesus, we’ll freeze are legs off.” Or when the boys are talking, “Where is it. I don’t see no boat.” Showing a very laid back way of talking.

                Hemingway’s uses of subtlety by letting the characters explain the entire story while never actually mentioning the actual subject matter. For instance they never mention what the procedure is just, “It’s really an awfully simple operation, Jig,” the man said. “It’s not really an operation at all.” Then later Jig says, “And afterward they were all happy.” Talking about people she knew that had the operation and were happier after. He also spends less time describing the setting and lets the characters do more to set the mood then the setting.

                Munro seems to let the characters actions demonstrate their characteristics rather than to explain in detail much about the five kids. In the early part of the story we see that the children come from poorer families in the description of the house they go too to fix the boat. She also lets the characters actions demonstrate the way they were raised. When Eva has to heat the tar Munro writes, ““Please may I put the pot on the stove?” said Eva, who was brought up to talk politely to parents, even wash-and-iron ladies.” Munro also uses a very subtle form of indirect irony in her story. If you take Eva, for example, early in the story the reader sees her attraction to the boy Clayton when Munro states, “and who for some reason especially wanted to make a good impression on Clayton’s mother.” Then later in the story stands in front of Clayton naked and lets him spit water all over her breasts just to go on and say, “I hate them anyways. I really do. Don’t you hate them?” To me she is trying to hide her attraction to him while seeking Carol’s approval.

                                                 Two Different Styles of being indirect

                While both Earnest Hemingway and Alice Munro are both masterful writers with a subtle way of discussing relevant matters without actually mentioning the true subject. They have very different ways of achieving this. While neither one ever states the actual subject of the short stories they have different ways of getting the reader to figure it out.

                Earnest Hemingway uses a very informal style of dictation throughout the story letting the characters dialect tell the story in a very intimate fashion. The couples, the American and Jig, are at a train station in Spain and are conversation gives the reader the sense they are close. Early in the story we read, “I might have,” the man said.” Just because you say I wouldn’t have doesn’t prove anything.” This gives the reader the impression that the two are a couple. Later in the story Jig says, “Would you please please please please please please please stop talking?” which may be acceptable in a conversation but not common practice in writing.

                While Alice Munro uses a more neutral style of dictation, her style is similar in the fact that she never really reveals the true subject matter but hints around at it through the actions of her characters. Munro’s use of contractions is a tell tell sign of a neutral style when the girls are talking, “Jesus, we’ll freeze are legs off.” Or when the boys are talking, “Where is it. I don’t see no boat.” Showing a very laid back way of talking.

                Hemingway’s uses of subtlety by letting the characters explain the entire story while never actually mentioning the actual subject matter. For instance they never mention what the procedure is just, “It’s really an awfully simple operation, Jig,” the man said. “It’s not really an operation at all.” Then later Jig says, “And afterward they were all happy.” Talking about people she knew that had the operation and were happier after. He also spends less time describing the setting and lets the characters do more to set the mood then the setting.

                Munro seems to let the characters actions demonstrate their characteristics rather than to explain in detail much about the five kids. In the early part of the story we see that the children come from poorer families in the description of the house they go too to fix the boat. She also lets the characters actions demonstrate the way they were raised. When Eva has to heat the tar Munro writes, ““Please may I put the pot on the stove?” said Eva, who was brought up to talk politely to parents, even wash-and-iron ladies.” Munro also uses a very subtle form of indirect irony in her story. If you take Eva, for example, early in the story the reader sees her attraction to the boy Clayton when Munro states, “and who for some reason especially wanted to make a good impression on Clayton’s mother.” Then later in the story stands in front of Clayton naked and lets him spit water all over her breasts just to go on and say, “I hate them anyways. I really do. Don’t you hate them?” To me she is trying to hide her attraction to him while seeking Carol’s approval.