Literature is the reflection of life. As life is never a complete joy or complete sadness; similarly a good piece of literature carries these emotions in such a way that they cannot be separated. The tragedy of Hamlet is also one of such plays where marriage love and sexual conduct of characters creates this tragedy.In the beginning of play, Shakespeare discusses the concept of marriage through Hamlet’s father (ghost); who talks with Hamlet in bitter words about the futility of love and marriage in the following words.“O wicked wit and gifts that have the powerSo to seduce!–won to his shameful lustThe will of my most seeming-virtuous queen:O Hamlet, what a falling-off was there!From me, whose love was of that dignityThat it went hand in hand even with the vowI made to her in marriage, and to declineUpon a wretch whose natural gifts were poorTo those of mine”Act 1, Scene 5Shakespeare through (Hamlet’s father) ghost shows marriage a waste of time; where men are seduced in the trap of love by innocent looking woman (he is mentioning his queen).
Hamlet’s father (ghost) could not believe; how his brother out of sexual lust can marry sister in law (Hamlet’s mother). Somewhere behind the ghost mind; Shakespeare is showing the faithlessness of women. It is these circumstances that changes Hamlet mind about love at later stage.In the beginning Shakespeare shows Hamlet’s love affair with Ophelia quite pleasurable.
It is gratifying, when beautiful Ophelia appears in Act II, Scene I as, “The fair Ophelia? - Nymph in thy orisons”. In many lines Shakespeare glorifies love through Hamlet, but as the play moves on; love deteriorates and Hamlet’s attitude towards her becomes pathetic especially after the killing of her father.Shakespeare unlike other plays presents love more like a lust especially through Character of Queen and King which seems unreasonable and base to Hamlet as he mentions the following lines;“Why, man, they did make love to this employment;They are not near my conscienceAct V , Scene 11, Line 64Thus we can conclude that in Hamlet, Shakespeare treatment of love differs from his other tragedies; where love has been inspirational. In Hamlet is the bitter and pain till the end.
