Essay, Research Paper: "Slings And Arrows"

Slings and Arrows William Shakespeare wrote many outstanding plays. Hamlet, unarguably Shakespeare s most popular piece of work, is filled with many famous lines and expressions we still use today. One of the most notable soliloquies from Hamlet is To be, or not to be: that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to sufferThe slings and arrows of outrageous fortune In this soliloquy, one of the most emphasized thoughts is on the slings and arrows which are presented against Hamlet in this play. What Hamlet means when he uses the term slings and arrows is the problems and other misfortunes that are thrown his way. The death of Hamlet s father, the marriage of Gertrude and Claudius, and the death of Ophelia are a few examples of such ill fortune. These slings and arrows affect how Hamlet lives, how he acts towards the other characters in the play, and what his outlook on life is. To begin with, Hamlet s life style has been affected greatly by his varying bad luck. One of the major examples of this change can be seen by the way Hamlet has to put on an antic deposition in order to get his master plan of revenge to work correctly. After King Hamlet s death, Hamlet s whole life now revolves around his getting revenge. We can see evidence of this when Hamlet says Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift as meditation or the thoughts of love, May sweep to my revenge. The destroyed relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia is another example of how Hamlet s life is changed. This can be seen when Hamlet says You should not have believed me; for virtue cannot so inoculate our old stock but we shall relish of it: I loved you not. The reason for this failing relationship again goes back to his false insanity. Since Hamlet s plan of revenge includes putting on an antic deposition, which entirely changes his life style, it can be concluded that his revenge plan is considered one of his slings and arrows. The second area that these trials and tribulations affect is how Hamlet acts towards the other characters in the play. The easiest illustration we can see of this change is how Hamlet acts towards King Claudius. It is only natural for Hamlet to be furious at Claudius, his new stepfather because Claudius killed Hamlet s father. Hamlet also acts differently towards his mother. Even though it was never proven that Gertrude had anything to do with the murder, Hamlet still suspects her because she married Claudius so quickly. The line Frailty, thy name is woman can prove this feeling in Hamlet. Two other characters Hamlet acts differently towards are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. This similar change can be seen when Hamlet says Why, look you now, how unworthy a thing you make of me! You would play upon me; you would seem to know my stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery. Hamlet s relationships with these characters would have never changed if his father had not been murdered; therefore it can be said that King Hamlet s murder is yet another one of Hamlet s change of fortune.
The final area that is affected by Hamlet s unpredictable problems is Hamlet s outlook on life. At the beginning of the play Hamlet has only a few reasons to keep on living, one of which is Ophelia. All hopes of being with Ophelia are shattered when Hamlet finds out she is dead, and after which Hamlet says I loved Ophelia: forty thousand brothers could not, with all their quantity of love, Make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her? That previous line proves the uncertainty of whether or not Hamlet ever loved Ophelia, and at the same time all hopes of being with her are shattered. This is one of Hamlet s lowest points of the play. Hamlet now feels as though there is nothing left in life to look forward to. Hamlets strong will and his belief that self-slaughter is against God s rules was the only thing keeping him alive. Thus concludes that the death of Ophelia is again one of the many trials and tribulations. If anyone had to go through what Hamlet went through in this play then their life too would be severely affected by the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Overall, Hamlet dealt effectively with the problems that were thrown his way.