Hamlet Themes

Abuse of Authority
There are various aspects of abuse of power in Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet. Claudius is ready to do all that is within his means to ensure that he ascends to the throne and retains power. After plotting the death of his brother, King Hamlet, Claudius uses the authority bestowed on him to eliminate any potential threat. King Hamlet’s son, Hamlet, was his primary threat and Claudius purposely torments him to ensure that he does not dethrone him. When Claudius realizes that Hamlet had already known that he was the mastermind behind his father’s death, he requests Polonius to spy on Hamlet. Polonius was supposed to inform Claudius about what Hamlet was planning.
Claudius was seeking any possible means to ensure that he eliminated Hamlet before he decided to avenge his father. When Claudius sends Hamlet to England, he summons Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to accompany him. The two were supposed to spy on him and inform Claudius. Guildenstern assures Claudius that, “and here we give up ourselves, in the full bent, to lay our services freely at your feet, to be commanded” (Shakespeare, 1806, 45). Additionally, the letter that Claudius wrote requested England to execute his son-in-law, Hamlet. (Shakespeare, 1806). Unfortunately, this plan was unsuccessful because Hamlet managed to return home. Claudius felt insecure and threatened by Hamlet’s return and therefore plotted how Laertes would kill him during a fight. In a nutshell, Claudius organized for a battle between Laertes and Hamlet hoping that the former would eliminate the latter.

Relationship between parents and children
The relationship between parents and children is a crucial theme in any text because young people tend to emulate their caregivers and guardians. There is a myriad of parent-child relationships in the play, Hamlet, and they include, Hamlet and the King Hamlet, Hamlet and Gertrude, Polonius and Laertes, and Polonius and Ophelia. The slain King was a good role model for his son, and Hamlet was loyal to him. Hamlet promised to avenge his father, and this is an illustration of the love that a son has for his father. Hamlet felt hopeless and dejected after losing his father. The fact that the King Hamlet decided to manifest himself to Hamlet while seeking assistance shows that he trusted his son. Although Hamlet respected his mother, Gertrude, he is disappointed when she chooses to marry Claudius (Shakespeare, 1806). Hamlet perceived this as a form of betrayal, but he still retains his loyalty to his mother. Gertrude did not show Hamlet motherly love during the largest part of the play, but she sacrifices herself for the sake of her son by drinking from the poisoned goblet.
Polonius and his two children show an unshakable bond between parents and children. Polonius wished his son, Laertes, all the best when he departed for Paris. He used to teach his son survival tactics and advised him on how to live a successful life. After learning about the death of his father, Laertes is very disappointed and angry. He vows to avenge his father, “let come what comes; only I’ll be revenged, most thoroughly for my father” (Shakespeare, 1806, 112). He is ready to fight Hamlet because he was responsible for the death of Polonius. However, Polonius was expected to look after his daughter, but he failed. He used Ophelia to trap Hamlet as instructed by the evil Claudius. Ophelia, on the other hand, was an obedient daughter who strictly followed the commands of her father to the letter. Ophelia loved her father and naively followed her orders, but Polonius ended betraying her.
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Shakespeare, W. (1806). Hamlet. London: Printed for John Cawthorn.
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