Реферат: Hamlet Vs Death Of A Sales Man
Название: Hamlet Vs Death Of A Sales Man Раздел: Топики по английскому языку Тип: реферат |
Essay, Research Paper Hamlet and Death of a Salesman: Relationships The different relationships that a person experiences throughout their life greatly affects their state of mind. If a person is already troubled, then their mental health is susceptible to being swayed for better or worse. Hamlet, and Death of a Sales Man are plays which focus on the power a relationship has over ones state of mind. In Hamlet it is Hamlet himself whose mental state is altered by relationships in his life. Similarly, in Death of a Sales Man, the relationships of the main character, Willy Loman, transform his state of mind as well. From the start, Willy and Hamlet are psychologically troubled. As the play progresses each man s state of mind is exacerbated by their relationships with Starnino 2 intimate partners, friends, and family. In the play Hamlet, Hamlet s intimate relationship with Ophelia changes his mental state for the worse. In a letter Hamlet wrote Ophelia, it says Doubt thou the stars are fire; Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I love (Shakespeare 2.2.116-120). This poem clearly indicates that Hamlet suspects Ophelia of lying to him, but never the less he still loves her. Love is a powerful emotion and its effect over mind and body are tremendous. This battle between Hamlet s heart and his trust in Ophelia would affect the strongest of minds. Similarly, in Death of a Salesman, Willy s wife Linda negatively affects his state of mind. The only difference here is that Linda is unconscious as to how her actions are affecting Willy. Linda s effect on Willy is shown when she is in the kitchen mending her stockings and Willy angrily takes the stockings from her and says, I won t have you mending stockings in this house! Now throw Starnino 3 them out! (Miller 687). Willy says this because the act of Linda mending her stockings brings back a slew of memories about an affair Willy had had. Willy loves Linda and memories about a past affair plays with his emotions. This internal conflict toys with Willy and endangers his mental well being. In both plays, intimate partners vastly affect each character s state of mind. Another relationship in the play Hamlet that affects Hamlet s well being is that with his friends. The two friends that contribute to Hamlet s madness are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. The King addresses Hamlet s two friends and says: I entreat you both that, being of so young days brought up with him (Hamlet), and sith so neighbored to his youth and havior, that you vouchsafe your rest here in our court some little time, so by your companies to draw him on to pleasures, and to gather so much as from occasion you may glean, whether aught to us Starnino 4 unknown afflicts him thus, that opened lies within our remedy. (Shakespeare 2.2.10-19) This shows that the King asks Guildenstern and Rosencrantz to spy on Hamlet. Having his friends sneak around him and have ulterior motives to spending time with him, makes Hamlet suspicious of their intentions. Having this mistrust in his childhood friends who he loved dearly deranged his mind. Similarly, in Death of a Salesman, Willy s relationship with his friend Charley has negative effects on Willy s state of mind. After Willy loses his job as a Salesman, he refuses to accept Charlie s job offer. They both get into a bit of an argument and Charley says, “You been jealous of me all your life, you damned fool! (Miller 724). Jealousy is a dangerous emotion that can foul up any man s head. To harbor such jealousy, over your best friend s life since childhood, would make anyone s state of mind take a turn for the worse. In both plays, relationships with friends dangerously Starnino 5 corrupts each man s mind. The final relationship that affects Hamlet s mental health is his relationship with his family. This is the relationship which affects Hamlet s state of mind the greatest. Queen Gertrude says it best when she says, I doubt it is no other but the main, His father s death and our o erhasty marriage (Shakespeare 2.2.56- 57). As the Queen has said, the death of his Father and the haste marriage of his mother to his uncle are the leading cause of Hamlet s madness. These are the greatest factors that lead Hamlet into insanity. If these same two actions would happen to any man their state of mind would be altered in a way close to that of Hamlet. Likewise Willy s state of mind is affected with his relationship with his son Biff. He feels anger towards his father who hits the nail right on the head when he says, Everything he does is to spite me (Miller 746). Willy loves Biff with all his heart and Biff hates his father. This hurts his father to no end, and Starnino 6 makes his father emotionally unstable. This is the major factor that led to Willy s madness. In both plays, the primary character s relationships with their families are the most severe for them, and are the most significant factors leading to their unstable states of mind, well being and irrational behavior. The driving force behind the apparent madness of Willy and Hamlet, is a direct cause of their different relationships. Their love for their intimate partners mixed with betrayal, altered both of their states of mind. Moreover, their relationships with friends brought out horrid emotions that created a volatile slew of thoughts in both characters heads. In addition, both of their relationships with their families proved to be the most significant for them, and was the major force behind their madness. Relationships throughout our lives, no matter how small, form who we are significantly define our state of mind. |