Parental Issues

1990 Choose a novel or play that depicts a conflict between a parent (or a parental figure) and a son or daughter. Write an essay in which you analyze the sources of the conflict and explain how the conflict contributes to the meaning of the work. Avoid plot summary.



    In 'Hamlet' by William Shakespeare, the main character, Hamlet faces conflict with his father, mother, and his step-father. The conflict between Hamlet and his mother stems from her disbelief that her new husband killed his brother and with his step-father, comes from the fact that he murdered Hamlet's father. These conflicts contribute to the play in that they give Hamlet a motive to avenge his father's death and cause him to perform other actions. The whole play is driven by Hamlet's love for his father,  desire for revenge on  his step-father and for his mother to realize her new husband is evil. 
    One of the major influences in Hamlet's life is his father. Hamlet looked up to his father and adored him. He is very troubled after his father's death and does everything in his power to get revenge for it. Although he loved his father deeply, he feels like his father left too early and did not give him the support and tools he needed. He is upset that he must continue life without him. When his father's ghost appears to him, he views him and his advice as divine or holy. Hamlet is so passionate about his father and avenging his  murder that he will do whatever it takes to get revenge. The source of conflict between Hamlet and his father is his father's death and in turn, the fact that he is no longer there to guide Hamlet, as well as the country, to be good. This contributes to the meaning of the work in that Hamlet loves his father and is so determined to avenge his death that he kills whomever and does whatever he has to to get even. 
     Not only does Hamlet have conflicts with his dead father, the relationship between Hamlet and his mother, Gertrude, is often strained. Hamlet is disappointed that his mother would marry her late husband's brother just days after his passing and questions her love for his father. He tries to convince her that Claudius was responsible for (King) Hamlet's death, but she gets mad at him for offending her husband. Although he is sometimes frustrated with her, Hamlet still loves his mother very much. When he asks that she doesnt sleep with Claudius in certain beds, she is kind and honors his request. His mother is the only woman Hamlet loves (Hamlet thinks all women are cheaters, including Ophellia). However, it still troubles him that she would marry Claudius. This is the main conflict between Hamlet and his mother. It contributes to the work because it shows how Claudius is evil and how she is an object of lust for him. 
     Hamlet begins with the ghost of (King) Hamlet telling Hamlet that his uncle and new step-father, Claudius,  is evil and that he committed the murder of King Hamlet. This establishes Hamlet's main motive throughout the play to avenge his father's death. Claudius, however, is also very powerful, full of charisma, manipulative and the new King of Denmark. The main conflict between Hamlet and Claudius is the fact that Claudius murdered Hamlet's father (also tried to murder him). This conflict contributes to the work in that it establishes the motive for almost all of Hamlet's actions; it is the main idea of the play. 
     Hamlet has conflicts with three parental figures in the story. His conflict with his father is that his father is no longer alive. His conflict with his mother is that she would marry her late husband's murderer. His conflict with his step-father is that he was the one who murdered his real father. These conflicts shape the play by giving Hamlet motive and basically are the reasons for all of Hamlet's actions.