It is Hamlets internal struggle which gives the play its modern

relevance. Discuss the idea by making references to the reading

stimulus and two other scenes of the play.
It is Hamlets internal struggle which gives the play its modern relevance.
This statement is accurate in describing Hamlet. Hamlets internal struggle is
demonstrated in various ways throughout the play. His internal struggle with
his problems including the death of his father, clearly shown in the reading
stimulus highlights the problems that many people face in life of how to deal
with death. Hamlets thought verses action dichotomy, illustrated in the to be
or not to be soliloquy also demonstrates Hamlets internal struggle and from
the complexity of Hamlets character we may see the complexity of human
nature. Hamlets internal struggle with death and the philosophical questions
that arise from this notion further explore questions that are still mysteries
today. This philosophical struggle may be seen in the graveyard scene.
Throughout the play Hamlet is confused as to how to deal with his fathers death and
the feelings it provokes. The reading stimulus illustrates this confusion as Hamlet
initially deals with his problems by self loathing. O that this too, too solid flesh
would melt, thaw and resolve into a dew. This quote indicates that Hamlet just
wishes to disappear from his own world and he wishes to alienate himself from his
own feelings. The imagery of melting flesh here intensifies Hamlets self loathing as it
provokes a dull and graphic image of Hamlet. The wish to simply disappear also
gives insight into Hamlets state of mind as he is confused with how to deal with his
fathers death and thus wishes to disappear or even die. Hamlet also struggles with
his feelings as he sees no place for himself in the world. How weary, stale, flat
and unprofitable seem to me all the uses of this world. This quote further
illustrates Hamlets self loathing as he doesnt just wish to disappear from his
feelings but he wishes to disappear from the world. This heightens Hamlets self
loathing as due to his fathers death he now sees no point in living in the world. This
reaction of self loathing by Hamlet may reflect the stages that many people
experience when dealing with the death of a loved one. People may relate to
Hamlets situation and understand the struggle he faces whilst they may also see the
various stages they personally go through in dealing with the loss of a loved one.
This highlights how Hamlet retains its modern relevance as although times have
changed, every human must deal with the loss of a loved one and experience the
same problems that Hamlet experiences.
Hamlets complex reactions to his fathers death may also navigate and highlight
human nature as Hamlets self loathing only leads to constant internal struggles
which leave Hamlet indecisive. This indecision is caused by Hamlets complex

reactions to his fathers death which are clearly reflected in the to be or not to be
soliloquy in Act 3 scene 2. Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings
and arrows of outrageous fortune or to take up arms against a sea of troubles
This quote demonstrates Hamlets constant thought verses action dichotomy which is
a result of his confused and distressed reaction to his fathers death. Hamlet is
contemplating whether to deal with his feelings by taking action, notably revenge, or
to remain passive to his feelings and do not avenge his fathers foul and unnatural
murder. This thought verses action dichotomy is intensified by the metaphorical
connotations within the quote. The metaphor of slings and arrows highlights
Hamlets feelings towards his fathers death as it is like being hit with arrows and
rocks. This indicates the degree of Hamlets suffering whilst taking up arms against a
sea of troubles also presents metaphorical insight into Hamlets internal struggle.
The mention of a sea highlight to us Hamlets infinite problems as it is like he is
drowning and engulfed by his problems in life which could include his fathers death
and Gertrudes frequent marriage to Claudius. Hamlet also states whether tis nobler
which indicates his indecisiveness as his renaissance character forbids him from
taking swift action, thus he is subliminally confined to over contemplating problems
without ever taking action. From this thought verses action dichotomy it may reflect
through Hamlet, the complexity of human nature as essentially everyone will think
like Hamlet, over contemplating situations whilst never being able to directly unpack
feelings and deal with them, however this is human nature and thus Hamlets internal
struggle highlights that the essence of human nature means we are indecisive as to
how to deal with our feelings.
Hamlets complex reactions to his fathers death also may navigate the complex nature of
humans as in the to be or not to be soliloquy, Hamlets renaissance character is causes
him to over contemplate the notions of death. To die. To sleep-to sleep, perchance to
dream. Ay theres the rub for in that sleep of death what dreams may come. This
quote signposts Hamlets complex nature as he is over analytical of everything in which
he thinks. Hamlet constantly unpacks his thoughts in this case analysing what it means to
die and what will happen in death. Here Hamlet provides an example of human nature
and how everyone may experience this internal struggle with the notions of taking action
as he highlights that all humans fight a constant subliminal battle in which we cannot
remove ourselves from over contemplating actions and their consequences. Whilst
alluding to this Hamlet also draws the conclusion that conscience does make cowards
of us all. Here Hamlet is concluding not only about his own complex nature but human
nature ambiguously as he means to say that due to our constant thought verses action
dichotomy in which all humans experience, we are restrained from taking action as we
are afraid of the consequences. Thus from Hamlets complex and conflicting thoughts in
reaction to his fathers death, he provides an explanation to the complexity of human
nature and how in every human we all experience indecisiveness and we all have a
renaissance character within us. This message within Hamlet allows the text to retain its
modern relevance as even in contemporary times, human nature has not been modified.

The philosophical outlooks of death and what happens when we die is another
internal struggle in which Hamlet deals with. This internal struggle is illustrated in the
graveyard scene of Act 5 scene 2. In this scene Hamlet juggles with the meaning of
life primarily as he says did these bones cost no more the breeding but to play
at loggets with them. This question demonstrates Hamlets internal struggle with
death and what it means as he is asking why humans exist only to become useless.

This may allude to Hamlets self loathing once again as he is searching for answers
for why he may exist in the world and why he should still live if he knows he will die
someday. The connotations of playing games with bones may also envelop into
questions of whether we can play with life. Hamlet deepens his investigations as he
asks of Alexander the Great. Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander
returneth to dust. The dust is earth. This quote demonstrates Hamlets struggle
with death as he is specifically questioning human existence, asking what happens
to our legacy and memory when we die. The use of such an esteemed figure for
humans also indicates the degree of irrelevance in which such achievements have in
death which may communicate Hamlets struggle with death to the audience as he
cannot comprehend death and how it is like sterile place in which even the greatest
members of society become nothing. It makes Hamlet feel as if there is no purpose
in living or that he must try to modify or avoid death. This internal struggle with death
and what is entails highlights how Hamlet retains its modern relevance as the
questions in which Hamlet ask in the graveyard scene are still unanswered and the
questions of existence Hamlet asks reflect the same wonder and ignorance all
humans have towards death. Thus Hamlet provides a challenge to the meaning of
life, instilling a philosophical outlook on life which may never be answered.
From Hamlets confusion and distress towards the notions of death and human
identity he also provides hints as to how to deal with problems in life and also
answers the questions of our existence. Hamlets embracing of fate illustrates this
concept as throughout the graveyard scene he begins to realise that you cannot
modify your own fate. If it be now, yet it will come...Let be. This quote shows
hints at how to deal with the constant struggle of identity and existence to the world
as Hamlet is stating that we should embrace fate and not try to manipulate our own
fate as this will only lead to the internal struggle in which Hamlet has experienced
throughout the whole play. Hamlet states that fate is inevitable and that our fate is
unavoidable. Hamlet also provides the hint to let be everything in our lives. This
means that instead of altering or forcing an action we should embrace our own fate
and in turn this will elapse in a happy life in which we may avoid internal struggles
and constant indecisiveness. From this method in which Hamlet utilises to pacify his
internal struggle it gives the play modern relevance as through Hamlets methods of
dealing with his internal struggle with identity there is an underlying message evoked
by Shakespeare that warns against the problems that arise in life and show that we
must embrace our identity not manipulate it.
In conclusion Hamlets internal struggle gives the play its modern relevance as it
allows audiences even in modern times to relate to the struggles Hamlet faces
and Hamlet teaches us moral lessons on how to deal with these problems.
Hamlets internal struggle with his fathers death gives the play its modern
relevance. Through Hamlet thought verses action dichotomy it demonstrates
that human nature cannot be modified even in modern times. Hamlets internal
struggle in identity and existence with his challenges to the notions of death
teach us moral lessons on how to live life. The use of soliloquies allow us insight
into Hamlets internal struggle, including the reading stimulus, the to be or not to
be soliloquy as well as the graveyard scene.