Introduction
Maggie MillsBeckerLiterature and composition12 March 2018 “Quintessence of dust” The weight of one’s mortality and the complexities of life lead people to question and ponder what their fate will be in the afterlife. In William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, Hamlet questions the meaning of life and grapples to accept his own existence. The motif of death and decay develops throughout the play, starting figuratively and evolving into a more literal interpretation, leading to the conclusion that death is the great equalizer.
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The Puppeteer’s Strategy
The play is set in Denmark and follows Hamlet after his father, King Hamlet, is murdered. Quickly following King Hamlet’s death, his wife remarries Claudius, the King’s brother, who becomes the new King of Denmark. Hamlet then receives a visit from his late father’s ghost. The ghost apprises Hamlet that Claudius is the person who murdered him and promptly asks Hamlet to exact revenge on Claudius. As he attempts to avenge his father’s death, Hamlet struggles between thought and action. Shakespeare’s references to death and decay parallel the fall of the kingdom of Denmark to reflect the insidious nature of corruption that leads to political instability, degradation of morality, and the loss of meaning in life. The motif of death and decay develops right from the beginning of the play and reflects the developing corruption that leads to political instability. With Claudius’ quick marriage following the death of his brother, Hamlet has a difficult time expressing his grief. Claudius berates Hamlet for showing grief and denounces that it is innate for a son to mourn the death of his father but that mourning for too long is “unmanly.” Coupled with the recent events and not being able to properly grieve, Hamlet becomes angry, and his outlook on life changes. In Act 1 Scene 2, Hamlet’s new view of the world is revealed as, “‘Tis an unweeded garden, / That grows to seed. / Things rank and gross in nature / Possess it merely” (1.2.139-141).
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Orchestrating Revenge
Shakespeare compares the world to an unweeded garden that is being encroached on and tainted. In rank gardens, weeds choke and encroach the life out of the other plants. Claudius is the weed encroaching on Denmark with his corrupt nature and selfish desires. Shakespeare’s references to the garden as “rank” and “gross” exemplify death and decay. Shakespeare’s use of the words “rank” and “gross” suggest the way a politically corrupt leader can negatively influence his subjects causing the corruption to spread throughout the kingdom. In Act 1 Scene 4, as Hamlet follows the ghost of his dead father into the dark, Horatio warns about the mysterious changes in the kingdom, “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” (1.4.100). Horatio senses that something is amiss in the state of Denmark that is bringing about its demise. The use of the word “rotten” further develops the decay motif and enriches the imagery of decaying bodies. The word rotten is usually associated with the breakdown and decomposition of an organism that spreads, causing other organisms to do the same. Political corruption is the natural result of the loss of morals in society; Claudius’ loss of morals transfers to his leadership, thus spreading and corrupting everyone in its path. When a person desires power, they will do anything to obtain it, even ignoring their morals just to obtain power. Insecurities and instability in the state further degrade morals and fuel the spread of corruption throughout society, each feeding on the other.The decay motif is consistently woven through the play to reveal the deterioration of the individual’s mind and the cancerous death of society as a whole. In the play, honesty is a rare virtue that most of the characters lack – most are permeated with deceit. In Act 2 Scene 2, Polonius is trying to determine the root of Hamlet’s madness when Hamlet tells him, “For if the sun breeds maggots in a dead dog,/ being a god kissing carrion” (2.2.197-199).
The Tragic Consequences
Through his insane discourse, Hamlet is warning Polonius that a lack of honesty breeds corruption. Shakespeare uses the imagery of “breeding maggots,” “dead dogs,” and “carrion” to strengthen the decay motif. The word “carrion” compares Ophelia’s body to dead and rotting flesh that is a breeding ground for maggots. Hamlet is telling Polonius that he is a bad role model and warning him that he needs to protect his daughter, Ophelia before the corruption spreads to her. Corruption is created through hypocrisy and is able to breed and spread to others easily and abruptly. Specifically, corruption can be passed down to future generations through a parent’s hypocrisy. Another trait that breeds corruption is indecisiveness. In the play, Hamlet is a very indecisive person, and as an indecisive person, it is impossible to come to a resolution in life. In Act 3 Scene 1, Hamlet is debating whether “To be, or not to be” (3.1.64). Hamlet questions the morality of life over death and weighs the benefits and the drawbacks of ending his life. It is good to be cautious when making important decisions, but too much indecisiveness is not good. Resolution in life can become corrupt by indecisiveness.
Both Polonius and Hamlet are so focused on obtaining good that they lose sight of what is actually good and become corrupt. Hypocrisy and indecisiveness lead to a loss of virtue and cause corruption in the mind of the beholder. In Acts 4-5 of Hamlet, references to death and decay are used to reveal that death is the great equalizer which leads to a cynical perspective on the meaning of life. Claudius, a manipulative and power-hungry leader, gains power at the expense of other people. In Act 4 Scene 7, when Laertes confronts Claudius about the death of his father, Claudius tries to steer the conversation in a different direction. Claudius manipulates Laertes by saying, “For goodness, growing to pleurisy, /Dies in his own too-much. That we would do /We should do when we would” (4.7.133-135). Not long before that, in Act 3, Hamlet sees Claudius confessing his sins; it appears that Claudius has changed and is seeking forgiveness; however, his corrupt nature has just gotten worse, and he is now trying to manipulate Laertes. Claudius is playing at Laertes’ emotions by asking him if he loves his father and asking to what lengths he will go to prove his love for his father.
The Mirror of Corruption
Claudius uses the word “pleurisy” and “die” to tell Laertes that love can die in its excess. When a person shows their love to another, it is excess, but when they stop, it can seem like the love is dying. Claudius manipulates Laertes into helping him kill Hamlet by telling him that if he does not continue to prove his love for his father, then his love will eventually fade away. Claudius’ manipulation of Laertes reveals the depths of his lack of morality. Claudius’ corrupt nature has spread to the once honorable Laertes and blurred his morals as well, causing us to question the meaning of life. If anyone can change their morality, is there any meaning in life? Death and decay become much more literal in Act 5 in the graveyard scene when the Gravediggers are preparing for Ophelia’s burial. Hamlet and the Gravediggers discuss how long it takes a body to decompose, which leads Hamlet to wonder about great rulers like Alexander and Caesar, “Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander returned to dust, the dust is earth, of earth/ we make loam…Imperious Caesar, dead and turned to clay, /Might stop a hole to keep the wind away (5.1.216-222). Hamlet begins to realize that power and class do not matter once a person is dead and that everyone eventually turns into dust.
As Hamlet comes to the conclusion that death is the great equalizer, he also determines that if the most powerful man (Alexander) cannot become more than dirt, then there is no hope for himself. Even if he completes the task his father gave him, in the end, they will all be dust anyway. Shakespeare utilizes the motif of death and decay, his setting a graveyard, to emphasize the effects of political corruption and how it can cause the entire kingdom to crumble in the end and leave only dust to show for it. The inevitability of death causes Hamlet to be upset and makes him realize that his actions were worthless and reveals Shakespeare questioning the fact that no matter how much good you do on earth, once you are dead, it really does not matter. The corruption caused by the lack of morality creates a loss of meaning in life. By the end of the play, eight out of the nine main characters die. Even though the majority of the play revolves around death and decay, the question of mortality is never truly answered. Instead, Shakespeare reveals the insidious nature of corruption through references to death and decay.
Conclusion
In his craze for power, Claudius’ morals become blurred and lost, causing him to become corrupt. His corruption transferred to his reign as king, creating an unstable state that was vulnerable to the spread of corruption. The corruption caused by the lack of morality creates a loss in the meaning of life. It seems that the value of life should be measured by the good a person does for their loved ones and for society. The problem, Hamlet finds, is that individuals are susceptible to corruption and moral decay, especially ones who are hypocritical and indecisive. Individuals who are hypocritical and indecisive have lost their virtue, making them very susceptible to becoming corrupted. Any person can lose their moral compass, but that magnetic decay feeds the loss of morals in others and begins to choke and kill the fabric of society. Death and decay feed on themselves, multiply and remove meaning from existence. Unfortunately, Hamlet also determines that even the most pious and powerful of men still end up in the ground, slowly turning to dust or to clay. Ultimately, life has no meaning. The powerful and the weak, the good and the bad, all have the same fate.
References
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“Hamlet: A User’s Guide” by Michael Pennington
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“The Death of Kings: A Medical History of the Kings and Queens of England” by Clifford Brewer and Hugh Chamberlen
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“The Meaning of Shakespeare, Volume 1” by Harold Goddard
Why Are Celebrities Bad Role Models: Impact On Children And Teens
Introduction
How is social media affecting the way children view celebrities’ lifestyles? Children and teens spend most of their time on social media, which can be very reasonable on why they act out. Kids spend more time on social media than with their own family, Parents need to encourage children to spend less time on cell phones and more time focusing on school work. The stars of social media are just as likely to be a role model as traditional celebrities. There are many reasons why young children look up to social media stars and want to become one of them; one reason is that social media stars post revealing photos to the internet, which would make children wish to look like them and make them feel them feel insecure. There are plenty of positive role models on social media; according to the top social media stars, these role models can encourage children to do what is right and to make positive choices. Children will follow any ‘celeb’ they see perfect. Celebrities and parents should encourage children to do activities such as sports or reading instead of picking up a phone. Children and teen are down to act like and follow what they feel is acceptable to society; by the time kids are in middle school, they look at their peers and sense social acceptance, they see if someone is odd or stand out, and they will consider them unacceptable. Children who are considered unacceptable is often the kid who is being bullied, which is not a great way of handling things.
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The Allure of Celebrity Lifestyles on Social Media
Children and teens are spending too much time on social media. According to common sense media, teens spend an average of nine hours a day on social media, which is the same amount of time it takes to get the proper amount of sleep. Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and youtube are the top leading social media sites that young children and teens are on. These sites are popular due to how much celebrities use these sites. Children, teens, and celebrities use social media because it enables anyone to create and share content and connect with each other. The time teens and children are spending on social media is expanding more and more and is becoming a part of their everyday lives. According to the website, reaching out, being social is very important for psychological development, and by being socially connected, your child may seem less isolated and develop better social skills, and as I was saying earlier, they would be socially acceptable. I know your wonder, what does social media have to do with my topic? Well, celebrities are on social media most of the time, which is why children and teens are so addicted to social media. Social media is the easiest way for teens and children to access what is trending, and they follow what they are shown.
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The Duality of Celebrity Influence: Positive and Negative Aspects
How can we stop celebrities? Many people have adopted the idea of getting celebrities involved. Celebrities can have a positive influence on youth; in fact, they can serve as role models for their younger viewers. Charities. If an actor from a famous movie gets on television and asks people at home to donate money for a cause, that advertisement will get more attention than if an unknown was to do the same, which means that all of these children will be hooked on. This means that people are donating money because someone famous told them to. A politician posting on their Twitter or Facebook account about a dilemma may get some notice. Celebrity post on their account about the same dilemma, and it can go viral. The difference is what the celebrity is associated with. Celebrities star in movies or television shows that the public enjoys. Therefore, whenever an individual sees a celebrity, their brain connects the person with the good feeling they get from watching their movie or television show. This stimulates individuals to pay more attention as opposed to watching an unknown. Just because these celebrities are promoting something does not mean it will always be a good cause. For better or worse, celebrities have a powerful impact on how teens view themselves and how they see the world. In fact, it’s easy to underestimate how much celebrities influence teenage attitudes and behavior.
The factors in which I am about to present are all factors of why Children and teens try to live the lifestyle of celebrities. Simply because of the obsession with “celebs.” These obsessions are due to how celebrities present themselves. Children and teens observe and follow what they are being shown. Children and teens are closely associated with celebrities because celebrities are reflections of what children and teens want to become; things such as stylish clothes, partying every day, fancy lifestyles, and constantly being followed by paparazzi are all factors of why children and teens want to be like celebrities. Teens see celebrities everywhere, such as in magazines, movies, television shows, etc.; they create trends and promote the latest product. Some celebs have been around for years, such as Nicki Minaj, Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus, and Kylie Jenner, influencing children of all ages. According to Omniscient, thirty-seven percent of students surveyed that they are influenced by the music they listen to, seventeen percent said celebrities influenced the clothes they wear, while 28.9 percent said celebrities influence the movies they see. There are many reasons why celebrities have an effect on children and teens. According to Medium Corporation, more than fifty percent of the users on Twitter follow musicians and actors. There are many celebrities who are shown as either good influencers or bad influencers.
Celebrity Influence on Body Image and Self-Worth
But famous singers, actors, and other celebrities can also provide unhealthy examples. In particular, celebrity influence on body image and substance use is often detrimental to teen mental health. Therefore, teenagers need guidance on how to interpret celebrities’ influence. Adults can engage with kids around media. In addition, they, therefore, support how children process what they see and hear. Moreover, parents and teachers can use celebrities’ stories as entry points into important discussions about health and personal choices. It’s no secret the impact a celebrity endorsement can have on a brand. It is a dynamic that has been proven to deliver results for years. Champions (UK) plc has been pairing leading brands with high-profile celebrities for well over a decade. And we can do the same for you and your brand. We work with celebrity influence from the world of TV, sport, and music. Our celebrities are aware of their followings and how to use them to create noise around a brand.
The people of our society are constantly alerted to new advertisements about popular celebrities, which causes celebrities to be unavoidable topics that are always talked about in the media. Therefore they have a huge influence over young children and teens. Today celebrities have a lot of power over our society, and no matter how much we may criticize celebs, we still find ourselves fascinated with what they are doing because we, as people, are hungry for fame. Companies use celebrities in their advertisements to promote and make their products popular. Media influence on teenagers can be deliberate; for example, advertising is often directed at children and teenagers. This means that children and teenagers are increasingly conscious of brands and images. You’re not alone if your child has pestered you to buy the next ‘in’ thing.
Celebrity Influence on Materialism and Consumerism
The behavioral differences in young children and teens are because of how they view celebrities and what celebs post on social media. When celebrities post on social media, teens get a sense of who the celebs are as people. Their interests, struggles, lifestyles, and vacations. When celebs use their popularity to bring attention to the wrongs of the world, this can be impactful to teens. They learn that you can use your own influence to make a difference. For some children and teens, obsession with celebrities is so strong that fans will walk, talk and act like celebrities. Many fans are teenagers, and we don’t understand why teens are obsessed with celebrities. “Their larger-than-life presence, popularity, lifestyle, and money. It’s more than good looks. It’s what they represent.” That doesn’t make sense. For teens, it is what their celebrity represents that the teen identifies with. Whether it is a character they’re portraying, philanthropy, lifestyle, etc., the fantasy is that celebs have easy lives, no problems, are always catered to, have perfect bodies, are always happy, etc., may also be popular and a way of gaining acceptance at school when a teen is well-informed about the latest celebrity trend and dirt. Teens and children are obsessed with money, power, and fame, which can cause them to act out.
According to MGH Clay Center, “Reality TV typically reveals inappropriate behavior within peer groups, often promoting interpersonal drama, aggression, and bullying. For example, women in The Real Housewives franchise gossip, back-stab, and behave aggressively, condescendingly, and catty toward one another. The expression of relational aggression between females seen across several reality shows gives girls the idea that gossiping is a normal part of a female relationship, that it’s in girls’ natures to be divisive and competitive with one another, and that being mean earns respect and is often necessary to get what you want.”
“As we try to discourage bullying, gossiping, and other forms of interpersonal aggression between young girls, it’s unfortunate that reality shows often feature adults behaving in exactly this manner, all the while continuing to gain popularity in mainstream media.” MGH Clay Center states that television shows celebrities fight and bully others, which can cause teens and children to act like what they are shown in shows like the real housewives franchise. They also give tips on how to talk with your children about reality television. The top three tips are one, find out if TV images affect your child’s self-image and values. Two, talk to your child about why she likes certain characters. And three, Help your child develop critical responses to what she observes on reality TV.
Also, while I was reading about my topic, I came across an article on science daily.com it states, “Celebrities can have a positive influence on youth. In fact, they can serve as role models. But famous singers, actors, and other celebrities can also provide unhealthy examples. In particular, celebrity influence on body image and substance use is often detrimental to teen mental health.
Conclusion
In conclusion, these are statements that prove children and young teens tend to act out and behave differently because of how celebrities portray; some may take what they see and behave positively and want to be the opposite of what they see celebrities doing. Also, people may think that celebrities are bad influencers and would want to stay away from them, and some may think they’re good influencers and want to be like them, but out of all celebrities have the largest influence on our society, mostly our children and young teens.
“See what you want, be what you be, do not lose yourself on this long journey, but at the end of the day, be who you desire to be.”
Jonquil Melton
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