The Climax of Hamlet Essay

A climax is defined as the most intense, exciting, or important point of something. In my opinion, the climax of the play takes place during Act Three ,scene iv. The climax of this play takes place here, because for the first time Hamlet is committing himself to a overtly violent action . In addition, at that point he brings himself into an unavoidable conflict with the king. Furthermore , it is the first time Hamlet is admitting to someone the way he truly feels about the oerhasty marriage.(Act 2,scene ii, lines 56-57)

Throughout Act One and Act Two, Hamlet creates this overbearing anger with King Claudius because he is the person who supposedly killed his father and has married his mother. An example of this overbearing anger is in Act One, scene ii, lines 129-132, Hamlet states: O, that this too too sallied flesh would melt, thaw, and resolve itself into a dew, or that the everlasting had not fixed his canon gainst self slaughter. This shows the degree of anger that Hamlet felt toward Claudius. The statement shows that Hamlet was so angry that he was even considering suicide. However, in Act Three while he is confessing his rage towards his mother he is suddenly interrupted when Polonius mumbles out from behind the curtain to protect Gertrude. Hamlet thought it was King Claudius spying on him again. He is furious, and grabbed King Claudius and murdered him. To his surprise, Hamlet discovered it was Polonius he killed. This is the part of the play where I believe the climax occurs. My reasoning for this is because Hamlet has finally taken his first step in seeking revenge against King Claudius.

For the first time in Act Three, scene iv, Hamlet expresses the way he feels. On lines 65-77 Hamlet creates an intense discussion with his mother while he shows his mother a picture of both King Claudius and King Hamlet. He states : Here is your husband, like a mildewed ear blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes? Could you on this fair mountain leave to, and batten on this moor? Ha, have you eyes? You cannot call it love, for at your age the heyday in the blood is tame, its humble, and it waits upon the judgement, and what judgement would step from this to this? Sense sure you have, else could you not have motion, but sure that sense is apoplexed, for madness would not err nor sense to ecstasy was neer so thralled but it reserved some quantity of choice to serve in such difference. Lines 65-77 is a perfect example of the aggression Hamlet used while yelling at his mother. Never before had Hamlet ever before in this play had expressed his emotions to that degree.

Another way I find this scene very climatic, is that despite the fact that Hamlet has murdered Polonius, it is quickly overlooked, and Shakespeare almost extends the climax by keeping the audience waiting for the more important thing to happen. For example, after the murder Hamlet states : Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell! I took thee for thy better. Take thy fortune . Thou findst to be busy in some danger. This direct quote shows how little this murder made Hamlet feel guilty. In this statement, he is basically saying that it was OK that it wasnt Claudius because Polonius deserved to be killed anyway. Unlike most climaxes, where there is mayhem, there remains a feeling of coolness, which creates even more tension to this climax.

The climax of this play has opened a new door. It has created excitement and tension, but yet a feeling of relief. It is only but a mystery what will happen next.