Hamlet vs. Macbeth

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  • Topic: Hamlet, William Shakespeare, Macbeth
  • Pages : 2 (617 words )
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  • Published : March 16, 2008
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In William Shakespeare's play Hamlet: Prince of Denmark and Macbeth there are many similarities, along with many differences. They are both Shakespearean tragedies, that use the supernatural to attract the reader, and both have a hero with a tragic flaw or trait that cause a problem or conflict throughout the story.

To start off with both plays have Supernatural occurrences. In the beginning of Macbeth, there are three witches who prophesized that Macbeth would be the Thane of Cawdor, and then would be king. In Hamlet we also see supernatural occurrences. In the beginning of Hamlet, Hamlet meets his fathers ghost and is told that Claudius killed him. The ghost tells hamlet to seek revenge of his death.

The similarities between the story of Hamlet and Macbeth are that they both feature power, greed, revenge, death, ambition, and that appearances can be deceiving. When Macbeth was told the prophecy of what he would gain he was not satisfied. Macbeth went to great lengths to make sure that his power lasted longer then it should have. In Hamlet, Claudius is the entire reason the story is even told. His ambition to become king was overcome by greed. He wanted everything and he was not willing to let anything stand in his way. Both Macbeth and Claudius let greed destroy. In Hamlet, things seem to be true and honest but in reality they are not. In Hamlet four characters are hiding behind masks of falseness and they are Polonius, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and the king Claudius. They all appear to be sincere people but they are sinister. Polonius tries to keep up the appearance of a loving and caring person. Throughout the play Polonius pretends to care for people while he lies, and eavesdrops on people during their conversation. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern lied to Hamlet telling him they were his friend. They were just spying on him for the king. Claudius hides behind a mask when he talks to Hamlet, Gertrude, and everyone in his presences. When he talks...
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