Writing a Critical Essay on Hamlet

Writing guide
Posted on April 30, 2014

If you are an ardent fan of William Shakespeare’s literary works, you should not have problems writing a critical essay on Hamlet. Shakespeare’s plays are used as class readers in many schools across the world. Students particularly love acting the plays, since it gives them a better understanding of the central themes explored therein.

An essay on Hamlet calls for prior comprehension of the plot of the play, the themes, motifs, and characters involved. You cannot simply begin writing the critical essay without first reading and re-reading the play in order to understand what role Hamlet plays. Similarly, you will need to recognize what Hamlet symbolizes in the play.

Essentially, an essay on Hamlet will tackle the revenge as well as terrible attributes inhibited by the character named Hamlet. You cannot expect to get a good score on your essay if you fail to notice and mention that Hamlet was pursuing revenge in the whole course of the play. For a literature student, theme recognition should not be a problem. However, you should understand that your essay has the potential of reaching an audience that is not very conversant with themes.

Therefore, before beginning to discuss the theme, it is vital to describe what it is about Hamlet that makes her the protagonist in the play. For example, provide a detailed exposition of the exciting facts as well as features that your reader might not know about Hamlet. By themselves, such features may not be enough to convince the reader that Hamlet is the leading character in the play. Given that your essay should be critical, you ought to describe the other characters who are participating in the play, and the way in which they relate with Hamlet.

A better analysis of the play can be presented if the writer conducts further research. Many writers and authors have written various reviews about Shakespeare’s works.

Each of the authors provides an evaluation of the works according to his or understanding. For example, if you are encountering challenges trying to understand the plot of the play, you can research and get a simplified summary of the plot and character analysis easily. This will enable you tow rite your critical essay easily, besides minimizing the possibility of making misleading conclusions that can earn you less marks. On the other hand, you can divert from the conventional essay-writing format and discuss the technique used in writing the play.

Your instructor will most likely be amazed by this unique deviation, and will give you more credit for your creativity. If you elect to discuss this, you might also consider outlining what distinct elements Shakespeare has used in this particular piece, as opposed to other works. You can also conclude by giving your rating of the play, and suggesting any areas of deficiency that you may have noted in the play. For instance, you may highlight any misuse of rhetoric devices that you might have observed.

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