recurring motifs in hamlet
- This is a preview of the essay.
To view the full text you must login!
Shakespeare's play "Hamlet" has three recurring motifs throughout the story. References to and discussion of incest, death, suicide, and distrust of women all arise several times within the play.
Prince Hamlet becomes spiteful and disdainful of the women in his life after learning of the unjust murder of his father. After learning of his fathers death he proclaims that "Let me think not on 't. Frailty, thy name is / woman!", (I.ii.147). He insults and belittles his former love Ophelia. He mocks the sincerity of Ophelia's love for him and begs that she become a nun to avoid all the bad things that accompany womanhood...