hamlet 7 stages of grief

7/29/2019 Hamlet 7 Stages of Grief

1/4

Johnson 1

Monica Johnson

Brit. Lit. Honors

Ms. Comtois

4 May 2009

Stages of Grief in Hamlet

In the opening pages of the play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, it is quickly

realized that Hamlet is upset about his fathers death and his mothers remarriage to his

uncle. An event may lead to a downfall known as the stages. According to Jami L.

Jones, depression may be a reaction to a disturbing event, and in this case Hamlet is

reacting to his fathers death. It is normal for people who have just lost a loved one to

experience the stages of grief. The first stage is denial, the second is anger, third is guilt,

fourth is depression, fifth is upward turn, sixth is reconstruction and the seventh stage is

acceptance (Jones). As some people who have just lost their father would, Hamlet started

going through these stages. However, he does not make it through the seven stages. The

seven stages have not changed much at all over time. This is known because the seven

stages of grief are the same in Hamlet, a story written long ago, as they are in one of

todays most popular television shows, One Tree Hill. The seven stages has not changed

must at al over the years, people still grieve, and it is proven in both early and modern

pieces of writing. The connection between these two stories is the fact that neither

Hamlet, nor Lucas completes the cycle.

The seven stages starts in Hamlet when Hamlet learns of the death of his father

because the death of a loved one, loss of a limb, even intense disappointment can cause


2/4

Johnson 2

grief (Ross). The event that started the seven stages in One Tree hill is the main

characters, Lucas, loss of his uncle, Keith, who has acted as a father figure Lucass

whole life when his father abandoned him. Lucas and Keith, and Hamlet and his father

had the same relationship, which resulted in their similar reaction to both Keiths and

King Hamlets death.

Hamlet never expected the death of his father, and in some ways he still does not

believe it. This is the first stage of grief; denial. Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, A doctor at

Memorial Hospital says, We tend to deny the loss has taken place, just as Hamlet did.

Hamlet had trouble dealing with his fathers death, he did not grasp on to the fact that it

actually happened, I would not hear your enemy say so/ Nor shall you do my ear that

violence (1.2.77-78).

In One Tree Hill, Lucas had a hard time swallowing the fact that his father

figure was dead. He couldnt believe it. Lucas is talking about death when he says, Does

this darkness have a name? This cruelty, this hatred. How did it find us? (Schwahn). He

shows his denial when he says to his friends that Keith is not dead and he doesnt believe

he is dead.

He does not understand how or why it happened, all he knows is that he father is

dead. This is when Hamlet experiences the stage of Anger, the second stage. He is furious

at the decision his mother made to re-marry Hamlets uncle so quickly after his fathers

death. Hamlet isnt so much angry at his fathers death, but more angry with his mother.

He cannot comprehend his mothers decision to re-marry. Hamlet has not gotten over his

fathers death, and he is not close to getting over it either, how could his mother already

be over it? That question is never answered, Hamlet never fully knows the reason it took


3/4

Johnson 3

his mother such a short time to get over a death, when he never fully recovers. He is so

angry, that at one point, Hamlet scares his mother so much, that his mother is scared for

her life,

Hamlet: Mother, you have my father much offended.

Queen: Come, come, you answer with an idle tongue.

Hamlet: Go, go, you question with a wicked tongue.

Queen: Why, how now, Hamlet?

Hamlet: Whats the matter now?

Queen: Have you forgot me?

Hamlet: Nor, by the rood, not so. You are the Queen, your husbands brothers

wife, and (would it were not so) you are my mother.

Queen: Nay, then Ill set those to you that can speak.

Hamlet: Come, come and sit down; you shall not budge. You go not till I set up a

glass, Where you may see the (inmost) part of you.

Queen: What wilt thou do? Thou wilt not murder me? Help, ho! (3.4.13-27)

Hamlet is so angry at his mother, that for a brief moment he imagines life without her.

His anger reaches a point to where his mother comes out and asks him if he intends to kill

her. She somewhat understands where he is coming from but she does not fully

comprehend why he is so upset about her remarriage.

Keith dies, not of natural causes but he is murdered. To the rest of the characters,

it was known that a student, Lucass friend, a well known kid in the town, killed Keith

before putting the gun to his head and killing himself. The students at the school set up a

small shrine in front of this boys, Jimmys, locker. Lucas expresses his anger by walking


4/4

Johnson 4

up to the shrine and kicking it, destroying all the cards and pictures, and breaking the

glass that once used to be candles. Another friend, Mouth, tries talking to Lucas about it.

Mouth lets him know that Jimmys funeral is coming up. Lucas responds by yelling at

Mouth saying that Jimmy killed his uncle and does not deserve anything, let alone his

presence at Jimmys funeral. Lucas is not normally like this, he is normally a level

headed teenager who is well likes by everyone. This the proof of Stage number 2, anger.

The third stage is guilt.

The fourth stage of grief is depression. This seems to be the biggest stage Hamlet

goes through. Throughout the play it is mentioned that Hamlet is wearing dark clothing,

clearly here he is still mourning over the death. Also it is seen during the reading that

Hamlet is harsh and sarcastic to his mother and uncle, this reaction reflects the conflict

with [his] parents, says Jones. Hamlet first starts to show his depression with his

fathers passing. His first sign is when he is introduced wearing a complete black suit.

Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted color off, / And let thine eye look like a friend on

Denmark. / Do not forever with thy vailed of lids / Seek for thy noble father in the dust. /

Thou knowst tis common; all that lives must die, / Passing through nature to eternity.

(1.2.70-75)

It is clear that Hamlet is in dark clothing and still in the mourning of his fathers death.

This shows his conflict with his mother and uncle because he is objecting to his mothers

requests. The other cause for Hamlets depression is his mothers quick decision to

remarry her husbands brother.

hamlet 7 stages of grief

Documents