Poison is a recurring theme in many of Shakespeare's plays (e.g. Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, King John, Antony and Cleopatra, Richard III, Hamlet). In the Elizabethan era, poison was seen as a coward's way to kill as chivalry was very important. Also, people believed in witchcraft and thought that poisons and potions were supernatural powers. In the 1600s, men fought for their honor in duels, and it was thought to be better to die than to be a coward. Thus, poison was considered a weapon of a man with no honor and respect for himself. One can argue that Hamlet is a coward because of his indecisiveness about his revenge, but we can all agree that Claudius is the coward of cowards. He asks other people to kill Hamlet, and he plans with Laertes to use poison during the fencing duel. However, as is throughout the play, what goes around comes around, and Claudius drinks drops of poison as well.
One thing that I was thinking about was the question of Gertrude's death. Did she know that the drink had poison in it? Why did she drink it? Maybe she intentionally saved her son after feeling guilt in the night that Hamlet talked with her at her room? I don't know.
This is an interesting article about poison used in Shakespeare's plays: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140416-do-shakespeares-poisons-work
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Point well-made, Jun. I was also thinking earlier about how the use of poison connects back to Medea. Medea also uses poison to kill, and Medea is also a revenge tragedy like Hamlet is. I suppose the difference is that Medea does not kill Jason, and she acts not to support her husband but to support her own interests. On the other hand, Gertrude, in the eyes of some, could have helped to kill her own husband, or perhaps knew about Claudius’ plot but did not prevent it. Furthermore, Gertrude’s actions are pretty much just linked to Claudius’; she doesn’t really seem to be her own person. Although Medea’s actions are definitely linked to Jason, her husband, she also acts contrary to him, while Gertrude honestly seems more like a puppet.
Also, it’s kind of weird how the use of poison is viewed. We say that it’s for cowards, but is Claudius really a “coward”? Is Medea? After all, they’re willing to use poison to kill relatively innocent people. Can we pass that off as cowardly, or is it just evil? Perhaps “cowardly” is giving them too much credit, although perhaps those in Shakespeare’s time would have probably condemned cowardice as worse than evilness.
Well I know this.A coward dies a thousand deaths a brave man only once.True Bravery is in the mind heart and soul. But the price is paid with blood sweat and tears.This I know.From down below being the deepest hole.
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