ENG 4U
Hamlet Essay
The Argumentative Essay : Tips, Pointers, Strategies
***Remember – in the Argumentative Essay, you need to confront the contrary position in addition to arguing constructively.
There are 2 main organizing methods for the Argumentative Essay:
PING PONG METHOD (PREFERRED METHOD)
-this method is to be used if you plan on using the same
points/incidents/quotes/examples for both your constructive
argumentation and as the contrary position’s points which you
intend to dispel/refute
CHUNK METHOD
-this method is to be used if you plan on using for your
constructive argumentation different
points//incidents/quotes/examples than those from the contrary
position that you will be dispelling
In this method each body paragraph “ping pongs” back and forth
between first explaining how the example raised does not
necessarily prove the contrary position followed by arguing
constructively how it does support your position
In this method , the first half of the body is a series of paragraphs
wherein you raise the contrary position and dispel/refute it as
actual proof of that position. The second half of the body is
constructive argumentation proving your position.
****It IS acceptable to use presumption for any other controversial issues that your position relies on in order for your
argument to work (ie. you can write “presuming that Hamlet loves Ophelia” if you are writing your essay on a topic other
than the issue of whether Hamlet loves Ophelia or not)
ALTERNATE METHODS OF USING QUOTES
For many of these argumentative topics, you may find it difficult to find a lot of quotes that directly prove your thesis position. Here
are some other methods you can use:
1)quotes become the context for your actual point – perhaps it may be hard to find a quote that demonstrates your constructive
argument, but a good quote can still serve as a means of establishing context
Example: While Polonius, at one moment during his confrontation with Hamlet, seems momentarily sharp enough to observe in
Hamlet`s conduct that “Though this be madness, yet there is method in`t`, both before and after this observation Polonius
is a completely bewildered victim of Hamlet`s manipulations. This suggests that, in the end, Hamlet is still successful at
fooling Polonius, therefore supporting the view that Hamlet is in complete control of his madness act in this scene.
2)quotes used in acknowledgement of the source’s unreliability - remember that in Hamlet, words often come from the mouths of
characters who are either demonstratively unwise or incapable of manifesting a spiritual affinity (connection) with their words (in
the flesh)
Example: While it is observed of Hamlet’s conduct in the play that “though (it) be madness, yet there is method in’t”, it must be
noted that this observation comes from a character who is perceived as a fool – who gets everything wrong. Therefore ,
this observation from Polonius only serves to reinforce that Hamlet is not in control but, instead, may be truly mad.
3)quotes raised to refute the position contrary to your thesis – remember that in the Argumentative Essay you are obliged to
confront the best available evidence for the contrary position (as opposed to simply ignoring it).
Example: While many will contend that the observation regarding Hamlet’s conduct that “though (it) be madness, yet there is
method in’t” must be dismissed because it emanates from the lips of a fool, it should not go unnoticed that this very same
idea is re-iterated by Claudius who, although evil, is highly intelligent. Therefore Polonius’s observation does not
necessarily discount the theory that Hamlet is indeed mad simply on the basis that Polonius is foolish – because Claudius
certainly is not.
4)quoting for subtext – often in literature a character’s words are indirectly and implicitly revealing realities of their character, the
nature of which may serve as one of your constructive points
Example: When Hamlet dismisses Polonius as having no more substance than any number of “tedious old fools” , in the process
Shakespeare is simultaneously exposing the audience to the likelihood that Hamlet’s “madness” is merely an act, given
that such an observation suggests complete control in the manner in which he toys with Polonius the “old fool” in this
scene.
Sample Body Paragraph Using the Ping Pong Method
Thesis: Hamlet possesses an Oedipus Complex.
Scene: V.ii. – Just prior to the duel with Laertes, when Hamlet is discussing with Horatio whether Claudius
deserves to die
Paragraph transition referring back to the
point of the previous paragraph in order
to link it with the main point of the new
paragraph
main point of this paragraph
In addition to the “closet” scene, a more subtle yet, potentially, equally effective manifestation of Hamlet`s complex can be
found in V.ii., just prior to the duel with Laertes, when Hamlet is discussing with Horatio whether Claudius deserves to die.
Immediately after conceding that he sent Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to their final resting place, Hamlet turns his attention to the
king:
Does it not, think`st thee, stand me now uponHe that hath kill`d my king, and whored my mother;
Proper long quote format – each line must begin and end with
Popp`d in between the election and my hopes;
the same word that it does in the original text
Quote context
Thrown out his angle for my proper life,
provided prior
And with such cozenage, - is`t not perfect conscience,
to the quote
To quit him with this arm? And is it not to be damn`d,
To let this canker of our nature come
In further evil?
(Shakespeare, , V.ii. ll.64-70)
Those who dismiss the Oedipus Complex theory as nonsense would argue that any references to Gertrude in this speech are secondary
to the cause of listing the various grievances that Hamlet has against Claudius and have nothing to do with any subconscious feelings
for his mother. The naysayers, for example, would likely dismiss Hamlet`s reference to Claudius standing “ in between the election
and (his) hopes” as nothing more than a sign that Hamlet lists the fact that he was not elected as king following his father`s death as
one of many reasons he should take action against Claudius. However, such a presumption would ignore the fact that Hamlet
previously mocked the idea that he felt thwarted by not being king when suggested to him by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. When
just after the “Mousetrap” exposes Claudius`s guilt, Rosencrantz pries Hamlet to reveal the cause of his “distemper”. Hamlet`s reply,
“Sir, I lack advancement” is clearly delivered with sarcastic intent (Shakespeare, III.ii. l.331). What “the election”, instead, refers to is
Hamlet`s subconscious desire that his mother would have elected him for her partner upon the death of Hamlet senior. Further
reinforcing this is the diction choice of the word “popp`d” which, without getting too graphic, can be taken as sexually suggestive - a
sign of Hamlet`s subconscious feelings of sexual jealousy towards his new step-father - a reality that cannot be ignored and will be
further supported in points to follow. In other ways, Hamlet`s choice of words is equally compelling here. Hamlet begins his speech to
Horatio with the phrase, “ Does it not, think`st thee, stand me now upon/He that hath kill`d my king, and whored my mother “ (V.ii.
ll.64-65). Hamlet`s choice of words describing Claudius as one who has “kill`d (his) king, and whored (his) mother” is not merely a
sign of his disgust with his current parents as the detractors of the Oedipus Complex theory would suggest, but instead manifests
Hamlet`s desire to replace Claudius as his mother`s prime object of spousal affection. Had Hamlet`s choice of words been “killed my
father”, the Oedipus Complex may not hold water here, but because his words are “kill`d my king “, the reference could be taken as a
sign that Hamlet feels thwarted in not having become king, but not because he longed for that position of high stature (as has already
been successfully argued here) but because he subconsciously longs to be with his mother and would need to become king to do so.
And Hamlet`s reference to his mother as a “whore” is not merely a sign of his anger towards her for the remarriage, or towards women
in general (a theory which has already been dispelled in discussion of the closet scene) but is, instead, reflective of his suppressed
sexual jealousy that the woman he longs to be with has been sleeping with another. To argue that this speech dispels the Oedipus
Complex theory would be to ignore or miss altogether the subtle psychological revelations evident in the speech, not to mention that it
would require avoidance or misinterpretation of previous dialogue in the play. Instead, the speech clearly reinforces that Hamlet is
stricken with just such a complex.
Proper short quote format – to indicate where one line ends
and the next begins in the original text, use a backslash (/)
Connection back to the thesis idea to end
the body paragraph