Introduction
The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, shortened to Hamlet by William Shakespeare, and A Raisin’ in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry is widely famous and influential artistic works with various common attributes. The two plays project themes of family struggles, which eventually lead to unfortunate events. For instance, Hamlet cannot execute his intention of killing Claudius to avenge his father as he grapples with the moral burden of vengeance and logistical difficulties. Similarly, in A Raisin in the Sun, the Youngers’ family’s socioeconomic situation impedes the attainment of conflicting and intertwined ambitions. Additionally, the two artistic works project how society and families elevate the aspirations and desires of men at the expense of women’s dreams. However, Hansberry’s work illustrates the issues of race and discrimination, while Shakespeare’s Hamlet amplifies such aspects as religion, corruption, and death. Although Hamlet and A Raisin in the Sun focus on a wide range of social issues, the themes of gender, dreams, honor, and dignity transcend the two comedies.
Character Comparison
In Hamlet, Claudius is the play’s major antagonist, the King of Denmark, and Hamlet’s uncle. As the play’s villain, he is portrayed as a manipulative, scheming, unscrupulous, and conniving character. His most prominent weapon is his ability to exploit and manipulate others through the skillful use of deceptive language and other underhand tactics. For instance, the Ghost discloses to Hamlet that his father did not die from a snakebite but from a vial of henbane poured into his ear by Claudius, which cracked his skin and curdled his blood (Wilson 282). He confesses to having gained the power and authority as the King of Denmark by saying that “I am still possessed of those effects for which I did the murder” (Shakespeare 56). This manipulative character is similar to Karl Lindner’s shrewdness through which she attempts to block and convince the Youngers not to buy a house in the predominantly white neighborhood.
Additionally, this character is exhibited by Walter Lee in A Raisin in the Sun, especially in his desperation to invest a portion of the family’s fortune in a liquor store. For instance, Lena is compelled to give part of the money to Walter, ostensibly to save him from impending psychological problems but ends up being defrauded. Similarly, Claudius outdoes himself in his craftiness when he insists that Laertes considers a third option of killing Hamlet, the poisoned goblet. Gertrude, who is recently married to Claudius, inadvertently consumes the poison and dies, ultimately exposing Claudius to Hamlet. In this regard, the conspiracist tendencies and schemes of Claudius and Lee to advance their selfish ambitions ultimately expose them to harm.
The character disposition of Gertrude in Hamlet bears a striking resemblance to that of Lena in A Raisin’ in the Sun. Notably, the two women are defined by their desire and obsessions with social status. For instance, Gertrude is so determined to retain the position of the queen and high social standing to the point that she opts to marry Claudius within a month after Claudius murders her husband. Notably, this fascination with status and social ranking leads to impulsive and emotion-driven decisions. Similarly, Lena is convinced that using the insurance proceeds to purchase a home in the affluent white-dominated neighborhood is the only opportunity for her family to leave the awful locality they barely tolerate (Hansberry 40). However, her ambition is arguably a poor judgment compared to the inherent benefits that would accrue if she used the money to take Beneatha to medical school. From this perspective, Gertrude and Beneatha’s personas and dispositions illustrate irrational commitment to their ambitions and aspirations.
Further, the personas of Hamlet and Walter Lee are similar, especially when viewed against their reckless yet cautious and caring tendencies. The former’s sensitivity is portrayed in his reactions following the murder of his father. Although he reveals his displeasure with Gertrude’s decision to marry Claudius, he is cautious about taking potentially dangerous actions and even feigns insanity in his pursuit of avenging his father. There is a notable recklessness in his behavior when he mistakenly stabs Polonius through the curtains while believing it is Claudius. Similarly, Walter aspires to improve the economic fortunes of his family by investing in the liquor business and spends a disproportionate amount of time trying to discover quick solutions to the family’s problems. While this decision portrays him as a caring and sensitive character, it is underlined by mistakes that occasion significant distress to the family.
Comparison of Family Dynamics
In Hamlet and A Raisin in the Sun, such dynamics as familial links and generational gaps emerge as manifested by the behaviors of the various characters. For instance, Shakespeare portrays the overarching significance of maintaining positive family ties despite the existing differences. Throughout the play, Hamlet despises his mother for remarrying his uncle, creating an incestuous relationship, stating, “My mother: Father and mother is man and wife; man and wife is one flesh, and so, my mother” (Shakespeare 224). However, Hamlet’s immediate reaction following Gertrude’s death demonstrates that he is still concerned with her well-being despite the generally strained. For instance, he summons everyone to unravel the mystery and treachery of Gertrude’s poisoning. He is devastated by her death, which demonstrates his concern for the mother, despite their differences.
The phenomenon is replicated in the Younger family, where Lena decries the growing rift between her and her children. For instance, she laments her failure to understand the interests and demands of the young generation while always remaining committed to decisions that benefit the whole family. This scenario is recreated in the Younger’s family, where Lena decides to defer her ambitions of migrating from the impoverished neighborhood to ensure Walter realizes his dream of investing in a liquor store. Additionally, Lena often renders advice to the family, which helps to bind the family. In Hamlet, Claudius refers to Hamlet as his son and offers him fatherly counsel on the proper way to mourn his father. In this regard, the decisions of Hamlet, Claudius, Walter, and Lena illustrate the character’s commitment to family despite differences of opinion and disagreements.
Further, Hamlet and A Raisin in the Sun portray two generations engaged in psychological and physical warfare. The generational gaps in the two plays primarily involve an older age group imposing its beliefs and ideals on the younger section of society. However, the differences mutate into an attempt to subvert the aspirations of the youth, leading to rising tensions. For instance, Hamlet’s pursuit of vengeance triggers the intergenerational strife that decimates both generations. Similarly, the family dynamics in A Raisin in the Sun are significantly influenced by the generational gap, separating the values, dreams, and cultural perspectives of the old and the young. In the play, Lena undermines Beneatha’s aspirations of becoming a doctor and expresses displeasure at her daughter’s little regard for marriage and other traditional lifestyles. This dispersion illustrates two extremes espoused by different generations and influenced by the contrasting views of modernity and traditionalism (King 53). Similarly, while the mother is family-oriented, conservative, and devoutly religious, Walter is least concerned with issues of gender and religion.
Comparison of Themes
Hamlet and A Raisin in the Sun share various themes, including gender and feminism, ambitions, religion, dignity, selfishness, and family. Notably, these thematic elements transcend the two plays and are distinctly portrayed by different characters. For instance, Shakespeare and Hansberry demonstrate the structural prejudices and disadvantages that confront women, essentially blocking or narrowing their choices. Consequently, they are often compelled to elevate the interests of their male counterparts at the expense of their ambitions. For instance, Lena and Beneatha compromise their ambitions while Gertrude is forced to marry Claudius to sustain family relations, retain social status, and survive in the misogynistic environment.
Additionally, Hamlet and A Raisin in the Sun manifest selfishness as portrayed in the personas of Walter and Claudius. The pursuit of dignity and honor transcends the two plays, with Hansberry’s presentation of the Youngers’ desire to migrate to an affluent neighborhood despite the competing family interests reflecting Gertrude’s desire to marry Claudius. Notably, the Youngers recognize that their current locality is dehumanizing and denies them dignity, while Gertrude is aware that she will lose her social standing if she does not marry Claudius.
Conclusion
Hamlet and A Raisin in the Sun are famous comedies written by William Shakespeare and Lorraine Hansberry, respectively. While the two artistic works are cast against different contexts, they share similarities, including family dynamics, character persona, and thematic presentations. For instance, the manipulative and scheming traits of Claudius and Gertrude are mirrored in Walter’s behavioral dispositions. Similarly, Lena and Gertrude are obsessed with their social status and are willing to do anything to fulfill their desires. The themes of ambition, gender, family, religion, selfishness, and dignity transcend the two plays.
Works Cited
Hansberry, Lorraine. A Raisin in the Sun. Vintage Books, 1959.
King, Eric. “African Americans and the Crisis of Modernity: An Interpretation of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun.” Ethnic Studies Review, vol. 41, no. 1−2, 2018, pp. 53-60.
Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Edited by G. R. Hibbard, Oxford UP, 2008.
Wilson, Jeffrey. “The Meaning of Death in Shakespeare’s Hamlet.” ANQ: A Quarterly Journal of Short Articles, Notes, and Reviews, vol. 34, no. 4, 2019, pp. 282−286.