Society conditions men to act according to a certain standard to achieve ideals of masculinity. To be considered masculine, men must honor their family through action, often in the form of revenge. However, an expectation of revenge and violence is created in society, which leads men to feel insecure if they do not actively act for their honor. In Shakespeare's play Hamlet, the deep obligation to seek revenge causes an internal conflict with Hamlet's masculinity, as he wants to honor his father through action, but wonders if he has the strength to do so. Thus, ideals of masculinity create a cycle of violence to the extent that the action is linked to masculinity, such that men act to contribute to an image of masculinity without benefiting the ultimate cause of insecurity: honor. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay After the death of his father, Hamlet struggles with the burden of avenging his father's murder by killing his uncle. His father returns as a ghost to tell Hamlet the truth about his murder and convince him to take revenge. Hamlet Sr. explains: “If ever you loved your dear father…avenge his vile and most unnatural murder.” Hamlet has such regard for his father and feels so deeply that he is not remembered enough for him to follow everything his father says. By describing the task of taking revenge as a way of showing "one's love," Hamlet places increased pressure on Hamlet to demonstrate honor. This honor will show Hamlet's true masculinity and allow him to live up to his father's name. Hamlet's internal conflict with masculinity throughout the play This pressure creates a struggle of insecurity for Hamlet as he ties his self-esteem to his ability to take revenge and thus, act in a masculine manner. Hamlet often subtly undermines his strength when he considers revenge due to insecurity resulting from the pressure to seek revenge. For example, as Hamlet begins to plan the play for his uncle, he explains: "Yet I, / a dull and muddy rascal, reach / like John-a-dreams, not pregnant with my cause, / and I can't say anything... Am I a coward? Shakespeare uses a simile to compare Hamlet to "John-a-dreams" or someone who only dreams and never acts. Thus, Hamlet does not feel masculine, because he displays his insecurity of not taking any concrete action. Additionally, he wonders if he is a coward, showing that he does not know if he has the strength in him but is afraid to use it or if he is truly incapable of killing his uncle. Furthermore, Hamlet analyzes his uncle's character by undermining his strengths: "My father's brother, ... no more like my father / Than I like Hercules" (1.2 157-158). Hamlet considers his uncle a complete disgrace to his family and a complete foil to his father. Thus, Hamlet highlights how the great differences between these characters are the same as between Hamlet and a figure of strength, masculinity, and power. Shakespeare uses similes because they allow Hamlet to reference his insecurity without fully facing it, as he can appear masculine outwardly by not showing weakness. Therefore, Hamlet feels deeply unmasculine but tries to hide it by only referring to it in subtle ways. Although Laertes and Hamlet lose their father and seek revenge, their ultimate ability to act demonstrates their relationship with masculinity. After losing his father and sister, Laertes declares: “I will not” (4.7 159). His simple but motivated response demonstrates his desire for revenge and his ease in taking action.Although he receives external pressure from Claudius, his motivation to act comes from his wish to honor his loved ones in his own right. Thus, Laertes has a strong relationship with masculinity, because he does not associate his action with his personal value and chooses to act for others. In contrast, Hamlet acts passively, giving excuses instead of killing his uncle. In the soliloquy of Act 4.4 of Hamlet, he states: "Now, whether it be / a bestial forgetfulness, or some cowardly scruple / a too precise thought about the event, / of a thought which, divided into four, has only one part of wisdom / and always three parts of cowardice, I do not do it. know / Why yet I live to say / 'This thing is to be done;' / Sith, I have cause, will, strength and means / Not to do it. Hamlet recognizes that he constantly pretends to consider killing his uncle when he is actually creating excuses out of fear. This contrasts with Laertes' attitude, as Hamlet is hesitant to act while Laertes is motivated and quick. Thus, Hamlet struggles with masculinity by creating a cycle: he wants to act but struggles with his strength, which causes him to delay action further, which makes him feel less masculine. Additionally, Hamlet is pressured by his father to kill his uncle, and although this serves as motivation, Hamlet ultimately acts for himself, forcing him to associate his actions with his masculinity. If Hamlet had acted solely for his father's honor, he would have killed Claudius at the first opportunity. However, he constantly wonders if he has the strength to do so, as his thoughts are "thrice cowardly". He seeks revenge because it will finally make him feel masculine, demonstrating non-masculinity because he does not seek to honor his family like Laertes. Hamlet is finally motivated to act when he sees Fortinbras. Fortinbras seeks to reclaim a plot of land taken from his father, his way of honoring his father and taking revenge. Reflecting on Fortinbras' army, Hamlet explains: "To my shame I see / the imminent death of twenty thousand men / who, for a fantasy and a ride of glory / go to their graves like beds, fight for a plot / against which numbers cannot try. the cause, which is not enough tomb and continent / to hide the slain? (4.4 62-68). Instead of not acting due to his insecurity, he sees Fortinbras as a true representation of masculinity and strength and is motivated to act. He will act to honor his father like Fortinbras. If so many men are willing to sacrifice themselves for this cause, he must do it too. Thus, Shakespeare uses the soliloquy in Act 4.4 of Hamlet as a turning point: one where Hamlet truly accepts his duty to take revenge. Hamlet is made to act more like Fortinbras' representation of masculinity. Therefore, although all three men face the same lost father struggle, their response demonstrates their interpretation of masculinity. Masculinity creates a vicious cycle of violence as men seek to act out their insecurities, often resulting in actions that do little to support their cause. Hamlet reveals to Horatio that he had Rosencrantz and Guildenstern killed: “Well, man, they made love for that job. / They are not near my conscience.” Hamlet feels no remorse for his childhood friends because Shakespeare uses irony because Hamlet kills people other than Claudius. His entire mission is to seek revenge, but he spends time plotting the deaths of other people whose ultimate goal was to help him. Therefore, Hamlet's sense of unmasculinity drives him to act towards others. He acts, realizes the ideal of masculinity in action, but this does not serve his purpose. Thus, his fear and his insecurity which lead him not to act to.