In a piece of writing, particularly in Shakespeare's writings, there is always a theme or subject of the writing. The theme can be a piece of writing, a person's contemplations, or an exposition. There are many themes in the writings of William Shakespeare, especially Macbeth and Hamlet, ranging from the lust for power to free will and everything in between. The writings of Macbeth and Hamlet contain many moral principles and teachings. Of all of Shakespeare's great tragedies, Hamlet and Macbeth are the most significant because of the constant themes in these writings. Hamlet contains many themes that establish the plot of this writing. The first theme that Hamlet contains is moral corruption and dysfunction within the family and community. Hamlet is urged by his mother and King Claudius to revive his spirit. However, this causes problems with his family because he is furious at how quickly his mother remarried after the death of his father, King Hamlet. Hamlet's family dysfunction continues when he learns how his father died. King Hamlet's ghost tells Hamlet how he was murdered by his brother, King Claudius. King Claudius' killing of King Hamlet is revealed during the Mousetrap play. Later, Hamlet mistakenly kills Polonius after antagonizing his mother for her deception. King Claudius then asks England to kill Hamlet. All of these actions tie together the theme of immoral conduct and the ruin of Hamlet's family and community. (“Teacher Resources.” Themes in Hamlet. Np, nd Web. March 28, 2014.) The second theme found in Hamlet is the thought of revenge and the actions taken to obtain revenge. Starting in Act 1, scene 5, Hamlet fears the burden he now carries due to his father's request... middle of paper ......thee of characters from William Shakespeare's writings. The themes are intended to teach a moral or clarify a point that certainly recurs throughout William Shakespeare's writings. Works Cited Bloom, Harold. Hamlet by William Shakespeare. New York: Chelsea House, 1986. Print.Bloom, Harold. Macbeth by William Shakespeare. New York: Chelsea House, 1986. Print.Fawkner, Harald William. Deconstructing Macbeth: the hyperontological vision. Rutherford: Farleigh Dickinson UP, 1990. Print. Kinsella, Kate. Prentice Hall Literature: Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes. Upper SaddleRiver, NJ: Pearson Education, 2002. Print.Shakespeare, William and Sylvan Barnet. The tragedy of Macbeth. NewYork: New AmericanLibrary, 1963. Print. ("Supernatural in Shakespeare's Plays." Supernatural in Shakespeare's Plays. Np, nd Web. March 27. 2014.)