Hamlet and Hotspur are both faced with unescapable deaths in both of their plays. Hotspur's death had a large part to do with the ending of Henry IV. It gave the story an acceptable climax that leaves an audience pleased. I will address Hamlet's struggle with death much like Hotspurs; two men on missions that will stop at nothing until their job is complete. It is Hamlet's decisions, based on his views on life and people, that lead him to taking the actions that he does, and ultimately lead him on a course to death. Hamlet's views on the corruption of society, his beliefs about life, and his inability to trust people are the three things that most strongly affect his actions throughout the play.
             As the play progresses, Hamlet becomes more and more conscience of corruption in society simply by tracing what Claudius has done. At the beginning Hamlet comes to terms with the fact that his uncle, Claudius, has murdered his father, King Hamlet, and married his wife, Gertrude. The ghost refers to Claudius as: "As serpent who did sting they father's life... That incestuous, adulterate beast.(1:5:39, 1107). Hamlet at this point is enraged with the new king's corruption and would like to see him dead. Further in the play, Hamlet overhears the king praying for forgiveness from God for what he has done: "Forgive me foul murder"(3:3:53, 1127). Hamlet is outraged at the fact that after Claudius would have the nerve to ask God for forgiveness after committing murder and adultery. The incident just furthers Hamlet's ambition to kill the king and in a way, himself. In Act V the king watches as the queen drinks down the poison that he had placed for Hamlet to drink, but he does nothing to try and save her. "Thy mother's poisoned...The King, the King's to blame" (5:2:322-323, 1148). It is Hamlet's recognition of the corruption in his own castle that leads to his acti...