“Pain is the price we pay for love.” Queen Elizabeth II Overcoming the grief one feels after losing a loved one is a physically and mentally agonizing task. According to Dr. Christina Hibbert, a clinical psychologist and graduate of the California School of Professional Psychology, three main stages of grief include anger, depression, and acceptance. Each of these emotions can be seen in Hamlet and his Descendants by William Shakespeare (2011, Payne) as the artists explore the effects of grief and the different emotional responses one can have due to the loss of a loved one. Furthermore, in Ismail Kadare's Broken April, the Berisha family experiences the suffering associated with unexpected death, as well as the various temperamental reactions one has after losing a loved one. Each of these works of art represents a powerful example of the stages one goes through after experiencing the intense pain associated with death, as well as the inevitable effects of grief. After the death of old Hamlet and Gertrude's remarriage to Claudius, Hamlet feels extremely angry and bitter. “How tired, stale, flat and useless / All the uses in the world seem to me!” (1.2.133-134). Due to his father's death, he is already in a state of despair and the lack of sympathy his mother has towards his pain does not help him recover from this stage of grief. “Good Hamlet, cast away thy knightly colour, / And let thy eye look a friend upon Denmark” (1.2.68-69). Hamlet is struggling to accept how Gertrude is responding to Old Hamlet's death; she seems quite content with her new life with Claudius, which is a difficult concept for him to accept after the d... middle of paper... during these stages of grief. The loss of a loved one is a painful experience and the effects of grief can be very difficult to overcome. However, when you begin to accept death, you also begin to gain a type of strength that will help you cope with other struggles you may encounter throughout your life. Works Cited Kadare, Ismail. Broken April. Chicago: New Amsterdam Books, 1990.Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Ed. Ciro Hoy. 2nd ed. New York: Norton, 1992.1-101.The Descendants. Alexander Payne. Fox Searchlight Pictures., 2011.Kiefer, Dale and George Krucik. “Depression and Relationships.” Health line. NP, March 29. 2012. Web 26 May 2014. reports>. “The 5 Stages of Grief.” Dr. Christina Hibbert. Np, nd Web. May 26, 2014. http://www.drchristinahibbert.com>.