Hamlet
Status: Protagonist of play, son of the murdered Old King Hamlet and to Queen Gertrude (who is currently married to Claudius) - high social hierarchical status
Main Purpose: To have vengeance for his dead father by murdering his killer, his brother Claudius
Analysis:
- An intellectual. He is deeply contemplative and thoughtful in nature which is seen with his constant fixation with unanswerable questions (particularly pertaining to death) and his philosophical questioning of what should be done or should be not (morals).
- Due to Hamlet’s constant overthinking and self-questioning regarding his morals/religion, he is very much inactive in pursuing his quest (through most of the play) and thus a notorious procrastinator. This is best exemplified by his continuous delay in murdering Claudius; he waits several months (moping around) before he decides to do something and when given a seemingly perfect opportunity to kill Claudius, he does not because of a rather weak reason he provides himself.
- Extremely complex and difficult to read. What makes Hamlet so fascinating as a characters stems from his sheer complexity and unreliability as a protagonist. Numerous questions arise in the play regarding Hamlet’s true motivations, his ideals, and his values. Examples of some of these questions include. Why does he wait so long before killing Claudius? Is Hamlet truly crazy or is all just an act? Does Hamlet love Ophelia and does he really hate women? What exactly is making Hamlet contemplate the thought of suicide? Can Hamlet be regarded as a “good” character with defined values even if he kills Polonius? What exactly are Hamlet’s religious/philosophical views (as they seem to contradict themselves throughout the play)?
- Impulsive and rash. Indeed, one of the most self-contradicting and conflicting sides of Hamlet’s personality is his unpredictability and irrationality. Throughout much of the play Hamlet is fairly reserved, self-restrained, and perhaps even a coward who does not appear in anyway to be dangerous of capable of violence (which is why Claudius underestimates Hamlet in the beginning and calls him “unmanly”). However, when he does act he acts with surprising swiftness with little to no forethought. This is best demonstrated when he stabs Polonius through the arras or his heated debacle with his mother regarding her marriage.
- Emotional, passionate, and overly dramatic. Simply be reading Hamlet’s speeches, one can feel the desperation, passion, and vibrancy within his voice. Even when speaking of topic that may be so somber and macabre (suicide, death, etc), he speaks with such authenticity and exhilaration that it is almost impossible not to be drawn away by his intense dialogue and impressive soliloquies.
- Hamlet is likable Due to Hamlet’s exaggerated, exciting, and charismatic personality he is very much liked among the people of Denmark. This is proven when Claudius goes to the extent of having Hamlet sent to England where he would be executed rather than at home where the impact of his death would be greater among the people.
- Hamlet is a good person but slightly unstable and stressed to the circumstances and quest that he is given. Hamlet is not naturally violent or mean, and this is seen when Hamlet apologizes to Laertes for doing him wrong (by killing Polonius) and he does so with great sincerity. Even Laertes recognizes his sincerity and accepts his “heart” but not his apology. Although he mistreats Ophelia and even Gertrude to a certain extent, it is mostly impart due to the stress and pressure he is under. Already in a fragile and unstable state due to the murder of his father and marriage of his mother, he feels betrayed by both Ophelia (for denying him refuge to profess his thoughts and following her father’s orders) and Gertrude (for her “incestuous affair” with Claudius). Then due to Hamlet’s overly dramatic and worldly pessimism, he extends this betrayal to all women. Overall, one would not feel sympathy or pity for Hamlet if he does not come across as a good-hearted character whose intentions and actions (or inaction) are swayed by overbearing circumstances and a tragic flaw in his personality (over thoughtfulness).
- Hamlet loves Ophelia. I established this point in my essay.
Main Purpose: To have vengeance for his dead father by murdering his killer, his brother Claudius
Analysis:
- An intellectual. He is deeply contemplative and thoughtful in nature which is seen with his constant fixation with unanswerable questions (particularly pertaining to death) and his philosophical questioning of what should be done or should be not (morals).
- Due to Hamlet’s constant overthinking and self-questioning regarding his morals/religion, he is very much inactive in pursuing his quest (through most of the play) and thus a notorious procrastinator. This is best exemplified by his continuous delay in murdering Claudius; he waits several months (moping around) before he decides to do something and when given a seemingly perfect opportunity to kill Claudius, he does not because of a rather weak reason he provides himself.
- Extremely complex and difficult to read. What makes Hamlet so fascinating as a characters stems from his sheer complexity and unreliability as a protagonist. Numerous questions arise in the play regarding Hamlet’s true motivations, his ideals, and his values. Examples of some of these questions include. Why does he wait so long before killing Claudius? Is Hamlet truly crazy or is all just an act? Does Hamlet love Ophelia and does he really hate women? What exactly is making Hamlet contemplate the thought of suicide? Can Hamlet be regarded as a “good” character with defined values even if he kills Polonius? What exactly are Hamlet’s religious/philosophical views (as they seem to contradict themselves throughout the play)?
- Impulsive and rash. Indeed, one of the most self-contradicting and conflicting sides of Hamlet’s personality is his unpredictability and irrationality. Throughout much of the play Hamlet is fairly reserved, self-restrained, and perhaps even a coward who does not appear in anyway to be dangerous of capable of violence (which is why Claudius underestimates Hamlet in the beginning and calls him “unmanly”). However, when he does act he acts with surprising swiftness with little to no forethought. This is best demonstrated when he stabs Polonius through the arras or his heated debacle with his mother regarding her marriage.
- Emotional, passionate, and overly dramatic. Simply be reading Hamlet’s speeches, one can feel the desperation, passion, and vibrancy within his voice. Even when speaking of topic that may be so somber and macabre (suicide, death, etc), he speaks with such authenticity and exhilaration that it is almost impossible not to be drawn away by his intense dialogue and impressive soliloquies.
- Hamlet is likable Due to Hamlet’s exaggerated, exciting, and charismatic personality he is very much liked among the people of Denmark. This is proven when Claudius goes to the extent of having Hamlet sent to England where he would be executed rather than at home where the impact of his death would be greater among the people.
- Hamlet is a good person but slightly unstable and stressed to the circumstances and quest that he is given. Hamlet is not naturally violent or mean, and this is seen when Hamlet apologizes to Laertes for doing him wrong (by killing Polonius) and he does so with great sincerity. Even Laertes recognizes his sincerity and accepts his “heart” but not his apology. Although he mistreats Ophelia and even Gertrude to a certain extent, it is mostly impart due to the stress and pressure he is under. Already in a fragile and unstable state due to the murder of his father and marriage of his mother, he feels betrayed by both Ophelia (for denying him refuge to profess his thoughts and following her father’s orders) and Gertrude (for her “incestuous affair” with Claudius). Then due to Hamlet’s overly dramatic and worldly pessimism, he extends this betrayal to all women. Overall, one would not feel sympathy or pity for Hamlet if he does not come across as a good-hearted character whose intentions and actions (or inaction) are swayed by overbearing circumstances and a tragic flaw in his personality (over thoughtfulness).
- Hamlet loves Ophelia. I established this point in my essay.