Character Analysis Of Hamlet

Complete desolation, agony and laughter are only some of the emotions brought to the reader’s attention whilst reading William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Born in 1564, the world’s most famous playwright has written many renowned pieces of theatre, with Hamlet arguably being the most celebrated. The drama follows the sufferings of a young prince by the name of Hamlet. His father, the king, has just died, and his uncle, Claudius, has taken the throne and married Hamlet’s mother and father’s widow, Gertrude, just a few days after the funeral of the previous king. Hamlet detests Claudius and describes him as a goat-man, not even a human. By examining several passages from throughout the play, one can conclude that Claudius’ character clarifies Hamlet’s

Throughout the play, Hamlet’s character is characterized both by periods of extreme caution and moments of impulsivity. One of the best examples of Hamlet’s heed can be found in Act 2, Scene 2 where he decides to have his theatre troupe perform his play, The Mousetrap. With this, Hamlet hopes that he will be able to “catch the conscience of the King,” by monitoring Claudius during the performance, that heavily mimics his murder of his brother, for signs of stress and guilt. While Hamlet was fully capable of bypassing this step by simply adhering to what he believes is the ghost of his father, Hamlet’s decision to unearth some sort of evidence that supports his father’s accusations is just one example of his cautious ways and need for certainty before action. However, such displays of caution find themselves juxtaposed with Hamlet’s bouts of impulsivity. One of the most telling illustrations of Hamlet’s rashness can be found in Act One, Scene Five, where he first conversing with the ghost of his father. Here, when the Ghost asks Hamlet to “revenge his foul and most unnatural murder,” Hamlet immediately agrees. In fact, within the next few lines Hamlet pledges he will “sweep to my revenge” with “wings as swift as meditation or the thoughts of love”. The fact that Hamlet coins this commitment to avenge his father’s murder without making much of any consideration of the possible repercussions of such an undertaking is one of the best representations of Hamlet’s impulsivity. This rash action, marked by a lack of extended over-analysis and internal debate, contrasts with the excessive caution Hamlet exhibits at many other points throughout the play. Ultimately, the interplay between Hamlet’s caution and impulsivity is one of the most notable juxtapositions of the play and serves to strongly steer the development, not only of

The final way that Laertes acts as a foil to Hamlet occurs once again when Claudius and Laertes are discussing Laertes’ actions to achieve his vengeance. Claudius gives Laertes advice saying, “That we would do/ we should do when we would; for this ‘would’/ changes” (4.7.134-136). Claudius is warning Laertes that if he waits long enough, he will probably end up not doing anything at all and will not achieve his goal of vengeance. This quote spoken by Claudius is quite similar to when King Hamlet’s ghost meets with Hamlet earlier in the play to warn him about how he was killed by Claudius and that he must get revenge. King Hamlet’s ghost also warns Hamlet saying, “Taint not thy mind” (1.5.92), telling him to not over think his plan because otherwise he will not pursue his vengeance. After Claudius warns Laertes to not get side tracked, the audience is reminded of King Hamlet’s ghost telling Hamlet to not over think because then their plans will not be pursued. This scene acts as a foil towards Hamlet because soon after the conversation, Laertes does pursue his plan of seeking vengeance, whereas Hamlet has been working on his plan the whole play, and has still not started to execute it.

“To be, or not to be, that is the question,” (3.1.64). This famous line in William Shakespeare's Hamlet perfectly encapsulates Hamlet’s internal struggle throughout the play. Hamlet tells the story of the young prince of Denmark and his desire for revenge on the uncle, Claudius, who murdered his father. As is the case in many works of literature, Hamlet changes greatly throughout the play. However, because of his attempts to act insane, it can be difficult to precisely map the changes in Hamlet’s character. By carefully investigating his seven soliloquies, where he is alone and has no need to “put on an antic disposition,” one can understand and interpret how Hamlet’s character develops throughout the play.

Hamlet proves himself a temperamental, twisted character in William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet. The Prince of Denmark conveys his facetious demeanor with his behavior and sharp tongue, especially in scenes with Ophelia and Gertrude. Although Hamlet’s situation is difficult and easily sympathized by viewers, his aggression should ultimately be focused on his murderous uncle.

A lot of people would see insanity and corruption to play the most important role in Hamlet. However, other people may argue that the main theme in Hamlet is Shakespeare’s use of actors and acting and the way it is used as framework on which insanity and corruption are built. Shakespeare demonstrates the theme of actors and acting in his characters, the illusion that the individuals assume and the introduction of the ‘play within a play’. This connection allows certain characters to wield the actions and thoughts of others.

In the conclusion of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the audience gains an understanding of the importance of Justice to each character. In the final act both Hamlet and Laertes seek to find justice for the wrongs committed against them and their families. This leaves both men trying to identify how to right these misdeeds

Hamlet’s personality, while hinted at by other characters and his own actions, remains something of an enigma throughout the play. His soliloquies are necessary, therefore, to gain a fuller understanding of it. One of two main aspects of his personality revealed this way can be found in the most iconic lines of the play. Hamlet is shown to be depressed before the “to be or not to be” soliloquy, but it is this speech in which he shows the depth of his grapple with life. He contemplates killing himself outright, questioning “[w]hether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer [t]he slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, [o]r to take arms against a sea of troubles, [a]nd, by opposing, end them?” (Act 3, Sn. 1, ln. 58-61). This soliloquy exposes the depressed mood he has had throughout the play up to this point and shows it for what it really is. Another key point of Hamlet’s personality emphasized through soliloquy is his devout loyalty to his father, the king. When Hamlet speaks to the ghost of his father, his suspicions seem to be true: Claudius, the king’s brother, murdered the king in order to gain his crown. Upon learning this, Hamlet is initially shocked, but then flies into a rage, cursing his uncle and calling him a “smiling, damned villain” (Act 1, Sn. 5, ln. 25-112). The fact that Hamlet is willing to kill his own uncle in order to avenge his father goes great lengths to show his devotion. It is clear from this that loyalty is a crucial element of Hamlet’s character. As well as allowing the audience a much better understanding of what type of person Hamlet is, this insight into his personality gives a glimpse of his

Many view Hamlet, the main character, in Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet as a hero. He portrays characteristics that prove to the reader that he does possess heroic qualities. Although, it is a struggle for him throughout the play, but as he goes through life and learns new ways of coping things, he develops new characteristics that he didn’t have in the beginning. Hamlet learns to overcome his anxiety, depression, and anger. In the end, he learns how to be calm and collected. The way Hamlet learns how to handle internal conflicts throughout the play, shows the readers a realistic view of the difficult encounters one may have when learning to cope with different

Will Hamlet accept the new changes in his life? What is he capable of to be happy? After his father’s death, Hamlet will have to face the new changes in his hometown, Denmark. Shakespeare develops Hamlet’s character in relation to other characters in these soliloquies.

During the course of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”, the character of young Hamlet exemplifies an often puzzling and ambivalent persona. During the play, Hamlet is often contradicting of himself. By role-playing, or self-fashioning, Hamlet is able to balance his virtues in order to stay true to himself. This is demonstrated by his decisions to act upon something, as well as his inactions to not act upon something. The obscurity of Hamlet’s mannerisms are displayed within two conflicting personas: one that is perceived as calm and rational; the other displaying utter madness and loss of control. These conflicting behaviors are revealed within Hamlet’s internal struggles—to kill those responsible for his father’s murder, or to act responsibly and virtuous, and await further proof of their guilt. Throughout the play, Hamlet teeters on the brink of insanity induced by his actions, or inactions, but never actually crosses the threshold of insanity by balancing the virtues of "playing a role" and self fashioning, with looking at his own sense of self to rationalize his actions throughout the play.

In this essay I will be explaining where and when Hamlet talks about certain characters, to help explain how he thinks about them (ex: King Hamlet, Claudius, and Gertrude). This essay will help to explain Hamlet as well as his thought process throughout the book (story).

In the tragedy of Hamlet Shakespeare uses loaded language and actions that heavily impact the mental appearance of his characters. His choices make the characters change by implementing a wide variety in the descriptive words and gruesome acts that impact the overall feel of the characters. This change can make some characters that started out with clear goals in mind change before the audiences eyes; making the characters change between a state of madness to clarity and serenity in a blink of an eye. His choices in words and actions change his characters dramatically between madness and serenity to show the levity and frailty of human emotions; which helps entrap the audience in the play and changes the overall feeling the play gives to the audience.

The theme of acting or “playing” is widespread throughout Shakespeare’s masterfully written play Hamlet. As Hamlet himself played the act of a madman to further his ulterior motives against the new King, Claudius. The evidence that Hamlet’s madness is deliberately feigned is shown throughout as Hamlet changes the perception of himself to the people closest to him, completely by his own design. After learning that his father, the King was murdered by his uncle who then became the King he vows to “put an antic disposition on” (1.1.170-172). This quote along with many other remarks shows that Hamlet’s madness is an act of deception, fabricated to draw away attention from his dubious activities as he tries to gain evidence against Claudius.

In Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the protagonist had a very long, physical, and emotional journey of much toil. Hamlet first found out that his father had died and that his mother had soon thereafter married his father’s brother Claudius. He after found out that Claudius had killed his father and was obsessed with avenging him. Through this Hamlet descends into madness and has almost everyone against him. He impulsively kills Polonius with a stab through a curtain thinking that it was his Uncle. He is then sent away and finds a letter that shows that the people with him are to kill him and he sends it somewhere else with a different meaning. He then realizes how many people are really against him and working behind his back. He throughout the course of this play loses trust in everyone and goes completely mad. This especially happening after Hamlet figures out that the love of his life Ophelia has died. This causing him to have his last step of emotional toil to madness. After this he has a duel with Ophelia’s brother Laertes.In this duel Claudius and Laertes secretly conspire to poison Hamlet. However Hamlet’s mother accidentally drinks the poisoned wine and dies. Laertes slashes Hamlet with a poisoned sword. After this Hamlet realizes that his mother has been poisoned and he kills Laertes and then finally kills Claudius by making him drink the same poisoned wine that killed his mother. All of these events of emotional and physical toil contribute to the final overall meaning of the play.