Hamlet Character Analysis

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.

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

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.

In the tragedy play Hamlet written by Shakespeare, Hamlet’s character and emotions changed various times. In Act 1 Hamlet was portrayed as weak and in a deep grief about his father’s death. In lines 78-86 as a response to his mother unsympathetic comment, Hamlets states, “Seems madam? Nay it is. I know not ‘seems.’ Tis not alone my inky cloak, good-mother, Nor customary suits of solemn black, Nor windy suspiration of forced breath, No, nor the fruitful river in the eye, Nor the dejected haviour of the visage, Together with all the forms, moods, shows of grief  That can denote me truly. These indeed ‘seem’, For they are actions that a man might play; But I have that within which passeth slowly-these but the trappings and the suits of woe.” In these lines, Hamlet explains that his visible signs of grief are nothing compared to how he feels inside. Hamlet not only offers the first illustration of the anguish and emotions of his character, but encompasses much of the universal experience of grieving. He doesn’t show it externally, but he was struggling with painful emotions internally. Act 2 Hamlet was seen as a very vengeful person due to the fact that his uncle murder his father just to be king. In line 611-616 Hamlet states,” Why, what an ass am I! This is most brave, That I, the son of a dear father murdered, Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell,

In Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Hamlet plays the main character of a prince who loses his father and his heir to the throne. Hamlet experiences troubling events that affect his irrational behavior. Stylistically, Hamlet’s character is both beautiful and poetic. Realistically, Hamlet may have suffered from a psychological disorder and several complexes. Hamlet is affected by Bipolar I disorder, causing him to act irritably and have an elevated mood. He is also a victim of Freud’s Oedipus complex which makes it harder for him to accept his mother’s remarriage. Hamlet’s hatred toward Ophelia and his mother is a result of his subconscious overwhelming hatred and fear of femininity. These psychological disorders and complexes that Hamlet suffers from show why he acts as he does.

“Mad as the sea and wind when both contend. Which is the mightier. In his lawless fit, Behind the arras hearing something stir, whips out his rapier, cries “A rat, a rat,” And in this brainiac apprehension kills The unseen good old man.”

In William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, the combination of characters’ weaknesses and circumstances lead to their downfall. Weaknesses will always exist in characters, although they go unnoticed and do not have any true impact until they are highlighted by unfortunate circumstances. These emphasized weaknesses ultimately lead to the characters’ downfall. Claudius’ ambition, Ophelia’s obedience and Hamlet’s tendency to overthink all lead to their downfalls in the play.

In Hamlet: Prince of Denmark, Shakespeare uses the tragic hero to contribute to the tragic vision of the work, through the suffering brought upon other characters from Hamlet such as, Ophelia, Laertes, and Gertrude. The story takes place in Elsinore, Denmark. In the late middle ages around and in the royal palace.

On the other hand, Ophelia appears to be obedient and submissive. In fact, she seems to be exceedingly deferential, as she obeys everything Laertes and Polonius say. For example, when Polonius orders her to stay away from Hamlet and ignore his love vows, she replies, “I shall obey, my lord” (I.iv.124-145). Furthermore, she refers to her father as “my lord,” which implies Polonius has her on a leash (I.iv.145). Perhaps this line also means that she has no free will and thinks in the interests of her father instead of for herself. It is difficult for a reader to contemplate how a subordinate like Ophelia could have a critical role later in the play. Nevertheless, another prominent female character comes off as

Throughout the play Hamlet carries on an unhappy and demoralized role. As the play continues on Hamlet displays the anger he has toward his new dad and his mom as while as Ophelia. Shakespeare shows how unhappy both Ophelia and Hamlet are when Ophelia says “But, good my brother, Do not, as some ungracious pastors do… Himself primrose path of dalliance treads and recks not his own rede” (i.iii.45-50).Ophelia is saying to not be fake and want to do something but not commit to it. She is trying to point out that Hamlet gives out one idea but will not continue on with it. Hamlet demonstrates great sarcasm that presents bitter hatred towards himself and his uncle like when he said “You cannot sir, take from me anything… except my life, except my life” (ii.ii.214-216).Hamlet is upset with his mom and uncle because of how fast they came together after his father’s death. Since Claudius then becomes his dad and takes Hamlet’s spot as king, Hamlet tells Polonius that he already took everything from him and there is no more he could take from him except his life. The sarcastic bitterness used throughout the play Hamlet displays how many emotions affect the play in various ways.

In numerous stories, characters go through internal and external conflicts. Some conflicts surround their inner thoughts and others are a part of the outside world. In the story Hamlet, the leading character, Hamlet, was in a deranged state of mind. Hamlet’s mind becomes twisted and dark because he seeks revenge on the people who did his father and himself wrong. In the story, it asserts, "in my heart there was a kind of fighting" (5.2.4). This quote hints insanity since he said there is fighting in his heart that would not let him sleep. Some could argue that Hamlet was just acting insane for attention, but the real case was that Hamlet was actually unbalanced due to his father’s death, the marriage between his mother and uncle, and all

Everyone can agree that Hamlet is a classic piece of literature. However, there are many aspects of the play that are confusing. Horatio is introduced in the first scene of the play, he is talking to some guards about a strange occurrence. He is brought in as a scholar of good report to identify what is happening. Fortinbras on the other hand, is first heard of gathering random men to fight for him. He is referred to as young and untested. We see him only one more time before his appearance at the end of the play. At the end of the play Fortinbras comes in and is made king. It feels cheap, like Shakespeare had an extra character floating around and decided to make him the new king, even though Horatio would have made a great king. Why then, is he just pushed aside for Fortinbras. Throughout the entire play Horatio is right in the middle of everything. He knows everything that has happened from the very beginning of the play. Fortinbras has been off taking over some unimportant piece of land. So why, then, is he allowed to just swoop in at the end and take the position of king. Even Hamlet just pushes Horatio aside and throws his hat in with Fortinbras. Horatio had to put up with a lot of things throughout the play and at the end instead of getting a reward of appropriate size befitting his deeds, Hamlet just tells him to “tell my story”(V.ii.314). There are a lot of characters that get thrown to the wayside but Horatio gets it the worst. Horatio had connections to the old royalty and he was well known to be level-headed and a scholar.

In William Shakespeare's play The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, the complex character of Hamlet is slowly revealed through his reactions to the circumstances around him. Throughout the play Shakespeare allows the reader to see into Hamlet’s thoughts as he manages the tragedies in his life. The reader follows Hamlet as he attempts to cope with the loss of his father and chance of being king. Although Hamlet appears to be mentally unstable, his actions are a result of his hopelessness and bitterness, not madness.