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Essay on Internal and External Conflict in Hamlet

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In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare conflict plays a very significant role. The play’s main protagonist, Hamlet, possesses both internal and external conflict due to the fact that he is fighting his inner conscience and suppressing his inner emotions, and he is seeking revenge on and conflicting with many other characters in the play. These internal and external conflicts this character is experiencing affect those around him. They also shape the events that occur in the drama and contribute to the overall outcome. Hamlet experiences a tremendous amount of internal conflict throughout the play. He is constantly debating whether or not he should face his troubles. This sense of uncertainty comes from a lack of self confidence, …show more content…

He fights his gut feelings and suppresses his emotions until he misses his chances which he then hates himself for doing. These feelings of uncertainty stem from another inner conflict he is experiencing which has to do with how angry he really feels about his father’s death, and how his mother marries the man who Hamlet believes to have killed him. As a result of all of these inner conflicts, Hamlet shuts out the people who love him, and shuts out all feelings of love. An example of this is how Hamlet treats Ophelia. Hamlet really adores Ophelia, but the internal conflict he is experiencing has left him feeling lost and frustrated causing him to take out his anger on her. The external conflicts Hamlet experiences are a direct result of the conflict he feels within himself. Many external conflicts occur in this play. However, the main conflict is between Hamlet and Claudius. Hamlets anger towards Claudius is being driven by his intense emotions and anxiety in the event of losing his father. Hamlet believes Claudius has taken everything from him, and he is on a mission to get revenge. Claudius is being driven by two things, his naturally cynical and greedy nature, and his thirst for power. These are what drive him to great lengths to ensure Hamlet never gets his way. Hamlet on the other hand, is the exact opposite of Claudius in every other aspect except one. Hamlet, like Claudius possesses the ability to be cold and calculative. Both characters can

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