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Hamlet
In most instances, literary artists use various styles to develop their characters. Certain literary works tend to evoke deep scrutiny by the reader especially when the hero in the text shares certain distinct traits with the reader. In his Hamlet, Shakespeare’s intention was to achieve a relative effect in his audience. Using his character, he succeeds in shedding light about different types of behavioral flaws that have devastating implications on the holistic wellbeing of the hero in the long run. Using this, he explores various human flaws that equally affect their functioning in different ways. Hamlet is a hero who is not only reflective but also contemplative in nature. Regardless of this, he exhibits a certain behavioral flaw pertaining to his tendency to act on his convictions. This culminates in a state of imbalance between his passive as well as active natures. Thus although he tries hard to live a humane life, the relative tragic flaws lead him to a tragic end.
As aforementioned, Hamlet exhibits both good and bad characters. Notably, he is a very complex character who displays various behaviors throughout the play. In chapter one, he is presented to the audience as a very sensitive and young prince who mourns his father’s death. His despair is further perpetuated by the fact that his mother gets married to his uncle immediately. At this point, he suffers from immense grief and experiences disabling feelings of frustration and anger. This has a great impact on the reader as it evokes feelings of sympathy. According to Corum, Hamlet is introduced to the audience as being not only complex but also very conflicted (43). Seemingly, his tragedy starts developing at these early stages in the novel.
The intense anger and grief that Hamlet experiences as a result of his mothers marriage makes him to have suicidal thoughts. The suicidal thoughts are a weakness and a demonstration of cowardice. These thoughts later subside hen he realizes that killing is a religious as well as mortal sin. Arguably, his decision not to commit suicide indicates that it is balanced against a sense of morality. This is paradoxical and it implies that the hero is struggling with some inner conflict. Accordingly, the inner turmoil and conflicts contributes significantly to the eventual downfall of Hamlet.
Hamlet also believes that he is responsible for dethroning his uncle Claudius in a bid to become the next king of Denmark. The inherent revenge according to him would enable him to address the pain regarding the incestuous relationship of his mother and finally be able to reinstate the honor of his family. The thoughts are further solidified when his father’s ghost appears to him. The ghost of his father informs him (Hamlet) about his killer; the killer took away his queen, crown and life. This makes hamlet to promise to kill his uncle without punishing or harming his mother. He vows to the ghost that he would pursue the revenge regardless of the cost. According to Griffiths, the adamant decision is tragic and triggers a series of other activities that ultimately culminate in his downfall (65).
After Hamlet has made the promise, most of the vents that occur culminate from his character. In Act III, all the characters that are linked to Hamlet in different ways work against him. When Ophelia meets him, the main intention for this is to allow his father and Claudius to spy on his regarding his mental state. Gertrude on the other hand agrees to hold a talk with him in order to allow Claudius to watch him. Further, his close friends Guildenstern and Rosencrantz pledge their allegiance to Claudius and they agree to spy on Hamlet by observing him. At this stage, everybody that Hamlet had trusted and relied upon in the past begins lying to him.
Nonetheless, in his soliloquy, Hamlet contemplates the issue of loyalty in relation to staging a fight against evil. Hamlet at this point in time struggles to maintain acceptable moral standards. This is however in stark contrast with his activities as well as those of the rest of the characters. At this point in time, hamlet is aware that Guildenstern and Rosencrantz are Claudius’ spies. With this knowledge, he is able to manipulate the situation to his benefit by providing Claudius with wrong information. He also suspects that the interest of Ophelia in him might not be genuine. With regard to Gertrude, hamlet acts cautiously but puts inconsideration the vow and promise that he made to the ghost.
As the play progresses, Claudius continues with his plot against hamlet. Hamlet on the other hand continues to postpone his decision to pursue revenge. This according to Griffiths goes a long way in reinforcing the hero’s tragic character flaw. He has repeated internal conflicts regarding mankind, loyalty and life and death. These prevent him form pursuing what h had initially vowed to. Although he understands that no one at this point in time supports him, he is reluctant about finding the fastest way to pursue his revenge. Rather, he uses every opportunity that crops up to promote his state of mental illness. This is well exemplified in scene three of Act 111 (Griffiths 56). In this, hamlet comes across Claudius contemplating the murder of his brother and wondering whether he would ever be accorded penance. Hamlet at this stage refrains from killing his uncle and chooses to wait. This is because he believes that just like his father; Claudius also needs to die in a sinful state.
In situations that need thorough contemplation, hamlet acts in a very impulsive manner. A classic example in this regard pertains to the scenario where he thinks that he hears a rat trying to listen to the dialogue that he has with his mother. Without thinking about this, he draws his sword and stabs Polonius. He is however interrupted by the Ghost’s appearance that reminds him of his promise with regard to harming his mother. Seemingly, his actions and activities are to a great extent manipulated that forces that are external to his wellbeing. Another example is apparent in Act 1. In particular, he threatens his friends and chooses to follow a ghost that could be potentially harmful to the forest. This is done without any contemplation regarding the implication of his behavior. To a great extent, this also implies that he experiences an imbalance between rational thoughts and activities. In conclusion, the inner conflicts regarding morality and immorality contributes significantly to the suffering of Hamlet. As it has come out from the study, the inherent gap between rational thoughts and actions influence him to make irrational decisions that culminate to his tragic end at the end of the play.
Works Cited
Corum Richard. Understanding Hamlet: A Student Casebook to Issues, sources and Historical Documents. USA: Greenwood Press, 1998. Print.
Griffiths Huw. Shakespeare: Hamlet. USA: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004. Print.
