Atalie Delapaz

Professor

English 1302

2 April 2019

Hamlet

Hamlet is a sympathetic character, and this can be seen in the first two acts of the story. Hamlet being a tragic hero must have been in situations that need sympathy as he is an innocent individual trying to make the revenge of his father. Hamlet is troubled, and this can be seen from Claudius caring words as Hamlet is introduced in the play, “How is it that the clouds still hang on you.” At this point, Hamlet is grieving the death of his father and thus dons a “knighted color” in both his dressing and mood and this mourning makes the audience to pity Hamlet. Greater compassion for Hamlet is felt when the audience discovers that he is left to mourn for his father alone as Gertrude his mother appears to have ended the mourning period. It is not right for a close person to terminate their emotions in such a short time especially to the loved ones, but Gertrude seems to sweep over the subject of death by simply stating that “all that lives must die.” All through the play, Hamlet makes the vengeance plans alone, and this makes the audience to pity him more as it proves dangerous as the days progress.

Vengeance is not simple and may take a while, but in the play, Hamlet takes a long time to complete his revenge, and this makes the audience impatient. There are so many instances that he has had very close chances of killing Claudius, but he does not execute his plans. Hamlet’s vengeance comes as a chance that was brought about by the circumstances but not as he had planned. I also tend to disagree with him for questioning the ghost as he does not believe it. He seems like a coward and does not want to revenge his father’s death. Although there is some justification for questioning the ghost words, it further delays the process of justice. Even after learning that Claudius wants to kill him, he does not act immediately.

In act 3 scene 1, Hamlet behaves so cruelly towards Ophelia after his “To be or not be” soliloquy because she has lied to him. Hamlet asks Ophelia where her father is, and she continues to give an obvious lie “At home, my lord.” Hamlet is aware that Ophelia is spying at him and he knows that whatever he says will be known to Claudius and Gertrude and therefore he has to act crazy and angry to misdirect the King’s spies and at the same time to vent his anger towards Gertrude’s incestuous relationship with his husband’s killer. Hamlet’s behavior affects my view of him in that despite taking too long to revenge; he is also angry with his mother for sleeping with the enemy. Hamlets directly confront his mother more than Ophelia in that soliloquy. Hamlet, therefore, acts intelligently going through Ophelia to reach his mother and avenge his mother’s sins.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. Hamlet William SHAKESPEARE. By Label AA-Prod/Edits (Artmusiclitte) 2015, 2016.