Hamlet is a play written by popular playwright William Shakespeare. In the play, Shakespeare explores the theme of vengeance through an interaction of various characters. The main character of the play is Hamlet. He is a protagonist seeking to avenge the death of his father. Hamlet’s character in the play is quite dynamic. This is due to the fact that it is a contrast between good and evil. In the beginning of the play, readers are introduced to Hamlet, an intelligent young man grieving the death of his father. However, as the play progresses, Shakespeare highlights a change in Hamlet’s character from good to evil.
This is due to the fact that Hamlet discovers that it was his uncle Claudius who murdered his father (Shakespeare 1. 5. 45-46). In this regard, he vows to avenge the death of his father (Shakespeare 1. 5. 35-37). Although Hamlet’s character in the play is full of faults stemming from his thirst for vengeance, he turns out to be the hero at the end of the play. This points out to a goodness in his character despite innumerable his weaknesses. Hamlet is a level headed thinker. In the beginning of the play, Shakespeare portrays Hamlet as a person with deep grief over the death of his father (Shakespeare 1. 2. ). Despite this, he is still able to let his intellect and logic guide his decision. This act portrays him as a level headed person able to think independently despite his emotions. Although Hamlet is suffering from the loss of his father, he refuses to let his emotions cloud his overall judgement. This is evident in the play when Hamlet first encounters his father, the Ghost. Although he is mentally convinced that the Ghost is his father manifested as a spirit, Hamlet does not out rightly believe in everything the Ghost tells him (Shakespeare 3. 2. 85-92). Instead, he turns on to the power of his intellect.
This is due to the fact that his father’s sentiments confuse his line of thought. The Ghost confides in Hamlet that his uncle Claudius murdered the king (Shakespeare 1. 5. 25). In addition, the Ghost down plays to Hamlet exactly how the new King Claudius enacted the murder of his brother, the late king. This revelation by the Ghost staggers Hamlet. His intellect tells him that the Ghost’s accusations could be false. However, his emotions tell him otherwise. Hence, to unearth the truth behind the Ghost’s revelation, Hamlet opts to stage a play where actors re-enact the King’s murder (Shakespeare 3. 2. -92). In this way, he would be able to determine Claudius guilt by observing his reaction to the play. This line of reasoning portrays Hamlet as a man full of wisdom. This is due to the fact that he is slow to condemn Claudius until he obtains evidence of his guilt. In so doing, Hamlet displays himself as a good person. Hamlet cherishes his father’s memory. At the beginning of the play, we see Hamlet opting to dress himself in black clothes to portray his grief over the death of his father. Even his mother Gertrude, the Queen of Denmark is perturbed by Hamlet’s display of grief (Shakespeare 1. 2. 70).
Hamlet out rightly mourns his father. In his view, his outward appearance couldn’t possibly compare to the deep pain he feels deep within him (Shakespeare 1. 2. 79-86). These words portray Hamlet’s deep endearment to his father. They make the audience share in his sorrow, hence further advancing the notion that Hamlet loved and admired the late king. In addition, Hamlet takes his time to grieve over his father. This is unlike his mother Gertrude, the Queen of Denmark and his uncle Claudius. The two are quick to mourn the death of the late king. This is due to the fact that Gertrude and Claudius marry a onth after the king’s demise.
This act deeply adds onto Hamlet’s sorrow. He compares it to treachery especially on the part of his mother. In his opinion, even an animal would have grieved longer than his mother, the wife to the late king, grieved (Shakespeare 1. 2. 154-156). This is due to the fact that the late king bestowed great tenderness to Queen Gertrude. This irrefutable display of affection for the late king proves that Hamlet is a good person. Hamlet is determined to avenge the death of his father At the beginning of the play, Hamlet opts to stage a play where ctors re-enact his father’s murder.
In so doing, he is able to determine Claudius guilt. This is due to the fact that Claudius storms out of the arena while the actors continued to downplay the late king’s murder. The re-enactment of the late king’s murder portrays Hamlet as a character who endeared to reflection. This is due to the fact that he couldn’t possibly commit to an action unless he is convinced of the absolute necessity of the action. Hence, one can conclude that his slow response to nugatory acts make him a good person. Upon compounding evidence sufficient to condemn Claudius, Hamlet esolves to avenge the death of his father by killing his uncle.
The fact that Hamlet contemplates killing his uncle Claudius to avenge the death of his father portrays his deep endearment to his father. In addition, it demonstrates his bravery to confront the truth. This is due to the fact that killing Claudius constitutes to murder, the very vice Hamlet wishes to fight against. However, this truth does not deter him from his mission. At the end of the play, Hamlet is finally able to avenge the death of his father. This is due to the fact that he stabs King Claudius to death (Shakespeare 5. . 352-353).
In addition, he pours the poisoned wine initially intended for him, down King Claudius throat (Shakespeare 5. 2. 356-357). Although many may view Hamlet as evil due to the fact that he murdered Claudius, it is important to note that he did not intentionally murder his uncle. Up until the very end of the play, Hamlet still contemplated sparing the life of Claudius. His act of stabbing the king was motivated by the death of his mother Gertrude, the Queen of Denmark. In addition, when Laertes cut him with a poisoned sword, Hamlet realized that he was bound to die.
Hence, there eemed to be no need for him to continue denying himself the revenge he had tirelessly sought against Claudius. Hence, he killed his uncle. Hamlet endears peace and justice In Act IV, Hamlet meets a Norwegian captain. This captain works on the command of Fortinbras. He is in the middle of strife. Concerned, Hamlet asks the Norwegian captain to explain to him the cause of dispute. The Norwegian captain briefs Hamlet that there was a looming war staged by Fortinbras over a piece of land. This news shocks Hamlet. This is due to the fact that, at that moment, Hamlet was suffering the consequences f his inaction.
Although Hamlet had long proved the guild of King Claudius over the death of his father, he was still unable to bring himself to murder his uncle. This is despite the overwhelming evidence sufficient for him to end the life of Claudius in a snap. This line of thinking portrays Hamlet’s endearment to peace. Hamlet was disgusted by the thought that Fortinbras was willing to sacrifice the lives of a multitude of people over a useless piece of land. In his opinion, this act by Fortinbras pointed to compounding facts of brutality in humanity.
These reservations posited by Hamlet over killing nnocent people further point out the goodness in his character. Conclusion In the play Hamlet, many innocent people were killed in a desire for vengeance. This is due to the fact that vengeance was the main theme of the play. The tragedy came in when Hamlet kept putting off his decision to execute Claudius. Although Hamlet chose to act in nobility by ensuring that his vengeance against Claudius was just, his delay in judgement re destruction of the lives of many people. Hence, it is on this ground that many people may mistake him for a bad person. n the This claim is however untrue.
This is due to the fact that Hamlet was a good man. He may have had flaws in his character attributed to the fact that in some instances, he broke the norm by engaging in acts that were morally incorrect. However, it is important to remember that Hamlet was an honest man. This is due to the fact that he tried his best to stage his vengeance against Claudius in a virtuous manner. In his view, killing Claudius not only avenged the death of his father. It also freed the people of Denmark from the reign of an evil king. This line of thinking brings out the goodness in Hamlet.
