Hamlet Character Essay

Hamlet Character Analysis
Hamlet is arguably one of the most complex characters created to date. From the beginning of the
famous Shakespearean play, Hamlet demonstrates his enigmatic and life–like personality. He is
filled with intelligence, loyalty, and strategic ability, but is also cursed with depression, rage, self
hatred, and an inability to act. These are the qualities that helped Shakespeare construct such a
realistic persona while also leading the beloved prince of Denmark to his untimely death.
Sometimes, while analyzing this popular play, Hamlet's good qualities get swept under his madness.
For example, his level of intelligence gets far less attention than it deserves. Aside from excelling
at the University of Wittenberg, the most prevalent case of his strong intellect is when he
successfully convinced everyone in the kingdom that he was crazy. By doing so, Hamlet knew that
Claudius would be thrown off and not catch on to the fact that he knew of the King's crime. Proof
that this was Hamlet's plan all along is in 1, 5, 170–182 where Hamlet says, "Here, as before, never,
so help you mercy, How strange or odd soe'er I bear myself (As I perchance hereafter shall think
meet To put an antic disposition on), That you, at such times seeing me, never shall– With arms
encumbered thus, or this headshake, Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase, As "Well, well,
we know," or "We could an if we would," Or "If we list to speak," or "There be an if they might," Or
such ambiguous giving out–to note That you know aught of me. This not to do,...". This quote also
exhibits his strategic ability and the method behind his madness. Another good quality Hamlet
shows is his loyalty. When asked by his deceased father to avenge his death, Hamlet, who always
loved his father, immediately agreed and eventually carried out this daunting task. Most people
would turn a blind eye and pretend as if the ghost was all in their head, but he was so loyal to his
father that he felt it was his duty to carry through with the deed.
Of course Hamlet wasn't made up of all good qualities, in fact most of his were negative, depression
being the most obvious. "To be, or not to be, that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to
suffer The slings and arrows
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Foil Characters In Hamlet Essay
Each character in a book has some sort of importance whether big or small and it is the reader's
job to find out what roles the different characters have. It is rare for a character to have no
importance; there is always a reason why a certain character is put into a story. In Hamlet,
Shakespeare does a phenomenal job of showing the roles and interactions between his many
characters. In Hamlet, many of the characters' motives are questioned and are essentially the main
part of the play. Trust, loyalty, and revenge come to mind when talking about the characters and
themes. Each character in some way connects to one of those themes. Laertes acts as a foil and
antagonist towards Hamlet, and these two roles tie him to the central themes of loyalty...show more
content...
Hamlet tries to be loyal towards his father, but he has absolutely no problem turning against his
mother without any evidence of her malfeasance. Hamlet automatically sees the worst in his family.
Laertes, on the other hand, wants to help his whole family and shows a bit more respect for them.
For instance, he tries to warn Ophelia about going out with Hamlet. He does not do this to control
her or to denigrate Hamlet; instead he does this in hopes of protecting her:
Perhaps he loves you now,
And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch
The virtue of his will, but you must fear.
His greatness weighed, his will is not his own,
For he himself is subject to his birth.
He may not, as unvalued persons do,
Carve for himself, for on his choice depends The safety and health of this whole state. (1.3.17–24)
He tells her that even if Hamlet does love her, he cannot marry her because she is not a princess.
He does not want to discomfit her or see her get hurt. Hamlet, however, just belabors everyone to
the point of no end and he does it in a way that does not inform them of what they did. Shakespeare
makes it evident that Laertes and Hamlet are foils when it comes to

Hamlet is the main character of the play "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare. Hamlet is the prince
of Denmark; his parents are Queen Gertrude and King Hamlet. Hamlet is a very brave character
that doesn't fear a challenge that comes to him. Hamlet is a young man who experiences a crisis
just like many other teenagers. He frequently talks to himself, has problems in his relationship, feels
pressure to be like his father, and does not like his stepfather. At times, he can become very cautious,
and he thinks when he should act. One night, a ghost appears to Hamlets best friend Horatio. Horatio
tells Hamlet about seeing the ghost, Hamlet then requests to see the ghost with his own eyes. When
Hamlet sees the ghost, it is his father (King Hamlet), he tells Hamlet that he was murdered by his
brother Claudius. Hamlet agrees with his father's ghost to avenge his death by killing his uncle
Claudius, and to not punish his mother for her behavior.
Hamlet is not sure if he should believe the ghost and fulfill what it has asked of him to do.
Throughout the rest of the play, Hamlet tries to prove that his uncle Claudius is the one who
killed his father. However, Hamlet tries to keep his word to his dead father by avenging his death.
Hamlet has many flaws he procrastinates when avenging his father's death, he also questions
himself to be a coward and being depressed. He also questions himself about his hatred towards
his murderous uncle. The Theme that remains the same throughout the play is appearance versus
reality. Many things in the play appear to be true however they are evil. Many characters within
the play hide behind a mask such as Polonius, Rosencrantz Guildenstern, and Claudius. From
behind the mask, they are honest and nice, however, they are evil and filled with lies. It is hard for
Hamlet to see the truth behind these characters. Polonius who is the king's royal assistant shows
that he is a loving and caring to his son. However, he just tries to look good as a person rather than
be good. Shakespeare gives Hamlet very realistic human characteristics such as his emotions being
different all the time which makes him unpredictable. Just when you think you have figured out who
Hamlet is he ends up changing. In the

When one reads Hamlet, it is easy to overlook the female characters as powerless and subservient.
However, things are not always what they seem at first glance, as a further analysis of Gertrude and
Ophelia suggests. Although the plot centers around Hamlet's quest for revenge, these two female
characters have a profound influence on what transpires. In Shakespeare's Hamlet, Gertrude and
Ophelia appear weak at first, but their roles develop and have a massive impact on the story.
In Act I, Gertrude appears to be an unfaithful wife who is detached from her son. Despite her
husband's death, she quickly remarries, which leads one to believe she feels no qualms doing so.
Moreover, while her husband's death takes a toll on Hamlet, she fails to console him. Instead, she
tries to make his death seem insignificant by saying, "Thou know'st 'tis common; all that lives must
die" (I.ii.74). If she truly cared about her late husband, she would certainly feel some level of
misery. Perhaps she is trying to stay strong in front of Hamlet, but the way the scene unfolds that
idea seems unlikely. What's more, she quietly stands as Claudius berates Hamlet for his "unmanly
grief" and "impious stubbornness" (I.ii.90–121). One can infer her allegiance sides more with her
brother–in–law more than with her son otherwise she would have defended her son. With this in
mind and the reasons for her and Claudius's rapid marriage unknown, she fails to convince the reader
that her relationship with Hamlet and his father mean anything to her. A mother is always supposed
to be their for her children and put their needs before anything else, but Gertrude puts Hamlet's needs
aside.
Despite her initial shortcomings, Gertrude turns things around as the story continues. For example,
she admits to Hamlet that she has been sinful by saying, "Thou turn'st my eyes into my very soul,
and there I see such black and grained spots as will not leave their tinct" (III.iv.100–102). Rather
than make excuses, she recognizes her faults and how they will forever be attached to her.
Furthermore, she pities the situation Hamlet has fallen into by saying, "Alas, how is't with you, that
you do bend your eye on vacancy and with th' incorporal air do hold discourse?"

Throughout Hamlet, the females of the play are portrayed as reliant on the men in their lives. The
queen, Gertrude, relies very heavily on having a man in her life. Ophelia is very obedient of her
father throughout the beginning of the play. Because of this, Ophelia is willing to sacrifice her
relationship with Hamlet to please her father. Hamlet shows us that the queen and Ophelia needed
one common thing, a man to rely on.
The queen is very reliant on having a man in her life. Originally being married to Hamlet Sr., she
should have been heartbroken over his death. After he is killed, she immediately turns around and
marries her husband's brother. Hamlet claims she married Claudius "within a month" (Meyer 1459).
The queen immediately goes with another man after her first husband died. Hamlet is determined
that Claudius murdered his father. Later, while Hamlet is confronting the queen, the queen says
"thou hast thy father much offended"(Meyer 1507). Hamlet retorts "Mother, you have my father
much offended"(Meyer 1507). The queen tells Hamlet that he has offended Claudius by showing
that play, but Hamlet replies, explaining how the queen has offended his father. Hamlet doesn't
believe the queen grieved enough over his father's death, but the queen just needed a man in her life.
Ophelia depends on her father more than anyone. Ophelia leans on her father so much that she
would betray the trust of the one she loves. While Polonius is speaking with the king and queen, he

Essay on Hamlet:The Enigmatic Character
Hamlet: one of the most analyzed tragic heroes in all of literature. Hamlet, the main character in
William Shakespeare's Hamlet, is conflicted throughout the whole play. He obsesses over avenging
his father's death, and this leads to rash, irresponsible actions that cause others to suffer, as well. He
plans to kill Claudius, his uncle, for murdering his father and then marrying his mother. In an act of
outrage, Hamlet unknowingly kills Polonius, the King's assistant, instead. This creates even more
problems because now someone else's father is dead. Hamlet is somewhat of an inconsistent
character; he's different almost every time we see him. Hamlet displays characteristics of depression,
irony, timidity, and being hurt. Hamlet shows...show more content...
He waits forever to actually take any action. In the words of John Lennard, he is "a man of words
rather than action." After the ghost tells him what really happened, he keeps quiet and waits. He
has to make sure that the ghost was telling the truth. He devised a plan: he presented a play that
strongly resembled the story of his father's murder. After watching his uncle abruptly arise and say,
"Give me some light: away!" and rush off, he is convinced without a doubt that Claudius really did
kill his father (Meyer 1654). When he finally does do something about it, he accidently kills the
wrong person. As he prepares to kill "Claudius", who is hiding in Gertrude's room, it does not occur
to him that he should check who is there before he acts. He ends up killing Polonius, lord
chamberlain to the king. Now Laertes and Opehlia, Polonius' son and daughter, are now fatherless.
Sound familiar? Hamlet ends up putting Laertes and Ophelia in the same position that he himself is
in. Laertes is now intent on getting revenge on Hamlet and says, "Let this be so; no trophy, sword,
nor hatchment o'er his bones, no noble rite nor formal ostentation – cry to be heard, as 'twere from
heaven to earth, that I must call 't in question" (Meyer 1677). All Hamlet wanted was revenge for
his father's murder, but he ends up being the cause of his own death and the death of four others,
including the one he loves. While Hamlet has trouble killing his

Complexity Of Hamlet Character Analysis
According to Maria Semple, "Novels demand a certain complexity of narrative and scope, so it's
necessary for the characters to change". A character becomes complex based on their range of
emotions, feelings, and actions. They will change throughout the novel and experience situations
that cause them to change their feelings. They have a large array of feelings that adapt to their
current situation. Hamlet has changed from completely sane to becoming delirious because of the
death of his father, remarriage of his mother, and the appearance of his father,ghost Hamlet. Through
all these events, Hamlet changes his complexity of emotions because of his cluster of feelings. The
role of Hamlet is difficult to play because of the complexity of actions, the range of feelings, the
need for revenge, while being passive and insane.
One aspect of Hamlet, which makes him a difficult role to play, is the complexity of actions. This
makes...show more content...
Characters become complex through a wide range of emotions and distinctive actions. His
complexity of actions cause him to filled with a range of feelings, motives, and behaviors. He has
a wide range of feelings because of the situation with his father, mother, and Ophelia. These
situations cause him to act abruptly and not think before he acts. His need for revenge after hearing
his father causes him to become insane and passive. Finally, Hamlet becomes passive and insane
and this makes him complex because he can not make a decision while contemplating suicide. The
character of Hamlet has to adapt to changing situations leading him to have an array of feelings and
emotions. Helen Keller said, "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through
experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success

Hamlet Character Essay
A lot about a character shows when that character steps back and says what they are thinking
aloud. This is the case for Prince Hamlet. William Shakespeare's play "Hamlet" features Prince
Hamlet, who is depressed about his father's death and his mother remarrying so soon. Hamlet is
visited by the ghost of his father and is ordered to get revenge for his father's death. Hamlet devotes
himself to the task, but because of his nature,he enters deep melancholy and even apparent
madness. Throughout the play, Hamlet can be seen being very noble but indecisive at the same
time. Hamlet's soliloquies reveal a lot about his character. However, they mainly show the
readers how he can be noble but is indecisive. He can also be viewed as someone in a deep state of
depression. These values are shown through his actions of insulting himself for not acting upon
what he believes in and continuously reassuring himself that what he does is correct, as well as his
word choice and feelings that are expressed out loud to himself during the seven soliloquies. In
Hamlet's first soliloquy, the readers can infer that hamlet is depressed about his father's death and
his mother remarrying his uncle. Hamlet says, "how weary, stale, fat, and unprofitable, seem to me
all the uses of this world" (Act 1, Sn 2. 135–136). This statement is expressing Hamlet's feelings
towards his own life and how there is no meaning. Hamlet also says during his soliloquy, "She
married. O most wicked speed, to post with such dexterity to incestuous sheets. It s not nor it cannot
come to good, but break, my heart, for i must hold my tongue" (Act 1, Sn. 2, Ln. 157–160). Hamlet
is clearly upset over his mother being remarried quickly after his father passed away. He feels as
though as his heart is breaking, it needs to break in silence. He won't speak up about his feelings,
possibly leaving him more depressed about the situation. During a few of the seven soliloquies,
Hamlet insults himself for not speaking out on his beliefs and questions a lot of things about his
life. Therefore, showing the indecisive side of him. One key component to Hamlet showing the
readers how he is indecisive is when he says, "to be, or not to be? That is the question" (Act 3, Sn. 1,

Essay about hamlet
Hamlet
One of the most unique elements of the Hamlet character is that he is so human. Many types of
readers can identify with him. Hamlet is imperfect, and he is fretful. Hamlet has human properties,
and it is his humanity that I intend to explore. Indeed it is these human qualities and imperfections
that make his story so tragic. Another tragic part of the play is the plays irony. Irony is an
important tool in the hands of the playwright to achieve both comical and/or dramatic effect. There
is usually little reason for a tragedy to be funny, so
Shakespeare has used this tool to add more tragedy to the play. I will investigate the nature of this
irony. Also, I will investigate the types of conflict that play a major part in the play...show more
content...
One occurrence of irony I found particularly striking was the fact that Hamlet effectively maneuvers
himself into the same position as Claudius. Claudius had attacked and killed a man who did not
have the opportunity to defend himself, but when Hamlet kills Polonius, is he not guilty of the
same? It is intriguing that both Claudius and Hamlet have killed fathers. It is interesting to see
how these two completely different characters deal with this problem in different ways. Other
interesting parallels I found are the numerous deaths by poison. Hamlet's father was murdered by
Claudius with poison. In the final act, the queen is the first to be poisoned, by drinking from
Hamlet's cup. Then, Hamlet is wounded by the poisoned tip of Laertes' sword. When they change
swords, Hamlet gets the upper hand and Laertes is poisoned. When the queen dies, Laertes
explains all to Hamlet, before he dies. Hamlet then kills Claudius before dying himself. It is ironic
that, as Claudius is poisoned because of his own plotting, he had already signed his own death
warrant when he killed Hamlet's father, the first tragic action of the play. There are only three people
in this play who don't die by poisoning: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern meet their deaths in England,
after being outsmarted by Hamlet. The third is Ophelia, who is drowned.
There are three types of conflict I can identify in the play: 'man versus man', 'man versus nature' and
'man versus

Jack Herrlin
Dr. Lutz
World Literature
4 October 2017
The Mysteriousness of Act I Scene I and How It Shapes the Themes of Hamlet Works of drama that
start with a question, like Hamlet, usually impose a question for readers to answer about themselves.
Hamlet, is a very mysterious play about the death of a loved one and the eventual revenge sought
after by the main character, Hamlet. The themes presented in the first scene show the level of
paranoia of all the characters, which makes readers wonder what happened previous to the first line.
As the first scene progresses, additional themes are clearly presented and last throughout the entire
length of the play. Shakespeare illustrates three prominent themes in the first scene – death,
appearance versus reality, and honor and revenge – and builds on them as the action of the play rises
and falls.
The difference between appearance and reality is crucial in Hamlet. Reality is what is actually
happening in the play, versus what appears to be happening. The opening line of the play "Who's
there?" (Shakespeare, I. i., 1) set a tone of uncertain reality. Barnardo peers out into the darkness,
while he and Francisco are on their watch. Each appears nervous because they are unaware of whom
they are speaking with. However, in reality, they are both two young sentinels guarding Elsinore, the
Danish castle. When Horatio and Marcellus enter, Francisco states "I think I hear them.–Stand ho!
Who is there?" (Shakespeare, I. i., 15) reinforcing

Hamlet A Hero Essay
Not All Heroes Wear Capes Many view Hamlet, the main character, in Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet
as a hero. He portrays characteristics that prove to the reader that he does possess heroic qualities.
Although, it is a struggle for him throughout the play, but as he goes through life and learns new
ways of coping things, he develops new characteristics that he didn't have in the beginning. Hamlet
learns to overcome his anxiety, depression, and anger. In the end, he learns how to be calm and
collected. The way Hamlet learns how to handle internal conflicts throughout the play, shows the
readers a realistic view of the difficult encounters one may have when learning to cope with
different issues. Hamlet is arguably one of the greatest dramatic characters to be created. As he
learns of his father's death, he starts to over analyze ever little detail causing him to create scenarios
in his mind that give me anxiety. His mother notices his anger, but Hamlet makes it known that the
distress he is feeling over–powers his actions. He says, "Together with all the forms, moods, shapes
of grief... for they are the actions that a man might play; but I have that within which passes show,
these but the trappings and the suits of woe" (ACT I, ii). He is angry at his mother because she
remarried that same man that killed his father. Hamlet starts to see his father's ghost and she cannot.
She then starts to tell Hamlet how he has offended his father, as in Claudius. When Hamlet is
defending

Written by William Shakespeare, Hamlet has a strong relationship with the authors society and era,
being the late 1500's to early 1600's. Hamlet, a character is confliction with his society, shows
different views and actions to his fellow Danish men. Shakespeare could create a character whom
through Hamlet's life choices, his own historical and cultural context and the state of Hamlet being in
confliction with the Elizabethan–era and Nihilism showed immense differences from his society,
which Shakespeare strategically used in changing his own society, striving for a better world to live
in.
In the Middle Ages, and particularly in the context of Hamlet, society and the opinions of it governed
the people. During this time no–one had...show more content...
Hamlet tried many a times to kill King Claudius, with each time the social standards of conformity
blocking his capability of going through with the act. In Act 3 Scene 2, Hamlet chooses to step
away from societal reasoning and makes the conscience decision to go ahead with killing the King,
to seek revenge for his father's murder.
"Now could I drink hot blood,
And do such bitter business as the day,
Would quake to look on...
Let me be cruel, not unnatural:
I will speak daggers to her but use none." (3.2.550–558)
In Hamlet's soliloquy, he is touching on the act of blood drinking, usually participated in by witches.
Hamlet used the imagery of this to say that he is now capable of going through with a human act like
witch sacrifice; murder. Through the conforming society that Hamlet lives in, the people living
around him all visualise their community alike, whereas Hamlet diverts to be a different man, to
ultimately end the inevitable cycle of sin and destruction in which Denmark sits.
Considered to be one of the most influential writers in the English Renaissance, William Shakespeare
, born in 1564, was raised in a successful middle–class family. From an early age showed an interest
in acting and being a playwright, and when he turned 24 he moved to London to pursue his
blossoming career. He quickly became a successful and influential figure, with thousands attending
his plays at his theatre, The Globe, in which he shared ownership.

Hamlet Character Essay
The Troubled Prince: An Analysis of Hamlet
"To be, or not to be: That is the question"(3.1.58). This is probably the most famous quote in all of
Shakespearean literature and was uttered by the main character, Hamlet, of the play "Hamlet"
written by Shakespeare. It demonstrates his instability and suicidal thoughts. Throughout the play he
comes off as a very unpredictable and complex character. He makes many rash decisions, but at the
same time often takes a lot of time to contemplate many of his choices. Through Hamlet's language
and voice, we can examine what type of character Shakespeare created. Hamlet acts differently
towards people in contrast to his actual thoughts, which are projected through his soliloquies. Due to
the insanity...show more content...
For example, in the rest of the soliloquy he uses metaphors to say perhaps he should, "take arms
against" a "sea of trouble" instead of killing himself (3.1.65). Perhaps the reason for lack of
imagery to describe a terrible thing such as suicide is his insanity and indecisiveness. Though he
plays with the idea of suicide, he is also fearful of it and cannot fully describe it with his normal
enthusiastic imagery. In the soliloquy where he envisions himself murdering Claudius, Hamlet's
insanity is the most apparent. This time he again uses simile to describe how his father was "as
flush as May" in his sins when Cladius killed the King (3.3.82). He also goes on to envision the
murder and how he will kill Claudius, when he is sleeping, or gambling or in the "incestuous
pleasure of his bed" (3.3.91). Hamlet is obsessing over murdering Claudius, but at the same time
procrastinating the murder because he wants it to be at the perfect time, such as when Claudius is
most sinful. This procrastination is slowly driving him insane as shown in this soliloquy. In his
soliloquies Hamlet frequently associates metaphors and similes and it is important to realize the
progression of Hamlet's instability as well as his surprising actions and complex thoughts presented
through these soliloquies. The manner in which Hamlet conveys himself and his emotions to other
people help show another dimension of his character –his little trust in

Essay on Hamlet- The Characters
Hamlet
The prince of Denmark, and a student at the University of Wittenberg. At the beginning of the play,
Hamlet's father, King Hamlet, has recently died, and his mother, Queen Gertrude, has married the
new king, Hamlet's uncle Claudius. Hamlet is melancholy, bitter, and cynical, full of hatred for his
uncle and disgust at his mother for marrying him. When the ghost of Hamlet's father appears and
claims to have been murdered by Claudius, Hamlet becomes obsessed with avenging his father's
death but keeps thinking of reasons why he should wait before killing ClaudiusВ—then chastizes
himself for failing to act boldly. Hamlet is a character of contradictions. He admires characters like
Fortinbras and the Player King, who behave passionately...show more content...
Polonius
The Lord Chamberlain of Claudius's court, and the father of Laertes and Ophelia. Polonius has good
intentions, but he tends to be somewhat conniving and underhanded. He frequently leaps to the
wrong conclusions, and his speeches are comically pompous and long–winded. He is completely
incapable of figuring out what Hamlet is up to.
Horatio
Hamlet's close friend, who studied with the prince at the University of Wittenberg. Hamlet trusts
Horatio above any of the other characters, valuing him for his even temper and
equanimityВ—qualities that Hamlet seems to despise in himself. Horatio is loyal and helpful to
Hamlet throughout the play. After Hamlet's death, Horatio remains alive to tell Hamlet's story.
Ophelia
Polonius's daughter, a beautiful young woman with whom Hamlet has been in love. A sweet and
innocent young girl, Ophelia dutifully strives to obey her father and her brother, Laertes, allowing
Polonius to use her in his scheme to spy on Hamlet. When her father dies, her sanity unravels, and in
her madness she paints a scathing picture of young men as sexually exploitative and unfaithful, and
her mad speeches about flowers conceal implied condemnations of Claudius and Gertrude.
Laertes
Polonius's son and Ophelia's brother, a young man who spends much of the play in France.
Passionate and quick to action, Laertes is a foil for the reflective and agonized Hamlet.

Hamlet Act 5 Essay
"Act 5" In "Act 5" the listener get to seen into the growing theatre program in a prison. These
prison inmates were putting on an intimate production of Shakespeare's Hamlet, a story of a man
arguing with the idea of murdering his uncle and avenging his father. While this story itself is not
something the inmates related to directly, they related to that struggle and those ideas in a way
many, if not most, actors could not. The purpose of "Act 5" was to show the heavy influence of an
actor on a character and as a result the effects of specific characters and stories on us on humans.
Experiences shape how we see the characters and the story but, not just our personal experiences this
includes the experiences of the creatives working on the...show more content...
These interviews provide something many do not get to see, a very human look at people in
prison. In these interviews they are just people, just actors with different experiences. As an
audience member I became wrapped up in the process of the performance, how the actors delved
into their characters, how this process was even allowed to happen behind the closed walls of a
prison. These the interviewees had funny sides to them and were passionate about their
performances, this was just a constant reminder of their humanity. So audiences grow attached to
the people and the performance. Towards the end when we get a reminder of who these people
are and the terrible things they have done we get thrown back into reality, Jack Hitt described it
perfectly when he described it as a feeling of betrayal. Of course, the audience does not feel it as
intensely as Hitt because as we knew them for an hour, Hitt had known the inmates for six months.
As an audience we understand that there is a separation between the character and the actor but,
"Act 5" shows us that the separation is not as extreme as previously thought. As an audience we get
the chance to learn the how the inmates view themselves and their actions. The audience also sees
the artistic process and gets to envelop themselves into the story of Hamlet and of the prisoners. As
someone who is very interested in theatre, I enjoyed and learned much about the character analysis

Essay about Character Development: Hamlet
In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the main protagonist, Hamlet experiences a series of events that
dramatically change his character. When the audience first meets Hamlet, he is dressed in all black
he is portrayed as a sulky, depressed prince. Through the course of the play however, it is revealed
that Hamlet as a character has more than one side to him – he is brooding as he is impulsive, and he
is vengeful as his is indecisive. The audience sees Hamlet struggling with the death of his father, and
the emotional toll of knowing the truth but being unable to exact revenge. This is what essentially
changes Hamlet. Because of the constant back and forth of having to act like nothing is wrong and
having to suppress his rage towards King Claudius,...show more content...
He also suggests that no matter what happens, no matter how insane he may act in the future, it must
not be revealed that he had witnessed the ghost: "But come: Here as before, never, so help you
mercy, How strange or odd some'er I bear myself (As I perchance hereafter shall think me to put on
antic disposition on)" (1.5.169–173) Here Hamlet again hints that he might have be deceitful in the
future and that nobody must know that he found out the truth about his father's murder. In Act I of
Hamlet, the audience meets a seemingly depressed and grieving Hamlet, but even by the end it is
revealed that Hamlet may not always be acting the way he truly feels.
As the play goes on, from the Mousetrap play to Hamlet's uncharacteristic acting (as perceived by
those around him) what must be remembered is that Hamlet is only human. His girlfriend, Ophelia
has been specifically instructed to not talk to him anymore. He struggles with the death of his
father and most likely loses sleep thinking about his meeting with the ghost and whether the ghost
of lying or not. He even has to deal with the utter disgust he has towards the King and the Queen,
disgust towards the King because he is possibly the man behind his father's death and disgust
towards the Queen which is expressed a number of times for not feeling the slightest amount of
grief before marrying Claudius. He is pushed so far so that he contemplates suicide. In his famous
soliloquy which begins in "To be or not to be"

Irish playwright and critic George Bernard Shaw once said: " Hamlet's experience simply could not
have happened to a plumber". Throughout the tragedy Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare,
main character Hamlet completes a journey from being a scholar, to acting as a soldier. Hamlet
becomes a soldier throughout the novel by learning not to hold his tongue, deciding to act in the
future and lastly, acting as a soldier to rid Denmark of corruption. Hamlet makes these
transformations in order to not only avenge his father's death, but also protect Denmark's people.
The corrupt state of Denmark presents itself at the beginning of the play. Following the death of his
father, Hamlet, the first–born son, should be the heir to the throne. Unfortunately, Claudius robs
Hamlet of this right. Claudius marries Hamlet's mother making him the king. Hamlet at this point
is unaware that his uncle Claudius killed his father, but still has developed a hatred of Claudius,
because of him marrying Hamlet's mother. Hamlet's purpose to become a soldier and defeat his
uncle, first begins when Claudius is receiving his kingship. Hamlet demonstrates his despise of
Claudius through demeaning allusions. Hamlet's first comparison, establishes his father as superior
to Claudius: " so excellent a king; that was, to this, Hyperion to a satyr" ( I. ii. 143–144). Hamlet
characterizes his late father as a titan, but as his uncle is taking over the throne, Hamlet compares
Claudius to a drunk and lustful beast. Hamlet clearly has strong opinions, but what distinguishes
him as a scholar, instead of a soldier, is the fact that in this scene he will not verbalize them. Hamlet
decides not to attack Claudius yet, instead deciding " I must hold my tongue" ( 164). Hamlet is not
yet a soldier, instead Hamlet needs to be pushed to into acting.
The visit of the ghost of King Hamlet is the catalyst Hamlet needs. The ghost commands Hamlet to
murder Claudius, this causes Hamlet to do more than just think. Hamlet first decides to act with his
pen, using his wit to figure out if Claudius actually murdered his father. Hamlet now realizes
Claudius is a murderer. Hamlet is realizing the kingdom's corruption, and that he will have to
become a soldier end it.

Essay on Character Analysis of Hamlet
Hamlet is the main character and protagonist in the play "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare. Hamlet
is the Prince of Denmark. He is the son of Queen Gertrude and King Hamlet, who was murdered by
his uncle Claudius. Hamlet is a very unique individual and handles many situations in unusual ways.
Hamlet is an extremely intriguing and complex character that appears to change with every different
perspective. Shakespeare has done an absolutely fantastic job with capturing true human
characteristics with Hamlet. Hamlet bounces back and forth with his emotions so inconsistently that
one never knows what he is about to do next. One moment he is rational, and the next he is not. One
moment he wants to plan things out, and then he does things...show more content...
The ghost made the whole situation for Hamlet seem even that much more unreal. He already
wished that all of the recent events he had to deal with were not real. He then has to deal with the
reality of this ghost. It seems to influence him terribly and takes a negative toll on his emotions. This
occurrence continues to further diversify Hamlet's feelings and emotions (Snider, 67). The last
major external influence is the company of others (Snider, 71). How hamlet responded had a lot to
do with the actions done by others and himself. A person's environment greatly affects how they
handle oneself and situations around them. Due to Hamlet's extremely ludicrous environment and
unusual circumstances, he is just that much more of a complicated and elaborate character (Bristol).
Another major thing that contributed to Hamlet's complexity was his utter hatred towards Claudius.
From the get go Hamlet never liked him. He felt Claudius was immoral and almost worthless. After
the ghost of his father told Hamlet that Claudius was responsible for his death, he hated his uncle
just that much more. That hatred soon turned into something much more though. It transformed into
a desire for revenge. Before he did anything though, he had to be positive that Claudius was the one
responsible, so Hamlet tested his innocence. Claudius failed the test and Hamlet was then positive
that he was responsible for the murder of his father (Mitchell, 34–37). Hamlet

Hamlet Character Analysis Essay
Nicole Ventzke
Crystal Jensen
1102 T/H
2/14/11
Hamlet Character Analysis: Hamlet
One aspect that makes William Shakespeare's Hamlet alluring is how he broke the limiting mold of
the one–dimensional character by representing characters in all of their human complexity. Hamlet,
for example, is a compelling character because he is complicated. As Hamlet himself observes early
in the play in, "Tis not alone my inky cloak/nor customary suits of solemn black, /Nor...forced
breath/No, nor the fruitful river in the eye, /Nor the dejected 'havior of the visage.../with all forms,
moods, and shapes of grief, /That can denote me truly" (1.2.80–86). Hamlet insists that he is an
individual with many psychological and philosophical facets, though he...show more content...
Polonius goes on to observe that Hamlet's speech is confusing because he speaks a language that
sane people cannot understand. Hamlet is obscure and surprising, and, therefore, confounding
because he subverts others' expectations and never reacts with a predictable response to his own
emotions or the expectations of other characters. In addition, it is worth noting that it is not only
Hamlet's curious speech that alienates others. Hamlet's obsessive pessimism also begins to affect
all of his relationships and becomes a large part of who he is as a character. In an otherwise
superficial conversation with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlet insists that the world has
become a prison with "Denmark being one o' th' worst" (2.2.265), and he presses the men to explain
why they would want to visit him in the place that torments him. Hamlet's relationship with his
mother is also troubling. While he is justified in questioning her decision to marry Claudius before
her husband's corpse has even cooled, Hamlet is sarcastic and demeaning towards her, provoking
her to ask "What have I done, that thou darest wag thy tongue/In noise so rude against me?"
(3.4.47–48) These brief and often sarcastic interactions with other characters help define Hamlet as a
pessimistic character and cause the reader to anticipate that his perceptions of events will be, almost
always, clouded with this characteristic darkness of

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 ofgrief 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,
Must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words and fall a–cursing, like a very drab,
A stallion". This quote reveals that Hamlet would look at himself as a coward for not avenging his
father's murder and, therefore, like a woman; and not just any women, a "whore".. During Act 3
Hamlet switch over to a more suicidal character.Lines 57–59 Hamlet states "To be, or not to be? That
is the question– Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous
fortune". This quote reveals that Hamlet is focused on the consideration that makes him stretch out
his sufferings for so long. Hamlet feel that his luck may have damned him and cursed him with
knowing truth about his father.
During this play Hamlet faced various conflicts with himself throughout Act 1 and Act 3. During Act
1, Hamlet was still grieving about the sudden death of his father whom he

Hamlet Character Essay

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Hamlet Character Essay