Strengths and Weaknesses of Hamlet's Character - Assignment Example

Hamlet’s Character: Strengths and Weaknesses Introduction Hamlet is one of the most popular novels written by Williams Shakespeare and equally as popular is Hamlet, the tragic hero of the play. There are many dimensions of Hamlet’s personality, some good, and some not-so-good. An in-depth analysis of Hamlet’s character speaks of the fact that he is a tough man, who has the capability of generally making the right decisions in the times of immense pressure and stress. “Thanks to Shakespeare’s skilful and psychologically-astute characterization, Hamlet is now considered to be the greatest dramatic character ever created” (Jamieson). This paper highlights several strengths and weaknesses of Hamlet’s character. Strengths Responsibility For one, Hamlet is extremely responsible and prudent. Although he had objective reason to believe his father’s ghost right from the start, since the ghost had been revealed to him by Horatio, and there were also guards who had witnessed the ghost in the first place, yet Hamlet does not kill Claudius unless the whole plot has been revealed to him by the dying Laerters. At this point, critics may argue that Hamlet had attempted to kill Claudius when he actually ended up killing Polonius, but probably, at that time, Hamlet was moved by his extreme rage for the person who had been overhearing the conversation between him and his mother. Later in the story, Hamlet happens to get several occasions where he could have killed Claudius straight away, but he was probably waiting for the right time, and the right time would be the one when he would be utterly sure of Claudius as his father’s murderer. Bravery From the various events that form part of the story, it can be assessed that Hamlet is by no means a coward. Such events include but are not limited to the murder of Polonius by Hamlet. For Hamlet, accepting the fact that his mother was dishonest towards his father was too difficult and emotionally demanding given his own father was the King of Denmark and provided his wife with all that a king should. Hamlet knows that she has done this only out of lust and sexual fantasies. Still, Hamlet lets go of the idea of taking revenge from his mother when his father’s ghost advises him to do so. Later, when Hamlet’s ship is attacked by pirates, he does not lose balance. In the end, he fights Laertes to death, and before dying, takes his father’s revenge. It takes a lot of courage and bravery to do all this, and Hamlet has it in him. In addition to that, Hamlet wears black clothes after his father’s death, which clearly depict the sorrow he feels for the tragic incident of his murder, but Hamlet does not, by any means, lets anybody know that what he is going through is much more than just the loss of a father. “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” (Shakespeare cited in Blitz 55). Emotional Intelligence Hamlet is very strategic, and emotionally intelligent by nature. One event from the story that is really impressive and provides evidence of Hamlet’s intelligence and strategic planning is when he calls the actors to perform the play The Mouse Trap, whose story Hamlet has modified to make it resemble his own. It not only takes a lot of intelligence to do so, but also a great deal of courage and emotional balance and stability to keep oneself in the right state of mind while testing someone as close as a mother for something as heinous as killing her own husband to marry his brother. While testing his mother and uncle throughout the play, Hamlet does not let them know that he suspects Claudius for his father’s murderer. The way Hamlet modifies the play also provides evidence of his intelligence. A very important aspect of the character of Hamlet is how he reflects other characters, and this list of characters even includes Claudius who is the primary antagonist of the play. For example, in the play The Mouse Trap, Lucianus, the nephew of the King Gonzago kills him, whereas in reality, King Hamlet has been assassinated by Claudius, who happens to be his brother. This modification of the story of the play reflects Hamlet’s urge and a deep desire to kill his uncle. Likewise, while the real name of the play is The Murder of Gonzago, Hamlet calls it The Mouse Trap upon Claudius’s question to him regarding the name of the play. This reflects Hamlet’s intention as well as desire to know whether Claudius is really the murderer of his father. Each character in the play reflects at least two primary characters in the real play, which provides evidence of the many doubles of the real play. For instance, Lucianus in The Mouse Trap is both the King’s nephew and a murderer, and like Claudius, he kills his uncle by poisoning his ears. Likewise, the Player Queen possesses the qualities of Ophelia in the real play as well as Gertrude as she happens to remarry the murderer. Hamlet gives this theme of dual play to the play in an attempt to emphasize upon the double-faced characters of his mother and his uncle. Dedication Hamlet is dedicated. Once he decides to do something, he does all it takes to execute the task no matter how emotionally demanding the task is. Although he was involved with Ophelia before the murder of his father, yet Hamlet totally forgets about his love life after he is given the task of taking revenge from Claudius because of his sin. Hamlet puts everything at stake, even including his life to give comfort to his deceased father’s soul. His commitment can be witnessed right from the start till the end of the play. A good son Hamlet is a very good son. He takes the murder of his father upon his nerves and forgets about everything he ever liked in his thirst to take revenge from the murderer. While this is seems to be a very ordinary proof of his love for his father since sons can be generally expected to be that loyal to their parents, the real proof of Hamlet’s obedience, love, and affection for his parents reflects in the fact that he did not kill his mother when he came to learn what she had done to his father. While he was sure about his mother’s crime and sin, he resorts to questioning her and torturing her emotionally for having been not only dishonest towards her husband, but also being involved in the plot of his murder. He gives away at doing even this much when he is advised by his father not to be cruel towards her. Physical strength Hamlet is a powerful man physically, and the play provides several evidences of the same. The most important evidence of Hamlet’s physical strength is when he and Laertes enter the sword-fight. Hamlet makes Claudius think about poisoning Hamlet as the only way of killing him by winning the first two passes in the challenge. Like the first two passes, Hamlet also wins the third pass. Although after that, Hamlet is injured by the sword-attack made by Laertes, yet the one who wins the killing fight is again Hamlet. Sensitivity Hamlet is a sensitive young lad. “It is not a character marked by strength of will or even of passion, but by refinement of thought and sentiment” (“Hamlet Characters Analysis “). He mourns his mother’s dishonesty towards his father not only because the deceased king was her husband, but also because he was a very loving, caring, and giving husband. Hamlet feels the intense love hidden in his father’s relation with his mother, which only a sensitive man can feel. “So excellent a king; that was, to this, Hyperion to a satyr; so loving to my mother, That he might not beteem the winds of heaven Visit her face too roughly; Heaven and earth! Must I remember?” (Shakespeare 11). Weaknesses While most of the incidents that make part of the story reflect one or more positive aspects of Hamlet’s personality, there are also few incidences that show the dark shades in Hamlet’s personality. The most important of these incidences are when he shows no repentance upon killing Polonius mistakenly and when he deals with Ophelia in a very cruel way. Lack of concern for love Ophelia had once been very close to Hamlet, and the two had spent good times together. Although Hamlet was caught in a tragedy and he was going through tough time, yet a true lover cannot be expected to be as cruel towards his lover as Hamlet had been. He calls Ophelia names and deals with her ferociously. His cruelty towards Ophelia can be sensed in these words he uses in his conversation with Ophelia in the play, “I have heard of your paintings too, well enough; God has given you one face, and you make yourselves another: you jig, you amble, and you lisp, and nick-name God's creatures, and make your wantonness your ignorance” (Shakespeare 52). Lack of consideration Likewise, later in the story, he does not behave the way a responsible person should when he killed Polonius. Although Hamlet killed Polonius by mistake, taking him for Claudius, yet when he had come to know that he had killed the wrong person, he should have been concerned, worried and guilty about his act, which the play does not provides any evidence for. Particularly, when Ophelia goes mad after her father’s death, Hamlet still does not feel himself responsible for her condition, and does not do anything to pacify her. The only sign Hamlet gives that he has some consideration left in him is when he realizes that Ophelia is dead and says, “I lov'd Ophelia: forty thousand brothers, Could not, with all their quantity of love, Make up my sum” (Shakespeare 103). Presumptive A potential weakness of Hamlet is the fact that he presumes things a lot, and causes great loss to himself as well as to others because of this. Hamlet presumes that the person overhearing his and his mother’s conversation is Claudius, and thus kills Polonius. Hamlet’s relationship with his love, Ophelia ruins after he finds his own mother as his father’s culprit. Hamlet probably generalizes that all women are the same as his mother; cruel, inconsiderate, dishonest, and unfaithful, and thus loses Ophelia who truly loves him. “He is paradoxical 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” (Smith). Murderer The play provides several evidences of the fact that taking someone’s life is no big deal for Hamlet. Although Hamlet cannot be considered a murderer in the true essence, yet he commits some murders in the play. First, Hamlet kills Polonius, then he kills Laertes, and lastly, he kills Claudius. While it can be argued that Hamlet killed Polonius out of his thirst to take revenge from Claudius, he killed Laertes in self-defense, and lastly he killed Claudius because that was the right thing to do, but the fact that Hamlet showed no sign of repentance for killing Polonius makes one think that murder is not a big thing for Hamlet. Conclusion Concluding, Hamlet is a loyal and caring son, who is not only physically strong but also emotionally powerful and courageous. The dark side of Hamlet’s personality is lack of gentleness, and consideration. Killing Polonius speaks both of Hamlet’s bravery and lack of consideration as he later gets to know that he has killed the wrong person and still does not repent. Overall, Hamlet is a good person who would not mess up with others until he is really required to do so. Generally, the positive aspects of Hamlet’s personality outweigh the negative aspects, and he can be considered a gentleman. Works Cited: Blitz, Jan H. Deadly Thought: Hamlet and the Human Soul. UK: Lexington Books, 2001. Print. “Hamlet Characters Analysis.” 2005. Web. 23 May 2012. . Jamieson, Lee. “Hamlet Character Analysis.” 2012. Web. 23 May 2012. . Shakespeare, William. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Leipzig Bernhard Tauchnitz, 1868. Print. Smith, Nicole. “Full Character Analysis of Hamlet.” 6 Dec. 2011. Web. 23 May 2012. . Read More