Hamlet's Indecision - Essay Example

Hamlet: How does an individuals perspective affect his/her behaviour and choices? William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is recognized as one of Shakespeare’smost notable plays, as well as being recognized as being one of the most seminal texts in the Western canon. The play presents a highly powerful narrative account of a young prince in an existential crisis in the wake of his father’s murder. Within this context a number of thematic elements are examined, included the nature of insanity, unrequited love, and even death. Most prominently Shakespeare examines the way in which an individuals experiences, beliefs, morals, and/or needs shapes his or her life. Within this context of investigation the most prominent exploration considers Prince Hamlet’s perspective and subsequent motivation as he navigate the Elsinore and Denmark. Through reference to Hamlet, this essay considers the way an individual’s experiences and beliefs shapes their life. When considering the complex narrative of Hamlet one of the most prominent elements is Shakespeare’s consideration of Hamlet’s motivation. The text is a powerful means of examining how experience and belief shapes one’s life, as Hamlet’s actions are oftentimes directly influenced by a belief or experienced he gains in a previous act or scene. One of the early examples of Hamlet’s belief’s shaping his life occurs during Act I. Throughout Act I Hamlet discovers through his interaction with the Ghost that Claudius has murdered his father. The Ghost states, “But know, thou noble youth,/ The serpent that did sting thy father’s life/ Now wears his crown” (Shakespeare, Act I, scene ii, 38-40). Upon discovering this news, Hamlet’s actions and life and altered throughout the rest of the text. The most noticeable change to Hamlet’s life surfaces in the nature of his sanity. Immediately after seeing and speaking to the Ghost Hamlet encounters Horatio. In this encounter he states, “Here, as before, never, so help you mercy,/ How strange or odd soeer I bear myself/ (As I perchance hereafter shall think meet To put an antic disposition on)” (Shakespeare, Act I, scene v, 171-174). This is an important statement, as Hamlet is indicating that throughout the rest of the play he may ‘put on an antic disposition’ or rather act insane. One of the primary questions of the text then becomes whether Hamlet is truly mad or if he is simply feigning madness; in both instances, it’s clear that Hamlet experience with the Ghost and his belief that Claudius murdered his father are primary motivating elements shaping his life. Through Act II Shakespeare considers a number of means variety of means wherein beliefs shapes ones life. Act II explores a great variety of plot elements. While in terms of the narrative the occurrence is in large part cursory, one of the insightful accounts of belief shaping life occurs in Polonius conversation with Claudius. In this conversation, Polonius relays Hamlet’s courting of Ophelia and states, “my young mistress thus I did bespeak:/ ‘Lord Hamlet is a prince out of thy star./ This must not be.’ And then I prescripts gave her,/ That she should lock herself from his resort” (Shakespeare, Act II, scene ii, 131-134). This statement is significant for a number of reasons. It indicates that Polonius life is restricted by a belief in social class and restraints; he indicates the King that his daughter cannot possibly marry Hamlet because Hamlet is a prince. Another element it demonstrates is that Ophelia has been restricted from seeing Hamlet; this is a plot element that creates an experience for Hamlet wherein his love interest is denied from him, greatly shaping his actions throughout the play. As Act II advances it’s clear that Prince Hamlet’s experiences, in addition to his feigned madness, have played a significant role in shaping his life. One of the notable character introductions during Act II is Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. In Act II, scene ii, these individuals converse with Hamlet. In these regards, Hamlet reveals his melancholy nature. In responding to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s questions Hamlet states, “Denmark’s a prison” and “A goodly one, in which there are many confines, wards, and dungeons, Denmark being one o th worst” (Shakespeare, Act II, scene ii, 230-234). This statement indicates that because of Hamlet’s belief that Claudius murdered his father and the various experiences that had previously occurred, his life has taken on the shape of depression and melancholy, demonstrating how past events can directly shape one’s life. In addition to these narrative elements, the scene has significant philosophical and narrative elements. As the play advances Shakespeare will continually return to this theme of melancholy, most seminally in Act III when Hamlet ponders, “To be, or not to be: that is the question” (Act III, scene I, 58). Here again, the text is demonstrating the direct effect belief has on life. Hamlet goes on to state, “O God, I could be bounded in a nutshell and/ count myself a king of infinite space, were it not that/ I have bad dreams” (Shakespeare, Act II, scene ii, 239-241). In this quote Shakespeare, through Hamlet is exploring how belief, namely thought, greatly shapes human perception and life. This is largely a humanistic portrayal of existence, as it demonstrates that rather than being bound by the physical world or even genetic programming, the individual is ultimately free to experience life as they choose. As the text advances, Shakespeare more thoroughly considers the ways that belief and morals shape an individual’s life. Before arriving at Elsinore, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern encountered a group of players, who they convinced to come to the castle. Upon encountering these actors, Hamlet has the devious idea of have them present a reenactment of the murder of his father. He believes that through witnessing Claudius actions in this event, he can determine if Claudius murdered his father. Hamlet states, “Ill have grounds/ More relative than this—the plays the thing/ Wherein Ill catch the conscience of the King” (Shakespeare, Act II, scene ii, 603-605). While Shakespeare uses this as a plot element, it also demonstrates the significant emphasis placed on belief in the play. In these regards, Shakespeare is indicating that Hamlet’s life is so contingent on belief that he is attempting to determine whether to murder Claudius based on his belief in the validity of Claudius’ guilt. Indeed, one of the major plot elements is Hamlet’s indecision in murdering Claudius, an occurrence that leads to a great amount of strife and plot complications, as Hamlet does all but kill Claudius. The main point here being that belief is a central concern that guides Hamlet’s life and indeed the centrality of the plot. In addition to belief, another notable scene occurs when Hamlet comes across Claudius praying. At this instant Hamlet is ready to murder Claudius and has been looking for an opportunity. While ostensibly this opportunity would be the correct one, Hamlet refrains from the murder because his moral belief that Claudius would go to heaven since he is praying. Ultimately this demonstrates the tremendous emphasis Shakespeare places on belief and morals in shaping the individual’s existence. In conclusion, this essay has demonstrated that an individuals experiences, beliefs, morals, and/or needs shapes his or her life. Through an investigation of Hamlet the essay demonstrated that Prince Hamlet’s belief in the murder of his father greatly contributed to his suicidal and melancholy state. The play also explores philosophical concerns, indicating a general emphasis on a humanistic understanding of the world. Finally, the essay considered the means by which Hamlet’s indecision as evidenced in his morals and quest for a more accurate belief in Claudius’ guilt greatly shaped his actions in the play. References Shakespeare, William. (2010) Hamlet. New York: FQ Books. Read More