Hamlet Analysis

Hamlet Analysis

1. Despite the many critics analysing his character, there is no truth to his character. He's an enigma, none of us understand him however we can all relate to him.

2. He is constantly on two extremes. He's been banished then he's the prince of the people. No friends but one who loves him purely and wholly. He is depressed and miserable, then he's energetic and manic.

3. As he observes the world and peoples behaviour, he also observes himself, critiquing every aspect.

4. As someone who never acts, words are his friends, they are his weapons. He is able to manipulate words and confuse R&G, he can make fun at Pollonius. Though Claudius sees the danger in hamlets wit, he is no match for intelligence so cannot defend himself.

5. He is drawn to impossible questions. He spends his life questioning the world but it plagues him as he will never know the answers he needs.

6. He steps easily into madness. He's often calculating. When he does act, he loses his mind and acts fast and without thought.

7. He doesn't trust his mother, believing she has sided with Claudius. However when he asks her to lie to him and tell him Hamlet is mad, she does so. Where do her loyalties lie? Is Hamlet wrong for his distrust.

8. Protestants reigned and they didn't believe in Purgatory, so the ghost may have been a demon. Hamlet went to a protestant Uni so he may be wary of the ghosts intentions.

9. He could be wary because he believes its not is place to get justice. Its up to God. This is part of one of his soliloquy's and so its clear its a concern. It explains his delay

10. Perhaps Shakespeare didn't intend for us to understand. The world and the play was inconsistent, constantly changing and confusing.

11. Some think the play is a retelling of 'Oedipus'. Hamlet cant kill Claudius because he secretly wants to be him, Claudius managed to kill his dad. Now he is stuck with this obsession about his mothers sexuality. Explains why he has confusing ideas about revenge and suicide as he sees himself in Claudius.

    • Does he also obsess over his mum as he is unable to love Ophelia and transfer his feelings properly.
      • He is obsessed with sex but believes others should abstain from it. He's a misogynist at heart. He verbally abuses Ophelia using sexual innuendos and shaming her like he'd like to shame his mother, which he later does.

12. Denmark is a prison but so are his words. He thinks until he exhausts them and cannot think any more.

13. Is he mad or not? Is that his fatal flaw or is the fact that he lies about it the flaw? Or is it his indecision.

14. even a tragic hero? He doesn't fit all the criteria of one. However the public can consider him one as we've ll felt confused and grieved and been in these positions.

15. Melancholy now means depression. He wonders if it has left him vulnerable to the ghosts words or if it even exists,