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Hamlet Essay Background As many people as there are who love Hamlet as a tragic tale of a young person trying to figure out this life (and the next), there are perhaps equally many who view the play in different ways. These are a few of the questions that lead students of Shakespeare to a variety of interpretations: • Was Hamlet insane or was his insanity and act to keep King Claudius from recognizing Hamlets suspicions? Could Hamlet have planned to excuse his murder of the king as a moment of madness (as he does in Act V, scene ii when he apologizes to Laertes for the death of Polonius? • Was Hamlet too thoughtful to be decisive? In other words, was Hamlets indecisive nature the reason he debated with himself so often? • Did Hamlet really love his father, or was he so attached to his mother that his jealousy of Claudius made him suicidal? Why doesn’t he mention either Ophelia or the Ghost in his Act III soliloquy? • Was he too passive because he was in a state of

psychological depression, or did he allow himself to be overly depressed because of the state of the kingdom that should have been his? • Was Hamlets tragic flaw that he was too vengeful in seeking to send his enemy to hell and not just the grave? • Was Hamlet’s “tragic” flaw was that he was “too good for this world”? Was Hamlet’s tragic flaw his goodness? Prompt In an essay with at least five direct quotations, explain your view of Hamlet and Hamlets tragic flaw. Be certain to at least allude to Hamlets four soliloquies. You should also consider Shakespeares use of dramatic foils to highlight key elements of Hamlets character. You can also discuss the various father and son/daughter relationships by comparing and contrasting the instructions given from parents to siblings. No matter what theory of Hamlet you develop, it is important consider the turning point (climax) of the play. The final copy must be in MLA style and include a works cited page with five outside

references The YES, HE WAS MAD side: • • • • • • • • • • • Hamlet appears to act mad when he hears of his father’s murder. At the time he speaks "wild and whirling words." [Act I, Scene v, lines 127-134] Hamlet’s behavior throughout the play, especially towards Ophelia is very erratic. He professes to be the only one who truly loves her, during the fight with Laertes in Ophelias grave, but he tells her that he never loved her, when she returns his letters and gifts. His mood changes abruptly throughout the play. He jumps aboard a pirate ship without anyone to back him up. He jumps into Ophelias grave, and fights with Laertes in her grave. He has Rosencrantz and Guildenstern killed, even though they were not part of his revengeagainst-his-fathers-murder plan. He alone sees his fathers ghost in his mothers chamber. Every other time the ghost appeared someone else has seen it. During this scene he finally shows his madness, because his mother does not

see the ghost. [Act III, scene iv, ~ line 105] He has violent outbursts towards his mother. Hamlet tells Laertes that he killed Polonius in a "fit of madness". [Act V, Scene ii, lines 236-250] He kills Polonius and will not tell anyone where the body is. The NO, HE WAS SANE side: • • • • • • • Hamlet tells Horatio that he is going to "feign madness," and that if Horatio notices any strange behavior from Hamlet, it is because he is putting on an act. [Act i, Scene v, lines 166-180] Hamlets madness only manifests itself when he is in the presence of certain characters. When Hamlet is around Polonius, Claudius, Gertrude, Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, he behaves irrationally. When Hamlet is around Horatio, Bernardo, Francisco, The Players and the Gravediggers, he behaves rationally. Claudius confesses that Hamlets "actions although strange, do not appear to stem from madness." [Act III, Scene i, lines 165-167] Polonius admits that

Hamlets actions and words have a "method" to them; there appears to be a reason behind them, they are logical in nature. [Act II, Scene ii, lines 206-207] Hamlets madness in no way reflects Ophelias true madness, his actions contrast them. Hamlet tells his mother that he is not mad, "but mad in craft." [Act III, Scene iv, lines 188-199] Hamlet believes in his sanity at all times. He never doubts his control over psyche