William Shakespeare is widely known for his ability to take a sad story, illustrate it with words, and make it a tragedy. Usually human beings include certain discrepancies in their personalities that can at times find them in undesirable or difficult situations. However, those that are exemplified in Shakespeare’s tragedies include “character flaws” which are so destructive that they eventually cause their downfall. For example, Prince Hamlet, of Shakespeare’s tragedy play “Hamlet,” is seemingly horrified by what the ghost of his father clarifies concerning his death. Yet the actions executed by Hamlet following this revelation do not appear to coincide with the disgust he expresses immediately after the ghost alerts him of the true cause of his death. Thus, it is apparent that the instilled self doubt of Prince Hamlet is as the wand that Shakespeare uses to transform an otherwise sad story to an unfortunate tragedy.
Dismayed, disturbed, distressed. These three words are the resounding cry of Act I, Scene V of the play. They are felt by both of the characters featured. The ghost, or King Hamlet, because he was killed without the chance to repent his sins and now dwells without purpose “...doom’d for a certain term to walk the night, and for the day confin’d to fast in fires, till the foul crimes done in [his] days of nature are purg’d away.”(Act I, Scene V lines10-12) While Hamlet can only utter, “Alas, poor ghost,” at the suffering he is “ bound to hear” from the voice he once knew as that of his father. As the ghost begins to retell how, “...[his] custom always of the afternoon, upon his secure hour [Prince Hamlet’s] uncle stole, with juice of cursed hebona in a vial, and in the purches of [his] ears did pour the leprous distillment, whose effect holds such an enmity with blood of man that swift quicksilver it courses through the natural gates of the body...” and thus sent him to his untimely death, Hamlet can only swear that he shall never forget the words spoken by the ghost.(Act I, Scene V lines 60-7) Hamlet vows to “ ...wipe away all trivial fond records, all saws of books, all forms, all pressures past that youth and observation copied there...” so that “[his father’s] commandment all alone shall live...within the book and volume of [his] brain, unmixed with baser matter.”(Act I, Scene V lines 99-104) To further ensure that he shall avenge his father’s murder he writes down his discovery that “...one may smile, and smile, and be a villain”(Act I, Scene V line108). This can also be seen as his acceptance that his uncle is a murderer and that his mother is an incestuous traitor. He finalizes his devotion by forcing those who saw the ghost of his father to swear that they will not repeat what they have seen. Although it may seem that the concurring acts and scenes should mention Hamlet’s plot for revenge, it is actually a long wait of assuring the guilt of his uncle and hesitations of how to execute his revenge that follow.
Hamlet’s failure to adhere to the promise he makes his father makes Act I, Scene I perplexing. This is because after reading the dedication he proclaims, it is almost impossible to believe the amount of time he allows to pass before he holds true to his word. As immediate action he only feigns madness and is cruel to his mother. He begins to hurt those around him including the innocent Ophelia who is driven mad and eventually to suicide as a result of Hamlet’s actions. He requires the reaction of his uncle to a play Hamlet writes and has performed for his uncle before he is convinced of his guilt. This is nothing like the anger and certainty he displays when approached by the ghost. His stalling reaches such extent that it is eventually unclear wether Hamlet’s immediate action of acting mad has not become reality. For he would have to be mad to respond to those original feelings of dismay, being disturbed, and distressed with mere hesitation.
The only logical explanation to Hamlet’s actions is self doubt. Since he is unsure of himself, he cannot deem himself worthy of avenging his father’s death. Though he does meet his purpose, it is a lengthy process of suffering for Hamlet and those who surround him that proceed this end. It is obvious that Shakespeare has added this flaw in Hamlet’s character to create a more dramatic outcome of the play. Moreover, the tragedy is made memorable through the frustration that is felt by both Hamlet and the reader in long awaiting his ultimate act of revenge.
