How Is Hamlet A Dynamic Character

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"To be or not to be: that is the question" (III.i.56) Almost any avid English reader will recognize this renown quote from one of Hamlet's many soliloquies. In William Shakespeare's great tragedy Hamlet, the author explores the complexity of Prince Hamlet while contrasting it to the unchanging personality of King Claudius. Analysis reveals several clear contrasts between some of Claudius and Hamlet's more prominent characteristics. While Hamlet, the enigmatic protagonist, immediately captures the reader's attention with his bold actions and pensive soliloquies, Claudius, the conniving antagonist, irks readers with his manipulative scheming. Since vile King Claudius appears as a static character, Shakespeare uses dramatic soliloquies delivered by Hamlet to express the complexity of both the protagonist and ordinary people in general. However, Hamlet's indecision and inability to resolve his own inner struggles ultimately leads to his untimely demise, which serves a warning for the audience. Essentially, this essay will analyze both Hamlet and Claudius and then contrast the two characters. Throughout the play Hamlet, Shakespeare reflects the general condition of mankind in the way he uses the protagonist. …show more content…

After the Ghost orders Hamlet to avenge his death, Hamlet despairs and delivers his second soliloquy in anguish since the Ghost's message gruesomely torments his very soul. He cries out to the universe and begs, "Hold, hold, my heart,/ And you, my sinews, grow not instant old,/ But bear me stiffly up(I.v.93-95)." During this soliloquy Hamlet fears that the shock of conversing with the Ghost will cause him to fall over dead. Dramatically bemoaning the burden of revenge that his father has charged him with, Hamlet complains to the universe. While certainly not demonstrating the bravest reaction possible, Hamlet definitely displays his flair for the

An Analysis on Claudius
634 Words | 2 Pages
In Hamlet, Shakespeare developed a character, an antagonist, which produces twists and turns throughout the play. Even though in the beginning of the play, Claudius seemed to be an intelligent man, who has excellent speaking skills that helped him take the leadership of his deceased brother’s kingdom, and marry his wife. But, combining both his intelligence and excellent speaking skills, shows Claudius’s true nature: an astute, lustful conspirator. Through the different settings and situations, Claudius’s character contributes to the overall understanding of the play through psychological, biblical and philosophical methods.
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How Is Hamlet A Dynamic Character
1003 Words | 3 Pages
Hamlet’s character changes reflect on him about how wise he was at handling the whole situation. His character was so diverse, that every time we saw him it was like meeting a new character. Hamlet has many traits, and there is always more to Hamlet than anyone understands. Hamlet was a round and dynamic character throughout the play. Hamlet would not forget his father while all the others resumes their happy lives. Everyone understands Hamlet differently, and Hamlet himself saw the evil and corruption in human life. Claudius married Hamlet’s mother and Hamlet did not like the idea of his mother marrying so soon especially since it was to his uncle. He starts realizing the bad things that people do in their life, and how certain things don’t
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Analysis Of To Be Or Not To Be Soliloquy
868 Words | 2 Pages
It has been said that the “To be or not to be” soliloquy gives us a picture of Hamlet the scholar, the intellectual, pondering a problem of moral philosophy. Discuss.
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Analysis Of Hamlet's Soliloquy
691 Words | 2 Pages
The interpretation of Hamlet’s, To Be or Not to Be soliloquy, from the Shakespearean classic of the same name, is an important part of the way that the audience understands an interpretation of the play. Although the words are the same, the scene is presented by the actors who portray Hamlet can vary between versions of the play. These differences no matter how seemingly miniscule affect the way in which someone watching the play connects with the title character.
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Hamlet's Intellectual Virtue Analysis
1210 Words | 3 Pages
"To be or not to be – that is the question." It is one of the most famous lines in Western Literature and the hallmark of a critical thinker. It is no coincidence that Hamlet is one of the greatest critical thinkers of all time. In school, we are expected to think critically and it is seen as an intellectual virtue. Given the situation Hamlet is in though, Hamlet's intellectual virtue only leads to chaos and death. The story of Hamlet is a tragedy because Hamlet has a tragic virtue.
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Hamlet-identity Crisis
1845 Words | 4 Pages
Shakespeare’s Hamlet is arguably one of the best plays known to English literature. It presents the protagonist, Hamlet, and his increasingly complex path through self discovery. His character is of an abnormally complex nature, the likes of which not often found in plays, and many different theses have been put forward about Hamlet's dynamic disposition. One such thesis is that Hamlet is a young man with an identity crisis living in a world of conflicting values.
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Hamlet Acts Morally, Harms Others by his Actions, and Realizes his Tragic Limits
1017 Words | 3 Pages
Hamlet is Shakespeare’s most famous work of tragedy. Throughout the play the title character, Hamlet, tends to seek revenge for his father’s death. Shakespeare achieved his work in Hamlet through his brilliant depiction of the hero’s struggle with two opposing forces that hunt Hamlet throughout the play: moral integrity and the need to avenge his father’s murder. When Hamlet sets his mind to revenge his fathers’ death, he is faced with many challenges that delay him from committing murder to his uncle Claudius, who killed Hamlets’ father, the former king. During this delay, he harms others with his actions by acting irrationally, threatening Gertrude, his mother, and by killing Polonius which led into the madness and death of Ophelia. Hamlet ends up deceiving everyone around him, and also himself, by putting on a mask of insanity. In spite of the fact that Hamlet attempts to act morally in order to kill his uncle, he delays his revenge of his fathers’ death, harming others by his irritating actions. Despite Hamlets’ decisive character, he comes to a point where he realizes his tragic limits.
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Hamlet, the Existentialist
1068 Words | 3 Pages
Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a tragic play about murder, betrayal, revenge, madness, and moral corruption. It touches upon philosophical ideas such as existentialism and relativism. Prince Hamlet frequently questions the meaning of life and the degrading of morals as he agonizes over his father’s murder, his mother’s incestuous infidelity, and what he should or shouldn’t do about it. At first, he is just depressed; still mourning the loss of his father as his mother marries his uncle. After he learns about the treachery of his uncle and the adultery of his mother, his already negative countenance declines further. He struggles with the task of killing Claudius, feeling burdened about having been asked to find a solution to a situation that was forced upon him.Death is something he struggles with as an abstract idea and as relative to himself. He is able to reconcile with the idea of death and reality eventually.
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Hamlet's Fatal Flaw
783 Words | 2 Pages
Hamlet is a scholar, speaker, actor, and prince. For some reason, Hamlet is not able to avenge his father's death without considerable delay. There is one major flaw in Hamlet's character which causes him to postpone the murder of Claudius. I believe that this flaw is Hamlet's idealism. While his idealism is a good trait, in this case, Hamlet's environment and his...
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The Complex Character of Shakespeare's Hamlet
399 Words | 1 Pages
Upon examining Shakespeare's characters in this play, Hamlet proves to be a very complex character, and functions as the key element to the development of the play. Throughout the play we see the many different aspects of Hamlet's personality by observing his actions and responses to certain situations. Hamlet takes on the role of a strong character, but through his internal weaknesses we witness his destruction.
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Free Essays - Hamlet as a Tragic Hero
1445 Words | 3 Pages
As the play’s tragic hero, Hamlet exhibits a combination of good and bad traits. A complex character, he displays a variety of characteristics throughout the play’s development. When he is first introduced in Act I- Scene 2, one sees Hamlet as a sensitive young prince who is mourning the death of his father, the King. In addition, his mother’s immediate marriage to his uncle has left him in even greater despair. Mixed in with this immense sense of grief, are obvious feelings of anger and frustration. The combination of these emotions leaves one feeling sympathetic to Hamlet; he becomes a very “human” character. One sees from the very beginning that he is a very complex and conflicted man, and that his tragedy has already begun.
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Hamlet's Soliloquy - To be, or not to be
1219 Words | 3 Pages
Hamlet's Soliloquy - To be, or not to be. Hamlet's "To be, or not to be" soliloquy is arguably the most famous soliloquy in the history of the theatre. Even today, 400 years after it was written, most people are vaguely familiar with the soliloquy, even though they may not know the play. What gives these 34 lines such universal appeal and recognition? What about Hamlet's introspection that has prompted scholars and theatregoers alike to ask questions about their own existence over the centuries?
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Sanity In Hamlet
2032 Words | 5 Pages
One of the most popular characters in Shakespearean literature, Hamlet endures difficult situations within the castle he lives in. The fatal death of his father, and urge for revenge leads Hamlet into making unreasonable decisions. In William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, Hamlet’s sanity diminishes as the story progresses, impacting the people around him as well as the timing and outcome of his revenge against Claudius.
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Inconsistency in The Character of Hamlet
1079 Words | 3 Pages
The perfection of Hamlet’s character has been called in question - perhaps by those who do not understand it. The character of Hamlet stands by itself. It is not a character marked by strength of will or even of passion, but by refinement of thought and sentiment. Hamlet is as little of the hero as a man can be. He is a young and princely novice, full of high enthusiasm and quick sensibility - the sport of circumstances, questioning with fortune and refining on his own feelings, and forced from his natural disposition by the strangeness of his situation.
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Hamlet as the Tragic Hero
828 Words | 2 Pages
Hamlet is the best known tragedy in literature today. Here, Shakespeare exposes Hamlet’s flaws as a heroic character. The tragedy in this play is the result of the main character’s unrealistic ideals and his inability to overcome his weakness of indecisiveness. This fatal attribute led to the death of several people which included his mother and the King of Denmark. Although he is described as being a brave and intelligent person, his tendency to procrastinate prevented him from acting on his father’s murder, his mother’s marriage, and his uncle’s ascension to the throne.
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How Is Hamlet A Dynamic Character

An Analysis on Claudius