Is Hamlet Irrational Or Selfish

Shakespeare is known for his ability to create complex characters. Each character has a multi-sided story that creates an aura of mystery for the reader. Shakespeare creates characters that are much deeper than what meets the eye. A famous example of this alluring character is Hamlet. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, is the protagonist of the play Hamlet. Readers have been left questioning the true state of Hamlet’s frame of mind for years. Is he a coward or a sensitive intellect? Is he rational or irrational? Is he thoughtful in his actions or reckless? Is he a man of good morals or is he immoral? The mystery around him is created due the complexity of the situation he is currently in. In the first act, Prince Hamlet is visited by the ghost of his

Readers often confuse his sensitivity with being cowardly. He is not cowardly; he only waits so long to kill Claudius because he wants to be confident that he is Claudius is guilty. He is faced with the chance to kill Claudius whilst Claudius is praying in Act III scene iii. Claudius has his back turned from the door while he prays for the ability to fell guilt. This is after the play, where Hamlet finally gets the proof that Claudius killed King Hamlet based on his reactions to the play. When Hamlet realizes this is his chance, he finds an excuse to not kill him. He is afraid that “A villain kills my father; and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send to heaven” (III.iii.77-79). This shows Hamlet’s rational fear that the timing for killing Claudius is off, and could miscarry and end poorly for the integrity of Hamlet. Readers may argue that this is an example of cowardly behavior, but is more of an example of Hamlet’s sensitivity. He is sensitive to the subject of death and the laws of the church. He also mentions his mother in the soliloquy. He thinks of his mother before killing Claudius because he realizes that killing Claudius will not solve his problems with his mom. In the soliloquy in the church he says “My mother stays: This physic but prolongs thy sickly days.” (III.iii.95-96). This quote means that he realizes that his mother will not die alongside of Claudius and killing Claudius will only prolong

After the ghost of his father returned to ask him to kill Claudius, Hamlet says “O cursed spite, that ever I was born to set it right!” (I.v.???). That line shows the disdain Hamlet has towards the responsibility placed upon him. Hamlet understands that he is a moral obligation that rests upon his completion of this task. In the Elizabethan era, Denmark was a strong Catholic state. The early Church had strict rules and followings. The ghost of King Hamlet is stuck in purgatory, the place after death where a Catholic goes to purify themselves before entering Heaven. The King’s final act of purification would be avenging his death, a responsibly placed on Hamlet. If Hamlet does not complete this task, the King is unable to enter Heaven; but if he does complete the task, he risks not being able to enter Heaven himself. This morally compromising task weighs heavily upon Hamlet. His answer on how to send his father and himself to Heaven is to make Claudius confess to the murder. That is why he delays so long on the killing; he wants to be positive that Claudius is the one to blame for the death of his father. Once Claudius confessed at the play, Hamlet was morally allowed to kill him. Another example of the moral righteousness of Hamlet is his strong disposition toward the quick remarriage of his mother to his uncle. Due to the religiousness of the