Lack Of Empathy In Hamlet

Although classic literary works are considered key parts of the English curriculum in schools, many characters are unrealistically shallow because they are characterized by one singular emotion and not a balance of many emotions like real people. This singular distinction of their character makes them painfully unrealistic and unpleasant to read about. Especially in works of tragedy like Hamlet, Wuthering Heights, and Frankenstein, the characters are all slaves to their impulses and desires. This lack of forethought erodes their humanity. Hamlet’s lack of humanity manifests itself in his lack of empathy. This is evident in how he treats Ophelia. In Act three scene 1 Hamlet tells ophelia “I loved you not” and “Get thee to a nunnery. Why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners?” (Shakespeare III.i.129-130). By referring to Ophelia as a “breeder” he rudely debases her by implying that she is only valuable as breeding stock. Then in Act three scene

The situation is terrible: Catherine is married to a man she does not love and she is more than happy to fix the problem by cheating on her husband with Heathcliff. The situation worsens when she refuses to attempt to conceal this from her husband. As Edgar, her husband, is arriving and Heathcliff, her lover, is leaving, she tells Heathcliff “‘You must not go!” (Bronte 103). Then, acting as the voice of reason, Catherine’s servant asks Heathcliff: “‘Will you ruin her, because she has not wit to help herself?’” (Bronte 103). When Heathcliff stays, it shows a lack of empathy and just how blatantly they do not care about the effects of their immoral actions. This will irreparably “ruin” Catherine’s reputation, yet they do not have the foresight to cease or at least conceal their actions. Their blatant disregard for how their actions might affect the future and hurt Edgar is what makes Catherine and Heathcliff grossly