Hamlet’s plan on proving Claudius’ guilt and whether or not the ghost is his dead father shows that Hamlet is too intelligent to be mad. If Hamlet were indeed mad, he would be too dim-witted to come up with such a clever plan. Bibliography: Shakespear, William. Hamlet. Don Mills HBJ, 1987
Hamlet’s inaction and hesitation to kill Claudius is justified in his own mind and to the audience. Hamlet’s initial disbelief in the reliability of the ghost’s claim, Hamlet’s belief in religion, and the fact that Hamlet is trained in thought rather than in action, all lead to Hamlet’s inaction, and ultimately, Hamlet’s downfall. The ongoing duel between Hamlet’s procrastination and his final action begins with Hamlet’s perception of the ghost. The ghost appears in form, as Horatio describes it, "a figure like your father, armed at point exactly" (1.2.209-210). When Hamlet first meets the ghost, he immediately calls the ghost by his father’s name and follows it to where the ghost beckons him.
Some people would take the ghost 's word for it and do the deed, but alas good old Hamlet needs more than a ghosts word. He needs concrete proof, discovered first hand in order to feel comfortable enough to commit such a heinous act against his own father 's
Hamlet has to step up and become mature. The reader sees here what Hamlet is really made of. The reader sees him as not just a lazy, weak person, but a brave man. He could have fallen victim to his bad experience, but he chooses to overcome it and do as his father’s ghost says. Christians can learn an important lesson from Hamlet here.
Hamlet says, “I’ll have grounds more relative than this. The play’s the thing/Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king,” (II, ii, 591-592). His sanity is shown by how well thought out his plan is and how he consistently does not fall in the devils trap. Hamlet 's plan to prove that the king killed his father, is far too intricate to be considered one of a mad man. If he was truly insane, then he would have just listened to the ghost, and without having any evidence would have just killed
The ghost appears and beckons Hamlet to follow him in private and Horatio tries to prevent Hamlet from following the ghost. Trying to show everyone his bravery and duty as a son, Hamlet follows his father’s ghost and says, “ My fate cries out, and makes each petty artery in this body as hardy as the Nemean lion’s nerve” (I.v.82-83). When Old Hamlet reveals how he was killed, Hamlet finally has a source of power to help him overcome his sad demeanor.Hamlet only gains the courage to live on because of his
These character traits show that Hamlet does have some makings of a “proper”, idealistic king - loyalty, intellect and able to hide, to an extent, some of his displeasure. However, he was not ready to take the throne at the time of King Hamlet’s death. Instead, the apparently less deserving of the two, Claudius, takes the throne. When he meets the ghost of King Hamlet and the details of his father’s murder, Hamlet is at first shocked, but then doubtful of the words of this spirit. He vows revenge for his father, but immediately backtracks on it, believing that the ghost may be lying to him, an ... ... middle of paper ... ...sarily to become a better, more moral person.
New York : Avenel Books, 1978. Shakespeare, William. As You Like It. Eds., Louis B. Wright and Virginia A. LaMar. New York : Washington Square Press, 1960.
Sylvan Barnet, gen ed. 2nd rev. ed. New York, Signet, 1998.
Modern Critical Interpretations: William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House, 1987. 15-36.