Hamlet

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Hamlet is in a state of depression at the death of his father. He receives a visit from his father's ghost and realizes his family is more corrupt than he previously thought. This recent knowledge makes Hamlet become dark in nature—almost numb toward the people he once cared about. In Hamlet, Shakespeare creates a chronology of Hamlet's plan for revenge and the events that lead to his downfall. The readers begin to see a transition from a man—with once admirable loyalty—develop a cynical deportment, eventually ending in tragedy. Along with his procrastination, Hamlet's interwoven sarcasm and inklings of suicide make his surrounding audience question his sanity.
Instead of viewing Hamlet as a constantly depressed man, Shakespeare suggests—through sarcasm—that Hamlet is aware of the events occurring around him. Hamlet states, "The funeral baked meats did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables" (I.II.179-180), revealing his attitude toward his mother's marriage to his uncle. His morals associated with marriage are clearly expressed. Hamlet is scorning Gertrude's hasty marriage and her new-husband Claudius. Also, Hamlet voices his prejudice when he exclaims, "I think it was to see my mother's wedding" (I.II.177). Again, Hamlet is ridiculing his mother's marital choices. This continuous sarcasm indicates tension between his mother and "step-father" and foreshadows future conflict. Hamlet utilizes sarcasm to illustrate how mindless the kingdom is with Claudius. Hamlet demonstrates his frustration with people under Claudius's rule when he says, "The kettle-drum and trumpet thus bray out the triumph of his pledge" (I.IV.12-13). Hamlet characterizes the people under Claudius as mindless pawns. He believes the kingdom is being deceive...

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...e of reason. The strategies he uses to prove Claudius guilty were carried out to his disadvantage. Besides Hamlet's friend Horatio, Hamlet kept the information of his plans to himself. He did not involve law enforcement or provide any viable evidence. Hamlet started out as the protagonist figure, but he choose unwise actions and reason. He relied only on himself and was ignorant toward reality.
Hamlet made judgments made off individual people. His attitude toward women dramatically changed after dealing with his mother's quick marriage to his father's uncle. His views on the general public changed when they decided to obey Claudius's rule—without knowledge of the crime. Hamlet's procrastination and knowledge made him lose his grasp on reality and lose his life.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William, and Harold Jenkins. Hamlet. London: Methuen, 1982. Print.

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