William Shakespeare's Hamlet

615 Words2 Pages

Throughout the iconic play Hamlet written by William Shakespeare, Shakespeare is continually developing multiple characters such as the tragic hero, Hamlet. As the play progresses through the first two acts, Shakespeare is able to provide the viewers and readers with Hamlets motive, good and bad qualities, and his importance to the plot. Though no completely developed, he is able to depict a clear image of who Hamlet is and what he is trying to obtain. Early on in the play it is brought forward by Shakespeare that Hamlets motive is revenge for the murder of his father King Hamlets unwarranted murder. Within the first act of the play Hamlet vows to seek revenge saying; “… As meditation or the thoughts of love/ May sweep to my revenge.” (I.V.30-31). …show more content…

Hamlets’ greatest quality is being an exceptional judge of character. When a person starts to converse with Hamlet, he is very quickly able to see the persons’ true intent. This is shown in act 2 scene 2 when Hamlets old school friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are directed by the king and queen to find Hamlets true drive behind his madness. Shortly into the conversation between Hamlet, Guildenstern, and Rosencrantz, Hamlet says; “…direct with me whether you were sent for or no.” (II.II.283-84). Already being able to see that they were sent to spy on him. This is a good quality by allowing Hamlet to separate himself from those whom are truthful and trustworthy. However though he does have good qualities, Hamlet also is shown to have bad qualities. A clear quality he has is an abundance of procrastination. Constantly procrastinating, Hamlet delays himself from killing Claudius, the man responsible for murdering his father. Hamlet realizes in his second soliloquy that he has been delaying enough; calling himself a coward, yet then follows this by procrastinating once again; “The play’s the thing / Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king.” (II.II.591-92). This shows that he is unable to find the will within himself to kill his own uncle. Only finding excuses to delay his revenge that he had vowed to obtain. These qualities bring to light who

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