Characters: Hamlet (Grade 12 NSC Matric English HL): Revision Notes
Characters: Hamlet
Hamlet is one of literature's most complex and fascinating characters, serving as the tragic protagonist of Shakespeare's masterpiece. Understanding his character is essential for appreciating the depth and themes of the play.
Hamlet's character has been analysed and interpreted for over 400 years, making him one of the most studied figures in world literature. His psychological complexity continues to resonate with modern audiences.
Core character traits
Hamlet's personality is fundamentally shaped by internal conflict and moral dilemmas. From the moment we meet him, he is a character wrestling with impossible choices and deep psychological turmoil.
Melancholy and introspection
When the audience first encounters Hamlet, he is mourning his deceased father's death. This grief runs much deeper than normal bereavement, revealing a character marked by profound melancholy and inner turmoil. His emotional distress is significantly worsened by his mother Gertrude's hasty and incestuous union with his father's brother, Claudius. The combination of his father's sudden death, his mother's quick remarriage, and the appearance of his father's ghost creates a perfect storm that contributes to Hamlet's psychological descent.
The introspective philosopher
Hamlet's introspective nature becomes most apparent through his famous soliloquies, particularly the renowned "To be or not to be" speech. These moments of self-reflection provide crucial insight into the existential themes of life and death that run throughout the play. Through these introspective moments, Hamlet grapples with the complexities of human existence, questioning everything from the meaning of life to the nature of death itself.
Internal conflict as a defining feature
The internal struggle that defines Hamlet's character centres around a profound moral dilemma: he must avenge his father's murder, but doing so requires him to resort to violence and deception. This creates an ongoing internal dialogue where he constantly questions the ethical consequences of his potential actions.
This inner turmoil adds remarkable depth to his character, portraying someone genuinely torn between his duty as a son and the moral implications of revenge. Hamlet's reluctance to immediately seek vengeance isn't simply indecision - it reflects the complex workings of his moral compass.
Evolving understanding of human nature
During his introspective journey throughout the play, Hamlet reaches a significant realisation about the inherent duality of humanity - that people encompass both good and evil. This acceptance demonstrates his evolving understanding of human complexity and moral ambiguity.
Existential questioning
Hamlet's character embodies the existential themes that flow through the entire play. He constantly delves into profound questions about the meaning of life, the nature of the afterlife, and what defines human existence. This persistent questioning reveals his deep-seated existential angst - a philosophical anxiety about the purpose and meaning of life itself.
Hamlet's existential questioning predates modern existentialist philosophy by centuries, yet his concerns about meaning, purpose, and authenticity align remarkably well with 20th-century existentialist thought.
His scepticism regarding the motivations and authenticity of those around him significantly contributes to the atmosphere of mistrust and deceit that permeates the play. This continual sense of doubt acts as a catalyst for the tension and suspicion that characterises many relationships within the story.
Key relationships and what they reveal
Relationship with Queen Gertrude
Hamlet's strained relationship with his mother reveals his feelings of betrayal and disillusionment. He finds it extremely difficult to come to terms with his mother's guilt and becomes convinced that every woman is a "breeder of sins." This sentiment not only illustrates his emotional turmoil but also underscores the depth of his disillusionment with people he should inherently trust.
Relationship with Ophelia
Hamlet's interactions with Ophelia demonstrate how his attitudes towards love and women range from disgust and anger to grief and betrayal. He denies her his love, driven by the emotional turmoil within himself. Significantly, Hamlet uses Ophelia to express his revulsion towards his mother's sexuality. By displacing Gertrude's guilt onto Ophelia, he effectively denies and punishes his mother for her actions through his treatment of Ophelia. This displacement of emotions reveals the complexity of Hamlet's internal struggles.
The relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia serves as a tragic subplot that mirrors the main theme of corruption and its destructive effects on innocent individuals.
Positive relationships
However, Hamlet's relationships with Horatio and the gravedigger serve as important examples of his capacity to form meaningful connections with individuals who share his intellectual and moral integrity. These friendships highlight his ability to maintain genuine human connection even amid the chaos surrounding him.
Relationship with Claudius
Hamlet's complex relationship with his uncle-stepfather underscores the overarching theme of corruption within the Danish court. The famous play within the play device that Hamlet uses serves a dual purpose: it exposes Claudius's guilt whilst simultaneously demonstrating Hamlet's intellectual capabilities.
Hamlet's journey and development
Throughout the play, Hamlet embarks on a quest for truth, both external and internal. Externally, he uses theatrical performance to uncover King Claudius's guilt and confirm the ghost's accusations. Internally, he undergoes a profound personal journey that gradually unravels his own identity, values, and purpose.
This internal journey becomes complicated and fosters an obsessive repulsion towards sex and love, which significantly impacts his relationships with the women in his life.
Character evolution
As the play progresses, a more mature and introspective Hamlet emerges. By the final acts, he contemplates life's fragilities without the bitterness or fear that characterised his earlier speeches. He prepares himself for his imminent death with a philosophical acceptance that demonstrates significant character growth.
Different critical interpretations
Understanding Hamlet requires awareness of the various ways critics and scholars have interpreted his character over the centuries.
Traditional tragic hero interpretation
Traditional Tragic Hero Analysis
In this classical interpretation:
- Hamlet possesses noble qualities (intelligence, sensitivity, moral awareness)
- He is fundamentally flawed by indecision and procrastination
- His tragic downfall results directly from these character flaws
- His story follows the traditional arc of tragic drama where the hero's weakness leads to their destruction
Psychological interpretation
Psychological Character Study
Modern psychological interpretations suggest:
- Hamlet may suffer from clinical depression or anxiety disorders
- His erratic behaviour reflects genuine mental health struggles
- His introspective nature represents psychological coping mechanisms
- His "madness" may be both performed and genuine simultaneously
Political and social interpretation
Political Commentary Reading
From this critical perspective:
- Hamlet represents the individual caught in corrupt political systems
- His delay in revenge symbolises the difficulty of acting against institutional power
- The play critiques the moral bankruptcy of political leadership
- Hamlet's struggle reflects broader social and political tensions of Shakespeare's era
Key Points to Remember:
- Hamlet's defining characteristic is internal conflict - he's constantly torn between duty and moral conscience
- His introspective soliloquies, especially "To be or not to be," reveal his existential questioning about life, death, and human purpose
- His relationships with different characters reveal different aspects of his psychology - distrust with Gertrude, displaced anger with Ophelia, genuine friendship with Horatio
- He undergoes significant character development, evolving from a bitter, confused young man to someone who accepts life's complexities with philosophical maturity
- Multiple valid interpretations exist - tragic hero, psychological case study, or political commentator - demonstrating the character's enduring complexity and relevance