Audiences reaction to Hamlet

A detailed Summary of Audiences reaction to Hamlet

How does Shakespeare influence the audience's response to the character of Hamlet?

There are many scenes within the play of Hamlet, which can alter the audience's perception of the main character, Hamlet. So much of Hamlet is an attempt to deceive the audience; Hamlet's madness, his 'antic disposition' is a prime example.

Others include Act Three Scene one, where Hamlet is incredibly, brutally rude toward Ophelia, his alleged lover. This impression of Hamlet depicts a ghastly picture, one of tribulation and inclemency.

Personally, I believe that the image portrayed by Shakespeare of Hamlet is one of aptitude for guile and justice. Many things during this complex play indicate that this is certainly the case. Hamlets plan with the Players is one of cunning and coyness; a play to damn his fathers killer. Although he is hell-bound on avenging his fathers death, this destructive rage within him is, nevertheless, overcome by his intelligence, forcing him to be sure himself of his fathers killer. This action shows us, the audience, of Hamlets mentality, and his overall mental predominance over his other acquaintances.

Another scene tells the audience that Hamlet is also a man of justice, a willing to discover the truth. Act

Hamlet is not an evil man. It is quite understandable that he has a hatred for his uncle, but what is alarming is his absolute unforgiving frame of mind toward his mother. Presumably, Gertrude is oblivious to all wrongdoing, and should not be blamed as much as Hamlet seems to. All Gertrude is guilty of is being naive and foolish to the faults of new husband.

t is the time involved that is vexing him and not specifically the deed.

In this soliloquy, we also learn about Hamlet's adoration of his father and how this serves to emphasize the scorn that he shows towards his mother. Hamlet communicates that his father was a divine, almost 'god-like' character, "so excellent a king", who was "so loving to my mother". He also illustrates the contrast between the new king and the old and as such his mother's choice, "Hyperion to a satyr". This example of extreme contrast increases the importance of Hamlet's father and yet also makes a mockery of Claudius' character; one which, to this point, the audience could have seen as strong and domineering

Act three Scene four is a hint toward Hamlets cold and heartless side, by killing Polonius., without a shred of sorrow or guilt. In fact, he compares this dreadful crime with the acts of his mother, with his uncle; 'A bloody deed- almost as bad......as kill a king and marry his brother.'

three scene three is when Hamlet passes up his first, and as far as he knew, his only chance to kill his uncle. His reason was one of justice, but also could be considered one of cruelty and vengeance. His procrastination of his uncle's inevitable murder obviously displays an image of Hamlet doing what is right, or an image of arrant repugnance

Hamlet was arguably one of the greatest dramatic characters Shakespeare created, and extremely contradictory in his actions, being reckless, but also cautious. A good example of this awareness is when Hamlet is raging about the discovery of his Fathers murder, and is irate for revenge, but also keeps a cool head, by asking his friends not to say a word concerning what they have seen that night.

Hamlets first soliloquy is during Act one Scene two, is an essential part of the play. It highlights all his inner feelings and conflict caused by the occurrences in the play. It reveals his true feelings on such events, and emphasizes the difference between his public appearance and his thoughts and attitude towards Claudius. He is extremely over-whelmed by his mothers hasty marriage to his uncle, and respected his father so much, that to see this poor excuse for a man take his place was the utmost of insults. 'My Fathers brother, but no more like my Father than I to Hercules.'

From the aspects of Hamlet discussed, we see him as a form of hero; smart, valiant, undaunted.

The distressed nature of Hamlet's mind is also communicated well by the imagery that is used throughout the soliloquy. At the start, Hamlet says that he wants his "too too solid flesh" to "...melt, thaw, and resolve itself into a dew". This goes alongside the later lines, "How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable seem to me all the uses of this world", where the build up of adjectives, one after the other, serves to highlight just how difficult it is for Hamlet to live in the world. It is as if Hamlet cannot deal with or, indeed, stand the physical side of life anymore; he needs to get rid of his body to be able to deal with the inner conflict going on in his head. The poetry of these lines and the image that is expressed serve to reveal not only the tragic nature of his problem, also highlighted by his allusions to suicide, but also create a link between him and the audience. In fact, the entire soliloquy establi

Some common words found in the essay are:
Hamlet Frailty, Father Hercules', Act Scene, Hyperion Satyr, Shakespeare Hamlet, Prince Hamlet, Hamlet Gertrude, Conversely Shakespeare, Inevitably Ophelia, Ophelia Firstly, act scene, character hamlet, audience hamlet, scene hamlet, act scene hamlet, nature hamlet's, hatred uncle, cold heartless, warm considerate, hamlets plan, hamlet confesses,

Approximate Word count = 2488
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English