Hamlet

A detailed Summary of Hamlet

Hamlet is Shakespeare's longest and most famous play and the character of Hamlet is probably one of the most discussed characters in English literature. When discussing Hamlet's character, the issue of his sanity often comes up. Although some critics argue that Hamlet was never sane and others argue that Hamlet's madness controlled his actions only some of the time, I agree with the ones that believe that the cause of Hamlet's strange and insane actions lies within his character. In other words, his actions may be very well described as actions of a man his character under stress. This point of view also supports the idea that there is a sensible explanation for almost every one of Hamlet's actions.

Throughout the course of the play, Hamlet is put under a lot of stress. He has just lost his father whom he dearly loved. His mother has just married his uncle Claudius. Hamlet is not at all thrilled to see Claudius on the throne married to his mother. He cannot accept Claudius being in his father's place: "A little more than kin and less than kind," (Mowat and Werstine, 25). Both Claudius and Gertrude tell Hamlet to celebrate their marriage and stop grieving over his dead father. Claudius tells him that it is unmanly and against God.

A.C. Bradley portrays the character of Hamlet from an interesting perspective. He says that Hamlet is not weak or indecisive at all. How could a flower-like youth do what Hamlet has done in the play? How can there be weakness in Hamlet "who, summoned by the Ghost, bursts from his terrified friends with the cry: 'Unhand me, gentlemen! By heaven, I'll make a ghost of him that lets me'; the Hamlet who scarcely once speaks to the King without an insult, or to Polonius without a gibe; the Hamlet who storms at Ophelia and speaks daggers to his mother; the Hamlet who, hearing a cry behind the arras, whips out his sword in an instant and runs the eavesdropper through; the Hamlet who sends his 'school-fellows' to their death and never troubles his head about them more; the Hamlet who is the first man to board a pirate ship, and who fights with Laertes in the grave ..? This man, the Hamlet of the play, is a heroic, terrible figure" (Bradley, 104). This is the type of person who could go through with his plan and not give in to madness. Even though Hamlet is subjected to a lot of emotional stress, he accomplishes his goal. As it turns out, he had more trouble struggling with himself than with anybody else. Putting on an antic disposition proved to be successful, because even though the outcome is tragic, it is promising.

The characters in the play are able to see that Hamlet is not really mad. Both Polonius and the two friends of Hamlet notice that there is something more to his "madness" than it seems. Polonius says, "Though this be madness, yet there's method in 't." (Mowat and Werstine, 95) Guildenstern calls it a "crafty madness" (Mowat and Werstine, 123). Although characters don't realize it, the reader understands the concealed sarcasm. Claudius, after listening to conversation between Hamlet and Ophelia, does not believe that Hamlet is mad. He considers Hamlet's condition dangerous and decides to send him to back to school.

Stating that Hamlet is already insane at this point in the play just because he is the only one to hear the ghost is highly unreasonable. First, if one ma

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Approximate Word count = 1408
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English