Hamlet's Changing Character - Book Hamlet 2
In Shakespeare's Hamlet, Hamlet's interactions with Horatio, Laertes, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern give the reader a better understanding of Hamlet himself. The changes that occur within Hamlet are revealed through his interactions with these young men. Horatio is Hamlet's loyal friend who throughout he play is on Hamlet's side. Laertes on the other hand is more of an acquaintance of Hamlet, but as the play draws to a close they become enemies. Laertes brings forward a side of Hamlet which acts on impulse instead of thinking everything over in detail. Finally Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are friends with whom Hamlet attended college.. They cause Hamlet to do things that even the reader thinks he would never do. Hamlet's interactions with these people demonstrates how a person can be affected by the personalities and actions of the people around them. Horatio is the only person in the play who is always on Hamlet's side. In the play some people believe in Hamlet while other don't, but throughout, Horatio is a loyal friend to Hamlet. With the quote, "A man that Fortune's buffets and rewards Hast ta'en with equal thanks; and blessed are those Whose blood and judgement are so well
Hamlet's interactions with Laertes create a version of Hamlet's character which is quite different from Hamlet's character in the beginning of the novel,. therefore giving the reader a better understanding of his character. Hamlet and Laertes characters are very different. This is apparent in the contrast to how Hamlet acts when given the chance to take revenge on his father and the way in which Laertes acts in the same situation. In (III.3.77-92), Hamlet has an opportunity to kill Claudius, but fails to do so because since Claudius is praying he will go to heaven and Hamlet does not want this. In contrast, in (IV.7.144), Laertes says "To cut his throat I' th' church", speaking of the revenge that he intends to take upon Hamlet, indicating that he would even kill him in a church which would send Hamlet straight to heaven. Laertes is characterized as being a person who will do something without thinking about it while Hamlet puts too much thought into what he wants to do, causing him to be unable to act. The final two pieces of evidence are from Act Five. These events occur in Act Five as this is the point at which Laertes' effect on Hamlet's character is most apparent. The first is from Scene One, lines 261-262 where Laertes says "...-Hold off the earth awhile, Till I have caught her once more in mines arms.", and then leaps into Ophelia's grave. This characterizes Laertes as being passionate and loyal, while up to this point we have seen no passion in Hamlet. A few lines later in the same scene and act, Hamlet jumps into the grave and attacks Laertes, telling him that Laertes has no right to be as upset as Hamlet. Hamlet was not supposed to be in Denmark, but he reveals himself to everyone in a rage. This indicates that Hamlet's interactions with Laertes has caused him to react passionately and without thinking, revealing a huge change in his character. Laertes is the person in Hamlet's life who challenges him and causes him to change, although not necessarily for the better. Throughout the play Hamlet, Hamlets's interactions wit
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Approximate Word count = 1392
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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