Regardless of the betrayal Hamlet constantly complains about, a majority of the pain he experiences is self-inflicted. Written at the beginning of the 15th century, “Hamlet” coincides with the Renaissance’s heightened interest in human nature by diving into Hamlet’s profound mindset. In, “Hamlet”, Shakespeare crafts Hamlet to be paralyzed with existentialism in order to show a more adolescent side of him struggling to take action. Hamlet’s soliloquies are great tools to peer into what Hamlet is really thinking. In his second soliloquy, Hamlet calls himself a “dull and muddy-mettled rascal” who is “unpregnant” of cause for revenge of “a king upon whose property and most dear life a damned defeat was made” (2. ii. 525-530). His self-loathing
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In his argument with Ophelia, he asks why Ophelia would, “be a breeder of sinners” and states, though he is fairly good, it would be “better [if] my mother had not borne me” (3. i. 23-26). The harsh words Hamlet throws Ophelia’s way say a lot less about Ophelia and much more about Hamlet’s state. This tangent Hamlet goes on of claiming bearing children is useless because humans are all evil is practically a rendition of his “To be” speech. Hamlet is taking his bitter realizations about life out on Ophelia instead of properly engaging in the conversation, proving he is not mature enough to love and will do nothing about it except complain. In Hamlet’s conversation with Polonius, Hamlet, once again, preaches depressing thoughts when he tells Polonius he “cannot… take from [him] anything that [he] more willingly part withal” adding with an echo, “except my life, except my life, except my life” (2. ii. 205-207). Hamlet’s statement is much more profound and philosophical than Polonius’ tone in the conversation which presents Hamlet’s habit of not engaging in balanced, reciprocal relationships. Hamlet seems to take his inner conflicts and spew them at others, unaware of responding commentary. Hamlet’s mind is so busy, and his attention to others is so small, that he might as well be talking to brick walls around
In his argument with Ophelia, he asks why Ophelia would, “be a breeder of sinners” and states, though he is fairly good, it would be “better [if] my mother had not borne me” (3. i. 23-26). The harsh words Hamlet throws Ophelia’s way say a lot less about Ophelia and much more about Hamlet’s state. This tangent Hamlet goes on of claiming bearing children is useless because humans are all evil is practically a rendition of his “To be” speech. Hamlet is taking his bitter realizations about life out on Ophelia instead of properly engaging in the conversation, proving he is not mature enough to love and will do nothing about it except complain. In Hamlet’s conversation with Polonius, Hamlet, once again, preaches depressing thoughts when he tells Polonius he “cannot… take from [him] anything that [he] more willingly part withal” adding with an echo, “except my life, except my life, except my life” (2. ii. 205-207). Hamlet’s statement is much more profound and philosophical than Polonius’ tone in the conversation which presents Hamlet’s habit of not engaging in balanced, reciprocal relationships. Hamlet seems to take his inner conflicts and spew them at others, unaware of responding commentary. Hamlet’s mind is so busy, and his attention to others is so small, that he might as well be talking to brick walls around