Throughout Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, the audience discovers multiple alter egos and other personas maintained by the play’s protagonist, Hamlet. The very nature of his several personalities is quite evident throughout the play, yet varies between different scenes and characters. Three personas that were crucial to the development of Hamlet include his states of sadness, insanity, and indecision. These personas help build Hamlet’s character as well as captivate the audience throughout the play’s entirety.
One of Hamlet’s most striking personas is evident early on in the play, where the audience is made of aware of his father’s recent death and his mother’s debauched marriage with Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius. His thoughts of suicide …show more content…
In the case of Hamlet, his tragic flaw was his indecision. There are several examples within the play that exemplify Hamlet’s indecision and though some may argue that his insanity was his most powerful persona, others, including myself, feel that Hamlet’s indecision was most critical. This persona is evident when we find Claudius praying and asking for forgiveness for his sins. Although Hamlet wants to kill Claudius, he decides not to knowing that if he kills him now, there is a good chance Claudius will go to heaven when he dies which would make the murder without purpose and futile. As Hamlet contemplates killing Claudius now that he finally has the opportunity to, he is overwhelmed by his indecisiveness and says, "Now might I do it pat, now he is praying; And now I 'll do 't and so he goes to heaven; And so am I reveng 'd. That would be scann 'd: A villain kills my father; and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send To heaven." (III. iii. 74-79). The other example of Hamlet’s indecision also pertains to the killing of King Claudius, as Hamlet speaks alone, he announces, “Contagion to this world. Now could I drink hot blood And do such bitter business as the day Would quake to look on. Soft, now to my mother.” (III. ii. 368-70). This quote perfectly demonstrates Hamlet’s inability to make decisions because he proclaims that he is ready to kill the king, yet procrastinates and changes his mind, saying that he must speak with his mother, even though there is absolutely no need to. Hamlet’s tragic flaw of indecision is what ultimately leads to his downfall and is the reason for many critics great emphasis on the value of his indecisive
One of Hamlet’s most striking personas is evident early on in the play, where the audience is made of aware of his father’s recent death and his mother’s debauched marriage with Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius. His thoughts of suicide …show more content…
In the case of Hamlet, his tragic flaw was his indecision. There are several examples within the play that exemplify Hamlet’s indecision and though some may argue that his insanity was his most powerful persona, others, including myself, feel that Hamlet’s indecision was most critical. This persona is evident when we find Claudius praying and asking for forgiveness for his sins. Although Hamlet wants to kill Claudius, he decides not to knowing that if he kills him now, there is a good chance Claudius will go to heaven when he dies which would make the murder without purpose and futile. As Hamlet contemplates killing Claudius now that he finally has the opportunity to, he is overwhelmed by his indecisiveness and says, "Now might I do it pat, now he is praying; And now I 'll do 't and so he goes to heaven; And so am I reveng 'd. That would be scann 'd: A villain kills my father; and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send To heaven." (III. iii. 74-79). The other example of Hamlet’s indecision also pertains to the killing of King Claudius, as Hamlet speaks alone, he announces, “Contagion to this world. Now could I drink hot blood And do such bitter business as the day Would quake to look on. Soft, now to my mother.” (III. ii. 368-70). This quote perfectly demonstrates Hamlet’s inability to make decisions because he proclaims that he is ready to kill the king, yet procrastinates and changes his mind, saying that he must speak with his mother, even though there is absolutely no need to. Hamlet’s tragic flaw of indecision is what ultimately leads to his downfall and is the reason for many critics great emphasis on the value of his indecisive