Hamlet's Attitude In Hamlet

In this play Hamlet by Shakespeare, Hamlet’s attitude reflects a puzzling and unique character that’s portrayed throughout the play making him hard to be understood. He has a hidden side from his character that has every critic observing. Hamlet can be understood in many personal ways, but has challenges for people who try to seek him. In Shakespeare Philosophy by McGinn, his thesis states, “I suggest that this comparison between himself and an actor provides the key to the play and to Hamlet’s elusive character. Hamlet is facing the problem of the nothingness of the self, and his way out of this nothingness is through an essentially theatrical construction of a self” (pg. 45). I agree with McGinn thesis that “between himself and an actor …show more content…
He doesn’t want people to understand him when they do figure him out he surprises them with something different. In act three scene two Hamlet is talking to Guildenstern and explains how no one will ever understand him. Hamlet states, "Why, look you now, how unworthy a thing you make of me! You would play upon me. You would seem to know my stops. You would pluck out the heart of my mystery” (3.2.329). This act is when Hamlet is talking to Guildenstern and it identifies the way Hamlet is different. The sentence when Hamlet states, “You would pluck out the heart of my mystery” defines how Hamlet is unique in many ways. That the way he is you will never understand him as a person because every time when you see him he will be dissimilar than the last time you’ve seen him as a character. Hamlet has the audience drawn with his ability to keep everyone intrigued with his different personalities as a character. McGinn states, “At the heart of the play’s mystery is the mystery of Hamlet’s character: who or what is he?” (pg. 43). Hamlet’s character is always a mystery and is define as the heart of the play. He is the character that has the audience on their toes with anticipation of what he will do …show more content…
He is well spoken and stands up for what he believes is right no matter what the consequences consist of. This helps Hamlets character to be the heart of the play because you never know what Hamlet will say. For example in act two scene two Hamlet states, “For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a good kissing carrion— Have you a daughter? Let her not walk i ' th ' sun. Conception is a blessing, but, as your daughter may conceive—Friend, look to ’t”(2.2.183). Basically, Hamlet is putting down his own species which he compares them to maggots. He tells Polonius not to allow his daughter to marry or have a child because the sins of man would only carry on through the next generation. Hamlet doesn’t seem to amaze me with his outrageous comments. Then again this what links Hamlet to be the heart of the play with his charisma that associates him to be a good actor in this play. In Shakespeare Philosophy Hamlet, states, “He can be tender and loving, sensitive and refined, and the crude and cruel, callous and indifferent” (pg. 40) Hamlet can be cruel and mean with what he says making him different in this play. The thought of him stating something harsh about his own species just shows that is just how Hamlet is, which he can get away with making him the spotlight of