At first glance, William Shakespeare’s world-renowned play, Hamlet, appears to be a tragic tale about a boy-prince gone mad. As readers continue on after the first act, Hamlet’s unfortunate life becomes increasingly more obvious. Moreover, throughout the course of the play, the young prince Hamlet appears to be not only impulsive but also inappropriately melodramatic in comparison to all the other characters in the play. Even more so, his actions seem to be devoid of any rhyme or reason. Without further consideration, it can be easily concluded that the traumatized boy-prince has suffered so much that he has been driven mad; however, this is not the case. In fact, a more in-depth analysis of the play can serve as a testimony to Hamlet’s mental
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For example, in Hamlet’s mind, at this point, he has failed to carry out the vengeful request of the ghost of King Hamlet because he has been acting “like John-a-dreams” (II.ii.595). In this instance, it is made clear that Hamlet views himself as merely someone who is hopelessly lost, as someone who has their head stuck in the clouds. Moreover, Shakespeare’s decision to include the word “dream” has the effect of emphasizing how Hamlet knows that he has yet to confront the reality of his tragic life. Similar to a dreamer, Hamlet has, essentially, been dwelling within the safe haven of his own mind and thus, avoiding his looming responsibilities. Instead, he should have been taking a better initiative to defy the heinous King Claudius. It is in this instance that Hamlet is notably critical of his failure to produce any concrete results. Therefore, the prince of Denmark believes that it is necessary that he refocuses on what the late King Hamlet ordered his son to do. Another example of the protagonists’ self-awareness can be found when he denounces his behavior as being “like [that of] a whore” (II.ii.614). This example has a similar effect seeing that Hamlet refers to himself in an especially derogatory manner. More importantly, Prince Hamlet reduces himself to the likes of someone who is shunned by society as corrupt degenerate. As both a member of the royal family and a beloved heir to the throne, one would assume Hamlet’s social status is far from comparable to that of a “whore”. But, simply because he has been exposed to the glaring error of his ways, Hamlet believes this comparison to be accurate. Even worse, to further affirm this sentiment, Hamlet’s word choice equates him to not just a social outcast, but a female social outcast. Throughout the
For example, in Hamlet’s mind, at this point, he has failed to carry out the vengeful request of the ghost of King Hamlet because he has been acting “like John-a-dreams” (II.ii.595). In this instance, it is made clear that Hamlet views himself as merely someone who is hopelessly lost, as someone who has their head stuck in the clouds. Moreover, Shakespeare’s decision to include the word “dream” has the effect of emphasizing how Hamlet knows that he has yet to confront the reality of his tragic life. Similar to a dreamer, Hamlet has, essentially, been dwelling within the safe haven of his own mind and thus, avoiding his looming responsibilities. Instead, he should have been taking a better initiative to defy the heinous King Claudius. It is in this instance that Hamlet is notably critical of his failure to produce any concrete results. Therefore, the prince of Denmark believes that it is necessary that he refocuses on what the late King Hamlet ordered his son to do. Another example of the protagonists’ self-awareness can be found when he denounces his behavior as being “like [that of] a whore” (II.ii.614). This example has a similar effect seeing that Hamlet refers to himself in an especially derogatory manner. More importantly, Prince Hamlet reduces himself to the likes of someone who is shunned by society as corrupt degenerate. As both a member of the royal family and a beloved heir to the throne, one would assume Hamlet’s social status is far from comparable to that of a “whore”. But, simply because he has been exposed to the glaring error of his ways, Hamlet believes this comparison to be accurate. Even worse, to further affirm this sentiment, Hamlet’s word choice equates him to not just a social outcast, but a female social outcast. Throughout the