One rarely reveals one’s true state of mind to others. It is in one’s own thoughts and words that are said when one is in the presence of no one but one’s self that the honest feelings are divulged. In Shakespeare's play, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, the case is unique. The reader is unable to completely resolve Hamlet's state of mind because each soliloquy adds to his complexity and the confusion of his true character. Although the reader does not fully grasp what is going on in Hamlet's mind, his soliloquies do help to gain some insight into what Hamlet is feeling at that time. Throughout the play, Hamlet transitions from being depressed to being motivated, while remaining indecisive, which proves to be his fatal flaw.
Hamlet's …show more content…
Hamlet is in awe about how the Players could elicit such powerful emotion over Hecuba, someone who has absolutely no relation to the Player, when Hamlet cannot get that much emotion over his dead father. "Yet I, a dull and muddy-mettled rascal…unpregnant of my cause, and can say nothing-no, not for a king upon whose property and most dear life a damned defeat was made. Am I a coward?" (Ham.2.2.593-598) Hamlet is so disappointed in himself that he does not even consider the reality that the Players are accustomed to displaying fake emotions, unlike Hamlet. After releasing his anger towards himself and Claudius, Hamlet allays into a gentler state of mind of planning rather than enraged emotion. He has found a new sense of determination. "The play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King." (Ham.2.2.633-634) This is further proof that Hamlet may not truly be mad but just pretending to be because he is desperate for revenge. Instead of only talking about avenging his father, Hamlet makes plans on precisely how he will figure out whether Claudius was the murderer. For the first time, Hamlet talks with reason, and we realize that what we think is 'Hamlet gone mad' is really just Hamlet's cleverness, one example of the complexity of this character. Nicol Williamson points out another example of Hamlet’s sometimes confusing character in his interview with New York Times: “He is disposed. Revenge is no longer his motive, but more the random passion of a sense of loss that is more profound than a murdered father or a stolen crown.” He suggests that Hamlet wants revenge for a more convoluted reason than is immediately
Hamlet's …show more content…
Hamlet is in awe about how the Players could elicit such powerful emotion over Hecuba, someone who has absolutely no relation to the Player, when Hamlet cannot get that much emotion over his dead father. "Yet I, a dull and muddy-mettled rascal…unpregnant of my cause, and can say nothing-no, not for a king upon whose property and most dear life a damned defeat was made. Am I a coward?" (Ham.2.2.593-598) Hamlet is so disappointed in himself that he does not even consider the reality that the Players are accustomed to displaying fake emotions, unlike Hamlet. After releasing his anger towards himself and Claudius, Hamlet allays into a gentler state of mind of planning rather than enraged emotion. He has found a new sense of determination. "The play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King." (Ham.2.2.633-634) This is further proof that Hamlet may not truly be mad but just pretending to be because he is desperate for revenge. Instead of only talking about avenging his father, Hamlet makes plans on precisely how he will figure out whether Claudius was the murderer. For the first time, Hamlet talks with reason, and we realize that what we think is 'Hamlet gone mad' is really just Hamlet's cleverness, one example of the complexity of this character. Nicol Williamson points out another example of Hamlet’s sometimes confusing character in his interview with New York Times: “He is disposed. Revenge is no longer his motive, but more the random passion of a sense of loss that is more profound than a murdered father or a stolen crown.” He suggests that Hamlet wants revenge for a more convoluted reason than is immediately