The Phases Of Hamlet

3 Pages 754 Words

The protagonist of Shakespeare’s Hamlet is an extremely layered and complicated character. He has been studied for years by scholars and average readers alike and all come to the agreement that Shakespeare’s incredible skill makes Hamlet’s character and personality. There’s always more than meets the eye. In our drama literature class we have discussed the progression of Hamlet through three main phases. These phases are inspired by the plot in which his character falls: from pre-murder and speculation to climactic action.
Hamlet 1 represents the Hamlet before his father’s murder. He is a university student who loves to study and is devoted to philosophical questions. He’s very calculated, analytical, and intelligent. Hamlet 2 refers to Hamlet after his father’s murder. He becomes obsessed with proving the murderer and is often perceived as mad. He is no longer very logical and over analyzes situations always thinking and never acting. Hamlet 3 represents the Hamlet who is aware of Claudius’ guilt. He is brash and full of anger and passion. His actions often occur with little or no premeditation, yet he always acts. It is almost a foil of Hamlet 1, his original self.
The murder of the King strikes Hamlet at a very personal level. Being an intellectual person, when he drives himself near mad with obsession, it is one of analytical thought, monologued debates, and elaborate scheming. Hamlet will sometimes wander from his state of obsessive rhetorical questions, to logical analysis but never farther until later in the play. Hamlet, although fond of questions that can’t be answered (his soliloquies about suicide, death and the afterlife) needs to be certain of the murderer. Suspicion or reasonable doubt will not suffice. So when his elaborate scheme of the play within a play is carried out and Claudius’ question of guilt is then answered with certainty, Hamlet 3 immerges as he follows the King into ...