Examples Of Duality Of Human Nature In Hamlet

In Hamlet, Shakespeare uses crude diction and immoral similies to accentuate Hamlet’s duality of human nature as revneger. O vengeance! Why, what an ass am I! This is most brave, That I, the son of a dear father murdered, Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, Must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words And fall a-cursing like a very drab, A scullion!
(II, ii, line 594-200) Shakespeare manipulates the juxtaposition of animal references to display Hamlet’s duality of human nature. Hamlet refers to himself as stupid and foolish by calling himself an “ass.” Or more commonly known as a donkey. A donkey has been thought of as unintelligent, stupid, and silly throughout the ages. In the bible, an ass has been signified as the understanding in man and truth. The asses carry burdens through out the bible
and carries truth and good or falsity and evil. Hamlet is stuck between the good and evil. Hamlet has been procrastinating in the sense the he has not took action against the king. Hamlet has speculated the situation though he torn between the good and bad. Hamlet continues his crude diction to display his human duality.
Hamlet refers to his father as “dear.” The definition of “dear” is brave, bold, strenous, glorious, noble, and honorable. Each one of these words is how Hamlet sees his father. His fathers was dressed in his war gear when he saw him, which radiates bravery and nobility. Theses traits transmits to the symbolism of a deer. Heads of deer appear on the walls of hunters as a symbolism of bravery and power. Hamlet still sees his father in a good light even though he is angery that he has changed his detiny. The juxtaposition of these animals shows how Hamlet is is weak with no action instead of brave and honorable. Hamlet has been procrastinating against his duty to kill his uncle with questions that plague his mind. Instead of nobility, Hamlet considers suicide as an easy alternative. It allows a deeper understanding of Hamlet on how he doubts the act of
revenge. Hamlet continues with the usage of unethical simlies to display his duality of human nature. Hamlet refers to himself as a “whore” who stands around cursing like a “drab” in the street. A whore provides sexual services to another person in return for payment. It also means working towards an unworthy cause, which reflects on Hamlet working towards the murder of the king. A drab is a faded and dull with appearance, though it also refers to a woman prostitute. Hamlet believes that women ‘s sexual appetites lead them to betray men. Hamlet himself will be betraying the king leading him on the path of evil. Yet Hamlet was stil good when he said this in act two. Hamlet’s immoral similies and diction continues on throughout the play. Duality continues throughout the book with a chaste Ophelia versus the incestuous Gertrude, faithful Horatio versus the treacherous Rosencrantz and Guildenstren, and the evil Cladius versus the noble dead king. These dualities reinforces the play’s opposition between good and evil. Hamlet continues to long for death as he sees the evil in his destiny sent from “heaven and hell.” Hamlet delay shows how Hamlet is both opposed to and involved in evil. Though it produces a growing rage in him which leads to his killing of Polonius. Hamlet was sane with his sololiquy in act two. Hamlet’s lunacy seems at times to be real with his hysterical rejection of love within the play. Hamlet’s real or feigned insanity is a reminder that “something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” (I, iv, line 90)