Response To Hamlet Research Paper

How is your personal response to the character of “Hamlet” shaped by his interaction with others in the play?
In William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”, the character of Hamlet is shaped by his interaction with others in the play due to him being regarded as a key figure in the progressive decline of the state of Denmark. He insists on deceiving those around him, despite a well-intentioned desire to uncover the truth. Consequently Hamlet becomes implicated in the further corruption of Denmark by being linked to the deaths of those closest to him. The collapsing relationship between Hamlet and Claudius leads to Hamlet’s loss of his child-like innocence and Ophelia’s implication and death also contributes to this loss which pushes Hamlet to take his revenge.
Hamlet’s relationship with Claudius at the beginning of the play is shaped by Hamlet’s refusal to join in Claudius’ political alliance, progressively making himself an enemy to Claudius.
Hamlet employs subversive humour in his response to Claudius’ offer, representing his disgust for the new king and his actions. His first soliloquy at the beginning is an exploration of the crisis he finds himself in due to the death of his father and the hasty marriage from his uncle to his mother. Hamlet expresses deep despair over the death of his father and laments the coronation of Claudius. Through the use of juxtaposition, Hamlet compares “Hyperion to a satyr” representing his father and Claudius respectively. Hyperion is the god of light, symbolising honour and virtue- traits that Hamlet attributed to his late father, whereas the satyr is representative of the half human and half beast creature found in Greek mythology representing lasciviousness and overindulgence, much like
Claudius.
By refusing Claudius’ alliance and putting on his antic-disposition, Hamlet seeks to destabilise Claudius and his reign by acting mad. Hamlet is well intentioned to lure out the conscience of the King and he does this by making Claudius the chief preoccupation of the state. As a result, he prevents Claudius from ruling the state effectively; hence this is selfish behaviour by Hamlet. He makes himself a focal point of intrigue so Claudius invests his time on deciphering Hamlet’s behaviours since he is the only thing Claudius cannot control. Hence, Hamlet is a real political threat to Claudius since his continued madness; his previous popularity, which is revealed by Ophelia, “The expectancy and rose of the fair state” and King’s failure to control him, reflect Claudius’ inability to control Hamlet. Hamlet deliberately and consciously turns all eyes towards him when destabilising the state and this is how Hamlet embroils himself in the progressive decline of the state.
Ophelia’s death and implication are further evidence of Hamlet’s deceptive behaviour, the decline of the state and the death of his innocence. She represents the epitome of goodness and innocence to Hamlet. However, her filial obedience leaves her vulnerable to Hamlet’s deceptive behaviour who accuses Ophelia of being unfaithful. Hamlet reluctantly deceives Ophelia through his antic disposition a

Ophelia's death is further evidence of Hamlet's deceptive behaviour, decline of Denmark, death of innocence.
Break up scene, textual evidence to convey that Hamlet reluctantly deceives her, shows that Hamlet is well intentioned in his actions to protect Ophelia (free himself of any restraining influence she might have over him), preserve her innocence. All about lost opportunity

Ophelia's filial obedience leaves her vulnerable to the abuse of Hamlet, who accuses her of being unfaithful and deceptive. (Hamlet seems to know that Ophelia is a participant in her father's spying.) He accuses her (and all women) of being a "breeder of sinners" and orders Ophelia to a "nunnery" (3.1.9). Hamlet also says that if Ophelia were to marry, she'd turn her husband into a "monster" or, a cuckold (cuckolds were thought to have horns like monsters) because she would inevitably cheat on him (3.1.10). Ophelia is crushed by Hamlet's harsh behavior, especially when he says, "I loved you not" (3.1.8). She's also devastated that Hamlet, the man who once spoke to her with "words of so sweet breath" (3.1.4) seems to have lost his mind and turned on her:

But, to the rest of us, Ophelia represents something very different. To those who are not blinded by hurt and rage, Ophelia is the epitome of goodness. Very much like Gertrude, young Ophelia is childlike and naive. Unlike Queen Gertrude, Ophelia has good reason to be unaware of the harsh realities of life. She is very young, and has lost her mother, possibly at birth. Her father, Polonius, and brother, Laertes, love Ophelia tremendously, and have taken great pains to shelter her. She is not involved with matters of state; she spends her days no doubt engaged in needlepoint and flower gathering. She returns the love shown to her by Polonius and Laertes tenfold, and couples it with complete and unwavering loyalty. "Her whole character is that of simple unselfish affection" (Bradley 130). Even though her love for Hamlet is strong, she obeys her father when he tells her not to see Hamlet again or accept any letters that Hamlet writes. Her heart is pure, and when she does do something dishonest, such as tell Hamlet that her father has gone home when he is really behind the curtain, it is out of genuine fear. Ophelia clings to the memory of Hamlet treating her with respect and tenderness, and she defends him and loves him to the very end despite his brutality. She is incapable of defending herself, but through her timid responses we see clearly her intense suffering:

Ophelia's death is further evidence of Hamlet's deceptive behaviour, decline of Denmark, death of innocence.
Break up scene, textual evidence to convey that Hamlet reluctantly deceives her, shows that Hamlet is well intentioned in his actions to protect Ophelia (free himself of any restraining influence she might have over him), preserve her innocence.