Subjectivity In Shakespeare's Hamlet

William Shakespeare’s famous literary classic Hamlet (1603) was written over four centuries ago, readers continue to reveal new meaning to the play. One important aspect of that is of subjectivity, particularly Hamlet’s. What emerges in the passage that is now known as the ‘What a piece of work is a man’ passage (Scene II, Act II) is the subjectivity of Hamlet, giving a definitive sense of his identity as well the impression he leaves.
Within the passage of ‘What a piece of work is man’, Hamlet’s subjectivity can be seen ultimately through the interaction he has with Guildenstern and Rosencrantz. Stephen Greenblatt describes subjectivity as self-fashioning and that it “suggests representation of one’s nature or intention in speech or action” (Greenblatt, 2005; pg3). This passage in which Hamlet speaks, it is often named as a statement of his deep melancholy somewhat like his soliloquy in Act I. Hamlet, in his
His identity shares similarities to his subjectivity in that in Greenblatt’s explanation of subjectivity is that “Self-fashioning is achieved in relation to something perceived as alien, strange, or hostile. This threatening Other- heretic, savage, witch, adulteress, traitor, Antichrist- must be discovered or invented in order to be attacked and destroyed” (Greenblatt, 2005; pg. 9). Hamlet invents a version of himself to discover and destroy the traitor, his uncle. In addition, to Hamlet asking questions about the place of humanity in the universe he shows incredible intelligence and wit by knowing nearly immediately the true reason why Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are in Denmark. Regardless he still attempts to treat them as friends, after he then proceeds to tell them their mission so the king will not think they told him