The conflict of emotion is one of the principal aspects of the play and is shared by many of the characters but Hamlet, Ophelia and Laertes are the foremost in that order. These characters share a similar cause for their emotion and of their conflict, the loss of a loved one. For Hamlet it is the premature death of his father, for Ophelia, her loss of Hamlet and of her father while Laertes, it is also the loss of his father. However, Ophelia seems to be the hardest hit as Hamlet’s deception of her turns her to madness. During the dialogue between Ophelia and Hamlet, we can see Hamlet’s true intentions. Hamlet tells Ophelia, “I did love you once”, Ophelia responds, “Indeed, my lord, you made me believe so”, and Hamlet’s response is, “You should not have believed me” (III, i, ll.115 – 117). Ophelia, as a woman, is portrayed as a lower character. She is a naïve, little girl who falls in love and when is deceived, goes insane. Ophelia is a perfect example of this conflict. She experiences and struggles with internal and external conflict. She is torn between obligation to Hamlet and her father. Her relationship with Hamlet is an interesting one. It shows how fragile their relationship is and how love can slowly transcend to madness. This can also express Hamlet’s obligation, his obligation to provide her with love. However, this obligation is the surface of the water, so to speak. Hamlet’s intentions lie deeper within and this is Ophelia’s demise. Her conflict with Hamlet’s intentions and her intentions do not bode well with her. Indisputably, the demise of most of the characters results from the conflicts of intention and emotion. We can observe this when Ophelia speaks to Claudius about how, “he promised her wed”. The role of Ophelia is the personification of the general role of women. Once again, the domination of Hamlet’s objectives clouds her judgment and leads her to conflict. Hamlet’s domination and the general dominion of men in this play elucidate the struggles of women, especially Ophelia. Finally, it matters that Ophelia’s struggle with Hamlet and with loss of her father drives her to suicide. With her suicide, she is free from her obligation to men, notably Hamlet and uninhibited by the conflict she struggles with. As indicated before, Hamlet, Laertes and Ophelia have a lot in common. They struggle with the loss of their father, and with the exception of Ophelia, they are motivated by the yearning for revenge. The conflict between Laertes and Hamlet is clearly described, as it was Hamlet that slew Polonius, and Laertes seeks revenge for his slain father. It is this open conflict that would inevitably lead to their death. This is articulated in the final battle between Laertes and Hamlet. All the discord between them is expressed in this final battle. In the end, the fracas brings about both their downfall. This is the best example of the results of conflict in Hamlet. Even Laertes states, “I am justly killed by my own treachery” (II, ii, l.298). The implication of this statement illustrates that in the process of conflict, the result will inexorably be death.
The issue of external conflict clearly showed its correlation with death. However, external conflict always stems from internal conflict. The king’s death triggers a desire for revenge in Hamlet and this, in turn, affects others. The death of Hamlet, Laertes and Ophelia ultimately, was the result of Hamlet’s own internal conflict. However, the best example of death through internal conflict would be Claudius. Claudius, as the antagonist, would be adversely affected by Hamlet’s actions but more importantly, the conflict within him regarding the murder of the king is a greater hazard. We have an indication of this “guilt” during The Mousetrap. Throughout the play, we can see Hamlet observing Claudius for any sign of weakness or discomfort. He is not disappointed as he clearly observes Claudius getting very uncomfortable and arrives at his conclusion. Henceforth, Hamlet’s objective has been ascertained. From this point forth, we can see the conflict between Hamlet and Claudius heat up. The epitome of their conflict is expressed in the final battle. The inner conflict within Claudius inevitably led to an open conflict with Hamlet and finally, to his death. Gertrude is in a similar condition as Claudius. Her incestuous marriage to Claudius was the catalyst for the conflict to begin. Again, the internal conflict within Gertrude evolves into open conflict with Hamlet and undoubtedly leads to her death. These two characters are appropriate examples for the chain of events that led to the downfall of many of the characters in Hamlet. They portray inner struggle translating to external conflict and finally the definite consequence; death.
The characters in Hamlet are apposite expressions of the dangers of conflict. The seed of conflict is sown in any individual, in this case, Hamlet, and it grows and eventually affects others. Throughout the play, this is evident. It all started with the murder of Hamlet’s father. His desire for revenge progressed into open conflict as he slowly went mad. His relationships with the other characters notably Ophelia, deteriorated. Finally, it was his desire for revenge that killed him and others. It just goes to say, revenge is sweet but the consequences are bitter.
