Shakespeare had little patience for such twisted characters, and they promptly met their demise at the hands of others – others who, although they are no doubt tainted with impurities and countless faults, cannot match the trickery and debauchery that took place on a personal level with the dastardly double helix of villains, Hamlet and Macbeth.
Hamlet's Character
In Hamlet's speech in act three, scene three Hamlet discloses many
facets of his character to us, aspects that we have thus far only been able
to see as fragments in other speeches. He reveals himself to be an
over-analytical man who often procrastinates. He also shows that he does
not really want to kill Claudius but feels compelled to out of a sense of
duty to his dead father. Hamlet demonstrates his over-analytical nature in
line seventy-three of the speech when he says "That would be scann'd:",
meaning that he should examine his situation more closely. Instead of
simply killing Claudius while he had the chance he over-analyses and
eventually decides to postpone Claudius' murder, missing the best chance he
will obtain in the play. Hamlet is also a procrastinator and this is
demonstrated many times in the play. In line eighty he says "Why, this is
hire and salary, not revenge". He knows that he must kill Claudius but he
postpones it. This almost suggests that Hamlet does not really want to
kill Claudius, but feels obligated to do so. Through his over-analysis he
seems to be almost talking himself out of doing his job.
One of Hamlet's most renown traits is his over-analysis of
conversational topics and situations in which action must be taken. An
example of his over-analytical nature is apparent in his speech in act one,
scene four, line 13. He begins his speech quite normally, replying with a
simple answer to Horatio's inquiry but then his thoughts begin to wander
and he starts to analyze and philosophize about topics unrelated to
Horatio's question. Another trait of Hamlet is the way he procrastinates.
For example, in act two, scene two, line 603 he convinces himself that his
plan to add sixteen lines to the play and watch Claudius' reaction, rather
than completing his task, is the best plan of action. Although in the end
he postpones the murder of Claudius, beginning on line 570 he acknowledges
his lack of action. This also shows that Hamlet does not really want to
kill the king and that he will go to great lengths to postpone his duty.
In fact, Hamlet reveals to us about his unwillingness to kill Claudius
early in the play. In act one, scene five, line 189 he says "O cursed
spite,/That ever I was born to set it right!", meaning that he is angry
that he is now put in the position of having to kill the king and he is
sorry that he was born with this destiny.
Parallel Characters and Themes in Hamlet and MacBeth
Throughout William Shakespeare’s plays Hamlet and Macbeth
there are many similarities, along with many differences. These plays
are both Shakespearean tragedies, which often use supernatural
incidents to capture the reader’s interest, and consists of a hero that
has a tragic flaw. There are many comparative and contrasting
aspects in these plays.
The opening of Hamlet involves a supernatural, as does the
opening of Macbeth. In the first scene the ghost of his father, King
Hamlet, approaches Hamlet. Similarly, the opening of Macbeth
involves the three witches. Although the witches can be seen by
anyone they approach, the ghost of King Hamlet is only seen by
Hamlet himself, and in one scene by Marcellus and Bernardo,
Hamlet’s servants. Similarly in both plays, the main characters are
slightly suspicious of the actual powers these supernatural figures
have. As the witches use their apparent powers to tell Macbeth the
future, the ghost of King Hamlet tells Hamlet what has happened
already. Hamlet states in one of his soliloquies “The spirit that I have
seen / may be the devil” (2.2.598-599). Macbeth also has his doubts
because when the witches tell him that he will be named Thane of
Cawder, Macbeth himself had not known, but many people had. It is
possible the witches could have known. In the same matter in both
plays, the presentation of the supernatural began to lead to the final
downfall of each of the characters. In Macbeth, the three witches
cause him to think and do evil deeds. In Hamlet, if he had not seen
the ghost of his father, he would not have known that Claudius has
killed his father to claim the throne. In both instances the characters
gave into the nagging supernatural beliefs. And hence they lost their
lives.
Other characters in these plays show parallels in their plots.
Both plays have a main character that portrays the king of that
country. In Hamlet, the King of Denmark, Claudius is directly related
to Hamlet. He is his uncle, and also his mother’s new husband.
However, in Macbeth the King of Scotland, King Duncan, is not
directly related to the main character. Both plays do however, have
the main character killing off the king in order to get the throne, which
ultimately results in there own death. Horatio, in Hamlet and Banquo,
in Macbeth share the same loyalty to the main characters. In both
stories these friends are more skeptical of the supernaturals than the
main characters themselves. In a meeting with the witches, Banquo
challenges them to “Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear /
Your favours nor your hate” (1.3.60-61). In a scene where Horatio
and Hamlet witness the ghost, Horatio tries to keep Hamlet from
going with the ghost. He was even reluctant in the opening scene to
go with Marcellus to hear about the ghost.
Some themes in the plays are also similar. The way that the
weeds and flowers illustrate good and bad in Hamlet is like the way
the birds do in Macbeth. This is also true of the fair and foul theme in
Macbeth and the indirections theme in Hamlet. In Macbeth, to the
weird sisters, what is ugly is beautiful, and what is beautiful is ugly.
Through the play fair appearances hide foul realities. This theme has
a lot in common with the theme in Hamlet where the appearance
varies from the reality. In contrast, one of the main themes in
Macbeth is Manhood, while in Hamlet it is frailty, and more
specifically, the frailty of women.
It seems evident that Shakespeare used a strong, similar story
line in these two tragedies. Apparently Macbeth and Hamlet are
similar stories in numerous ways. These two plays seem different
because of the variation in story lines, but in fact are very similar due
to the parallel characters and themes.
Self Doubt in Hamlet
William Shakespeare is widely known for his ability to take a sad story, illustrate it with words, and make it a tragedy. Usually human beings include certain discrepancies in their personalities that can at times find them in undesirable or difficult situations. However, those that are exemplified in Shakespeare’s tragedies include “character flaws” which are so destructive that they eventually cause their downfall. For example, Prince Hamlet, of Shakespeare’s tragedy play “Hamlet,” is seemingly horrified by what the ghost of his father clarifies concerning his death. Yet the actions executed by Hamlet following this revelation do not appear to coincide with the disgust he expresses immediately after the ghost alerts him of the true cause of his death. Thus, it is apparent that the instilled self doubt of Prince Hamlet is as the wand that Shakespeare uses to transform an otherwise sad story to an unfortunate tragedy.
Dismayed, disturbed, distressed. These three words are the resounding cry of Act I, Scene V of the play. They are felt by both of the characters featured. The ghost, or King Hamlet, because he was killed without the chance to repent his sins and now dwells without purpose “...doom’d for a certain term to walk the night, and for the day confin’d to fast in fires, till the foul crimes done in [his] days of nature are purg’d away.”(Act I, Scene V lines10-12) While Hamlet can only utter, “Alas, poor ghost,” at the suffering he is “ bound to hear” from the voice he once knew as that of his father. As the ghost begins to retell how, “...[his] custom always of the afternoon, upon his secure hour [Prince Hamlet’s] uncle stole, with juice of cursed hebona in a vial, and in the purches of [his] ears did pour the leprous distillment, whose effect holds such an enmity with blood of man that swift quicksilver it courses through the natural gates of the body...” and thus sent him to his untimely death, Hamlet can only swear that he shall never forget the words spoken by the ghost.(Act I, Scene V lines 60-7) Hamlet vows to “ ...wipe away all trivial fond records, all saws of books, all forms, all pressures past that youth and observation copied there...” so that “[his father’s] commandment all alone shall live...within the book and volume of [his] brain, unmixed with baser matter.”(Act I, Scene V lines 99-104) To further ensure that he shall avenge his father’s murder he writes down his discovery that “...one may smile, and smile, and be a villain”(Act I, Scene V line108). This can also be seen as his acceptance that his uncle is a murderer and that his mother is an incestuous traitor. He finalizes his devotion by forcing those who saw the ghost of his father to swear that they will not repeat what they have seen. Although it may seem that the concurring acts and scenes should mention Hamlet’s plot for revenge, it is actually a long wait of assuring the guilt of his uncle and hesitations of how to execute his revenge that follow.
Hamlet’s failure to adhere to the promise he makes his father makes Act I, Scene I perplexing. This is because after reading the dedication he proclaims, it is almost impossible to believe the amount of time he allows to pass before he holds true to his word. As immediate action he only feigns madness and is cruel to his mother. He begins to hurt those around him including the innocent Ophelia who is driven mad and eventually to suicide as a result of Hamlet’s actions. He requires the reaction of his uncle to a play Hamlet writes and has performed for his uncle before he is convinced of his guilt. This is nothing like the anger and certainty he displays when approached by the ghost. His stalling reaches such extent that it is eventually unclear wether Hamlet’s immediate action of acting mad has not become reality. For he would have to be mad to respond to those original feelings of dismay, being disturbed, and distressed with mere hesitation.
The only logical explanation to Hamlet’s actions is self doubt. Since he is unsure of himself, he cannot deem himself worthy of avenging his father’s death. Though he does meet his purpose, it is a lengthy process of suffering for Hamlet and those who surround him that proceed this end. It is obvious that Shakespeare has added this flaw in Hamlet’s character to create a more dramatic outcome of the play. Moreover, the tragedy is made memorable through the frustration that is felt by both Hamlet and the reader in long awaiting his ultimate act of revenge.
