The most intricate side of Hamlet’s personality is his ability to hide his feelings, yet he manages to let them known to the audience, be it through monologue or dialogue or through basic insinuation. One of the foremost important instruments he uses in exhibiting these feelings is by using his wit. On various occasions, Hamlet uses his wit to relieve tension or to disguise his own feelings. The first time it become apparent Hamlet is putting up a pretence and hiding his feelings is through a monologue stating his opinion on Gertrude and Claudius’ relationship, in which he says ‘But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue’. Gertrude and Claudius perhaps underestimate the effect their marriage has on Hamlet so soon after his Father’s death and they, it would seem to be wrongly, interpret that as the only reason for his melancholy. Hamlet says, when talking to Guilderstern and Rosencrantz that ‘ ‘Tis as easy as lying’. The way in which he uses to portray the fact that he knows Guilderstern and Rosencrantz have an ulterior motive for visiting is through the simile of how easy it is to play the flute. The emphasis falls on the comparison of playing the flute and of lying, Hamlet is suggesting that he suspects the motive without actually saying so, therefore Rosencrantz and Guilderstern admit their motives. The ill-fated person who falls victim to Hamlet’s harsh wit primarily is Ophelia. Ophelia states that ‘Tis brief my lord’ to which Hamlet replies ‘As a woman’s love’ this insult disguised as wit on Hamlet’s part is not only due to Ophelia’s rejection, nor her betrayal but to Ophelia and also to Gertrude(and her sudden marriage), Hamlet hides his bitterness behind harsh words that he attempts to pass across as a mixture of his wit and madness. In turn, Hamlet tries to hide his self-pity, which is a trait that would be reflected in a hero.
Society in the 17th Century was not as it is today. It was very much patriarchal, with males ruling and women ‘being seen and not heard’. Therefore, the way in which Hamlet treats women is typical of many men in this era. Hamlet treats Ophelia as merely an object and speaks rudely of his Mother. The main reasons for Hamlet treating Ophelia as he does is that Ophelia is a classic 17th Century character, she does as she is told, doesn’t talk back, publicly dismisses Hamlet’s sexual innuendos and accepts her role as a woman. Hamlet is a misogynous male, when you examine the fact that his Mother married his Uncle two months after his Uncle killed his Father and his lover not only rejected but betrayed him, you begin to understand why. Hamlet urges Ophelia to ‘Go thee to a nunnery’ contradicted by his after-thoughts ‘Lady shall I lie in your lap…that’s a fair thought to lie between maids legs.’ This, rather degrading, attempt to embarrass Ophelia works as she dismisses it in pretending she did not hear, However, Hamlet was not just attempting to punish Ophelia for rejecting or betraying him, but for being a woman. Hamlet indicates his views on women when he talks to Guilderstern and Rosencrantz and they exchange sexual puns, which prove the lack of respect they have for women. Hamlet questions Guildernstern and Rosencrantz when he says ‘ Then you live about her waist, or in the middle of her favours?’ to which the reply is ‘Faith, her privates we.’ The quote accentuates Hamlet’s views on women, and demeans them by suggesting they are only useful for sexual matters, which in the eyes of society at the time, was probably true.
A characteristic that Hamlet illustrates is pathetic procrastinating, take his monologue on contemplating suicide, he talks of doing so yet he uses his religion as a reason not to do so he says ‘to be or not to be that is the question’ but in his state of mind at the time he was slightly exaggerating, if he had seriously intended to kill himself he would have done so. The metaphor he uses for death is fairly simple, rather than ‘to live’ he says ‘to be’ the uncomplicated matter in which he states such an important decision suggest that he may have been considering this option for some time. A swift comparison may be made between Hamlet finding out his Father was killed by his Uncle and by Laertes finding out his Father was killed by his sister’s ex-lover, the difference in reaction is phenomenally different. Hamlet procrastinates killing Claudius whereas Laertes instantaneously wants to kill Hamlet (although the persuasion on Claudius’ part was due to doing so in such a sly way).