The Complexity of Man in Hamlet Essay

Essay Hamlet

The complexity of man is a phenomenon; it is one thing that is forever fluctuating. Everyone is unique and undergoes different thought processes to each other, no two beings are alike. This has both positive and negative connotations associated with it. Our complexity separates us all and is interlinked with not only our lives but the lives of all beings. This can be debated as a result of our superior intelligence over other life. Possessing the ability to process and analyse situations through varying paths, whether they be simple or complex is unique. Some see this as a gift that we are blessed to posses and others a curse that we can not get rid of. Greater complexity is the catalyst for the instability within society, sometimes to the extent where we become incapable of interacting with our inner selves as well as others in a correct manner. We lose who we are as individuals and society. This evidently leads to forms of insanity and madness. We lose the concept of correctness and conduct ourselves in a very poor manner as soon as man becomes far too complex and possible faults in the human thought processes occur such as abnormal conditions of the mind like insanity occurs. These faults in our minds result in poor decisions and actions, issues such as revenge due to a number of reasons, some of which are unjust, creeping into our mindset. The balance of the universe is interrupted and we can no longer function with rationality and logic. Even when man fluctuates these issues are forever constant. William Shakespeares Hamlet explores all of these ideas through the use of dramatic techniques despite being written and performed since the early 1600s.

One of the purposes of Shakespeares Hamlet is to pose questions about the issue of the complexity of man through the use of many characters, primarily Hamlet but to a smaller extent Laertes. Hamlet is the most complex character throughout the play and the plot revolves around this, as he undergoes an internal battle of morals and ethics that continues to grow throughout. The complexity of man prevents him from avenging his fathers death despite Old Hamlets ghost requesting that it is done and him having sufficient enough evidence to act. Unlike Claudius and Laertes, Hamlet is a typical renaissance man, he initially displays a sense if rationality and order, requiring evidence of the villainous acts of Claudius before acting, until he descends into apparent madness. This leads to procrastination posing many questions to himself, as Laertes is shown to act without hesitation, the contrast then further portrays Hamlet as the Renaissance man, someone taught and thinking through his actions, regardless of their origin, his fathers ghost. Soliloquies and dialogue have been used to show the differing complexities of Hamlet and Laertes. We see Hamlets complexity through a quote by Ophelia in Act 2 Scene 1 lines 85-89, He took me by the wrist, and held me hard../He raised a sigh so piteous and profound.. /And end his being. That done, he lets me go/ He seem'd to find his way without his eyes. In this quote Hamlets behavior and actions are somewhat erratic and confusing, he seems unsure of who he is and seems lost and unsure about what to do. This idea of Hamlet is further emphasized in his soliloquy in Act 2 Scene 2, Whats Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba,/ That he should weep for her? What would he do. Once again Hamlet is looking for guidance before acting rather than acting on impulse as Laertes does in Act 4 scene 7, lines 138-147, Claudius Requite him your father Laertes I will dot/and for that purpose ill anoint my sword//It may be death. Laertes acts with very little thought and wished to avenge his fathers death as he is expected to do. This further emphasizes Hamlets over rationalizing and his deep internal complexity. Shakespeare successfully used soliloquies and dialogue to show the complexity of Hamlet especially in contrast to others. It is shown that the complexity of man creates many conundrums for man and that each person varies in their thought processes which lead to very different actions for each individual.

Shakespeare also endeavors to explore the concept of insanity. Shakespeare represents the concept of insanity through both Hamlet and Ophelia. Hamlet is seen by many as starting out sane at the beginning of the play and descending into insanity as he ponders his situation. The complexity of his being lead him into insanity as he lost control of whom he was and could no longer deal with the situation he was in. He drove himself to insanity as he was a renaissance man and looked too deeply for reason and rationality before acting. Unlike Hamlet who drove himself into his insanity, Ophelia was somewhat of a bystander and a consequence of the complexities of man. Hamlets insanity pushed her to her own insanity until she ultimately committed suicide when she could no longer deal with the insanity surrounding her. Dialogue has been used to portray this. Hamlets insanity is particularly evident in Act 2 scene 2 lines 171-172, Excellent well, yare a fishmonger. This is in response to Polonius asking him if he knows who he is. Hamlets statement seems quite random and the use of fishmonger leaves the impression that he is somewhat delusional. The choice of words has no particular meaning rather are just used. His descent from a well educated Renaissance man is clear as his statements no longer seem educated, they are rather childish. Imagery and dialogue is used to represent Ophelias insanity. In Act 4 Scene 5, lines 48-55 Ophelia breaks into a song where sexual imagery is evident, and I a maid at your window/ to be your valentine./let in the maid that out a maid/never departed me more Ophelia is singing this song full of sexual imagery to Claudius who is now King. This is quite odd behavior for a girl who is suppose to be innocent and sweet; she is singing a sexual song to a royal which would be an outrage in Elizabethan society. Ophelia appears to have reached the point of insanity just as Hamlet has. They both lose rationality and logic from their actions. Hamlets and Ophelias mental conditions have changed over time, Hamlet himself has been placed under the concept of a melancholy hero by some including Elaine Showalter but also seen to possess sexual nausea as stated by Linda Bamber. Ophelia on the other hand is seen less controlled by the intellectual disease of melancholia, rather more affected by female hysteria, the disease of disturbances to the womb, to the point of becoming a clinical study in the Victorian era. However some believe Ophelia to be stricken by alternative conditions including infantile regression, sexual repression or schizophrenia stated by RD Laing, due to the absence of herself, the essential person. The ideas of Hamlet and Ophelias insanity are effectively represented by Shakespeare through the use of Imagery and dialogue. Insanity is seen as a result of the complexity of man whether that be directly or indirectly affected.

Within Hamlet, Shakespeare also explores the causes and consequences of revenge mainly through the use of two main characters Hamlet and Laertes. Revenge is the basis for the plot of the story, without it there would be no play. The play revolves around Hamlet deciding whether to avenge his fathers death or not. Both Hamlet and Laertes delay their revenge however Laertes acts much more swiftly in avenging his father than Hamlet does. As a result of both their actions and inactions negative consequences are incurred. Hamlet drives himself and others around him to insanity due to his revenge while Laertes is embroiled in all of Hamlets destruction due to him desiring revenge. Shakespeare represents Hamlets revenge through the use of soliloquies. The audience gains a greater understanding and connection to the revenge by the personal soliloquies. It is in these soliloquies where we really see the desire of Hamlet to avenge his father. In Act 2 scene 2; lines 531-534, Shakespeare uses enjambment in a soliloquy to show Hamlets desire for revenge, Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindles, villain!/ Oh vengeance!. Enjambment of negative images is used, to show emotion and Hamlets desire to seek revenge. As a result of this desire Hamlet and other innocent people surrounding him are harmed, Polonius and Ophelia are two innocent people affected by his desire for revenge. The consequences of his revenge are negative. Laertes consequences of his revenge are also negative, Laertes also wished to avenge his fathers (Poloniuss) death by killing Hamlet as Hamlet was the man responsible for killing Polonius. Laertes acts relatively quickly compared to Hamlet. This is seen is Act 4 scene 7, lines 138-147, Claudius Requite him your father Laertes I will dot/and for that purpose ill anoint my sword//It may be death. Once told by Claudius what has happened Laertes has made his decision that he will kill Hamlet. However even though he acted swiftly unlike Hamlet he still pays the ultimate cost for revenge. Shakespeare successfully shows that no matter what the cause of revenge is or the reasoning behind it, the consequences are always negative. Regardless of what context the text is put in the same message still applies.

Shakespeare effectively uses a wide range of dramatic techniques to reveal memorable ideas in Hamlet. It is seen throughout the text that complexity of man leads to many issues, some including madness and revenge, it is also noted that revenge inly produces negative consequences, and that no two people are alike. Our complexity is what leads us to choose our varying paths and will then determine how these paths connect with those of others.