REVISION - Hamlet

“The mark of fear is not easily removed.”

Ernest Gaines

Erin Williams

English 30-1

Henderson

Although variation throughout the animal kingdom is phenomenal, there are also many similarities between species which lie within instinct. Instinct to eat, instinct to breathe, instinct to reproduce. However, what sets humans apart from animals is the ability to interpret emotion. Although the instinct for flight or fight for animals is just a method of survival, to humans it becomes a psychological question, which is often inspired by fear. Despite the marvelous feelings that can accompany emotion, the opposite can occur and these feelings can be detrimental. Through the use of characters, Claudius, Laertes and Hamlet in the play Hamlet, the author Shakespeare suggests that fear could distort the future because an individual is solely obsessed with the present. By studying the character Hamlet, it can also be argued that continual feelings of fear could prevent growth and instead stimulate rot and corruption.

Despite having a major role in Hamlet, a great deal of information can be gathered about Claudius’ character through the way he carried himself and reacted to other characters. Near the beginning of the play, Claudius believed that Hamlet was not mad but that he was dangerous and believes “madness in great ones must not unwatch’d go,” (Act III, Scene i, l.190). When Claudius realized that Hamlet was going to get revenge for his father, Claudius’ fear was magnified by his guilt and this predicament becomes Claudius’ only priority. His foresight became blinded by his need to protect himself from danger and ultimately from Hamlet. Claudius did not debate the possibilities of Hamlet finding out about “…letters conjuring to the effect, / The present death of Hamlet,” (Act IV, Scene iii, l. 65-66), or his plan to have Rosencrantz and Guildenstern spy on Hamlet, while he only briefly considered the possibility of something going wrong during the fencing match with Laertes. However, as his fear became more apparent, his decisions became more severe with less thought. When Claudius planned to “put the matter to the present push” (Act V, Scene I, l. 289), his judgement and foresight were not clear and he was simply unprepared when his plans unfolded incorrectly.

Although Laertes had a smaller role in the play, the change in his character after being affected by death was one of the most severe. Before the plot line begian to unfold, Laertes could be described as graciously obedient, sensitive and resourcefully intelligent. However, after the events of his father and sister being murdered, he became afraid of Hamlet which triggered his desire for revenge. Laertes may have been afraid that Hamlet was going to kill him as well, or perhaps Laertes was afraid of being the only one left in his family, but either way, he began to act irrationally and out of character. When Laertes schemed with Claudius to “…let the great axe fall,” (Act IV, Scene v, l. 215),  his fears caused him to act on account of his feeling, and not on account of his true character. However, after Hamlet stabbed Laertes and his fears had disappeared, he returned to his normal self stating “mine and my father’s death come not upon thee. / Nor thine on me” (Act V, Scene ii, l.322-324). It could be  assumed that Laertes was trying to confess to Hamlet that he realized he acted irrationally due to his fear and wanted Hamlet’s forgiveness before he passed.

The most prominent illustration of the effects between fear and foresight naturally come with the main character, Hamlet. At his most life-altering moment, when debating Claudius’ murder, Hamlet is overcome by a wave of emotions. The fear of being a murderer, as well as the frustration “when [Claudius] is fit and season’d for his passage,” (Act III, Scene iii, l. 87) snaked its way into Hamlet’s mind, and caused him to lose sight of how he originally planned to avenge his father. Because Hamlet was a scholar he was more of a ‘thinker’ than a “doer”.  After setting his mind to kill Claudius Hamlet needed create a plan, but since death was such a permanent thing, he could not bring himself to make a concrete plan about how to follow through. Along with his education came knowledge of religion, which may also have been a cause of his delayed decision. Numerous times throughout the play, Hamlet made reference to his concern about God judging him, which again complicated his thought process. To Hamlet, his decision did not seem momentous because his future was distorted by fear. And although Hamlet’s decision “prolong[ed] [Claudius’] sickly days,” (Act III, Scene iii, l. 97), he could not have anticipated the bloodshed and corruption that would occur after the moment of indecision, nor could he anticipate the hurt and anger he would cause his loved ones.

Shakespeare’s works have been widely famous for many years because the themes of which he based his plays are still relevant today. In Hamlet, Shakespeare demonstrated the flaws of fear on the human condition. He demonstrates that when confronted with a life-altering decision in the face of fear, humans rarely make the right decision, because fear can temporarily alter our perception on the future and about ourselves. However, by taking a closer look at the play, Shakespeare suggests that this occurs simply as result of being human, and that every individual is affected similarly by fear.