Hamlet Essay - Frantic Disposition

8/3/2019 Hamlet Essay - Frantic Disposition

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Jordan Fagundes

Mrs. P. Nevins

ENG 4U1

21 November 2011

An Intimidating and Authentic Frantic Disposition:

Hamlets Evolution of Evil and Calamity

Whether you are on a stage or gallivanting through society, everyone is constantly putting

on an act to maintain order and to get what they want in life. Implementing lies to refrain from

doing something and also telling people what they want to hear are among the many lies

individuals in society create at least once every day. In Shakespeares Hamlet, the protagonist

evidentially displays this theme of lying and deceit; which eventually leads to his hypocritical

antic disposition and then his demise. Hamlets evolution and submission to his evil tactics

eventually lure him into the true evil state of mind and antic disposition. This is indisputably

displayed through his constant manipulation and fascination in his fathers spirit, his accidental

and impulsive murder of the unfortunate Polonius, and Hamlets mastered faade and lack of

love for his proclaimed to be beloved Ophelia.

When introduced to Hamlet, one could not help but to feel sympathetic for the calamitous

man. When reading through act one scene two, you begin to question if his antic disposition

throughout the play is an act or not; especially when his integrity is targeted towards his fathers

ghost. Upon the first act, feelings of empathy begin to form for the ill-fated Hamlet because of

the tragic loss of his father, the late King of Denmark. Not only is Hamlet grieving over his


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father, but he soon comes to the horrid realization that his own mother, is able to swiftly move

onto another man; that man being the late Kings own brother, Claudius. For Hamlet to

experience this amount of betrayal and disrespect, it is no wonder why he grows a custom to his

evil tendencies and impulses. His anger is clearly displayed when he states, O, God, a beast,

that wants discourse of reason would have mourned longer - married with my uncle, my fathers

brother (1.2.152-154). It is extremely difficult to still be able to contemplate Hamlets sanity

when he insists on meddling with his fathers ghost. He continues to ignore his friends and is still

very adamant about speaking with this apparition, Unhand me, gentlemen. By heaven, Ill make

a ghost of him that [hinders] me! I say, away. Go on. Ill follow thee (1.4.93-95). Hamlets

need for exploration of the unnatural world is an aspect one could possibly link to an evil entity

or demonic possession; perhaps this could be the underlying cause to his obsessions. In A. C.

Bradleys The Shakespearean Tragic, he reveals, The hero with Shakespeare, is a person of

high degree or of public importance, and his actions or sufferings are of an unusual kind (688).

In Hamlets case, one could like the unusual aspect towards the afterlife. Prior to meeting with

this ghost, it seems as if Hamlet does in fact know what is in store for him through the sense of

knowingly approaching an apparition. He does not think twice what so ever; supplying even

more evidence and reasoning to believe in this ignition of his true madness and evil doings.

The true definitive point where Hamlet showcases his act of evil and madness taking

over his state of mind is clearly exemplified in act three scene four. Hamlet accidentally kills

Polonius when thinking it was Claudius eavesdropping behind an arras in Gertrudes chamber.

Hamlet realizes what he had just done and now begins to think who he has killed. He then, in

panic, asks his mother if the person behind the curtain was indeed Claudius or not. His mistake

and doubt is realized when Hamlet responds to his mother, Gertrude, Nay, I know not. Is it the


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King? (3.4.31-31). Prior to this impulsive act, Hamlet explains proclaims that there is a rat

present while their conversation proceeded. Without any hesitation or re-consideration, Hamlets

first murder is indeed a failure. Throughout the earlier acts and scenes, he has though out a

masterful plot and in one strike, destroys his devious scheme; all his tedious planning and careful

plotting blown into pieces. Gathering the nerve to stab a person through a curtain with the intent

to kill is already a fair enough, the true evil is showcased by Hamlet when he and his mother

continue to speak; as if this incident had never even happened. Instead, Hamlet switches

discussion and begins to speak angrily at his mother in harsh tones, while questioning her

faithfulness and modesty, Such an act that blurs the grace and blush of modesty, calls virtue

hypocrite, takes off the rose from the fair forehead of an innocent love and sets a blister there,

makes marriage-vows as false as dicers oaths (3.4.48-53). During this occurrence, the ghost

then reappears and Hamlets immediate reaction kicks in; as if there was nothing taking place

prior to his eyes being fixed upon his dead father. He completely disregards the slain Polonius,

and becomes fixated on his fathers ghost and nothing else. When he comes to realize that

Gertrude cannot see the ghost, he is torn and upset. With his obsessions, he questions his mother

and orders her to try to observe this entity, On him, on him! Look you how pale he glares!

(3.4.140). Hamlet speaks to his fathers ghost and Gertrude is uncertain of his sanity and

demands an explanation from him; while witnessing her own son captivated by an empty space,

Why, look you there! Look how it steals away! My father, in his habit as he loved! Look, where

he goes even now out at the portal! (3.4.151-153). These cases directly influence the rest of the

plays plot; the evidence of Hamlets impulses will soon be his key to his demise.

In act five scene one when Laertes jumps into Ophelias grave and exposes her body, he

speaks of the love that he had for his beloved sister and gives his final words. When finished,


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Hamlet insists that Laertes could not have possibly loved Ophelia the way Hamlet had. Hamlet

expresses how Laertes is merely a brother to her and that he could not possibly possess the

quality of love Hamlet had displayed for her. I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers could not

with all their quantity of love make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her? (5.1.280-282), it is

extremely difficult to ignore the classic nerve of Hamlet, confuting against Laertes sincere

goodbye to his last family member. Hamlet truly displays a rude conductivity towards Laertes

just to prove that he is better than Laertes. He could not even respect Laertes and to one-up him

after killing his father was the cherry on top for his evil schemes. What truly unveils Hamlets

madness is the fact that right after proclaiming is infinite and sturdy love for Ophelia, the next

scene during another notorious rant; he fails to mention her at least once. Completely ignoring

his fair Ophelia, Hamlet continues to rant and mock Osric in act five scene two while

disowning Ophelia completely and not bringing up everything he had just mentioned by her

grave to everyone. His proclaimed love destroyed in an instant; even deceased, Hamlet manages

to stab in her back yet again. In terms of Ophelia, one could not help but to wonder why Hamlet

even wasted his time with her. This is expected in a Shakespearean tragedy just as A. C. Bradley

proclaims, This central feeling is the impression of waste. With Shakespeare, at any rate, the

pity and fear which are stirred by the tragic story seem to unite with, and even to merge in, a

profound sense of sadness and mystery, which is due to the impression of waste (689). Bradley

demonstrates the mystery behind the tragic heros ways; helping to explain the mystery behind

Hamlets dishonesty and manipulation towards Ophelia pre and post-mortem.

Although the protagonist has been through his fair share of trials and tribulations, it is

evident that throughout the play, Hamlet displays his evil tendencies numerous amount of times;

whether they are inconsequential or vital. His obedience to these wicked rituals and beliefs are


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exemplified through his fixation on the afterlife and his fathers appearances, his lack of control

and impulse taking over his mind, and his neglect for words about his deceased Ophelia. One

cannot help but to acknowledge Hamlets obsessive behaviour towards his father and the fact

that he lets this issue torment him; to the extent of having to kill and cause deaths rather than his

only plotted murder of Claudius. We witness Hamlets true cruelty and evil capabilities when he

disregards those who he has murder and moves on as if nothing has happened especially through

his first impulsive murder. Without the whim of Hamlet, the story would not possess the sadness

and mystery suggested by A.C. Bradley. Hamlet is clearly disturbed and altered to the extent that

he convinces himself that he is truly mad; an antic position portrayed could not be another but

truthful. Once something becomes a habit and customary to ones daily routine, it is hard to

refrain from doing anything other than what is practiced heavily; in Hamlets case, an

unfortunate but authentic frantic disposition.


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Works Cited

Bradley, A. C. The Shakespearean Tragic Hero. Shakespearean Tragedy. 1904

Ferguson, Chris, Dom Saliani and Dr. Tim Scott. The Tragedy of Hamlet with Related Readings.

Canada, Australia, United States of America and United Kingdom: International

Thomson Publishing, 1997. Print.

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Hamlet Essay - Frantic Disposition