Shakespeare's back

The time has come to talk about Shakespeare´s amazing plays, and this time it's about Hamlet. Shakespearean tragedies have always given much to talk about, and Hamlet is no better. From known philosophers such as Nietzsche and Freud, to unknown writers and actors, everyone wants to express their opinion on the renown plays. A specific essay about Hamlet's character caught my eye, written by August Wilhelm Von Schlegel.

Von Schlegel wrote that Hamlet, in the story, portrays himself in certain occasions as a gentlemanly royal who sees excellence in others and appreciates people. He admires his wit and the easiness with which Hamlet was able to lie about his sanity and convince onlookers of his apparent madness. Yet, Von Schlegel believes that Hamlet is also a coward, fearful or determination and being a hypocrite with himself to avoid reality. He says that Hamlet is "too much overwhelmed with his own sorrow to have any compassion to spare for others." Hamlet is also perturbed inside, as he feels a certain joy when he kills off his enemies. He doesn't feel bad for Ophelia or Polonius, and says that "there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.

I as a reader am not yet to the part where we see Hamlet's reaction to the deaths of the ones close to him, so it is without much proof that I say that Hamlet seems to be in strong control of his life. He changes how he wants to be seen in order to accomplish the favors asked by his father, without caring much about who he steps over in the way. As far along as I have read, no one has died, so Hamlet hasn't shown his true colors. Yet, we see him thinking about portraying himself as mad to avenge the death of his father. I don't think Hamlet has anyone he completely trusts yet, so that might lead to his uncaring nature towards the destinies of everyone else.

Before the court of Denmark, Hamlet was very courteous, speaking with dignity but accepting his mother's words. There was still something in the words he spoke that proposed a subtle defiance of his uncle's power. As soon as he was out of the room, his soliloquy showed the resentment he felt towards Gertrude and Claudius, for their lack of mourning for his father and marriage that happened too quickly. This suggests that Hamlet does have feelings and cares about someone other than himself, or at least about his father. He mourns his death, but might as well be the last human he cares about.

In order to prove Von Schlegel's accusations about the cowardice and discomposure of Hamlet's character, it is important to continue reading the play, because most of Shakespeare's characters change along the way. And who knows, in Hamlet's fake path towards madness, he might just take something too seriously, and fall into his own trap.