Essay on "Hamlet Is by Far"

Essay 5 pages (1677 words) Sources: 4

[EXCERPT] . . . .

With Hamlet's "To be, or not to be" soliloquy, we truly see a man who is contemplating his own death for he believes truly that there is nothing left of goodness in the world. He has given up, a sign of depression. If Hamlet could simply "melt away without any act of his own, he would at once escape his pain, retain his virtue, and show others how they have destroyed him" (Paris 42).

Not yet mentioned in this paper is Ophelia, a character that is representative of pure goodness. Hamlet needs to believe in her goodness and in his own purity of feelings for her (Paris 45). Hamlet's not being able to have Ophelia like he wants to because of her father's objections feel to Hamlet like yet another injustice in the world. This leads Hamlet to feel even more lonely during his time of trouble. Hamlet, quite literally, has no one whom he can depend upon and whom he can openly express his own feelings. This has got to be a factor in his depressive state.

There is no doubt that Hamlet is a deeply troubled character, but based on his situation, there is reason to believe that he has reason to be. Hamlet does seem to have been given a bad card at life, despite the fact that he was born a prince. Had he been born into a different situation or a different family, Hamlet had all the makings to become something great - perhaps a great writer or actor. Through the arts, perhaps Hamlet could have used his obsessive musings and deep contemplations to make a name for himself. However, this was not Hamlet's destiny and his destiny was one fraught with obsessions, depression, anxiety and paranoia -- and he would eventually die much too young because of it, but at least he was put out of his misery.

Works Cited

Davies, Michael. Hamlet Character Studies (Continuum Character Studies). Continuum, 2008.

Paris, Bernard J. Bargains with Fate: Psychological Crises and Conflicts in Shakespeare and His

Plays. Transaction Publishers, 2009. Print.

Shakespeare, William. Hamlet (Arden Shakespeare: Third Series). Arden Shakespeare; 3rd

edition, 2006.

Shaw, A.B. "Depressive illness delayed Hamlet's revenge." Med humanities,28:… READ MORE

How to Reference "Hamlet Is by Far" Essay in a Bibliography

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