Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 789 views

    Analysis of Major Characters of Hamlet

    Uploaded by

    Jeric Maribao
    This document analyzes and summarizes the major characters in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. It discusses the enigmatic title character Hamlet, his antagonist uncle Claudius who murdered Hamlet's father to seize the throne, Hamlet's mother Gertrude who is dependent on men, the ghost whose appearance sets the plot in motion, and Hamlet's closest friend Horatio who remains loyal.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Analysis of Major Characters of Hamlet

    Uploaded by

    Jeric Maribao
    789 views2 pages
    This document analyzes and summarizes the major characters in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. It discusses the enigmatic title character Hamlet, his antagonist uncle Claudius who murdered Hamlet's father to seize the throne, Hamlet's mother Gertrude who is dependent on men, the ghost whose appearance sets the plot in motion, and Hamlet's closest friend Horatio who remains loyal.

    Original Description:

    FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    This document analyzes and summarizes the major characters in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. It discusses the enigmatic title character Hamlet, his antagonist uncle Claudius who murdered Hamlet's father to seize the throne, Hamlet's mother Gertrude who is dependent on men, the ghost whose appearance sets the plot in motion, and Hamlet's closest friend Horatio who remains loyal.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    789 views2 pages

    Analysis of Major Characters of Hamlet

    Uploaded by

    Jeric Maribao
    This document analyzes and summarizes the major characters in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. It discusses the enigmatic title character Hamlet, his antagonist uncle Claudius who murdered Hamlet's father to seize the throne, Hamlet's mother Gertrude who is dependent on men, the ghost whose appearance sets the plot in motion, and Hamlet's closest friend Horatio who remains loyal.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 2

    Demetrio, Jr. E.

    Ybaez

    MA.Ed-I

    Analysis of Major Characters of Hamlet


    Hamlet
    Hamlet has fascinated audiences and readers for centuries, and the first thing to
    point out about him is that he is enigmatic. When he speaks, he sounds as if theres
    something important hes not saying, maybe something even he is not aware of. Hamlet
    is extremely philosophical and contemplative. He is particularly drawn to difficult
    questions or questions that cannot be answered with any certainty. Hamlet becomes
    obsessed with proving his uncles guilt before trying to act. But even though he is
    thoughtful to the point of obsession, Hamlet also behaves rashly and impulsively. It is
    also important to note that Hamlet is extremely melancholy and discontented with the
    state of affairs in Denmark and in his own familyindeed, in the world at large.
    Claudius
    Hamlets major antagonist is a shrewd, lustful, conniving king who contrasts
    sharply with the other male characters in the play. Whereas most of the other important
    men in Hamlet are preoccupied with ideas of justice, revenge, and moral balance,
    Claudius is bent upon maintaining his own power. Claudius is a corrupt politician whose
    main weapon is his ability to manipulate others through his skillful use of language.
    Claudiuss speech is compared to poison being poured in the earthe method he used to
    murder Hamlets father. Claudiuss love for Gertrude may be sincere, but it also seems
    likely that he married her as a strategic move, to help him win the throne away from
    Hamlet after the death of the king. Claudius is ultimately too crafty for his own good.
    Gertrude
    Gertrude the beautiful Queen of Denmark. The Gertrude who does emerge clearly
    in Hamlet is a woman defined by her desire for station and affection, as well as by her
    tendency to use men to fulfill her instinct for self-preservationwhich, of course, makes

    her extremely dependent upon the men in her life. Hamlets most famous comment
    about Gertrude is his furious condemnation of women in general: Frailty, thy name is
    woman! (I.ii.146). She never exhibits the ability to think critically about her situation,
    but seems merely to move instinctively toward seemingly safe choices. She is at her best
    in social situations (I.ii and V.ii), when her natural grace and charm seem to indicate a
    rich, rounded personality. At times it seems that her grace and charm are her only
    characteristics, and her reliance on men appears to be her sole way of capitalizing on her
    abilities.
    Ghost
    Of the other major characters in Hamlet, the Ghost is important because his
    demand for revenge sets the plot into motion. The apparition's ambiguous role in the
    drama reflects the general confusion about spirits in Shakespeare's day. Throughout the
    tragedy, the Ghost is alternately viewed as an illusion, a portent foreshadowing danger
    to Denmark, a spirit returning from the grave because of a task left undone, a spirit from
    purgatory sent with divine permission, and a devil who assumes the form of a dead
    person to lure mortals to doom.
    Horatio
    Horatio is Hamlet's closest friend, a former fellow-student at Wittenberg. He is
    described by Marcellus as a "scholar". He enjoys the absolute trust of those who know
    him. Horatio is initially skeptical about the ghost. He believes it is a ''fantasy'' of the
    watch. Horatio resolves to tell Hamlet about the apparition.

    The least complicated

    "good" character in the play, Horatio is calm and stoical. He furnishes Hamlet with an
    anchor, and his allegiance to the prince is so great that he offers to die alongside his
    friend.

    You might also like