No seems the basic answer to that, doesn't it? If you'd like me to illustrate my point, it's because Hamlet was insecure, dishonest, canniving, and slightly mad. I suppose if his father had never been killed and he'd never been sent mad then actually he might be quite a good king, as all his dark sides could be put to positive use. For example, dishonesty could be simply seen as good diplomatic skill, canniving could be in fact cunning, and his madness could be ingenuity. It all depends on which way you look at things. I think actually he had a good heart. But a weak heart, and a fickle heart. He had a heart he rarely followed properly, and an incredibley complex mind and imagination. Kings really need to have thier feet firmly planted on the ground perhaps, to have some common sense, and bravery; but if you think about it, Hamlet escaped his uncles capture and certain death, then befriended and escaped from some cut throat pirates. Does that make him brave?
Well, i suppose it does. Brave or mad, clever or manipulative, everyone can agree to this; there's something special about Hamlet.
Oooh er! Maud on a roll as always.
ReplyDeleteVery opinionated, but in a good way.
No does seem like the basic answer! x
I disagree, I agree with all the things you have said about hamlet being dishonest, canniving and representing himself to be mad. Although I beleive Shakspear drops hints to us that hamlet is a good person, kinda' agreeing with who ever idea it was that fortinbra being a unknow person is really shake spear chenneling his thoughts though him. But if you dejuce further the name itsself duriving from two french words forte and bras dicectly translated to strong arm. Symbolising that he is this "fresh" new person swinging in purshing the poision fron this courrupt infrastucture.
ReplyDeleteA delicious view of the man! Top job. I enjoyed reading this.
ReplyDeletex - this 'x' is to show appreciation to your post, don't read too much into it.
It's true there is something special about Hamlet. I think Hamlet shows some brave elements towards the end although he is cowardly up till the middle of act 4. Hamlet is fickle! He should make up his mind about Ophelia, well I suppose he doesn't have to now. Good points.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you can turn what appear to be weaknesses into strong points for a future king to possess. So perhaps, then, Fortinbras is right.
ReplyDeletei have to say i like the multiple perspectives as Don points out, shows that you can see from other perspectives. however i do disagree because i see that Hamlet has the making of a good king. although he has acted immature and with bad decisions that incurred bad consequences i do believe by the final act he had learnt from them. the whole play in my eyes was in a way a story of Hamlets transition from prince to king.... he greatly matured and succeeded in a rite-of-passage.... by the end he had learnt from his idiotic actions and tried to redeem himself and make amends.
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