Hamlet's Character Development Essay

Hamlets Character Development

Hamlet, introduced as a quiet student with little friends, little courage, and little faith in humanity itself, finds the importance of honesty and integrity through perhaps the most difficult of all events. However, the seemingly unnoticeable transformation from outcast, to the favored talk amongst many, doesnt always lead to greatness and fame.

As the play opens, and the ghost of Hamlets father appears for the first time, the guards, Haratio and Marcellus agree to notify someone. Ironically they inform Hamlet. Hamlet stores the thought deep within him self and forces the guards to swear to secrecy that the ghost not be spoken of to anyone else. The reason for this is because Hamlet feels the responsibility to find proof of his fathers murder. Taking this obligation upon him self is far too heavy to carry for long. Not being able to trust close friends or family is an immediate sign of the lack of sociality. From the lack of communication with others, leads hamlet deeper into a hole with no escape route.

Several times Hamlet is given the chance to reveal the secret lying within his gut. However, Hamlet continues to keep it a secret, denying his knowledge of the murder of his father. While dealing with the pain and undeclared guilt of his dead father, Hamlet encounters difficulties with his love, Ophelia. From Hamlets lack of honesty, and presence of his strange behavior, Ophelia is restricted from seeing Hamlet. Inconveniently Ophelia too, is now struggling from the loss of her father Polonius. Hamlet is framed for the murder of Polonius by Queen Gertrude. Gertrude blamed the death of Polonius on Hamlet considering his awkward behavior amongst the arrival of the ghost, which Gertrude could not see. Hamlets persistence not to reveal the truth buried inside him continues to lead him into the hands of danger. Perhaps Hamlet is ashamed of what others might think of him if he were to confess his sightings and proof. Hamlets state of social interaction has transformed from quiet and content as a college student, to lonely, angered, and distraught. Possibly, Hamlet is angered at the fact that he is being held accountable for his dishonesty.

Ophelia, trapped in a glass case of emotion, and unable to cope with the loss of her father and her inability to see Hamlet drowns in a nearby brook. Hamlet attends her funeral, and when he sees her face being lowered to the pit, Laertes sees Hamlets face and a grappling session begins. The fight is eventually broken up; however, Laertes leaves with a need for more revenge. Laertes and Claudius plot to kill Hamlet. Sadly they succeed by poisoning hamlet during a fencing dual. Hamlet dies, but is given a salute. This salute recognizes Hamlet as an honored man. However, Hamlets secret was never revealed.

Hamlets persistence to keep the secret of his fathers murder, and the knowledge of his ghost, embarks Hamlet on a journey worth regretting. Over the course of the play, Hamlet was given many chances to confess, but he denied which earned him more torture mentally and physically. Had Hamlet had integrity and cared less of what others would have thought of him, there would have been no more deaths or regrets other than Hamlets father. It is better to have integrity rather than a false image in the eyes of others.