Hamlet : a short summary and critical analysis

 

Hamlet is a greatest revenge tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It focuses on the life and death of the eponymous character Hamlet the Prince of Denmark, who is devastated by the sudden death of his father, King Hamlet. Soon after, Hamlet's mother, Queen Gertrude, marries his uncle, King Claudius, who becomes the new king. Hamlet is tormented by grief and suspicion, especially when he encounters the ghost of his father, who reveals that his death was unnatural as he was murdered by Claudius, the usurper.

Haunted by the ghost's revelations, Hamlet becomes immersed with the thoughts of revenge. He pretends to be mad to conceal his intentions and stages a play that mirrors his father's murder, hoping to catch Claudius's guilt.

Tragedy ensues as Hamlet's inner turmoil intensifies. His erratic behavior causes Ophelia's madness and eventual death. Hamlet confronts his mother about her hasty marriage to Claudius and accidentally kills Polonius, Ophelia's father. This leads to a series of events that ultimately result in a duel between Hamlet and Laertes, Ophelia's brother. The duel is manipulated by Claudius, leading to multiple deaths including Claudius himself, Queen Gertrude, Hamlet, and Laertes.

The play explores several themes such as revenge, madness, mortality, and the complexity of human nature. It delves into Hamlet's struggle with his own identity, his duty to his father, and the endless desire to take revenge. The famous soliloquy "To be or not to be" reflects Hamlet's contemplation of life's hardships and the moral dilemmas he faces.

 

Critical analysis of Hamlet

The character of Hamlet is complex and often contradictory, struggling with his own indecisiveness and introspection. This internal conflict leads to his famous soliloquies, where he contemplates life, death, and the consequences of taking action.

The play also delves into the idea of appearances versus reality, with many characters wearing masks to hide their true intentions. The ghost of Hamlet's father serves as a catalyst for the unfolding tragedy, as it reveals the truth about his murder and sets Hamlet on a path of revenge. Throughout the play, Shakespeare uses various literary devices, including wordplay, sub-theatre symbolism, and foreshadowing, to heighten the dramatic tension.

Polonius, Ophelia's father, is a symbol of political corruption and manipulation, while Hamlet's uncle, King Claudius (Machiavellian hero), represents the corrupting influence of power. The juxtaposition of these characters adds to the play's themes of moral decay and unscrupulous nature.

 

Enigmatic nature of Hamlet

Hamlet, the eponymous character is the most complex and multi-dimensional figure that has captured the attention of audiences and scholars for centuries. Through his inner turmoil, moral dilemmas, and intricate psychological unraveling, Hamlet presents a compelling portrayal of human nature, existential introspection, and the consequences of indecision.

Moreover, Hamlet's character embodies the themes of revenge and morality. He grapples with the moral implications of taking another person's life, even for the sake of avenging his father. This moral ambivalence is evidenced in his reluctance to kill Claudius when the latter is praying, as he fears sending his uncle's soul to heaven. Hamlet's inner struggle with his sense of duty and his moral compass adds layers of complexity to his personality and actions.

Hamlet is a character with remarkable depth and complexity. His internal conflict, introspection, moral dilemmas, and mysterious brooding nature set him apart as one of Shakespeare's most iconic and enduring creations. Hamlet's ability to provoke discussions on themes of revenge, morality, existentialism, and the human psyche ensures that his character will continue to captivate audiences and scholars alike for generations to come.

 

Psychoanalytical Approach to Hamlet

The psychoanalytical approach to William Shakespeare's play Hamlet provides a fascinating lens through which to analyse the characters' motivations, actions, and psychological dynamics. This approach, popularized by Sigmund Freud, delves into the subconscious mind, exploring the inner conflicts, desires, and unconscious drives that influence human behavior.

At the center of the psychoanalytical reading of 'Hamlet' lies the protagonist himself, Prince Hamlet. His complex and often contradictory behavior can be understood through Freud's concepts, such as the id, ego, and superego. Hamlet's hesitation in avenging his father's murder reflects an internal struggle between his id (the instinctual desires for revenge) and his superego (the moral and societal norms that caution against violence).  Freudian theories suggest that Hamlet's Oedipal desires may be influencing his conflicted emotions towards his mother and his uncle, King Claudius.

The character of Ophelia, Hamlet's love interest, also lends itself to psychoanalytical interpretation. Her descent into madness can be seen as a response to the patriarchal constraints of the society she inhabits, as well as her complex relationship with her father Polonius. The loss of her father and Hamlet's emotional distance push her towards a psychological breaking point.

Additionally, the character of the ghost of King Hamlet can be analyzed from a psychoanalytical perspective. The ghost serves as a representation of the unresolved psychological conflicts within Hamlet's mind. The ghost's demand for revenge highlights Hamlet's internal struggle to reconcile his feelings of anger towards his uncle with his moral qualms.

Central to the psychoanalytic interpretation of Hamlet is the concept of the Oedipal complex, as proposed by Sigmund Freud. According to Freud and Ernest Jones, Hamlet's intense attachment to his mother and resentment towards Claudius reflect unresolved Oedipal dynamics that shape his behavior throughout the play.

 

Hamlet as a Renaissance Tragedy

William Shakespeare's Hamlet is widely regarded as one of the greatest tragedies in the English literary canon. Written during the Renaissance period, the play embodies many characteristics of the Renaissance.

Renaissance tragedies typically feature a protagonist of noble birth who experiences a downfall due to a fatal flaw . In Hamlet, the eponymous character fits this archetype as the Prince of Denmark, whose tragic flaw of indecision and procrastination ultimately leads to his demise. Moreover, the play follows the classical unities of time, place, and action, with the events unfolding within a compressed timeline and primarily in the royal court of Elsinore. Additionally, the play incorporates elements of revenge tragedy, a popular subgenre during the Renaissance, as the central plot revolves around Hamlet's quest to avenge his father's murder.


Renaissance humanism, with its emphasis on individualism, reason, and the human condition, permeates in Hamlet. The play explores complex psychological depths, particularly through Hamlet's introspection and existential crises. Hamlet's famous soliloquies—"To be or not to be" and "What a piece of work is a man"—reflect his contemplation of life, death, and the nature of humanity, echoing the real human nature with all its strengths and weaknesses.

 
Characters like Claudius and Gertrude exhibit moral complexity, blurring the lines between good and evil and highlighting the complex nature of human behavior.

 
Hamlet's struggle with moral dilemmas—whether to kill Claudius, the morality of revenge, and the consequences of his actions—underscores the complexity of ethical decision-making in a morally ambiguous world. Additionally, the play's ending, marked by the deaths of almost all major characters, underscores the tragic inevitability of mortality and the fragility of human life. Through its exploration of the real human nature and the essence of human life, Hamlet captures the essence of Renaissance tragedy and resonates with audiences across centuries.