William Shakespeare has shown how Hamlet's nature was largely responsible for his difficulties. The
three main traits that are responsible for his difficulties are Hamlet's tendency to think to much,
his impulsiveness, and his stubbornness. Although two of these traits do contradict each other, Haml
et is able to show each one, specifically, in different scenes of the play. This clash of traits mak
es Hamlet a very complex character, and causes Hamlet many problems. Hamlet's indecisive nature, com
bined with him thinking to much to over thinking at crucial turning point in the play. Hamlet refrai
ns from making decisions himself, and often relies on another loyal friend or some factual evidence
before acting. When Hamlet has the opportunity to kill King Claudius, neither the conversation with
the ghost, nor the evidence from the play about the murder of King Claudius, gives Hamlet enough inf
ormation to overcome his tendency to think to much. First, it is necessary to understand what eviden
ce Hamlet had about who killed his father; then it is possible to understand how Hamlet's nature rat
her than his situation is largely responsible for his difficulties. The first piece of evidence is d
uring the conversation Hamlet has with his father's ghost. During the conversation, the ghost tells
Hamlet that Claudius is responsible for his murder. "The serpent that did sting thy father's life /
Now wears the crown." (I, v, 39-40) However, as the play continues, Hamlet begins to doubt the valid
ity of the ghost's statement. Hamlet feels as though another form of information would be necessary
to be certain of his father's murderer and thinks that a "play's the thing / Wherein I'll catch the
conscience of the king." (II, ii, 603-4) The second clue of King Hamlet's murderer happened during t
he "play within a play" scene, or "the Murder of Gonzago" scene. Here, Hamlet becomes very bothered
when his Uncle Claudius yells "Give me some lights. Away!" (III, ii, 264.) Claudius yells this when
Lucianus pours poison in the ear of the player King. In this scene, Hamlet realizes the King is cert
ainly the murderer of his father and feels as though he will be able to avenge his fathers death. La
ter that evening, as King Claudius is praying about King Hamlet's murder, Hamlet enters the room and
realizes that this a perfect opportunity to kill Claudius. "And now I'll do't: and so he goes to he
aven: / And so I am revenged." (III, iii, 75-76) Hamlet has two reasons why he should kill Claudius,
to avenge his father and to stop the incestuous relationship between Gertrude and Claudius. Hamlet
does not kill Claudius because he is indecisive. Apart from being indecisive, Hamlet's high morals
about religion completely interfere with him committing this act of murder, and Hamlet feels as thou
gh he needs to justify why he saved Claudius' life: I, his sole son, do send this same villain To he
aven. O, this is hire and salary, not revenge. (III, iii, 77-80) Hamlet has just convinced himself t
hat by murdering Claudius, the King would go to heaven and Hamlet's revenge would not be totally ful
filled. Hamlet has just made a huge mistake, because, not only did Hamlet not kill Claudius, the pla
y will only result in tragedy. Another characteristic of Hamlet, that causes him difficulties furthe
r on in the play, is his nature to act impulsively. Ironically, in the paragraph before this it disc
usses Hamlet as having a tendency to over think situations, but how can this be? Can one person poss
ess both of these characteristics? In Hamlet's case, this is possible. Impulsiveness destroys any no
tion for Hamlet to act rationally, and the let's his emotions be funnelled out into unthoughtful act
ions. An example of this occurs in Act III, Scene iv when Hamlet is in the Queen's chamber. Usually
Hamlet takes his time and thinks through situations that arise, but in certain occasions, when he is
obsessing over his mother's incestuous relationship, Hamlet has the tendency to act out of impulse.
To find out why Hamlet acted out of impulsiveness it is first necessary to understand why the obses
sion with his mother led him to the act of killing Polonius. Many times during the play is a clear t
o see that Gertrude's marriage upsets Hamlet more than Claudius killing his father. Although, after
the "play within a play scene," Hamlet is rather upset when he finds out that his uncle killed his f
ather, but when Gertrude gets upset because of the incestuous relationship on the stage, Hamlet is f
urious and is very near to killing her by the end of that scene. In his soliloquy he states, "How in
my words soever she be shent, / To give them seals never, my soul, consent!" (III, ii, 389-390) Ham
let has the urge to kill his mother, but knows he can't. This is the reason Hamlet is more idle arou
nd his mother. The rage is building up inside him about the incestuous relationship and he can't do
anything to hurt his mother, by orders of the ghost. Hamlet's impulsiveness is best shown, in the sc
ene where Hamlet murders Polonius. Hamlet enters Gertrude's chambers to confront her about relations
hip with King Claudius. Hamlet tells her that she is upsetting King Hamlet, the ghost, and wants her
to look into a mirror so Gertrude can "see the inmost part of you." (III, iv, 21) This is a metapho
ric line, Hamlet does not want to kill Gertrude in front of a mirror, but he wants to see what Gertr
ude really in thinking. She does not realize this and cries for help. Polonius, who is hiding behind
the tapestry echoes her cries. Hamlet runs over to where the "rat" is hiding and thrusts his sword
though the arras. Hamlet is not feeling guilty of the murder he has just committed and by the end of
the scene when he says, "Thus bad begins, and worse remains behind" the reader is left wondering wh
at tragic event will happen. In fact, it is Laertes wanting to avenge his father's murder. The third
characteristic of Hamlet that is largely responsible for his difficulties is his tendency to be stu
bborn to those who advise him. Hamlet is able to act in this way because he is able to; he is a valu
ed figure in Denmark and the spoiled Hamlet could do as he pleased without much argument from the no
bles. However, with Claudius as the new King of Denmark, Hamlet's freedom is about to be invaded: "W
hether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus, / That open'd lies within our remedy." One would be a
fool not to take any advice offered to Hamlet though out the play. Hamlet's stubbornness is most not
able during the last scene of play, Act V Scene ii, when Hamlet is killed by Laertes. The proposed d
uel is offered by a Lord from the court between Laertes and Hamlet, Hamlet replies that he "is ready
: now or whensoever, provided I be so able as now." (V, ii, 93-4) As the lord leaves, Horatio confro
nts Hamlet about the duel and cautions Hamlet that we will lose the match. However, the stubborn Ham
let remarks that he has been training during Laertes leave to Paris and is ready for this match. Hor
atio continues to warn Hamlet because of his own suspicions, but he is interrupted with the entrance
of the King, Queen, and Laertes. Unfortunately, Hamlet is killed in this match with Laertes. The ki
ng has unabated and poisoned the end of Laerte's sword, any contact of this poison in the blood stre
am will cause immediate death. Hamlet dead because of his own stubbornness will never be able to lea
rn his lesson from this experience. Hamlet's nature rather than his situation is largely responsible
for his difficulties. His tendency to think to much the murder of Claudius, his impulsiveness that
led to the death of Polonius, and his stubbornness about the duel have all been causes for his death
at the end of the play. william shakespeare shown hamlet nature largely responsible difficulties th
ree main traits that responsible difficulties hamlet tendency think much impulsiveness stubbornness
although these traits contradict each other hamlet able show each specifically different scenes play
this clash traits makes very complex character causes many problems indecisive nature combined with
thinking much over thinking crucial turning point play refrains from making decisions himself often
relies another loyal friend some factual evidence before acting when opportunity kill king claudius
neither conversation with ghost evidence from play about murder king claudius gives enough informat
ion overcome tendency think much first necessary understand what evidence about killed father then p
ossible understand nature rather than situation largely responsible difficulties first piece during
conversation with father ghost during conversation ghost tells that claudius murder serpent that sti
ng father life wears crown however continues begins doubt validity statement feels though another fo
rm information would necessary certain murderer thinks thing wherein catch conscience king second cl
ue murderer happened during within scene murder gonzago scene here becomes very bothered when uncle
yells give some lights away yells this when lucianus pours poison player this scene realizes certain
ly murderer feels though will able avenge fathers death later evening praying about enters room real
izes perfect opportunity kill goes heaven revenged reasons should kill avenge stop incestuous relati
onship between gertrude does because indecisive apart from being indecisive high morals religion com
pletely interfere committing feels though needs justify saved life sole send same villain heaven hir
e salary revenge just convinced himself murdering would heaven revenge would totally fulfilled just
made huge mistake because only will only result tragedy another characteristic causes further impuls
ively ironically paragraph before discusses having tendency over think situations person possess bot
h these characteristics case possible impulsiveness destroys notion rationally emotions funnelled in
to unthoughtful actions example occurs queen chamber usually takes time thinks through situations ar
ise certain occasions obsessing over mother incestuous relationship impulse find acted impulsiveness
first necessary understand obsession mother killing polonius many times clear gertrude marriage ups
ets more than killing although after within rather upset finds uncle killed gertrude gets upset beca
use incestuous relationship stage furious very near killing soliloquy states words soever shent give
them seals never soul consent urge mother knows reason more idle around rage building inside anythi
ng hurt orders best shown where murders polonius enters chambers confront tells upsetting wants look
into mirror inmost part metaphoric line does want front mirror wants what really thinking does real
ize cries help polonius hiding behind tapestry echoes cries runs where hiding thrusts sword arras fe
eling guilty just committed says thus begins worse remains behind reader left wondering what tragic
event will happen fact laertes wanting avenge third characteristic largely stubborn those advise abl
e valued figure denmark spoiled could pleased without argument nobles however denmark freedom invade
d whether aught unknown afflicts thus open lies within remedy fool take advice offered stubbornness
most notable last killed laertes proposed duel offered lord court between laertes replies ready when
soever provided lord leaves horatio confronts duel cautions lose match however stubborn remarks been
training leave paris ready match horatio continues warn suspicions interrupted entrance queen unfor
tunately match unabated poisoned laerte sword contact poison blood stream cause immediate death dead
stubbornness never learn lesson experience rather than situation death duel have been causesEssay,
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