HAMLET ESSAY

If I Was a Teenage Hamlet

A person's actions can not be thoroughly judged without the person's reasoning behind it. This even applies to occurrences as horrific as murder. No one but the person who committed the action authentically knows the reasoning/logic put behind it (or the lack there of). Hamlet is a devastatingly-conflicted young man, drowned in a sea of frustration and sorrow caused by tragedy that has occurred in his life, i.e., the death of his father, the emotionless reaction of his mother, and the knowledge he has acquired that Claudius was the murderer of Hamlet Sr., who is know his "daddy". With this newly-gained knowledge, Hamlet vows to murder to Claudius in the name of vengeance for his late father, however, a commonly asked question would be, is Hamlet insane for not only wanting to do this, but to be motivated to do so by his father's ghost telling him to? Before one jumps to quick-minded rationale to answer this question, one needs to try to comprehend Hamlet's rationale thoroughly, and it is possible to do so. Given the time period Hamlet was living in, his passionate and somewhat aggressive personality, and his age (teenage frustration coupled with the tragic events that are surrounding him), Hamlet's motive to kill Claudius and the way he acts towards other may actually be brilliant if perceived correctly.  

Killing someone was not as horrific or psychotic in the 1500's, which was when Hamlet was alive, then it is today. It was something done even as a business obligation, done effortlessly with no attached emotion. However, given this circumstance of time period, Hamlet still winds up in a very big meltdown after accidentally killing Polonius.  From his shock and disappointment, Hamlet continues to 'air his dirty laundry' to his mother at last with the intention to put he in her rightful place. This tells the reader that Hamlet obviously has a logical rationale behind his intention to kill Claudius and still pay attention to Hamlet Sr. the Ghost, though I do not condemn it being moral, Hamlet is feeling very human feelings and is thinking very human thoughts. The anger he has from Claudius is building up in him to the point that he can not bear to live another day without an authentic attempt to kill Claudius, he's had enough. Also, through attempting to kill Claudius, he is keeping a form of communication with his deceased father.  However, compared to others in his time period he puts up a more humane attitude towards murder and death. "Thus conscience does make cowards of us all...", Hamlet acknowledge's that the fear of death makes most, if not all, cowards and contemplates for period of time if he should really go through with murdering Claudius. Given his circumstantial time period in regards to murders and deaths, Hamlet seems to be a more moral-driven person, although, this does not retains the passionate personality he has.

A sociopath is one who is anti-social and retains no moral conscience or responsibility, Hamlet definitely proves that he s the contrary, even with his strong motivation to kill Claudius and achieve a successful revenge. 

"Th' oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s contumely,

The pangs of despised love, the law’s delay,

The insolence of office, and the spurns

That patient merit of th' unworthy takes,

When he himself might his quietus make

With a bare bodkin?"
It is in that piece taken from Act III, Scene I that Hamlet recognizes the faults in moral and humanity that society had in his time (which actually remains true to our society in modern day). This acknowledgment of inefficiency in government office, unjust treatment of those who are innocent from those who aren't, etc. tells the reader that all of Hamlet's five senses are fully awake and alert and even work a more advanced rate than others who surround him. This cancels out the possibility that Hamlet could be some sort of sociopath and rather emphasizes just how he was born. Hamlet owns a very passionate and strong personality in which any matter presented to him will be resolved by him, no matter what the resolution is. In the play, it's Hamlet having to kill Claudius and come to a consensus to do so. A sociopath he isn't, a very passionate and frustrated person adolescent he is. This is triggered by the late King Hamlet's perlocution to Hamlet to kill his murderer, Hamlet's response is what causes readers to mistakenly believe that he is mentally insane.

 Not crazy, rather crazy genius. "Though this be madness, yet there is method in't." said by Polonius in the play; Hamlet's madness has an established, even logical method to it. Hamlet recognizes what is 'wrong' and what is 'right', in his mind, that's why he is out to kill Claudius. In respect for his father's wishes and to fulfill the obligation he nevertheless would feel he'd have to accomplish due to him having that aggressive, ambitious personality he owns so well. One never truly knows a person's reasoning behind certain action, especially actions that involve death and abuse such as murder, ad this ultimately remains true for Hamlet. However, by interpreting the text correctly and trying to think like Hamlet thought in the play, one realizes that Hamlet is not in fact 'nuts', rather he is an intelligent, passionate man seeking out for something he though was too big for him to handle.