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How well do you feel the character of Hamlet suits the stereotype of a protagonist in a revenge play
eventual revenge act to be carried out:
“This is most brave, that I, the son of a dear father murdered, prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, must like a whore, unpack my heart with words and fall a-cursing like a very drab”
This statement proves the difference between Hamlet and the other avengers, it shows that Hamlet has been convinced by the dead king’s words, however chooses to act with less haste. As much as Hamlet would love to believe his dead father’s immediate words, he did claim to see a ghost which at the time the audience would have classed as paranormal almost demonic possession. A revenge protagonist, like in Gorboduc would have carried the act out almost certainly, so in this instance, had Laertes been the main character, then he would have followed the role of a revenge protagonist. Hamlet may have thought he was delusional still and therefore devises a plan to test his Uncle’s guilt through a play, rein-acting a similar death of his father. Laertes puts the least amount of thought into his revenge and is the most easily influenced of the three sons. He confronts Claudius at once after hearing about his father, Polonius’, death. Claudius tells Laertes Hamlet slew his father. Fortinbras was the most controlled of the three avengers. Fortinbras could have caused mass destruction and death but instead, because of the advice her had received, actually was lead to happiness by his new inner strength because of the scene he witnessed in front of him, the dead bodies of Hamlet, Claudius and Laertes.
Even though Hamlet did not become the new King, he still acknowledges that he’s an important man of duty and honour and it’s this that means he must and will, act upon the request of his late father. Hamlet’s feigned madness falls into the concept of antic disposition; this is the first part in his masterful plan to revenge his father’s death. Instead of rushing into things, Hamlet takes time to think and consider his options. This delay of action shows that Hamlet is a calculating intellect; to the audience this may seem somewhat confused. I think this is where Hamlet moves away from being a stereotypical revenge protagonist. I think Shakespeare wanted Hamlet to be more than that, instead I think Hamlet in the long run carries out all the things asked of him by his advisor, but even questions himself at stages whether he really did see his father as a ghost or whether is feigned madness isn’t, feigned at all. To be able to question himself on these issues shows at least some saneness. The audience that first viewed Hamlet may had thought that there is more to Hamlet then meets the eye, if Hamlet really was demonically possessed and simply seeing illusions within his corrupt mind, then how can he be such an intellectual thinker. Choosing to act as if his mind was corrupted is a daring thing to do, a modern day audience would find [next page]