Theme Of Internal Conflict In Hamlet

Incest, hatred, trickery, revenge, justice and a thousand more themes all appear in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Each character is complex and troubled by something. They all have their own sins which they face. The story follows each character, whether evil or good, and creates a dramatic atmosphere in a whirlwind of external conflict which then stirs up emotions, fashioning an internal conflict. One most certainly drives the other. The main character, Hamlet, certainly is focused on the most in terms of internal conflict; however, the other characters give off many signs and speeches that tell us he’s not the only one. All of the scenes where we get the most in depth with Hamlet’s internal struggle. The play begins with Hamlet, distraught about his father’s death and the fact that his mother married the king’s brother, Claudius. This is the beginning external conflict. The king died only two months before the marriage and it’s causing quite a stir. This is where the first soliloquy begins. Hamlet is alone in a room and laments his father. He does it in a way that’s almost an exaggeration. He calls his father a god in his eyes and his uncle a beast. “So excellent a king, that was to this Hyperion to a satyr.” (1. 2. 140-141) He also mourns that his

He sits on the steps, almost asking for forgiveness, but talks himself out of it. “Then I’ll look up. My fault is past. But oh, what form of prayer can serve my turn, “Forgive me my foul murder”? (3. 3. 51-53) This is Claudius’ own soliloquy. He battles God and his own conscience and almost repents before using mental gymnastics to get out of it. However, just as that happens, Hamlet gets the courage to try to kill him once again. Hamlet sees what he believes to be Claudius praying and being a righteous man. Hamlet, like Claudius, talks himself out of doing this painful deed. He exits, once again being too much of a coward to