Uncertainty In Hamlet

Shakespeare discerns the character of man as an ego centered individual who desires control and power, and will unjustly deceive and degrade others to fulfil this. Hamlet begins in medias res, with the first words being “Who’s there?”. The use of the interrogative statement sets a scene that reflects the political and social uncertainty in Denmark. In this unsettling situation, Claudius has been revealed as an “adulterous beast”, one who is masked in murder due to his thirst for political power. In a soliloquy, he admits, “Of those effect for which I did murder- My crown, mine own ambition and my Queen”. This suggests he is only interested in the materialistic objects that offer him a position of dominance and therefore control over the kingdom.

Furthermore, fearing that this will be taken away from him, he persuades his potential enemy Hamlet to “remain in the cheer and comfort of [his] eye”, and restricts him from excessively mourning because it is “unmanly grief” and “impious stubbornness”. This is evidence of Claudius attempting to deceive others, by giving a falsely caring and protective impression.

It juxtaposes with his real intentions- trying to keep his enemy within proximity to him, ensuring Hamlet will not interfere with his current authority and thus having control over him. Claudius’ greed for control demonstrates the dark and intrinsic desire that lies within all of us, and it leads him into pursuing the unethical method of killing old Hamlet and marrying his wife. Yet he justifies himself as only following the “corrupted currents of the world”. Clearly, he is trying to extend the desire for control to the whole of humanity in order to make his actions appear insignificant. Claudius illustrates the idea that when our wish for control approaches its extremities, accompanied by immoral acts, we still find ways to defend our unjust actions by projecting the sense of corruption outwards to a bigger scaled medium. As a result, Claudius continues to contentedly “dirge in marriage”, whilst superficially “mirth in

funeral”. This has much to speak about the dark side of humanity as it reveals the things we do may appear to us as relatively minimal and easily justified, but may be rather unprincipled. In a different instance, Hamlet demonstrates our desperation for control in a world built upon uncertainty. He insists, “If it be now, ‘tis not to come, if it be not to come, it will be now” which echoes his confusion and state of mental turbulence as he acknowledges he cannot exhibit control over his own life. Hamlet initially tries to earn sympathy from the audience because he is controlled by the “poison of deep grief” and therefore in a vulnerable position. Ironically, he then takes advantage of the audience’s emotional sympathy offered to him by breaking the fourth wall, and degrading them to “guilty creatures sitting at a play”, as well as demanding them to “bear a weary eye”. Hamlet selfishly provokes a sense of conviction from the audience, making them become complicit just by watching, as he himself benefits by grasping onto the slightest satisfaction of being able to manipulate them. Since his “head is not more native to the heart”, taking control of the audience’s mind fills his hole of insecurity and makes him feel better. Shakespeare provides insights into the dark nature of humanity, exploring the miserable ways we use to fulfil our fascination for control and power. He suggests that we are all susceptible to this inherent greed, and our typical response is to cruelly weaken, downgrade and deceive the innocent. The darkest thing is that we still manage to find excuses for ourselves, making us less afraid to do malicious things that destroy not only our reputation and character, but the people around us.
Shakespeare identifies that the impulse to retaliate is strong, primitive, and human.

One of the darkest segment of human nature is that we are willing to be led by this natural urge, even if it introduces disastrous implications. Hamlet, initially claims himself to be “very proud, revengeful, ambitious”, which show how he clearly defines revenge as an honourable and spirited act, making him keen to punish Claudius immediately. Hamlet chooses to put on an “antic disposition” as he plans the revenge, but for a long time he finds himself being stuck in “a kind of yeasty collection”. This metaphorical comparison reflects the bubbling, frothing process of fermentation that anticipates results but never happens because the “bubbles are out”. This demonstrates the struggle between Hamlet’s Id, that seeks immediate activity, and his Ego that is concerned about the potential repercussions of his actions and it eventually results in him descending into madness. Shakespeare draws our attention to the idea that vengeance is a subject that must be treated with utmost care and sensitivity because those who act on the unquenchable urges for revenge are defensive, sick and will not be far from their own downfall. Hamlet’s build up of internal frustration and psychological tension causes him to inconsiderately project these negative emotions outwards. For instance, Hamlet bursts in rage to Ophelia, “you make your wantonness your ignorance” accusing her as a frivolous being, and also tells

her to make her way “to a nunnery”. Hamlet lets loose on Ophelia all the bitterness he has accumulated and this leaves her extremely traumatised. Furthermore, Hamlet also states he will “speak daggers” to Gertrude, whom he is horrified and disgusted at and she soon responds exactly the way he anticipates, “words like daggers enter my ears”. Even when Hamlet finally chooses to take action, he does so irrationally and blindly that causes Polonius’ unjust death. Hamlet who is driven by his desire to revenge has not directed it at the one who perpetrated the wrong, but has harmed many innocents. At this point his revenge is no longer justified because it has exceeded its limit. Shakespeare identifies that acting on our primitive impulse for revenge for short term satisfaction proves us to be malicious creatures. This is because we fail to see that the pursuit of revenge is almost always a failure in its own term, as Hamlet will never be able to restore the prior situation and certainly cannot cancel out the suffering of the victims. Hamlet discredits himself to a “rogue and peasant slave” who is “mad in craft”. His psychic energy fueled by the passion for revenge and destructiveness dismantles his own psychic wholeness, as well as fragmenting and dissolving his personality. Shakespeare diverges the normal logic of revenge and represents our desire for revenge as an inward tragic flaw. We have the dark aggression within us that motivates revenge which eventually leads to our own demise, certainly allowing no room for hindsight. Interestingly enough, most societies make rules to control our natural desire for retaliation, such as Christians being taught to love their enemies, and to “turn the other cheek”, and the law of Moses imposing strict penalties for “life for life” injuries. However, human nature is dark in the sense that we are so desperate to retaliate,we strive to find ways to justify ourselves, with excuses like Hamlet “I must be cruel only to be kind”. Shakespeare sheds light on the negative trait we all share, as it guides our lives onto the wrong path, guaranteed to end in a tragic “bloody resolution”, perfectly reflecting the “strange eruption” predicted by Horatio much earlier on. Shakespeare makes us reflect upon our unmerited natural urges for revenge, because it is guaranteed not to let us win back justice, and on the way we are bound to be dominated by gloomy revengeful thoughts that cloud our judgements and this will destroy others around us. Shakespeare’s purpose is to warn us there are practical dangers that ensue if we choose to be acting spontaneously upon this intensely felt desire.