identities

Hamlet- Shakespeare

Throughout the play Hamlet, Hamlet slips into various identities. Six of these identities that are particularly interesting are savior, philosopher, fool, artist, poison, and coward. Our discussion in class was focused on the philosopher, but the discussion had barely begun before we had roped in several other identities, which just goes to show how interconnected they are. As we considered Hamlet’s philosophical thought, we noticed how uncertain he is. In his “to be or not to be” speech he even debates between death and life, unsure of what he is supposed to do. Yet at the same time we noticed his role as moral judge and savior. Hamlet, who himself is unsure of what should and should not be done, judges others on what they have done.

At first we thought this was awfully hypocritical of Hamlet, considering he doesn’t even seem to have concrete morals to judge others by yet he judges them with such certainty and harshness. But after some discussion, we wondered if it was not hypocrisy because Hamlet acted as the savior despite his indecisive philosopher side but rather a painful inner struggle because Hamlet was forced into the role of savior even though he had yet to establish his beliefs through his role of philosopher. When Hamlet first speaks to his father’s ghost and is assigned his task of judging and punishing other, Hamlet says, “O cursèd spite that ever I was born to set it right,” clearly showing that he is anything but eager to act as savior and judge. So why does he? Because he was told do. His father even says he would be a “fat weed” if he did not do what was asked for him. He sees as a mission assigned to him by “heaven,” something that cannot be debated with. Therefore although Hamlet feels that heaven has “punished” him, Hamlet forces him into the hypocrisy to do what he believes he should.

However, such a role clearly does not come to Hamlet so easily considering two acts have passed since he swore to seek revenge for his father and his father’s murder still run lose with no punishment whatsoever. Because Hamlet sees it as his duty to avenge his father, his inability to complete that revenge leads him to question him own worth, asking himself, “Am I a coward?” Therefore, it seems as though Hamlet is not truly a coward, but is simply being held back by a set of morals and goals that differ from what his father’s ghost has mandated him to do. Luckily, Hamlet is able to find a method through which to exact his revenge: playing the fool. The king’s fool, a jester, was the one that entertained everyone, always using humor. A seemingly innocent roe, but it was because of this role as entertainer that jesters were able to speak the ugly truth disguising it with a veil of humor. Therefore, it is through Hamlet’s role as fool and madman that he is able to search for and reveal the truth. Hamlet even comments on this when talking of the players saying, “they do but jest, poison in jest.” But then does that mean that the truth is poison? Or perhaps Hamlet is the poison?