When they study the work of Shakespeare, the play about the Danish prince always gets close attention. This is one of the most famous works of the brilliant British, but also one of the most complex. The characteristic of Hamlet is a reflection of his great soul, his complex nature, which faced severe trials. It is the thoughts of this character that reveal the whole depth of human existence, affect philosophical questions about the meaning of life. The fate of a young man is a tragedy that can fall upon everyone when his world collapses.
How it all began?
The description of Hamlet that we have presented below will not be clear to the reader if he does not know the content of the work. Therefore, we digress for a moment and tell about what happened in the gloomy castle of Elsinore. The play begins with the fact that the guards see a ghost that reminded them of the king, the father of Hamlet, who died suddenly. A friend of the prince considers this a harbinger of the changes that are waiting for Denmark, as the neighboring ruler is going to go to war on them. Believing that the ghost will speak with his son, he hurries to inform Hamlet about the vision.
The first characterization of Hamlet was given to us by Shakespeare at the moment when he learns that the Queen Mother Gertrude, not having long walked in the widows, marries her uncle. The prince considers such an act of the mother wrong, treacherous. Upon hearing the news of visions, he decides to spend the night near the site. The ghost of the king informs him that Claudius killed him to take the throne, and demands revenge. At the same time, Ophelia, obeying the will of her father and brother, parted with Hamlet. The prince pretends to be crazy to better understand what is happening.
The play continues
The characterization of Hamlet will be served a little later, but for now we will tell you what happened to the prince further. According to a rigged meeting with Ophelia, the king understands that the prince was not mad with love, and his thoughts were occupied with something else. And he, having hired an acting troupe, invites the king and queen to the performance. Actors embodied the scene of the murder of the former king. By the reaction of Claudius Hamlet understands that the ghost told him the truth, so he decides to take revenge.
The protagonist of the play tells the truth to his mother, but she, believing him ill, does not believe. But he convinces that he will always support him. During the conversation, the prince kills Ophelia's father, who hid behind the carpet to eavesdrop. The king sends Hamlet to England, giving the servants a secret order to kill him. But he is saved miraculously and returns to Elsinore. But here another trap awaits him: the brother of Ophelia, who has already gone mad, wants to avenge the death of her father and sister. In collusion with Claudius, he challenges the prince to a duel. Hamlet has no chance of salvation: Laertes rapier is sharp, oiled, poison mixed in a goblet with wine.
Denouement
A brief description of Hamlet cannot convey the complexity of the soul of this character. The sudden death of Ophelia made the prince look at life and death in a different way; he recites the famous monologue "To be or not to be." At this time, he was called to a duel, saying that it was impossible to refuse: the audience made a bet. During the match, the queen, celebrating the successful attacks of her son, drinks poisoned wine. Laertes wounds the prince with a poisoned sword, and then Hamlet wounds him too, exchanging a rapier with him. Dying, Gertrude warns his son that drinking with poison. The main character kills the king, then Laertes dies. Hamlet was the last to die, asking Horatio to tell people what had happened.
Hamlet: Hero Characteristics
So, the fate of the Danish prince, masterfully invented and described by Shakespeare, is known to us. What was his inner portrait? Hamlet is a young but educated prince. To faith in the Creator, he added faith in the human mind, which marked the emergence of a new generation of people, a new round of civilization. Shakespeare, describing medieval Europe, touched on eternal truths and eternal values. This is the secret of popularity of both the play and the central character in the modern world.
What else appears to us as Hamlet? The characterization of the hero cannot fit in a few words. The character at first seems to be a kind of thinker, then he tries to act, and at the end of the work becomes a philosopher. His will was tempered by severe trials: the death of his father, the betrayal of his family and beloved girl, a lie. He comes to the idea that the whole world is plunged into darkness and evil, therefore, is considering suicide. But here he is stopped by thoughts about whether he is worthy of a Christian, and will something change and what will happen after death?
The tragic fate of Ophelia
The characterization of Hamlet (Shakespeare) would not be complete without a portrait of his beloved hero. The girl of noble blood sincerely loves the prince and believes in his reciprocity. But her father and brother advise her to end her relationship with Hamlet, because she will not be able to marry him. The girl obeys their will, abandoning her happiness. When her father dies, and the prince says that he never loved her, her mind cannot cope with grief.
The characterization of Ophelia from Hamlet will help to better understand the depth of the tragedy of the central character. Shortly before the tragic end, the prince finds out about the death of his beloved. Either the girl herself rushed into the river, or it was an accident - the author does not indicate. The young man is very saddened by the death of Ophelia, he is tormented by remorse, but he can not change anything.
Conclusion
The characteristic of Hamlet (Shakespeare) is completed by us. The hero of the play appears before us as a strong man who managed to overestimate values, cope with a storm of emotions. Nevertheless, he did not find the answer to his question: "To be or not to be?" But because it remains open, the author invites the viewer or reader to independently understand and make their own decision.