Ambiguity In Hamlet

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Hamlet’s constant pondering and speculation about how to avenge his father’s murder project his morally indecisive nature and give rise to his vague actions. The way that Hamlet analyzes the Ghost’s revelation of his father’s murder, makes his actions ambiguous. For example, when Hamlet learns about his father’s murder, his ungovernable emotions allow him to see “only the Ghost’s revelation of evil as problematic, rather than the … [way] that evil is to be countered” (Wilks, 117). Hamlet exclaims that Claudius has committed the worst of all sins, but never realizes that he is in the process of committing the same sin by avenging his father’s murder by killing Claudius. His thoughts and words, immediately after talking to the Ghost, portray …show more content…
Throughout the play, many instances illustrate that Hamlet has completely lost his mind. He himself acknowledges the fact that he is going to “put an antic disposition on” (Shakespeare, I.V.172). Hamlet’s acts of madness show his ugly side through his conversations with other characters, where he incessantly talks in a metaphorical tone that others find baffling and disrespectful. For example, in Hamlet’s mind nothing means something, but others don’t understand his references. When Ophelia says “I think nothing, my lord” (3.2.116), Hamlet assumes that ““nothing” is something,” (Cook), such as “calling Ophelia's nothing “a fair thought to lie between maids' legs.”” (Cook). In addition, Hamlet justifies his actions to Laertes by saying, “What I have done,/ That might your nature, honor, and exception/ Roughly awake, I here proclaim was madness” (V.II.202-204). Hamlet blames his actions on his madness, and proclaims that all of the bad deeds that he committed are a result of his madness. Although Hamlet was only trying to protect himself or foresee his future consequences by acting crazy, he was also deceiving everyone by hiding the truth and distancing himself from his loved
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