Examples Of Antic Disposition In Hamlet

Ryan Gonzaga

British Lit., Block E

11-20-16

Hamlet’s Antic Disposition

In William Shakespeare's classic play, Hamlet nine characters die, including the main characters. Which character is responsible for all of these death? It all narrows down to the main character, Hamlet. Hamlet is the main protagonist, and is dealing with his own struggles, but he always overthinks the situations he is in, which results in his own death, and the deaths of characters such as Polonius, Ophelia, Gertrude, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Hamlet is the cause and most responsible for most the deaths in the story. Hamlet’s antic disposition is one of the biggest reasons for the causes of these characters death. Hamlet became so focused on his mission of avenging his father, that he doesn't realize he has done harm to his family and friends. For example, when King Claudius sends Hamlet to England along with his friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Hamlet says, “They are not near my conscience.” (V, II, 65). Hamlet basically kills them by swapping the letters. The book never specifies if Rosencrantz and

Polonius is a deceitful person and is always spying on Hamlet to see what is the cause for his madness. “Gertrude: What wilt thou do? Thou wilt not murder me?/Help, help, ho!/Polonius: (from behind the arras) What, ho? Help, help, help!/Hamlet: How now, a rat? Dead for a ducat, dead. (He by thrusting a rapier through the arras.)/Polonius: (from behind the arras) Oh, I am slain./Gertrude: O me, what hast thou done?/Hamlet: Nay, I know not. Is it the king?.” (III, IV, 26-32). Hamlet did not mean to kill Polonius because he did not see who was behind the arras. Hamlet thought the man who yelled for help was King Claudius, but he let his emotions cloud his judgement and accidentally stabbed Polonius. This is the death that Hamlet is most responsible for because he directly killed