Sympathy For Hamlet Essay

What if you watched someone's life crumble before their eyes? Would you feel sympathy for them? In the play The Tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmark, written by William Shakespeare, the main character Hamlet seems to lose everything once familiar in his life. At the beginning of the play, the reader learns that Hamlet's father, the King of Denmark, died. This death takes a tremendous toll on Hamlet, due to the fact his mother moved on quickly and remarried the King’s brother a few months after his death. Hamlet is disgusted by this incestuous act and it tears his family apart, causing Hamlet to feel isolated and alone in his grief. Not only did his mother remarry, but Hamlet also learns that his uncle murdered his father, and this causes Hamlet

Hamlet is disgusted by this act, as he views it as incest. In the play, Hamlet states ¨ O, most wicked speed, to post with such dexterity to incestuous sheets¨ ( I.II. 161-162). Hamlet feels a deep resentment towards his mother for moving on quickly and feels she should not be having relations with his father's brother. This not only causes Hamlet to resent his mother but his whole family. He feels it has been tainted by this act and is disgusted to be associated with his family. Early on in the play Hamlet also learns that his uncle was responsible for the death of his father, which fills Hamlet with violence and a need for vengeance. Hamlet’s mother remarrying at the rate she did, caused Hamlet to feel distressed and isolated. Not only did she remarry, but she also committed incest in Hamlet’s eyes, which he was appalled by. Watching Hamlet’s life fall apart, is bound to create some type of sympathy for him. With the chaos occurring in Hamlet’s life, his mental health declines rapidly. This is due to Hamlet feeling alone in his grief and his family being torn apart. These factors cause Hamlet to become suicidal and struggle with depression throughout the play. For example, Hamlet states ¨ O, that this too too solid flesh would melt, thaw and resolve itself into a dew! Or that Everlasting had not fix’d his canon gainst self-slaughter ¨( I.II.132-135). Hamlet expresses he wishes he could end his life, however, he is incapable of doing so because it is a sin. When a human being is struggling and contemplating ending their life, it causes a person to feel sympathetic for them. This sympathy could be in the form of pity or sorrow for his misfortunes. Hamlet is struggling severely mentally, and this causes Hamlet to make rash decisions that ultimately hurt him in the long