Hamlet, Ophelia, and Gertrude Explored

Paper Summary:

This paper studies and identifies the real-life qualities imbued in the characters of Hamlet, Ophelia, and Gertrude, from the play "Hamlet". The paper presents examples of the characters' traits, qualities, and personal experiences that the audience can identify with and that have contributed to the appeal of "Hamlet" through the ages.

From the Paper:

"Hamlet's procrastination begins early in the play as soon as the ghost visits him. Hamlet has good intentions as revealed when he says, "Haste me to know't that I with winds as swift . . . May sweep to my revenge" (I.v.29-31). Unfortunately, Hamlet's hesitation renders him unable to kill Claudius. Furthermore, he begins to doubt his father's ghost, which drives him to "test" Claudius with the play, Mousetrap. Even with confirmation that Claudius is guilty, Hamlet still cannot bring himself to kill him, using the fact that killing Claudius in a moment of prayer would send him directly to heaven. Instead, Hamlet says he would rather kill him in a vile condition, "When he is drunk asleep; or in his rage; Or in the incestuous pleasure of his bed" (III.iii 89-90). Hamlet even procrastinates so much that the Ghost returns."

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