Evil Essay (Midterm)

                In William Shakespeare’s classic play, “Hamlet,” the Prince is usually seen as a tragic who has the moral right to kill his uncle Claudius, who has overtaken his father’s thrown. However, while Hamlet may be morally correct in that situation, throughout the play, his actions reflect that of a conscienceless brute. Whether it is his treatment to his mother and Ophelia, the death of Polonius, or the revenge of his uncle, Hamlet’s emotions are constantly overshadowing his moral stance on life.

                To begin with, Hamlet constantly mopes around the house, confused about his own life to the degree of contemplating suicide. He is distraught after his mother marries his uncle, and therefore treats her as if she were a harlot. In one of the first acts of the play, Hamlet is sarcastically answering his mother who is only trying to ask him simple questions. However, the reader feels sympathetic because his mother is seen as mindless, but this does not give the character the right to insult her. Ophelia, Polonius’ daughter is madly in love with the Prince, but he never accepts her because he feels as if all women are mirror-images of his mother. After this assumption, their relationship deteriorates and while acting insane to her, Ophelia is driven to insanity and commits suicide.

Hamlet was also immoral when he killed Polonius through a curtain while believing that it was Claudius. After the deadly act, he did not feel remorse for the man or his family. Although this is seen by the reader as an accident, it is certain that he was going to kill a man who was behind that curtain. Hamlet’s idea of revenge is a sin itself; what gives someone the right to take another’s life? He tries to kill his Uncle in every way possible and eventually succeeds.

The character of Hamlet is usually portrayed as a hero because he seeks revenge on his murderous uncle. The reader may also feel sympathy for the character because he is indecisive about life, and many of his close friends turn out to be enemies. However, what the audience misses is that the character is a sinful, arrogant, sarcastic killer who simply wants his uncle out of the throw so he may be put atop it. His emotions of jealousy, anger, and killing are greater than love, understanding, and patience, forcing the character to be immoral.