哈姆雷特的性格浅析

PAGEPAGE3+- 中南大学高等教育自学考试毕业论文(设计)论文题目：哈姆雷特的性格浅析报考专业：英语考生姓名：文姣考籍号：010309102358报考所在地：湖南省长沙市工作单位：湖南省外贸职院邮政编码：410114ANALYSISOFTHECHARACTEROFHAMLETbyWenJiao(010309102358)March10,2011HunanForeignEconomicRelationsAcknowledgementsHereandnow,Iextendmythankstowhosewhohavehelpedmemakethesethesispossibleandbetter.First,IammostindebtedtomyteacherSherry,whohasspentmuchofherprecioustimeinofferingvaluableadviceandguidanceinmywriting,andwhoseintellectualinsightshavecontributedgreatlytothecompletionofthisthesis.Hadshenotdevotedherpainstakingeffortstoreadingpatientlyeachdraftandmakingcriticalcomments,thecompletionofthisthesiswouldhavebeenimpossible.Myspecialthanksalsogotoallmyteacherswhoseinspiringlectureshavehadanundoubtedinfluenceonmuchofthecontentofmythesis.IwouldliketoextendmyheartfeltgratitudetotheauthorswhosewordsIhavecitedorquoted,andtothescholarsuponwhoseideasIhavefreelydrawn.ContentsAbstract······························i摘要·································iiIntroduction······························1Chapter1BackgroundKnowledgeofShakespeareandHamlet······························21.1ABriefIntroductionaboutWilliamShakespeare········51.2IntroductionaboutHamlet·····················7Chapter2AnalyzetheCharacterofHamlet

················82.1HavinganEmotionalSoul························10

2.2DaringandBravery····························122.3Suspicion··································142.4Delay································18Chapter3TheMainReasonLeadingtotheFormationofHamlet'sCharacter····································193.1TheMarkoftheTimes···························203.2SocialFactors····························213.3EnvironmentalFactors·························22Chapter4TheSocialSignificanceofHamlet··················23Conclusion··································24Bibliography·······························25AbstractWilliamShakespeare,themostremarkableplaywrightandapoetofEnglandintheperiodoftheRenaissanceinEuropean,anoutstandingrepresentativeofhumanitarianism,isoneofthefoundersofmodernEuropeanliterature.Inhisworks,Hamlet,oneofthefourtragedies,isconsideredthesummitofShakespeare’sart.Itportraysanoblehero,whofacestheinjusticeofhumanlifeandiscaughtindifficultsituationandwhosefateiscloselyconnectedwiththefateofthewholenation.Buttheheroalsohashisweaknessofnature:Hamlet,themelancholicscholar-prince,facesthedilemmabetweenactionandmind.Hewasditheryanddelayed.Inthispaper,themaintargetistoanalyzethecharacterofHamlet.ThroughtheoverviewoftheplotofHamlet,andthedescriptionoftheheroineHamlet’swordsanddeeds,themaincharactersofHamletinHamletwereshownhavinganemotionalsoul,daringandbravery,suspicion,anddelayhaveanalyzed.ThisthesisalsoanalyzesthecausesandthebackgroundoftheformationofHamlet’scharacter,andthendrawsforththesocialsignificancesofHamlet.Keywords:Hamlet,Analysisofthecharacter,Reasons摘要威廉•莎士比亚是是欧洲文艺复兴时期英国最伟大的剧作家和诗人，卓越的人文主义思想的代表，近代欧洲文学的奠基者之一。在其所创作的作品中，四大悲剧之一的《哈姆雷特》被认为是其巅峰之作。该剧中塑造了一位高尚人物，他直面人生的不公平，并陷入了艰难的困境，他的命运又与国家的命运息息相关。但是他又有自己性格上的弱点：哈姆雷特，一个忧郁的学者型王子，在采取行动与深思熟虑之间进退两难，有着犹豫不定，延宕的一面。本文主要是对哈姆雷特这一人物形象的性格浅析：通过概述《哈姆雷特》主要的故事情节以及对主人公哈姆雷特言行的描写，分析出哈姆雷特在《哈姆雷特》中呈现的主要性格——有情感，勇敢，多疑，延宕的性格特征。论文还进一步的分析了形成哈姆雷特性格的成因和背景，然后指出《哈姆雷特》的社会意义。关键词：哈姆雷特，性格浅析，原因IntroductionHamlet(1601years)istheShakespeare'smasterpieceoftragedy.ItwasbasedonawidespreadlegendinnorthernEurope.Hamlet，theprinceofDenmark,wasrevengeforhisfather.BeforeShakespeare，thisstorywasbeingadaptedtothepopularplaywhichisonrevenge.ButShakespearemadeitintogold,thatisthecontentandtheformoftheplaybecamenew.HamletwasspectacularintheEuropeandramatichistory.Hamletwassetinmedievalimperialpower,throughthestorythatHamletrevengedforhisfather,itportrayedtheBritishandEuropeansocietyinthelateRenaissancereally.AnditexpressedtheintrospectiontoRenaissanceanddeepconcerntotheperson'sdestinyandfuture.Inthispaper,themaintargetistoanalyzethecharacterofHamlet,thenexplainthereasonsoftheformationofhischaracter.ThomashardywasoneoftherepresentativesofEnglishcriticalrealismattheturnofthe19thcentury.Duringhiswholelife,Hardywrotealotofnovels,whichwerecharacterizedbysharpsocialcriticismandpessimisticbeliefinmysticfate.theyalwayspresentthelosingstruggleofindividualsagainstthesocialpressure.Inthisrespect,noneofthesenovelsserversasabetterillustrationthanhismasterpieceTessfaithfullypresents."Publishedin1891,TessoftheD’UbervillesisoneofHardy’slastandmostimportantnovels,ittellusthetragiclifestoryofanintelligentandsensitivecountrygirl,sheturnsfromasimleandnativegirltoawomanwhocommitssupposedlyChapter1BackgroundKnowledgeofShakespeareandHamlet1.1ABriefIntroductionaboutWilliamShakespeareWilliamShakespeare(1564-1616)isoneofthemostremarkableplaywrightsandpoetstheworldhaseverknown.Withhis38plays,154sonnetsand2longpoems,hehasestablishedhisgiantpositioninworldliterature.Hehasalsobeengiventhehighestpraisesbyvariousscholarsandcriticstheworldover.Inthepastfourhundredyearsorso,booksandessaysonShakespeareandhisworkshavekeptcomingoutinlargequantities.

WilliamShakespearewasbornprobablyonApril23,1564,intoamerchant’sfamilyinStratford-on-Avon.Hisfather,JohnShakespeare,whowasvariouslydescribedasglover,wool-dealer,farmer,andbutcher,wasamanofsomeimportanceinthetown,repeatedlyservingasamemberofthetowncouncil.ShakespearespenthischildhoodinthatbeautifulmarkettownandattendedtheStratfordGrammarSchool.Hisrealteacherswerenatureanditspeoplethatsurroundedhim.In1582,ShakespearemarriedAnneHathaway,awomanseveralyearshissenior.Shegavebirthtothreechildren:Susannaandthetwins,JudithandHamlet.ItwasprobablybecausehehadtosupporthisgrowingfamilythatShakespeareleftStratfordforLondonin1586or1587.

ShakespearewenttoLondonwhichaffordedawonderfulenvironmentforthedevelopmentofdrama.Shakespeareworkedbothasactorandplaywright.HeactedwithandwrotefortheLordChamberlain’sMen,whichwaslaterrenamedtheKing’Men.ShakespeareestablishedhimselfsowellasaplaywrightthatRobertGreene,oneofthe“UniversityWits,”resentfullydeclaredhimtobe“anupstartcrow.”

Fromabout1591toabout1611,Shakespearewasintheprimeofhisdramaticcareerandhisplayscomeoutoneafteranother.Shakespearedidnotconfinehisgeniusmerelytothetheatre.In1593and1594,hepublishedtwonarrativepoems,VenusandAdonisandTheRapeofLucrece,bothofwhichwerededicatedtotheEarlofSouthampton.Healsowrotesonnets,whichwerepublishedin1609.By1597,ShakespearewassoprosperousthatheboughtthelargesthouseinStratford,knownasNewPlace.About1610ShakespeareleftLondonandretiredtoStratford,thoughthecontinuedtowriteforsometime.HediedonApril23,1616.

AstheprecisedatesofmanyofShakespeare’splaysarestillindoubt,criticsholddifferentviewstothedivisionofhisdramaticcareer.Butgenerallyhisdramaticcareerisdividedintofourperiods.

ThefirstperiodofShakespeare’sdramaticcareerwasoneofapprenticeship.Hewrotefivehistoryplays:HenryⅥ,PartsⅠ,Ⅱ,andⅢ,RichardⅢ,andTitusAndronicus;andfourcomedies:TheComedyofErrors,TheTwoGentlemenofVerona,TheTamingoftheShrew,andLove’sLabour’sLost.

Inthesecondperiod,Shakespeare’sstyleandapproachbecamehighlyindividualized.Byconstructingacomplexpatternbetweendifferentcharactersandbetweenappearanceandreality,Shakespearemadesubtlecommentsonavarietyofhumanfoibles.Inthisperiodhewrotefivehistories:RichardⅡ,KingJohn,HenryⅣ,PartsⅠandⅡ,andHenryⅤ;sixcomedies:AMidsummerNight’sDream,TheMerchantofVenice,MuchAdoAboutNothing,AsYouLikeIt,TwelfthNight,andTheMerryWivesofWindsor;andtwotragedies:RomeoandJulietandJuliusCaesar.

Shakespeare’sthirdperiodincludeshisgreatesttragediesandhisso-calleddarkcomedies.ThetragediesofthisperiodareHamlet,Othello,KingLear,Macbeth,AntonyandCleopatra,TroilusandCressida,andCoriolanus.ThetwocomediesareAll’sWellThatEndsWellandMeasureforMeasure.

ThelastperiodofShakespeare’sworkincludeshisprincipalromantictragicomedies:Pericles,Cymbeline,TheWinter’sTaleandTheTempest;andhistwofinalplays:HenryⅧand1.2IntroductionaboutHamletHamlet,thefirstofthegreattragedies,isgenerallyregardedasShakespeare’smostpopularplayonthestage.TheplayisaboutHamlet,theprinceofDenmark,whotriestoavengehisfather’smurder.Theplotofthetragedyislikethis.TheprinceofDenmarkHamletwasovertakenbyaseriesofunfortunateanddomesticmisfortunewhenhewasinWittenbergUniversityforstudy,fatherdemised,UncleClaudiususurpedthrone,hismotherremarriedwithhisuncle.Allthismakeshimintoagreatpain.Thentheghostofhisfathertoldhimhewaspoisonedbyhisuncle.Hamletthinkthatheisnownotonlyforthefatherofvengeanceforhissake,butforthewholesocietyandthecountry'sproblems.Hemustundertakethetaskofreformingattribute.Heconsideredallsidesoftheproblem,thenhewasafraidofleakingworry,againafraidthattheghostisfalse,andafraidoffallingintothewrongtrap,Hewasupsetandmelancholy,hadtofoolonoccasiontoconfuseothersenemies,andwaitedforanopportunityofrevenge.Claudiusperceivedthedanger,tryingtokillhim.However,toprovethefactandtruthfurther,Hamletincitedtroupestoplaythepartofadramawhichistalkedaboutamankilledhisbrotherandusurpedthethrone,evenmarriedwiththesister-in-law.Claudiusreallyfeltveryterrifiedandwithdrawninpanic.Hamlet'smothertriedtopersuadehimtotolerance,butcriticizedbyhim.HamletwasenragedandhadthemanslaughtertohisloverOphelia’sfather.ThenClaudiussentHamlettoGreatBritain,wantedtokillhiminsecret.HamletranawaybacktoChapter2AnalyzetheCharacterofHamlet2.1HavinganEmotionalSoulHamletisaveryemotionalyoungmanwhostrugglestocopewiththedeathofhisbelovedfather.

Tisnotalonemyinkycloak,goodmother,Norcustomarysuitsofsolemnblack,

Norwindysuspirationofforcedbreath,No,northefruitfulriverintheeye,

Northedejected’haviorofthevisage,Togetherwithallforms,moods,shapesofgrief,

Thatcandenotemetruly.Theseindeedseem,fortheyareactionsthatamanmightplay;

ButIhavethatwithinwhichpassethshow,Thesebutthetrappingsandthesuitsofwoe.(I.i.82-91)

Heletsitbeknownthat,regardlessofhowgrief-strickenhemightoutwardlyappear,hisappearancecannotholdacandletohowmiserablehefeelsinside.

Claudius,speakingasonewhoisincapableofreachingHamlet’sdepthofemotion,mentionsthatHamletistakingthemourningofhisfather'sdeathtoextremes:

Togivethesemourningdutiestoyourfather;Butyoumustknow,

yourfatherlostafather;Thatfatherlost,losthis,andthesurvivorboundinfilialobligationforsometermtodo

obsequioussorrow.(I.ii.94-98)

TheKingtellsHamletthatdeathisapartofthenaturalorderofthingsandheshouldgetoverit.

Inhismentalstate,Hamletisgreatlydisturbedbythefactthathismotherdoesnotsharehissenseofpainandloss.

Oncehelearnsofthemurder,heberateshimselffornot“steppinguptotheplate”andavenginghisfather’sdeath.

Hamletwonders,"HowstandIthen,/thathavefatherkilled,amotherstained”(IV.iv.58-59).

Heisaskinghimselfwhatkindofapersonheisifhecanallowhisfathertobemurderedandhismothertobemarriedtohisunclesosoonafterhisfather'sdeath.

Shemarried.

O,mostwickedspeed,topostWithsuchdexteritytoincestuoussheets!Itisnot,noritcannotcometogood.Butbreakmyheart,forImustholdmytongue!(I.ii.162-165)

Hamletfeelsthatthemarriageisnotgood,norcanthismarriagebetweenClaudiusandGertrudecometoanygood.

Hewantstoexpresshistruefeelingstohismotherbut,knowingitwillhurther,heremainssilentforthetimebeing.

Thisshowshisdeepemotionalattachmenttohismother.

2.2Daringand

BraveryTheyoungPrinceHamletistheprotagonistoftheplayandisportrayedasabraveanddaringcharacter.Therearemanyexamplesofhisfearlessattitude,butthreestandsoutfromalltherest.

ThefirstoccurswhentheghostvisitsHamlet,HoratioandMarcellus.

Hamletisdeterminedtomeettheghost:“Ifitassumesmynoblefather'sperson,I'llspeaktoit,thoughhellitselfshouldgapeandbidmeholdmypeace”(I.ii.267-269).

Hamletinsistsuponspeakingtotheghost,eventhoughitcouldbeademonratherthanhisfather'sspirit.

Thesecondexampleofhisbraveryisilluminatedwhenheactuallyseestheghost:

HAMLET.

Itwillnotspeak.

ThenIwillfollowit.HORATIO.

Donot,mylord!

HAMLET.

Why,whatshouldbethefear(I.iv.69-71)?

Thoughothersfeartheghost,Hamletdoesnot.

AnothersignificantincidentthatportraysHamlet'sdaringcharacteroccurswhenhearrangesfortheplayerstoperformaslightlyalteredversionof"TheMurderofGonzaga",hopingtolearnwhetherornottheKingisguiltyofhisfather'smurder.

“Theplay'sthething/whereinI'llcatchtheconscienceoftheKing”(II.ii.612-613).TheKing’sreactiontotheplaywilldeterminewhatcourseHamletwillfollow,whethertocontinueashehasbeenortodowhattheapparitionrequestedofhim.BraveryanddaringistheimportantcharacterofHamlet.Withoutbravery,Hamletwouldneitherhavespokenwiththeghost,norbaitedtheKingwith"TheMousetrap,”norsetintomotionthestringofeventsleadingtothedramaticconclusionwhereinallthemajorcharactersaredead.2.3SuspicionHamletwaslivingsmoothsincechildhood;hewasintheenvironmentwithidentityandhonor,familyharmonyandcontentmentandnationalprosperity.Hehadexperiencedthesituationandbotharesmooth.Butovernight,everythingheownedwasatotallysubversive:hisfathertodeath,hismotherremarried,andkingshipchangedhands,theforeignarmyarrives.Whatneverdoggedforamajorsetbackwiththeroughcircumstancesoftheyoungprince,nothingmorethanthissuddenattackchangesthings.Preciselybecauseofthis,thenatureofHamlet’sdepressionbecomesmoremarked,whiletheparanoidsideofhischaracterwasinspiredfrom,andworse.Suchasthefirstact,hedebut,thentheeventoneofbarbedsatiricalfacegreetingthenewKingandQueen:King:Hamlet,mynephew,mychildrenKazakhstan:pro-pro-add,themorepro-thelessdear!King:Whygloomstillenvelopedinyourbody?Hamlet:No,YourMajesty,Ihavethesuninthesuntoolong.Drasticchangesintheenvironment,becomeverysuspiciousofHamlet,evenasoneoftheHoratiotohelphimandothers,hecannotwholeheartedlytrust."Itissoapieceofwork!Howvaluablereason!Howinfinitepower!Instrumentsandmannerofhowthewholeside,howgood!Ofaction,howlikeanangel!Ofunderstanding,howlikeagod!TheuniverseWah!OfallthingsSpirit!However,forme,thisstuffextractedfromthesoilwhatofit?"HereHamletisasarcastictoneofvoicespeakthesewords,thisisthestatusofHamlet'ssuspicionofpeople,butalsoHamletreflecttheconceptofatimeorder.Hewenttolookwithsuspicionallaround:thehypocrisyofhumannature,theworldstateofYanLiang,Heaven'sunfair.ThisisalsothetragedyofHamlet,thefinaloutcomewasforeshadowing.

2.4DelayOneofthemostuniquecharactersofHamletisdelay.Fromthebeginningtoend,thisisalwaysshowed.Hisfatherdiedsuddenly,mothermarriedwithhisuncle;allthismadehimangryandconcerned.Heevenaccusedhismotherthat:"ah,evilhurry,socannotwaittobequiltgotintoincest!"Butonlythatit,notputanyrealaction.Whenhecomplainedtohisfather'sspirits,hewasangrynottoself-sustaining,itseemstorevengeimmediately:"Letmeideasandlovedrivingasfastasthewings,flytotheenemytokill."Butheseemsalwaysseemtothinkbutno,evenforamomentforgetrevenge,long-lastingbutnotimplemented,buttotheenemyinatreacherousmomentofdying,tocompletealong-cherishedwishofrevenge.Forthisdelay,thenumberofyearspeoplemadeavarietyofexplanationsiscausing"untoldHamlet,"oneoftheimportantreasons.GermanpoetGoethe,whichHamletistoofeminine,Ifeeltoothin,bloodybusinessofthepeoplehekilledcannotaffordmental.Thisreallymakessense,said:Hamlet,althoughtheevil,buthumanitarianfeelingespeciallyheavy,anyleniencycouldnotbeartowitnesspersonallythesceneofbloodflowcausedbycorpses.Therefore,hewouldempty:"Icanswigofhotblood,doesthatdaydidnotdaretofacethecruelbehavior",inimaginationtoenjoythepleasureofrevenge,evenafterthepleasure,butalwaysafraidtoturnvisionintoreality.Hiseraforthispurpose:"Iamaheartless,cowardlyresignationofHan......Ireallyfool!Mydearfatherwasmurdered,myspiritsareurgingrevenge,myson'slikeado-likeadirtywoman,onlytoblowoffsteamwithemptywords,learningtoplaythewaybitchsqualling......"Buttheblamegoblame,thebasicknowledgeandactionseemsoutoftouch.Hewaseventakenafatalisticattitude.ThisstatementdoesrevealoneaspectofthecharacterofHamlet.EnglishpoetColeridgebelievesthatHamletisamanlivingincontemplation,meditationisnotthenatureofhisactions.Eveniftheintentofgeneratingaction,butsoonreplacedbymeditation.Thisissomewhattrue.Hedidnotwanttheenemytokillhimforprayer,sogaveupachanceofrevenge.Therewereeitherweakpersonality,orprimarilyisbasedonsocialethicsofhumanthought.Intheplay,soliloquyisanaturalmedium,anecessaryreleaseofhisanguish.Someofhisquestioningmonologuesrevealhisinnercontradictionanddelay.SuchastheActthreeScene，Tobe,ornottobe—thatisthequestion;

Whether'tisnoblerinthemindtosuffer

Theslingsandarrowsofoutrageousfortune,

Ortotakearmsagainstaseaoftroubles,

Andbyopposingendthem?Todie,tosleep;

Nomore;andbyasleeptosayweend

Theheart-acheandthethousandnaturalshocks

Thatfleshisheirto,'tisaconsummation

Devoutlytobewished.Todie,tosleep;

Tosleep:perchancetodream:ay,there'stherub;

Forinthatsleepofdeathwhatdreamsmaycome

Whenwehaveshuffledoffthismortalcoil,

Mustgiveuspause:there'stherespect

Thatmakescalamityofsolonglife;

Forwhowouldbearthewhipsandscornsoftime,

Th’oppressor'swrong,theproudman'scontumely,

Thepangsofdespis’dlove,thelaw'sdelay,

Theinsolenceofofficeandthespurns

Thatpatientmeritofth’unworthytakes,

Whenhehimselfmighthisquietusmake

Withabarebodkin?whowouldfardelsbear,

Togruntandsweatunderawearylife,

Butthatthedreadofsomethingafterdeath--

Theundiscover’dcountryfromwhosebourn

Notravelerreturns,puzzlesthewill

Andmakesusratherbearthoseillswehave

Thanflytoothersthatweknownotof?

Thusconsciencedoesmakecowardsofusall;

Andthusthenativehueofresolution

Issickliedo'erwiththepalecastofthought,

Andenterprisesofgreatpithandmoment

Withthisregardtheircurrentsturnawry,

Andlosethenameofaction."Tobeornottobe,thatisthequestion.”thisisaproblemthatshookthesoulforgenerations.ItplaysanimportantroleinHamlet’scharacterthatisdelay.Itisbecauseofthisissuecannotmakeaclearanswer,soHamlethasalonghesitationanddelaytohisrevenge.Hamletgetsintoaforkintheroadanddoesnotknowwheretobreakin,onlyhesitation,thisisnotonlyamanifestationofhistragiccharacter,andisdeterminedbythesocialenvironment.Chapter3TheMainReasonLeadingtotheFormationofHamlet'sCharacterHamletisonlyacharacterofthenovel,soheisacomplexofthecontradiction,andanepitomeofanera.Wecanfindtheshadowfromthebackgroundoftimes.TofindthemainreasonleadingtotheformationofHamlet’scharacter,weanalyzeitfromthreeaspects.3.1ThemarkofthetimesShakespearewasborninaparticularera:theRenaissance.TheideologyofthisperiodcanbereflectedfromthebodyofHamlet.DuringtheprocessofmodernizationintheWest,ShakespearecreatedfromtheMiddleAges;theRenaissanceisatransitionintothemodern.Humanismbegantorise,thedecliningstatusoftheology,thevalueofhumancognitionrising,respect,respectforlife,thepursuitofuniversalvaluessuchasattitudesarebeginningtohavemeaning.Ontheotherhand,thefeudalandbackwardideasofthepeoplearestillstubbornly,itaffectsthethoughtandactionofpeople."Bible"doesnotallowpersonalrevenge,andifonetakesthiswayhewillapproachinrelationtohell.Meanwhile,anotherviewispopular.”Whenwepious,filialpietytothinkofourfatherwerekilledfornoreasonandourrevengeisjustice."Personalrevengeonthetwoareopposed,whileawarenessoftheexistenceofdisplayuniqueperiodofsocialtransitionambivalencepeople.Hamletisalsotrue:iswaitingforthejudgmentofGodwithenduringthepreceptsofreligion,orcrusadeagainstinjusticeonearth?Whichkindofbehaviormoreinkeepingwithhisloftyideals?Hisinnerstrugglehasalwaysbeenimmersedinthisconflict,thisnaturalcauseofhisdelay.Asafeudalprince,althoughHamletacceptedsomefreshideas,hestillhasthefeudalthoughts.ThecontradictioninHamlet’scharacterisactuallythinkingofthesetwosharpcollisions.Thus,insuchatransitionfromtheolderaoftheRenaissance,theoldtheologicalsystemcannolongersustaintheirposition,butstillcannotsatisfactorilyexplaintheideasofthisera.ObservationandReflection,doubtandexplorationcoexistasanotherfeatureofthisera.Thisischaracteristicofthisera,butalsothequalityofthecharacterofHamlet.ThesequalitiesmakeHamletintoacombustion-likefigure,constantlyobservingandthinking,hismindbecamemoreandmoredense,whileinconstantdoubtandexploration,healsothrownintoconfusion.Hewasangrybutsympathetictohismother,heestablishedapiousforthespiritshaveadifficultdistractionfaithanddoubt,theendofhisenemy'slifefullofdesireandfullofmelancholy,hewasforlife,withpraisebutmorecastigate.3.2SocialfactorsThecrueltyofthesocialrealityanddestructionof

personalideals

created

thecharacterofHamlet.Wholustsaftertheconstraintsofirrationalnormswillhaveinfiniteevil,societywilltendto"confusion.”IntheeyesofHamletwhoseidealwasdisillusioned,thehumanmindisdarkanddirty,thepeopleinthebodysenseisugly.Claudiusisaheinousevil;thefallofqueenisalsoduetoirresistiblepassion.Opheliaisnoexception,hesaid:"Iftheevilinthefireofhellcouldamiddle-agedwoman(queen)ofthebonemarrowfannedthebank,thentheyouthinflames,soastomeltlikewaxvirginityit.Whenlarge-scaleattackcouldnotstopthepassionwhen,noneedtocallanyshame,becausethefrostwillautomaticallyburnthefleshoftheslaveswilldosensiblydo."Opheliaeventhoughitlooked"aschasteasice,pureassnow"but"beautifulcanbecomechastesensuality"inthefleshwhenforcedto,shewouldlikethequeenas"fragile".Hamletnotonlysawthe