Hamlet Analytical Paper
Brooke Flores
2nd Period, Mrs. Barnett

Doubt can exceedingly make you question yourself as well as your values. In Shakespeare’s great yet mind-tormenting Hamlet, the theme of questioning ones-self is rampant. Every human who faces indecisiveness is torn between heart vs. reason. In the mind of Hamlet, he doubts his very own thoughts and actions over three powerful life circumstances: murder, suicide and honesty. Hamlet’s delayed decisions are due to his wavering over what is right and what is wrong. Hamlet expresses the duality in his thought process after viewing a stranger portray Hamlet’s character so vividly and conscious over what his feelings and motivations truly stand for against the murderer. This leaves Hamlet dumb-founded and stricken with mad confusion as to why he hasn’t done something yet, such as, “Am I a coward? \Who calls me “villain?” Breaks my pate across? \ Plucks off my beard and blows it in my face? \ Tweaks me by the nose? Gives me the i’th’ throat \As deep as to the lungs? Who does me this?” (2: 2: 598-602) With this, Hamlet is picking on himself and asking himself if he is a coward and can't face his uncle with the truth. Hamlet speaks as he believes that he is gaining a sin for speaking the truth of his uncle and that the devil might claim him for his weakness. Hamlet speaks of the devil bringing out the evil Hamlet from within him “May be the devil; and the devil hath power\ T' assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps\ Out of my weakness and my melancholy,\ As he is very potent with such spirits,” (2:2:627-630) The devil has the power to force out the evilness inside ones self to to his bidding. As Hamlet thinks about the murder of his father and thinks about ending all the self-doubt and acting crazy.

Knowing the murder of his father Hamlet creates self-doubt within himself thinking he won't be able to get revenge against his uncle. Hamlet often though of his father and how peaceful he looked when his uncle took his life. While in confession Hamlet said “He took my father grossly, full of bread,\ With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May.” (3:3:80-81) Hamlet confesses his uncles sins for him. Hamlet starts to think about taking his own life because of the insanity that is getting to him. Hamlet speaks of “To take him in the purging of his soul,\ No.\ Up, sword, and know thou a more horrid hent.” (3:3:85-88) taking his life with the sword. Hamlet thought about letting his soul rest if he were to take his life. With the crazy few months Hamlet has had with his father gone he has always been honest with people. Hamlet has always been honest even while he acted insane keeping his