Hamlet Discussion- Class Poster Response

Hamlet can be interpreted through many frames- whether it is Hamlet as the fool, Hamlet as the savior, or Hamlet as the Villain, he is never just one of these. What made me really interested was the discussion over Hamlet as the “fool.” When looking up the archetype of a fool, I found these characteristics: one that has comic relief, enjoys making a crowd laugh, very cynical, ignores social boundaries, and most importantly- acts absurdly. This absurd behavior roots from the “antic disposition” he will put upon; he states: “As I perchance hereafter shall think meet/ To put an antic disposition on” (187-188). Matter of fact, these all express the very clever Hamlet.  Although, whenever I think of the word “fool,” I think negative and silly, hence for the purpose of the debate or discussion I framed Hamlet as the “con man.” It is interesting to note that a con man has everything that a fool has, but is just risky and multifaceted- oh look, just like Hamlet. Take for example Hamlet’s current behavior; from the inside, he dreads his fathers deaths and wants to take revenge over Claudius, but he must put on a show to society in order to hide his intentions. So technically, he is “conning” society, nonetheless, turning them into fools as well. Often times though, we think that con men or fools are bad, when in reality they could be good- either an antagonist or protagonist. What is Hamlet? From Act 1 to Act 4 (what we have read thus far) he seems as if both. The protagonist Hamlet is trying to do his duty of taking revenge over his fathers murder (what the ghost told him to do) whereas antagonist Hamlet is the crazy, mad, fake being that actually manipulates society so he can fill his duty. “O cursed spite/ That ever I was born to set it right!” (202-204).  This selfishness (and self-fulfillment he is so obsessed with) is the root cause of why I think he can be an antagonist. He is not aware that he is hurting others, but in reality, he was done much damage to the kingdom. Starting with Ophelia’s restlessness, to the King’s and arousal, to friendship manipulation, and ending with the unintended death of Polonius. Therefore, Hamlet is an Antagonistic con man unknowingly.   In Fact, he thinks he is opposite the devil- almost god like: “ I’ll have these players/ Play something like the murder of my father/ Before mine uncle…Assume a pleasing shape” (613-615). In Hamlet's mind he is the center of the world has the ability to “shape” or control. Hence, we can see him as the “writer, actor, and director- destinies creator- god. What is ironic though is that Hamlet wants society to be real, and the actors to be real, when in reality, those are the ones that are the least moral. In scene ii of Act 3, he states that “suit the action to the word, the word to the action, with this special observance, that/ you o’erstep not the modesty of nature” ( 12-15). Such statement enhances Hamlet’s ironic disposition throughout the play of “seeming vs. ising.” All in all, Hamlet can be characterized through many lights.