Shakespeare suggests that when an individual has the drive to avenge someone and reconcile with their past, they often take drastic measures without thinking through their actions because they are uncertain what the repercussions will be, and end up in situations that don’t have anything to do with what is going on. Hamlet’s character is very paradoxical to both the reader and the characters within the play. Readers may believe that he is a noble and misunderstood character, “So, gentlemen/ with all my love I do commend me to you”(Shakespeare 1.5.204-205) because of the way that he cares for the people in his life; He is willing to risk it all just to avenge his dead Dad. As readers, Shakespeare convinces the audience to feel remorseful towards …show more content…
Readers are convinced in the opening act that Hamlet would do anything to help his friends out. Meanwhile, characters in the play portray that he is a depressed maniac, “where sadly the poor wretch comes/ reading” (Shakespeare 2.2.183-184) because he is feeling the burden of losing his entire family. The imagery describing Hamlet as he is in a depressive state helps to develop the idea that he is hurting from the betrayal within his family and that is why he is making rash decisions without thinking of the people that are currently in his life. A main characteristic that has played into this idea of Hamlet being crazy is his inability to make decisions, “To be or not to be- that is the question” (Shakespeare 3.1.64). Over the course of the play, we see Hamlet make many decisions that end poorly because he doesn’t think it through entirely. The use of paradox in this quote helps to develop the rationale behind his actions, and shows readers that he is an indecisive person when it comes to making hard decisions. The way that Hamlet acts throughout the play shows us that his heart and his desire is in the right place, but his actions don’t mirror his true