How Does Shakespeare Present Ambition In Hamlet

In Hamlet Shakespeare presents Hamlet, a complex protagonist, who faces adversity and is destined to murder his uncle. While aware that he must avenge his father’s death, Hamlet prolongs this daunting task. Through Hamlet’s soliloquies, Shakespeare reveals that Hamlet’s strong ambition is futile as it is not coupled with action. Ambition vs fear In Act 1 scene 5, Hamlet is filled with passion and ambition to avenge father's death after his father’s ghost informs him about the senseless act his own brother carried out. The story is strikingly similar to the Cain and Abel biblical story. When Hamlet sees the figure of his father’s ghost, Hamlet acts in a calm manner, in comparison to the guards’ fearful reactions. His dad speaks almost

In the soliloquy of Act II, Hamlet contemplates on his lack of action towards the murder of his uncle. This soliloquy shows major character development in Hamlet. Shakespeare expresses Hamlet’s conflicting views: on one side, Hamlet feels fearful, and on the other, he has a passion for revenge. After speaking to Polonius and seeing the actors, Hamlet realizes that he is essentially putting off what his father’s ghost tells him to do. He does not have the courage to kill his uncle. He begins to compare himself to the actors, “What would he do had he the motive and the cue for passion that I have?” (II.ii.587- 589). He criticizes himself as he is unable to take vengeance for such a tremendous criminal act and even an actor can have such a great sense of authenticity towards a made up event. Actors have so much passion and emotion for an imaginary scenario, a made-up relationship with “Hecuba”, who is a queen in Greek mythology. At the beginning of the soliloquy, Hamlet expresses his amazement at how actors in a play can create such real emotions towards “Hecuba”, a mythological Greek character, and yet he has a true cause/ reason that should conjure up real emotions, but he is still unable to act upon

He tries to talk himself into being courageous and criticizes himself for just moping around. Hamlet begins to resent himself. As he thinks or speaks, he comes to the realization that he still has not sought out revenge. Instead, he has only moped around and hasn’t bothered to predetermine his uncle’s murder/ make plans. During this soliloquy, Hamlet becomes frustrated with himself and comes to the realization that he has not sought revenge yet, instead, he has only concealed his emotions through acting as if he were mad. This is a complete turn from what Hamlet initially felt when he meets the ghost, “O cursed spite that I ever was born to set it right!” (I.v.210-211). Hamlet doubted that the ghost was indeed his father and in turn did not have the courage to take action. He even thought that the ghost was the devil in disguise. After he meets with the actors and watches them perform, Hamlet seems to become completely transformed and extremely eager to avenge his father’s death. Hamlet begins doubting himself. He questions his ability to seek revenge, and expresses his fears of