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Why Is Hamlet Unstable

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Someone who is unstable has no emotional control as well is known for acting very irrationally. Hamlet's character is ultimately the opposite of this. He portrays a very clear mindset throughout the majority of the play. He has meaningful thoughts, will power, as well is fully aware of everything that is and has happened around him. In the very early stages, Hamlet appears to be phased by the sight of the ghost. In act I, Ophelia describes him as “ Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced; No hat upon his head; his stockings fouled, Ungartered, and down-gyvèd to his ankle; Pale as his shirt; his knees knocking each other; And with a look so piteous in purport As if he had been loosèd out of hell To speak of horrors.” (2.1.87-94) Here Ophelia …show more content…

Little does she know, he had just seen the ghost of his deceased father. He was in a state of shock, he was unsure what he had just seen. In his mind, he debates whether or not he actually saw the ghost or if it is simply his melancholy. Since it is known that he is grieving the loss of his father very much so. If he were unstable, he would be flush, nor seek comfort from Ophelia. He would be highly reactive to what he had just seen, as well as have a lack of emotional control. This shows a clear mind set because he is trying to rationalize what has happened, instead of immediately acting upon it. Hamlets clear mind is also shown during his soliloquy in act 2. He says “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, Abuses me to damn me. I’ll have grounds More relative than this. The play’s the thing Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king.” (2.2.28-34) In this quote Hamlet is fabricating a plan that will hopefully give him the justification he needs to kill the …show more content…

This proves that Hamlet still has a very clear mind. In addition, Hamlet receives the justification he required to kill the king after his master plan of holding a play worked. Even when he has the reassurance he desired, he still can't bring himself to murder Claudius. He has many opportunities to pursue the deed however, he lets them slip by. For instance, in act 3 he says “Now might I do it pat. Now he is a-praying. And now I’ll do ’t. And so he goes to heaven. And so am I revenged.—That would be scanned.” (3.3.)))))) This quote is a perfect example of his procrastination. He says he has the perfect opportunity to finish him off, but then changes his mind saying he should think about it more carefully. His hesitation to fulfill his order, shows he has a clear mind because he constantly contemplates whether or not it is the right thing to do. He also shows this during his to be or not to be soliloquy. He contemplates doing the deed, or ending his life to free himself from any

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