Assessment # 9 Year 11 Long Essay: .
Question 8: Discuss what makes Hamlet such a fascinating, complex character.
In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, we are introduced to the character, Hamlet who is by far one of the most intriguing and yet elusive characters ever presented in history. The answer to why he is so captivating is the "question," because; due to the complexity of his nature which is ever growing and changing throughout the play it is very difficult to simplify his character to a certain quality. He contains the density that real people possess, which perhaps is what draws the reader or audience so much to him; they feel a sense of understanding and connection with him as he struggles with everlasting questions, yet in the end he is still only a fictional character. Many people would agree that there a numerous features that make him such a complex and fascinating character like; his procrastination, role playing, youth, sexual identity, his social status, the tragic hero and the context in which he is part of. All of these aspects nevertheless intertwine to produce Hamlet. In particular he is constantly playing roles and changing moods both when he is alone and with company. Hamlet at this point in his life is going through great difficulty trying to cope with his father's murder and his mother's quick marriage to his uncle. His youth which in return means inexperience, is perhaps one of the reasons that Hamlet seems to have such a complicated personality to understand, which can be seen most directly in his soliloquies.
There are many characters within Hamlet, which most often change depending on what characters he is surrounded by. With Ophelia he changes from the lover to the cruel abuser, "Get thee to a nunnery" With Gertrude he is the loving son, "I shall in all my best obey you, madam." and with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern he is the joker. Hamlet does play numerous roles throughout the play.
