HAMLET"S MORAL IDEALISM.
In all of William Shakespeare's classic tragedies, the often "heroic" protagonist demonstrates a clear flaw that will ultimately result in their downfall; fittingly, Hamlet is no different: It is Hamlet's moral idealism which makes him ignorant and vulnerable to the corrupt society around him, and finally, causes his inevitable demise. Unfortunately, Hamlet could have possibly pursued his idealistic views had other betraying characters been as loyal to him as he was to them. Ironically, he contributed to his own self-destruction, as his false sense of invincibility led him to believe that regardless of the circumstance, he was always in complete control. However, it was the pervasive corruption within the kingdom that slowly caused Hamlet's weak mind to deteriorate, leaving him in anguish to fulfill his, and his dead father's, desires. Hamlet's "pretend" madness suddenly became a little too real. .
Throughout the play, our protagonist was the object of deceit, plotted against him by his own king and friends. He was the only one being loyal (to his father), and yet he suffered the greatest as a result of the betrayal of his peers. From the beginning, Hamlet's opinion of his fellow man is nothing short of praise, which he shows by exclaiming, "What a piece of work is man! honorable in reason! how infinite in faculty! in form and moving how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the world! the paragon of animals!" Now, this would normally be a fine accolade, but not for poor Hamlet, only because others in the kingdom were busily planning their trickery. .
In particular Claudius, who, after murdering his father, and marrying his mother, still abused his power over Hamlet. For example, by using his servants, who were supposedly Hamlet's friends, to spy on Hamlet. He certainly suspected that Hamlet knew of his murderous actions, yet stated to Rosencrantz and Gildenstern that Hamlet's problems were, "to us unknown," and convinced them to, "draw him on to pleasures.
