The Shakespearean protagonist has been studied and deconstructed for centuries. Each one encapsulates the complexity of man and his tragic flaws. Since Shakespeare’s time, these flaws have evolved and adapted to burden man in modern society, yet their rotten core remains. William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Hamlet: Prince of Denmark is no exception. Shakespeare presents the audience with a broken Hamlet, crushed by the reality of an unfortunate circumstance. He is given instructions necessary to balance the scales of life that have been tipped from his favour, but does nothing. Instead, Hamlet spends his time pondering and asking questions of the world, to which he will never receive the answer. Hamlet’s mind is his greatest gift, but also proves to be a damning curse. His constant questioning of life and Gertrude’s decisions drive him mad, while the relentless deliberation of killing his uncle leaves him with nothing but dissatisfaction. Hamlet’s intellect causes him to inexorably question what he can’t understand, as well as passively contemplate action, until he forced into reaction by the decisions of others; culminating in his insanity and ultimate demise.

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          Hamlet’s life is so quickly faced with seemingly insurmountable hardships, it would be hard for one not to contemplate whether to “Take arms against the sea of troubles / And, by opposing, end them.” (Shakespeare 3.1.67-68). Hamlet’s soliloquy unveils his current state of mind and helps to exhibit how much his mental state is affected by the recent events in his life. Hamlet contemplates whether to take action to end his life, or to take action in fighting against the hardships with which he is faced. This purgatory of thought Hamlet experiences causes him to lose sight of his goals.

And thus the native hue of resolution 

Is <sickled> o’er with the pale cast of thought,

And enterprises of great pitch and moment

With this regard their currents turn awry 

And loose the name of action. (Shakespeare 3.1.92-96).

 While a common man may not have this depth of thinking, Hamlet’s mind cannot help but struggle with whether “To be or not to be.”(Shakespeare 3.1.64). This battle alone would be enough to drive any man mad. While some may argue that Hamlet is only acting insane in order to fool others, one must ask themselves at what point his constant act becomes inseparable from reality. Hamlet’s insanity achieves nothing and instead hurts those whom he loves, as well as causes him to lose sight of his plan to kill Claudius. Hamlet’s unrelenting pondering on life keeps him from taking any action in determining his fate, until it is decided for him by Laertes and Claudius.

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          Hamlet’s intelligence and curiosity have left very few things in his life that he does not understand. Without answers, Hamlet becomes unsatisfied, obsessed, and is driven to insanity. His mother’s decision to marry Claudius is a reality that Hamlet cannot fathom. This betrayal hurts him as much as the death of his father.

Within a month,

Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears 

Had left the flushing in her galléd eyes,

She married. O, most wicked speed, to post

With such dexterity to incestuous sheets! (Shakespeare 1.2.158-162).

Throughout the entirety of the play, Hamlet asks the same question of his mother, without ever being able to find an answer. This unknowingness consumes him and he is unable to move forward. It is evident in Hamlet’s behaviour how his inability to understand his mother’s actions causes much of his madness. When finally confronting his mother, Hamlet is thrown into a rage. “This was your husband. Look you now what follows. / Here is your husband, like a mildewed ear / Blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes? (Shakespeare 3.4.73-75). Although Gertrude is faced with guilt, Hamlet is no closer to comprehending his mother’s motives. His love and obsession with her only amplify his anger. Hamlet's intelligence and desire to understand will not allow him to function, while unanswered questions consume his mind.

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          Hamlet’s struggle truly commences at the moment he is told the truth about his father’s mysterious death. The ghost of his father reveals he was murdered by Claudius and asks Hamlet to avenge him. Hamlet is immediately filled with emotions and vows that “Thy commandment all alone shall live / Within the book and volume of my brain.” (Shakespeare 1.5.109-110). While his statement proved to be true, he spends much of his time merely thinking, with the absence of action. After months of deliberation, planning, and the slow unraveling of Hamlet’s sanity, he is given the perfect opportunity to complete his quest. However, even with his sword in hand, standing over the kneeling Claudius,  Hamlet is presented with the worst thing he could receive… time. While Hamlet was previously committed to the act, poisonous thoughts begin to fill his head and cloud his initial judgements.

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:

A villain kills my father, and for that,

I, his sole son, do this same villain send

To heaven.

Why, this is <hire> and <salary,> not revenge. (Shakespeare 3.3.77-84).

When given time to think, Hamlet is unable to act. His thoughts bring doubt and doubt brings procrastination. Hamlet’s intelligent nature, in fear of failure, fails to act when given time to contemplate. This decision proved to be catastrophic as it alone, directly resulted in the death of Polonius, Laertes, Ophelia, Gertrude, and Hamlet himself. Before leaving to meet his mother, Hamlet speaks toward Claudius and concludes that “This physic but prolongs thy sickly days.” (Shakespeare 3.3.101). While this assumption is correct, Hamlet is unable to conceptualize just how much damage his overthinking will undoubtedly cause. It is agonizing for one to witness Hamlet walk away from the source of so much inner turmoil and stress in his life, without completing the one task he set out to achieve from the very beginning. 

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          Hamlet’s intellectual ability causes him to overthink many aspects of his life instead of taking action. This constant deliberation and questioning contribute to his mental deterioration and eventual death. The murder of Polonius as well as Claudius were the only two instances in which Hamlet could be considered to have taken great action in his life. However, both of these instances were not products of his action, but rather reactions that Hamlet had to the actions of others; without having any time to think. This reflects Hamlet’s true intentions when he is not forced to battle with the curse of his thought. Impulsive decisions are the only ones Hamlet is able to make throughout the play, as when he is given time to think, he avoids doing anything at all. Hamlet’s intellect is also the cause of his overthinking and inability to live without understanding all with which he is faced. This tragic flaw costs him his sanity throughout much of the play as well as his life at the very end. Had Hamlet only been able to make calculated decisions and face the truths he could not understand, he would have been able to live, love, and avoid many of the hardships he put upon himself. From the audience’s point of view, it can be tormenting to watch Hamlet’s indecisive and inquisitive nature ruin his life. His character highlights how intelligence can be a great burden on those who have the faculty, and in contrast, how blissful ignorance can be to those who don’t.