Hamlet Group

Question:

larac0290
larac0290
Student
High School - 11th Grade

How does Hamlet resposibility of being a good son affects him in a negative way?

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Posted by larac0290 on Thursday October 30, 2008 at 10:02 AM and tagged with hamlet.

Answers:

  1. broberts7
    broberts7 Teacher
    Middle School

    Hamlet is very aware of his responsibilities, both to his father and to his country. Part of being a good prince, and a good son, requires him to think about the good of Denmark over the good of himself and his family. This contributes to his tragic flaw--his inability to act--because he "overthinks" every situation and thus misses opportunities. Most people say it's a good thing to think before you act, but Hamlet takes this to the extreme! He wants so badly to do the right thing as a son and as a prince. If he didn't think about that so much and acted more on his impulses, he would have saved himself and the other characters a lot of grief.

    Read this link for more.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/hamlet

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    Posted by broberts7 on Thursday October 30, 2008 at 10:24 AM

  2. slauritzen
    slauritzen Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    The greatest negative that is related to Hamlet being a son is in his reaction to and avoidance of his mother.  He is unable to reconcile his father's death and his love for his mother.  Even though the ghost says:

    But, howsoever thou pursuest this act,
    aught. Leave her to heaven,
    whet thy almost blunted purpose.
    But look, amazement on thy mother sits.
    O, step between her and her fighting soul!
    Conceit in weakest bodies strongest works.(125)
    Speak to her, Hamlet. III.iv.121-125

    So even though all the action in the play revolves around the revenge that Hamlet must exact because of his father's murder, some of the greater complications and Hamlet's inaction surrounds his mother.

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    Posted by slauritzen on Thursday October 30, 2008 at 10:39 AM