Hamlet Group

Question:

wenz8
wenz8
Student
College - Freshman

In "Hamlet," what is Hamlet's demeanor? How does he speak to his uncle, Gertrude, Polonius and Ophelia?

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Posted by wenz8 on Friday October 24, 2008 at 8:08 AM and tagged with characters, gertrude, hamlet, ophelia, polonious.

Answers:


  1. ms-mcgregor Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Hamlet displays several demeanors throughout the play. He is angry,loving, jealous, fearful, cunning, mad, and frustrated. However, the most common demeanor he displays is confusion. He doesn't know whether to trust the ghosts' account of his father's death or how or if to take revenge on Claudius. His confusion leads him to be frustrated with his lack of ability to take action. He generally speaks to his uncle in an angry manner, being careful not to seem too disrespectful because Claudius is king. To his mother, Hamlet is both loving and disrespectful. He treats Polonius like a fool and generally treats Ophelia with distain. The only time he exhibits love towards Ophelia is at her funeral.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/hamlet
    http://www.enotes.com/hamlet/hamlet-character-analysis
    http://www.enotes.com/hamlet/summary-analysis

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    Posted by ms-mcgregor on Friday October 24, 2008 at 8:39 AM

  2. mwestwood
    mwestwood Teacher
    Community / Jr. College

    eNotes Editor

    As a melancholic personality, Hamlet is very complex, especially in his Elizabethan world. You may wish to refer to a criticism that explores misogyny in the Elizabethan era as well as the relationship of this misogyny with mourning.  See the link below.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/shakespearean-criticsm-mourning-mys...

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    Posted by mwestwood on Friday October 24, 2008 at 9:19 AM