Cynicism In Hamlet
In William Shakespeare’s hamlet, Hamlet, an unresolved man, must take revenge against his uncle Claudius. Throughout the play he is stuck between the problem to act against the unjust, evil actions done by Claudius or to let nature take its course and deal with the problem in itself. Hamlet, unable to make a solution and pick between these two options, brings chaos to the state of Denmark, which results in more problems than those that were originally at hand. As an effect of his uncle’s actions and the actions of those close to him, Hamlet’s perception of a man is disillusioned. This disillusioned perception leads him to develop a very pessimistic view of man’s existence and also causes him to question the motives of others. Hamlet change
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Hamlet shows this judgment and opinion throughout the play in his dialogue and diction. His comment that an honest man “is to be one picked out of ten thousand” (2.2.177) reflects the cynicism that he harbors in himself against others. Hamlet does not believe that men are honest in their actions or words, instead he believes them to be deceitful and liars. His cynicism and skepticism towards man not only causes him to refrain from mending the close relationships that he had before hearing the truth of King Hamlet’s death but also prohibit him from creating new ones. This further adds to Hamlet’s lack of acting against the horrible actions previously done. Hamlet also states that men are not delightful. He questions, “what is this quintessence of dust?” (2.2.305-306) during his conversation with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern this inquisition posed by Hamlet evidently reflects his belief that men are not worthy of life or anything of importance for that matter. Hamlet essentially believes that humans are simply beings that bring little to no meaning to the world. Hamlet further relates this opinion in his belief of man through different ways, he states to Polonius, Ophelia’s father “ Let her now walk in the Sun conception is a blessing but not as your daughter may conceive friend look to it” although Hamlet is taking of Ophelia and how negative it would be for her to get pregnant the
Hamlet shows this judgment and opinion throughout the play in his dialogue and diction. His comment that an honest man “is to be one picked out of ten thousand” (2.2.177) reflects the cynicism that he harbors in himself against others. Hamlet does not believe that men are honest in their actions or words, instead he believes them to be deceitful and liars. His cynicism and skepticism towards man not only causes him to refrain from mending the close relationships that he had before hearing the truth of King Hamlet’s death but also prohibit him from creating new ones. This further adds to Hamlet’s lack of acting against the horrible actions previously done. Hamlet also states that men are not delightful. He questions, “what is this quintessence of dust?” (2.2.305-306) during his conversation with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern this inquisition posed by Hamlet evidently reflects his belief that men are not worthy of life or anything of importance for that matter. Hamlet essentially believes that humans are simply beings that bring little to no meaning to the world. Hamlet further relates this opinion in his belief of man through different ways, he states to Polonius, Ophelia’s father “ Let her now walk in the Sun conception is a blessing but not as your daughter may conceive friend look to it” although Hamlet is taking of Ophelia and how negative it would be for her to get pregnant the