Hamlet's Classic War Between Passion and Responsibility

A common theme in literature is the classic war between a passion and responsibility. In a literary work, the main character often faces the demands of a passion, but deals with contemplation due to a conflict with his/her own responsibilities. In the play Hamlet, Hamlet grapples with this theme after the murder of his father. Hamlet faces the desire for revenge on the murderer of his father, but also must comply with the duties of being both a son and a Prince.

Hamlet's conflict between his desire to avenge his father's murder along with his role as a son and Prince has many costly effects on him. This conflict effects Hamlet physiologically. After Hamlet's father's death, Hamlet has a hard time dealing with the loss of his father and his emotions change constantly, which are caused, among other things, by his conflicting duties. Hamlet's uncertainty of how to proceed after his encounter with the ghost provides the basis of the cause of his turbulent emotions. Frequently in the play Hamlet feels depressed about his previous inaction in not obeying the ghost's "commandment". Because of his conflicting duties, Hamlet is uncertain how to proceed with the immediate future and his emotional turmoil does nothing to boost his confidence and self-respect. The social expectations of him in his role as a noble son and his role as a worthy Prince cause Hamlet to feel disorderly emotions throughout the play. His indecision causes him to withdraw from society because of how he tries to come to terms with the situation. On one hand, his adoption of an impression of him being mad isolates him from society, and on the other hand the confusion he feels results in him withdrawing so as to not show his shame and anger to others. This conflict causes a great deal of disorder in Hamlet's psychological emotions.

Hamlet's desire for revenge versus his duty as both a Prince and a son leads to the betrayal of his own family. Hamlet's duty as a son is to kill Claudius (Hamlet's uncle), for murdering his father. Hamlet can not trust his mother because she fails to admit that Claudius murdered her husband (King Hamlet). After Hamlet's mother married Claudius in little time after King Hamlet's death, tension between Hamlet and his mother had already built up. Hamlet knows that his mother will not support him if he were to kill Claudius, despite the fact that she must know (fails to believe or admit) that Claudius indeed killed King Hamlet. Prince Hamlet has no choice but to betray his own mother and uncle, leaving him with his only "true friend" Horatio. By this betrayal, Hamlet must now comply with his duties as a son by killing Claudius. Though this does not seem to be very difficult, Hamlet must complete the task in a way where he also obeys the responsibilities as a Prince.

The conflict that Hamlet copes with eventually leads to his own isolation which results from the indecision he feels. Hamlet's indecision results from his conflicting duties as a son and as a Prince and citizen. His duty as a son is to avenge his father's murder and kill Claudius, but his duty as a Prince and a citizen is to protect the King and ensure stability in the monarchy. In order for Hamlet's revenge to be justified to society and to himself, Claudius' guilt must be proven. Hamlet decides to attempt to gather evidence against Claudius so that Hamlet's actions are regarded as being honorable, and so that he can come to terms with his revenge. The sin of killing a king and a close relative is highlighted by Claudius when he reflects on his own crime of killing King Hamlet. Through this, a deeper understanding of the conflict facing Hamlet and of his turbulent emotions occurs. Hamlet dies at the end, fulfilling his duty as a son and his duty to society, by removing the corruptness from the monarchy and avenging his father's death.

In the play Hamlet, Hamlet grapples with avenging his father's murder and complying with his responsibilities as both a son and a Prince. This conflict leads Hamlet through a world of confusing emotions and deliberation. His desire for revenge effects him psychologically, it leads to the betrayal of his own family, and causes him isolation. In the end, Hamlet fulfills his own desires by killing Claudius while still obeying the responsibilities of a Prince and Son by protecting the monarchy from a corrupt leader and avenging his father's death. Hamlet will be remembered as both a loyal Prince and son.