Hamlet Drama

What is the purpose of life? For years, humanity has been wondering about this question. Many people, especially philosophers, have been interested in human existence. Profound questions and arguments have been made about this complicated issue. A great thinker like Friedrich Nietzsche wrote: "Existence really is an imperfect tense that never becomes a present". Such a quote makes the human race think of how complicated it can be to express the feeling of feeling alive. William Shakespeare wrote Hamlet, an extraordinary, dramatic tragedy, which discusses an extended set of emotions that involve the most famous plot of all times. Some of these emotions are: existence, honor, revenge, love, loyalty and morals. Likewise, the set of feelings that leads the main character to execute a series of actions that gradually helps to resolve an unjust crime. David Tennant's performance as Hamlet in the RSC production is a characterization that shows the complexity of philosophical and psychological aspects that Shakespeare wants to highlight about existence and revenge.

In Hamlet, the term existence plays an important role because it is the idea that all his thoughts are based on. In Act I, the appearance of the ghost of Hamlet's father reveals a truth that shatters the image he used to have about his uncle Claudius. Hamlet discovered by the ghost that his uncle, Claudius, cowardly killed his father. In Act I, scene 2, the ghost affirms this ugly truth by saying: "The serpent that did sting thy father's life/ Now wears his crown" (40-41). Tennant takes on a role of hatred and fear, not knowing what is next. The stunning performance of Tennant in this scene is one the audience understands the reason of his hatred toward Claudius. Furthermore, fear invades his conscience because now he is the one responsible for killing his uncle and revenging his father's death. Hamlet finds himself in an uncomfortable situation since he is a man of good morals and family tradition. In addition, he knows it would be hard to carry out with the promise he made to his father. Tennant expresses emotions in a way no other actor does, like the expression on his face and the movement of his body, going perfectly with Shakespearean context in the scenes. In addition, the intense mood Hamlet conveys in this scene is an essential clue to understand the conflict of the play. Hamlet also expresses discomfort with the idea of his mother and uncle getting together as wife and husband. This is an absurd idea that only brings Hamlet to wonder about his mother. He does not understand how she can forget in one month about her deceased husband and how can she possibly think of marrying her dead husband's brother. Infidelity also plays an important role, since Hamlet cannot explain his crazy mother's actions. These are characteristics that create doubt in the reader and audience because there is the possibility Gertrude was involved in the murder of her own husband. In Act 1, Scene 3, both Laertes and Polonius believe the gestures of affection from Hamlet to Ophelia are a quirk of Hamlet because of his youth and social status. Both Laertes and Polonius cautiously go and tell Ophelia to be careful of Hamlet's love, and not to be swayed by him. This scene brings up new frames that make the story more interesting. Shown here is the fear of the brother and father for Ophelia because she is falling for Hamlet's love, where she could end up losing her honor. As a result, Tenant's attitude is unpredictable and arouses the admiration of an audience for its ironic nature with a vindictive and impulsive performance. Likewise, another scene that highlights Tennant's performance is when he tells the famous soliloquy of "to be, or not to be":

The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks

That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation

Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;

To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;

For in that sleep of death what dreams may come

When we [shuffle] off this mortal coil,

Must give us pause: there's the respect

That makes calamity of so long life. (3. 1. 57-90)

This soliloquy focuses in on Hamlet's doubts about acting against his Uncle Claudius to take revenge for his dead father. Sub-themes also appear in this famous soliloquy, for instance he asks what is the meaning of life, death, and what can possibly happen after death; a series of questions that surrounds Hamlet's mind and becomes part of his life through the play. Besides, particular concepts of the soliloquy, like sleep and dream become part of reality. The right explanation for this abstract concept is that a person knows he is alive because of the ability to dream and feel happiness or suffering.