for an insignificant plot of land, and they do it because they are soldiers, no other reason" (4.4.51-57). Hamlet realizes that he should do what his role dictates, strictly because it is his role. He does not falter in his conviction after he returns, and he fully embraces the act. Upon confronting Laertes, he says, "This is I, Hamlet the Dane" (5.1.53-54). The "Dane", meaning the King. He is claiming his right to the throne. This is the appropriate action for someone as wronged as he, albeit late. In reaction to Ophelia's death, he is again behaving, as he should have. She was his love interest, and as such he should have loved her more than her brother. This is shown when Hamlet says, "I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers /Could not, with their quantity of love, / Make up my sum" (5.1.256-258). Hamlet should have loved her, but he did not. Had he loved her he would not have treated her so poorly earlier. He is now committed to acting, and loving Ophelia fits the role. In the rest of the play, Hamlet does not mess around. He barely has time to tell, to Horatio, his story of escape before he is challenged. He does not refuse the challenge because as nobility, which he is finally claiming to be, he cannot refuse and keep his honor. Hamlet goes to the match and, because he has now accepted the role, he does not hesitate to kill the King when prompted to. It would seem that being a good actor is paramount to survival in this play. Polonius could not stick to the role of adviser, and was trying to convince the King that Hamlet was in love with his daughter. This leads him to spy on Hamlet, and because he could not do that right either, is killed. Ophelia could not handle the role of mourning for her father, goes mad and dies as a result. The King could not cover up his guilt, so Hamlet has the proof he needs to spur him on. Finally, Hamlet: If he would have acted as the ghost instructed him to in the first place, instead of flip fl...
