ercy of Christianity over the “eye for an eye” notion, Shakespeare pleads with them to understand the notion of revenge as a noble and heroic characteristic in this circumstance. A second illustration of Hamlet’s heroism and nobility is in his perception of Laertes. Hamlet recognizes himself in Laertes by saying, “But I am sorry, good Horatio,/That to Laertes I forgot myself,/ For the image of my cause, I see/ The portraiture of his. I’ll court his favors./ But sure the bravery of his grief did put me/ Into towering passion.” He understands Laertes’ motives for taking revenge on Hamlet, because Hamlet went through the same situation with Claudius. Hamlet, by admitting this and forgiving Laertes for killing him, is perceived as honorable and courageous. Hamlet, because of his circumstances and actions, evoke sympathy from the reader for him, and in turn portray him as a heroic and honorable character.Shakespeare has a great ability to show insight or reflection upon the situations in Hamlet, often through Hamlet’s soliloquies. An example of this is when Hamlet, because of the death of his father and incestuous nature of his mother, considers committing suicide. He portrays this to the audience in a soliloquy when he states, “How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable/ Seem to me all the uses of this world!” because his mother, who “within a month…/she followed my poor father’s body…/married with my uncle.” This then moves Hamlet into a suicidal state, and the only reason he does not succumb to his feelings is because of “His canon ‘gainst self-slaughter.” As a reader, one has the ability to understand the essence of Hamlet’s emotions towards what is happening in his life through this soliloquy whereas one would not be sure how Hamlet was feeling without it. A second example of Hamlet revealing his insight and reflect...
