In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, the protagonist exhibits a puzzling, duplicitous nature. Hamlet contradicts himself throughout the play, enduring both the virtues of acting a role and that of being true to one's self. He further supports both of these conflicting endorements with his actions. This ambiguity is demonstrated by his alleged madness, only to become perfectly calm and rational an instant later. These inconsistencies are related with the internal dilemmas he faces. He struggles with the issue of revenging his father's death, vowing to kill Claudius and then backing out, several times. The reason for this teetering is directly related to his inability to form a solid opinion about role-playing. This difficulty is not present, however, at the start of the play.In the first act, Hamlet appears to be very straightforward in his actions and inner state. When questioned by Gertrude about his melancholy appearance, Hamlet says, "Seems, madam? Nay it is. I know not 'seems.'" (1.2.76). This is to say, "I am what I appear to be." Later in act I, Hamlet makes a clear statement about his state when he commits himself to revenge. In this statement the play makes an easy to follow shift. This shift consists of Hamlet giving up the role of a student and mourning son. Hamlet says, "I'll wipe away all trivial fond records, All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past, That youth and observation copied there, And thy commandment all alone shall live Within the book and volume of my brain" (1.5.99-103). Hamlet is declaring that he will be committed to nothing else but the revenge of his father's death. In the next act, however, Hamlet's status and intentions suddenly, and with out demonstrated reason, become mired in confusion.When Hamlet appears again in act two, it seems he has lost the conviction that was present earlier. He has yet to take up the role assigned to him by the ghost. It is not until the very end of th...
