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Waste is a term used to describe the loss of potential. Although it is often associated with materials, it can be used to portray the state of a character as well. In the Elizabethan era, people believed that humans had the capability of entering either heaven or hell after death. They believed that if they chose to act sinfully then they would end up in hell. However, it was their belief that humans also had the potential to enter heaven by avoiding the temptation to sin and bringing out the most positive human character traits in themselves.
Shakespearean tragedies revolve around the idea of wasted capability. A common form of this concept occurs when someone of high social standing becomes untrustful, deceitful, and destroys their relationships with others. This is evident in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, as many characters transition from being virtuous to becoming corrupt. Often enough, these characters are lead on to the path of sin by external influences.
Throughout the play, Ophelia’s relationship with Hamlet progressively worsens due to Polonius manipulating her.
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To start off, her ignorance for Hamlet’s affection causes him to be angry with her. Under the directions of her father, Ophelia decides not to reply to Hamlet’s letters or let him visit her. After Ophelia meets Hamlet in the castle, she gives back the letters that he sent her. This enrages Hamlet as it is a sign that she doesn't love him like she used to. This is indicated when Ophelia presents the letters to Hamlet and he replies that, “[he] never gave [her] aught”.
Thus, it is evident that there is emotional conflict between Hamlet and Ophelia. Also, Ophelia’s deceit negatively affects Hamlet’s view of her. To prove to Claudius that Hamlet has gone mad because of his love for Ophelia, Polonius tells Ophelia to meet Hamlet while pretending to read a prayer book in order to mask her true intentions. It is apparent that Ophelia is performing a very immoral act as she is deceiving Hamlet in order to obtain information. Even Polonius recognizes this as deceit when he states that “‘Tis too much prov’d-that with devotion’s visage and pious action we do sugar o’er the devil himself”. As a result, there is a lack of trust that develops between Ophelia and Hamlet. In addition, the relationship between Ophelia and Hamlet is further broken through her disloyalty. After Hamlet finds out that Polonius is watching him through an implied stage direction, he asks where Ophelia’s father is. Ophelia faces a dilemma as she has to choose between betraying her father or Hamlet. She replies by saying that her father is “at home.” Thus, it is evident that she is unfaithful towards Hamlet as she is willing to lie to him in order to follow her father’s orders. For all these reasons, Ophelia’s potential for a good relationship with Hamlet is wasted as she ignores him, deceives him, and proves her unfaithfulness towards him.
Hamlet is often presented as a man of virtue. This is shown through his equal treatment towards everyone, even those in the lower classes. However, he begins to develop a villainous mentality as the play progresses. This is first seen through his suicidal desires. The act of killing oneself is regarded as a grave sin by many people, especially for those living in the Elizabethan era. Early on in the play, Hamlet mourns over his father’s death and is bitter towards his mother’s new marriage with his uncle. After his uncle attempts to console him, Hamlet wishes that “this too too sullied flesh would melt, thaw and resolve itself into a dew, or that the Everlasting had not fix’d his canon ‘gainst self slaughter”. Additionally, Hamlet’s cruel nature is shown through his lack of remorse. As Hamlet is having a conversation with Gertrude in her bedroom, he hears a noise coming from behind the arras. Believing it to be Claudius, he stabs through the arras with his rapier and kills Polonius. Upon discovering that the person he killed was an innocent man, Hamlet shows very little regret as he rationalizes his actions. This is evident when he tells Polonius’ dead body “farewell; Thou find’st to be too busy is some danger”. Last of all, Hamlet’s evil mentality is shown through his villainous plans against Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. In Gertrude’s bedroom, Hamlet tells her that “‘tis the sport to have the enginer hoist with his own petar, and ‘t shall go hard but I will delve one yard below their mines, and blow them at the moon….”. He implies that he will harm them and this is revealed later on in the play as he ends up being responsible for their deaths. Hamlet’s ability to come up with such a cruel plan shows that he has transitioned from a noble man to one that is cruel.
All in all, tragedies such as Shakespeare’s Hamlet often depict characters that are noble-minded and of high social status becoming progressively corrupt. As a result, relationships deteriorate, trust between characters are broken, and characters lack honesty. This is evident through Ophelia’s deceit in her attempts to figure out why Hamlet has appeared to have gone mad and Hamlet’s lack of remorse after killing Polonius. According to popular Elizabethan beliefs, these characters started out with the potential to enter heaven, but the sinful deeds they commit make them likely to end up in hell. Shakespearean tragedies often display central characters losing their morality to show that like the rest of humanity, they may fail to avoid the temptation to sin. Thus, it is apparent that great tragedies revolve around the idea of wasted human potential.
Summary: Hamlet’s Potential To Be a Noble Man. (2024, Feb 02). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/summary-hamlet-s-potential-to-be-a-noble-man-essay
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