What impressions are we given of Hamlet in the first two acts of Hamlet?
Hamlet is depicted as cowardly and false when the passionate anger he displayed whilst conversing with the ghost in act one is not re-conveyed further within act two, stalling revenge against his uncle. The dead king’s ghost reveals the cause of his death at the hands of Hamlet’s uncle, infuriating Hamlet demonstrated through the lengthily speech and energetic responses, “Haste me to know’t, that I with wings as swift as meditation of the thoughts of love mays sweep to my revenge”. Hamlet insinuates a sense of haste and impatience to act against his Uncle, however his lack of action in scene two, a substantial amount of time after talking with the dead king, develops an impression of cowardice or fake nature of the character. The language used additionally suggests Hamlet will stall to take action, “swift as meditation”, perhaps foreshadowing his later thoughtful contemplation as to whether his Uncle was not in fact guilty of the crime. Hamlets determination to complete his father’s request does not correlate with his doubtful thoughts in the second scene, furthermore his inability to feel any sense of fury or urgency, “The play’s the thing wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king”. The contrasting attitudes of Hamlet’s apparent devotion to bring his dead father justice compared to his doubtful thinking within scene two gives an impression of cowardice.
In scene two, the impression of Hamlet’s insecurity and depression is gained by his critical depiction of himself. Hamlet compares himself to an actor whom he admires with his apparent ability to reduce an audience to tears. In this comparison he considers himself inferior and unworthy, his self-loathing provides an insight towards his loose mentality and depressed state, “Yet I, A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, Peak l...
