INTRODUCTION

Humanity is a concept that not many people can fully grasp, even less understand what it means to feel love and grief, to wrestle with morality and come to terms with the reality of death. The human condition is the totality of human existence, the positive, negative and everything in-between (The Human Condition in Literature, n.d.). The characteristics of human life such as emotion, learning, morality, conflict, and death are all a part of the human condition that William Shakespeare writes about. The human condition isn’t just a fact to be known, it’s a means to be explored. Whether that’s through art, literature, philosophy or psychology is up to the individual to explore. In Hamlet, Shakespeare coveys the complexities of the human condition through characteristics and figurative language, showcasing Hamlet’s internal conflict, emotional vulnerability, and deep reflections on life and death. By illuminating Hamlet’s struggles between acting on his revenge and hesitating, Shakespeare captures the universal human experience of doubt, grief, and a search for meaning.

Characterization

Shakespeare uses characterization through Hamlet’s internal conflict of grief and indecision to showcase his humanity in the struggle to make sense of human nature. In Hamlet’s soliloquy, ‘to be or not to be’, he is questioning whether it would be more honorable to continue suffering because of his terrible fortune or to end his life and troubles at once. There is military figurative language seen throughout the monologue in words like “noble”, “take arms”, and “the slings and arrows”. As a prince deeply connected to the royal drama, his personal troubles are entangled with politics. In Hamlet’s world, political disputes often escalate into violent conflict, reflecting the external and internal wars he faces. He’s agonizing over what choice to make, to live or take his own life and end his troubles. Even though he yearns for relief from the struggles he is facing, he is not completely ready to die.

Hamlet’s Emotional Complexity

Hamlet’s emotional complexity, from anger to recollection, reflects the depth of human emotion. In his confrontation with Gertrude, he shifts between rage and a desperate desire for her repentance. This shows his emotional vulnerability because the erratic shift between emotions betrays instability. He condemns her choices but also yearns for the love of his mother. Similarly, his treatment of Ophelia shows his struggle to navigate a romantic relationship. In the nunnery scene, Hamlet lashes out at Ophelia, accusing her of dishonesty and corruption. This is an example to show that he is mistrusting all those around him, assuming they are all against him. He is ruining his chance at love and happiness by being skeptical of those closest to him. His internal instability is taking over and he doesn’t know what to think or believe anymore. Shakespeare uses the theme of madness to further reflect on Hamlet’s emotional vulnerability in the play. Vasian Hasani suggests that Hamlet’s feigned madness is one of the most important elements seen in the play (2023). Hamlet came up with a way to figure out the truth behind his father’s death and that was by pretending to be mad. Shakespeare continually presents situations where the lines of sanity and madness are blurred. This creates a narrative where even the reader has a hard time distinguishing between reality and fiction.

Imagery

In Hamlet, Shakespeare uses imagery of decay and corruption to depict the moral and psychological deterioration within Hamlet. The line “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” (Act 1, Scene 4) is a symbol of the moral and political decay within the kingdom. Spoken by Marcellus, the observation reflects on the growing unease and suspicion of King Hamlet’s death and Claudius’ ascension. The image of rottenness highlights the kingdom’s external corruption and mirrors Hamlet’s internal struggles and emotional turmoil. Hamlet is suspicious about his father’s death right away when his mother marries Claudius quickly after. He sees the world as tainted from this point on, describing it as “an unweeded garden” (act 1, scene 2). The metaphor of the garden shows how Hamlet knows that natural order has been disrupted, corruption spreading like decay throughout the kingdom, inside and out. Hamlet’s feigned madness represents a mind that has been infected with the same decay as the kingdom of Denmark. Beyond his personal anguish, the imagery of decay relates to the broader human experience of living in an imperfect and unjust world. Shakespeare conveys that corruption is not confined to the kingdom of Denmark but is a real part of the human existence. Hamlet’s self-reflections reveal his awareness that life is full of suffering and corruption.

Metaphors

The most apparent metaphors are about life and death. These metaphors are seen throughout the entirety of Hamlet, but they are most cited in Hamlet’s soliloquy, “To be or not to be”. In this monologue, Hamlet is conflicted on the point of life and if it is worth it to keep living. He is enduring tragic pain through the death of his father and his suspicions of Gertrude and Claudius. He yearns to find out the truth about King Hamlet’s death, but part of him wants to end it all right there, to fall into an eternal sleep and remove the pressure of these battles. Like many individuals, Hamlet fears the unknown consequences of death, highlighting a universal anxiety about what lies beyond life. Hamlet doesn’t give in to the temptation of death because he’d rather stay in his pain than walk into the unknown. He, like many of us, would rather suffer than not be in control.

Conflict

Another central theme of the play is the conflict between action and inaction. In Hamlet’s soliloquy, he struggles with his need for the truth about his father and revenge for those that killed him, but he hesitates. He’s torn between life and death, action and hesitation. Hamlet struggles aren’t unique. Many have experienced this from time to time. Whether it be taking the next step in a relationship, finding the truth about a long-forgotten tragedy, or countless other things, we’ve all faced it. Thoughts are great beginnings, but that’s all they are if there is no action that follows. The mind can conjure up a convincing picture of reality, but there is no safety in the world when the action takes place. It could backfire in ways many fear. That’s what keeps many people from being bold and taking that step: fear of failure. Hamlet was scared of what the truth might hold for him, or even worse, how bad it could backfire on him. What if it got him killed? Hesitation was a safety net that allowed him time to come up with a plan that would ensure his success. Hamlet is a very relatable character, even years later. He encompasses the internal struggle that many people are battling daily.

CONCLUSION

In Hamlet, Shakespeare captures the complexities of the human condition through characterization and figurative language. Hamlet’s internal conflict, emotional vulnerability, and reflections on morality reflect on the universal struggles of identity, morality, and the fear of the unknown. Through Hamlet’s soliloquy, Shakespeare reveals the inner turmoil and confusion that Hamlet battles. Because of his hesitation to act, the tension between thought and action is revealed, a conflict that continues to define the human experience. The play ultimately suggests that to be human is to question, feel deeply, and grapple with the uncertainties of life and death. By exploring these themes, Hamlet remains a powerful and relatable reflection on the profound and agonizing intricacies of what it means to be human.

REFERENCES:

Hasani, V. (2023, May 22). “How does Shakespeare present the idea of madness in Hamlet?” Medium. https://medium.com/@vasianhasani/how-does-shakespeare-present-the-idea-of-madness-in-hamlet-88833d18091b

Shakespeare, W. (1988). Hamlet. Bantam Classics.

The human condition in literature. (n.d.). Study.Com. Retrieved March 4, 2025, from https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-human-co