What can we learn about Hamlet solely from the speechs of other characters
...f Hamlets wildness; so shall I hope your virtues will bring him to his wonted ways again, To both your honours.” (SC 1 Ln 39-42). This comes across as a mother’s longing for a simple solution for what she believes is her son’s suffering. Claudius, after overhearing the conversation between Hamlet and Ophelia, decides that Hamlet’s madness is not caused by neglected love, but of something else closer to the soul that is troubling Hamlet. Therefore “In quick determination thus set it down: he shall with speed to England” (Sc 1 Ln 170-71) before he uncovers the crime that Claudius has committed. In Act 3 Sc 1, Horatio sees the coming together of the trap set by Hamlet to test Claudius’s conscience. By this point in the play it seems that Horatio is Hamlet’s only confidant. Act 3 Sc 3, Hamlet is now a real threat to Claudius “Hazard so near us doth hourly grow out of his brows” (Ln 6-7) Rosencrantz and Guildenstern also share the same views, so Claudius arranges for Hamlet to be taken to England “forthwith”. Sc 4 is set between Polonius and Gertrude who are still trying to put reason to Hamlet’s ‘distemper’, but after Hamlet has killed Polonius, Gertrude begs him, “O speak to me no more” (Ln 94) as he has made her look into her soul and find her true feelings and now she feels guilty for marrying Claudius. The Ghost makes his second appearance in the play in scene 4, to remind Hamlet of the task in hand “Do not forget. This visitation is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose.” (Ln 109-10). As far as the Ghost is concerned Hamlet has been inattentive in the task of avenging his father’s death. Whilst Hamlet is talking with the Ghost, his mother’s convictions are coming to light that her son is indeed mad. The Ghost on seeing this says “but look amazement on thy mother sits. O step between her and her fighting soul. Concile in weakest bodies strongest works Speak to her Hamlet”. The Ghost urges Hamlet to confide in his mother as to the root of his feigned madness. He does this and his mother promises him that she will keep his secret. Act 4 Sc 1, here we find Gertrude telling Claudius about Hamlet killing Polonius. Claudius then announces that for the safety of everyone Hamlet is to be sent to England right away, and in Sc 4 Claudius reveals that “by letters congruing to that effect, the present death of Hamlet. Do it England;” (Ln 66-67) he is not going to be comfortable until he knows that Hamlet is dead. By Sc 5, we learn of the effect that Hamlet has had on Ophelia and we see Laertes returning from France to take revenge for his father’s murder. Ophelia has now gone mad because as Claudius puts it “first her father slain; next your son gone, and he the most violent author of his own just remove;” (Ln 78-81) and we discover that by the end of the scene she has drowned. In Sc 6, Horatio receives letters from Hamlet saying that he is on a pirate ship and has been separated from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Horatio is then instructed to deliver letters to the King and to rush immediately to Hamlet “and repair thou to me with as much speed as thou wouldest fly death” (Ln 21-22) Sc 7, this is where Laertes discovers that it was Hamlet that murdered his father not Claudius as he had presumed. He wants to know why Claudius didn’t have him executed for committing murder. Claudius explains that “for two special reasons, which may to you perhaps seem much sinew’d, but yet to me th’ are strong. The Queen his mother lives almost by his looks” (Ln 9-12) and that the country loves him too. Claudius then receives a letter sent by Hamlet saying that he is on his way back. In Sc7 Ln 29, Laertes says “But my revenge will come” which Claudius offers him shortly – “But to the quick of th’ ulcer: Hamlet com...