Evidence: Hamlet starts to suspect that the ghost might be "a devil" who assumed the "pleasing shape" of his father in order to "abuse" and "damn" Hamlet.

Analysis: Hamlet's suspicions that the ghost might be the devil stand in stark contrast with the trust he had immediately after speaking with the ghost. Even though he believed the ghost to be an honest one, now he is afraid that he is being deceived by a malicious force. His increasing fear and suspicion contribute toward his self-doubt, and he starts to wonder if he truly has evidence against Claudius.

- Honray D

Evidence: "'But I am pigeon-livered and lack gall to make oppression bitter."

Analysis: Hamlet calling himself "pigeon-livered" and lacking "gall" denotes his view that he does not have the will to act out his mission of revenge. Hamlet's desperation due to his inaction drives him to repeatedly admonish himself with regard to his character.

Claim: Ophelia reacts with fear and confusion to her visit with Hamlet.

Evidence: After her visit with Hamlet, Ophelia runs to her father, Polonius, and says "O, my lord, I have been so affrighted," and goes on to explain that she "do[es] not know," Hamlet's intentions.

Analysis: Ophelia's use of the word "affrighted" is direct evidence for Ophelia's fear, as it illustrates that she has been spooked by Hamlet's visit. Furthermore, her cluelessness, illustrated through her saying "I do know," when talking about Hamlet's intentions, highlights her confusion.

O, what a rogue and peasantslave am I!

Hamlet opens his soliloquy by saying "Now I am alone. O, what a rogue and peasantslave am I!" By using the terms "rogue" and "peasantslave" Hamlet is implying that he is going to rebel against something. Due to his father's death, Hamlet is now forced to obey the new king, his uncle, but he plans on not listening to him and will instead rebel against the new monarchy in Denmark.

Evidence: When speaking to Polonius, Ophelia describes Hamlet to have "his stockings fouled, Ungartered, and down-gyved to his ankle."

Analysis: By mentioning that Hamlet, the heir to the royal throne, appears in front of her "fouled", Ophelia is saying that something is out of place with Hamlet. He came before her dirty and out-of-place, with no coordination, as alluded to by the mention of his stockings being around his ankles. Ophelia can see that Hamlet came to speak to her as a mess. This indicates her worry about Hamlet's wellbeing because her descriptions are so expressive in a negative connotation about Hamlet.

Claim:

Hamlet portrays his anguished state of mind during the "Rogue & Peasant" soliloquy.

Evidence:

"Is it not monstrous that this player here,

But in a fiction, in a dream of passion,

Could force his soul so to his own conceit"

Analysis:

Hamlet's grief is highlighted by Shakespeare's use of irony and hyperbole. In the excerpt, Hamlet refers to acting as a "dream of passion,"

Claim:

Hamlet relates to the play yet is conflicted by his feelings sparked by the plot of the play he is watching.

Evidence:

"For Hecuba!

What’s Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba,

That he should weep for her?"

Analysis:

Hamlet reflects on the prince looking further at the actor’s ability to express deep emotion questioning “What’s Hecuba to him,” and “That he should weep for her?” for a fictional character with such love, care, and feeling.

She states that she had been “so affrighted” when Hamlet grabbed her and “held her hard”. This interaction depicts that Ophelia is concerned for Hamlet as she eventually runs to her father for help. It is proof that she cares for him and therefore wants him to get help. It also depicts that he believes that Hamlet has gone mad based off of his unkempt appearance and rude behavior.

Evidence: Hamlet talks about how he feels as if he is "unpregnant" of his "cause," and calls himself a "whore" who "unpack[s]" his "heart with words."

Analysis: In his soliloquy, Hamlet uses extremely gendered language in order to tie in his damaged relationship with women to his inability to avenge his father. Although he is angry about his father's murder, he shows that he lacks the courage to act upon his emotion, comparing himself to an "unpregnant," or infertile woman. Infertility in women is a highly stigmatized concept, and by putting himself in that position, he shows his conflicting emotions of wanting to avenge his father but being unable to act upon it. Additionally, by calling himself a "whore," he amplifies this negative connection to women that he has, insulting himself in a way that women often are. Claiming that he is "unpacking" his "heart with words" shows that he feels that he gives up his masculinity in this dilemma.

E: "there is a kind of confession in your looks"

A: Hamlet refuses to be humiliated by his friends or the kind and the queen. He is quick to judge and makes haste accusations that his friends were not there to see him but rather sent to spy on him.

C: Ophelia was caught off guard when Hamlet showed up, tormenting the women he claimed to love.

E: Ophelia describes Hamlet as if he had "been loosèd out of hell" when he confronted her and "raised a sigh so piteous and profound."

A: Ophelia compares the state that Hamlet is in to that of "hell," suggesting his misery and the distress Ophelia was overcome with. Similarly, her use of the word "profound" further emphasizes the intensity of Hamlet's presence and the concern he's raised in Ophelia. It is clear that Ophelia was frightened by this interaction, leaving her feeling even more conflicted by her relationship with Hamlet than she was before.

Claim: In "Hamlet", act 2 scene 1, Ophelia is confused by Hamlet's actions and this contributes to her stress on the situation.

Evidence: When Hamlet goes into Ophelia's room, he is noted to be "ungartered" and looks "piteous in purport." Ophelia is again startled when Hamlet takes her "hard" "by the wrist."

Analysis: Ophelia realizes that both Hamlet's actions and appearance are "piteous" in her confrontation. She's never seen Hamlet in such an "ungartered" state and doesn't understand what is happening in his mind. When Hamlet grabs Ophelia "hard" "by the wrist," she suspects that something is wrong and runs to her father for help because of worry for hamlet.

Claim: Hamlet’s relationship with Guildenstern and Rosencrantz is joyous and trusting because he immediately feels comfortable and opens to them.

Evidence: “I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation prevent your discovery”

“But I thank you, and sure, dear friends”

Analysis: Early in Act 2 when Hamlet is approached by Polonius he pretends not to know him however he drops the act immediately once he sees his friends. He greets and thanks them for coming and tells them why he is behaving oddly which is something he wouldn’t even do for his lover, Ophelia. This shows that he trusts Rosencrantz and Guildenstern a lot because he tells them about the play and is somewhat receptive of their thoughts.

Waverly Nakashima

C: Claim: Hamlet's relationship with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, despite having nuances of deceit, is relatively close and trusting.

Evidence: When Hamlet pleads with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to be truthful "by the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of our youth," they promptly admit they "were sent for."

Analysis: The acknowledgment of spying on Hamlet by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern doesn't undermine trust but rather underscores a level of transparency and an honest engagement with Hamlet. The use of the phrase "rights of our fellowship" implies there is a shared understanding and mutual respect, suggesting a solid foundation of trust within their friendship. This goes beyond a mere acquaintanceship, revealing a more profound connection. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's spying on Hamlet did not undermine trust within their relationship. Even though Hamlet is aware of their mission, his continued emotional vulnerability and openness indicating a resilient trust, demonstrating that their relationship is characterized by a genuine closeness.

Claim: Hamlet realizes the intentions of his friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern of spying on him and feels betrayed and entitled to confession from them.

Evidence: "That you must teach me. But let me conjure you by the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of our youth, by the rights of our ever-preserved love, and by what more dear a better proposer can change you withal: be even and direct with me whether you were sent for or no."

Analysis: Hamlet expresses his belief that his friends should be honest with him in regard to their friendship and their betrayal of him. The use of the word "rights" is repeated throughout the paragraph and portrays a belief of entitlement to the truth. His explanation uses the three of their "fellowship" and "ever-preserved love" to show the values he has in his friends.

In Act 2 Scene 2 of Hamlet, Hamlet's encounter with Polonius portrays Hamlet as being in a state of disarray following the death of his father and the grief that followed that event. As Hamlet converses with Polonius he refers to Polonius as a “fishmonger” and continues to take the conversation in a direction that doesn’t make much logical sense. He goes from talking about the “sun [breeding] maggots in a dead dog” to asking Polonius if he has a daughter. With the use of phrases that provide strong contrasts through contradictory statements, it can be seen how disgruntled, uneasy, and distressed Hamlet has become after the death of his father. Regardless of how many of his actions are viewed as part of an “act”, statements such as these further develop the questions of how deeply Hamlet is affected by his father's death.

Evidence: "The spirit that I have seen

May be a devil, and the devil hath power

T’ assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps,

Out of my weakness and my melancholy,

As he is very potent with such spirits,

Abuses me to damn me."

Analysis:

Hamlet is skeptical that his father's ghost, could very well "be a devil, and the devil hath power" even after his original suspicions on his uncle are confirmed by the ghost, and the confidence he felt after.

Due to his unstable mental state, and behavior, he keeps feeling secretive, and distrusts others greatly. His use of "T

assume a pleasing shape" shows that he feels that the devil could have just played around with hamlet in his time of weakness.

This causes him to question if his intentions of testing and blaming the king and queen are right or wrong.

Ophelia begins to describe her visit from Hamlet. She describes to Poloius “As if had been loosed out of hell To speak of horrors.”. 

She sees Hamlet as something as supernatural or terrifying. Ophelia may feel that Hamlet is something to be feared almost as if something “loosed out of hell” has possessed him. She thinks that this may be the only explanation bcause Hamlets behavior has greatly changed. As Hamlet has not been characterized other characters telling of his almost opposite behavior goes to speak that normally Hamlet, at least to Ophelia, is an extremely kind and honorable person.

Evidence: After Ophelia's interaction, she states she was "so affrighted" by Hamlet when he "grabbed her".

Analysis: Ophelia saying that she felt "affrighted" by Hamlet is strong evidence that she was fearful and scared of Hamlet. Her explaining why she became affrighted when he grabbed her shows that she has a reason to be fearful. This shows that Hamlet's act that he is putting on is going as far as making people he is close with to be scared of him.

Evidence: "I am pigeon-livered and lack gall."

Analysis: Hamlet uses self deprecating language, calling himself cowardly and unable to take action. His description reveals his erratic state of mind. Despite wanting to avenge his father, Hamlet is conflicted between taking action and waiting. Frustrated with this, he repeatedly berates himself

Evidence: She return from her visit with Hamlet stating "O my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted" as well as her recalling Hamlet, "As if he had been loosed out of hell. To speak of horrors-he comes before me."

Analysis: Ophelia demonstrates her fear and concern in her use of words such as " loosed out of hell" and "horror" when describing his state and the effect it took on her.