Blog #18

               This week I would like to discuss the reason behind Hamlet’s oh-so-obvious clinical depression. The theme of suicide and questioning the meaning of life has been present throughout the play beginning with Hamlet’s very first soliloquy. The theme is so reoccurring that it is not a question of if Hamlet is depressed, but why.   

               The theory that I came up with essentially revolves around Hamlet’s “mommy issues” Hamlet has had this image of what true love is his entire life through the many observations that he has had of his father and mother together. Hamlet remembers these times of love fondly saying that his mother “would hang on him as if increase of appetite had grown” (1.2.143-144) but then this image of perfection in marriage is completely shattered. His father is murdered by his uncle and then Hamlet’s mother goes on to marry her own brother-in-law not two months after she is widowed! The allusion of true love that Hamlet clung to was completely destroyed in a matter of weeks and now he is left with nothing.

               Put yourself in Hamlet’s shoes. Your father had just been murdered by your uncle and then your mother proceeds to marry said uncle. If that is not bad enough, the woman that you love (made love to) suddenly cuts you out of your life and you have no earthly idea why. These things all occurring in such quick succession would make anyone suicidal!

               What I found interesting about all of these issues and obstacles that Hamlet is running into is that they all involve women. From an outsider perspective Hamlet’s life has been made increasingly difficult by the presence of women. This is evident throughout the play, “frailty, thy name is woman” (1.2.146), “most pernicious woman!” (1.5.105), “if thou dost marry, I’ll give thee this plague for thy dowry” (3.1.134-135). These are merely a few of the rude and underhanded comments made by hamlet in regards to women. The woman in Hamlet’s life who he was most close to ended up betraying his father in the worst way, I can’t help but to think that Claudius could have killed King Hamlet not only for his throne but also for the purpose of being with Queen Gertrude.

               This idea could have also crossed through Hamlet’s mind, giving him an even stronger motive for murder. Why not kill two birds with one stone? Avenge the murder of his father as well as the disgrace of his mother through the slaughter of a single man.