TRANSCRIPT – Dr. Erin Sullivan discusses ‘What’s wrong with Hamlet?’

Summary

Shakespeare’s Hamlet investigates the meaning of life, thought and the feelings of human beings.  The most iconic image from the play is Hamlet holding and looking at the skull.

It discusses the human mind in its pain, distress and the trials of coming to grips with what’s going on in the world surrounding Hamlet.

So, what’s wrong with Hamlet?

He is obviously in mourning after the death of his father but he seems to also be angry with the people around him such as his uncle Claudius.  Even though the new king addresses him as cousin, perhaps even son, Hamlet responds, a little more than kin, and less than kind.

It seems that Hamlet does not trust Claudius’ intentions.  Gertrude suggests that it is obvious and normal since Hamlet is consumed with grief for the loss of his father however death is a part of life’s cycle.

She says “thou knowest ‘tis common, all that lives must die”.  Hamlet understands and agrees however Gertrude does not comprehend why Hamlet persists with his grief considering that in the Shakespearean period grief was thought to be damaging to mental and psychological health as well as damaging physiologically.

In Gertrude’s speech she suggests that Hamlet moves on to preserve his health and for the good of the court.  She also says “why seems it so particular with thee?” which in the Shakespearean period being particular was not a good thing.  It suggested abnormality, a separation from common values and beliefs, a kind of perversion.

This idea of particularity, of being abnormal or strange, has interested audiences, readers and critics for many years, especially in understanding the question of what is wrong with Hamlet.