Hamlet and depression?

Question

In health class today, I was told to find a character (from a book, TV show, etc) and tell why they were depressed. I answered all the questions fine, and I know that Hamlet confides in Horatio throughout the whole book, but who else provides support? I thought about Ophelia, because she is Hamlet's lover, but she goes crazy about halfway through the play. I then thought about Rosencrantz and Guildenstein, but then I read that they were both the kings spies. What is you opinion?

Answer 1

I don't think Hamlet really trusted anyone besides Horatio. With Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, he was more messing with their heads and making fools out of them. With Ophelia, Hamlet never really told her what was going on, and then he was verbally abusive.

Answer 2

Hamlet is NOT Depressed. He is NOT a Zoloft candidate.

If he could have just gotten off the Fence, it would have made for a much shorter play. That is not the point.

Hamlet is a 19 year-old student on Spring Break back home.

Whoops! My Dad the King is Dead and my Uncle is King. Not a good career prospect for me, as I am next in line to be King. My Dad comes as a ghost and tells me that he was murdered by his brother, the now King. Since I am the next in line, I should be King, right?

Not Necessarily. My Mom just married the King, and so my little brother (if any) shall be the next King, not me. I am in deep doo-doo.

I know that my Uncle will kill to keep the throne, and I better watch my back.

If I act "crazy" it may just keep them off-balance enough to keep me alive another day.

Clinical Depression is characterized by a lack of interest in the future, and a seeming lack of "caring" about the repercussions of one's actions.

That just don't sound like Hamlet

Answer 3

Ophelia really is the key to understanding Hamlet, for they were best friends. The fact that she goes crazy greatly influences Hamlet and perhaps leads to his breakdown. The question is whether both are delusional and paranoid, or whether they are really seeing and hearing these supernatural things. Shakespeare leaves it open to interpretation.

You can easily argue that Hamlet was depressed. Now, to whom can he turn and confide in? His mom? Nope. His uncle? The spies? No. Ophelia is the only one he trusts and now he can't confide in her. Now he's really depressed.

Answer 4

Have you thought that it is because his father died and his mother married his uncle right afterward. Children always hate the stepparent untill they are mature enough to understand why they have one, then everthing and everyone except horatio conspires against him That would depress a saint.