Archetype of the Trickster

Hamlet, Hamlet, Hamlet......this play continues to get weirder and weirder as each act passes by. One minute Hamlet is acting mature and isolating himself due to his awareness of being highly more intelligent than everyone else around him, and the next minute we find Hamlet running around like a spoiled teen, disrespecting his elders and throwing out secret jabs towards everyone around him. All of his randomness makes one wonder is Hamlet is actually "mad"; is Hamlet actually as crazy as he seems? or does he simply enjoy playing the fool all in the hopes of somehow secretly getting a rise out of everyone? After the class discussion we had today about the "Archetype of Trickster- Clown and the Fool" I couldn't help but envision various scenarios where numerous characters from within this play seemed to fit the archetype perfectly. For starters, the archetype of the fool doesn’t seem as if it would be the way it is described it the handout we received. When I personally think of a fool I think of someone who's naive, in a sense, or simply wreaking havoc just for the sake of wreaking havoc; however, the handout describes a fool as someone who "has the ability to either laugh at the ridiculousness of life, or to cut through the social shams and reveal hypocrisy in an acceptable way. This makes the fool or clown wise, because they can see through who we are and what people do". All of this being said, the fool archetype really relates back to Hamlet is various ways. I mainly see Hamlet fitting into this specific archetype whenever he is attempting to "play god" and act like the moral judge about every little thing around him. Think back to the scene in act III with the play; Hamlet begins to run around on stage making loud, obnoxious gestures and jokes towards everyone around him and though it makes him seem "mad" and foolish, in reality he reveals a lot of truth through the commentary he provides while the play is going on. For example, while the play is going on, and the murder scene is slowly revealed, Claudius asks Hamlet "what do you call the play?"(act III, scene II, line 252) to which Hamlet responds "The Mousetrap. Marry how? Tropically. This play in the image of a murder in done in Vienna. Gonzago is the duke's name, his wife Baptista. You shall see anon. Tis knavish piece of work, but what of that? Your majesty and we that have free souls, it touches us not" (act III, scene II, lines 253-258). Basically, Hamlet is revealing the truth between Claudius and his mother through the foolish ways of his play and his wit; Hamlet is stating that the situation between his mother and Claudius is very trap like, seeing how Claudius murdered hsi father to get where he is. The mentioning of "your majesty and we that have free souls, it touches us not" it used to reveal the actual truth of the play having an effect on Claudius's unclean soul since he has actually recently performed the act that was said to have occurred in Vienna. Hamlet also represents the fool in the actual dialogue of the play he has written; in the play, the player queen states that "a second time I kill my husband dead when second husband kisses me in bed" (act III, scene II, lines 199-200) as a way of Hamlet revealing to the crowd, and his mother, that she is basically shaming the position that was once his father's by allowing Claudius to sleep by her side every night. What does all this mean? Is Hamlet using his "foolish" ways for good or for bad? Though Hamlet is revealing the truth, just as the fool should, his attempt is done in a very sadistic way that doesn't make him the typical fool, but instead more sinister as if he lets his shadow take control. Ya feel me?

Hamlet As a Moral Judge

So, as the story of Hamlet has continued to progress, we've been able to see the young, distraught prince in various different lights. It seems as if Hamlet's array of emotions appear to be the cause of the many faces we've seen of him. When Hamlet's feeling a little bit over joyous, he fits the role of the fool; when he's feeling a little sneaky, he fits the role of the artist (let's be honest, Hamlet's directional role in the play was actually quite good........but he only uses his powers for evil. What's this guys deal?); when he's feeling all mighty and high, he seems to fit the role of not only the philosopher but also the moral judge. Hamlet attempting to "play god" as if he really is an all mighty being has occurred far often, and is beginning to reveal some hidden traits about him that are far from attractive. For starters, his abusive, judgmental ways towards his mother and Ophelia has begun to really make me question how he truly feels about women, mothers, etc. After Ophelia and Hamlet break up in Act III, it seems as if Hamlet genuinely is upset about the situation at hand and wishes that he could simply live out his life with his one true love without her actually being under her fathers command; however, as their interactions further on, and Ophelia attempts to make some sort of amends with the prince, Hamlet says to her "get thee to a nunnery" (act III, scene I, line 128). Sure, the mentioning of a nunnery can be looked at as Hamlet attempting to save Ophelia from the "wretched" ways that are man, however, as he continues to say things such as "ha, ha, are you honest?" (Act III, scene I, line 110) and "do you think I meant country matters?" (act III, scene II, line 117) it makes me believe that Hamlet is blatantly attempting to call Ophelia to a whore, and believes that she is destined to live out her life in a nunnery since he views her as some form of prostitute. Who is he really to judge (Hamlet's all talk......he can't really declare someone as being something they say they're not when he himself is basically fake)? Why does he suddenly feel the need to harshly lay his opinions upon others? His sudden attempt to tell Ophelia her fate brings fourth his madness, however, not in a sense of actually "crazy" ways but more so in a sense that he's allowing his anger to get the best of him. Hamlet, being as intelligent as he is, is fully aware that he himself isn't a moral judge; however, he uses his high level language as a weapon to make other's feel as if the actions of their lives relate to the fate that Hamlet has created for them. His previous actions are quite evil in a sense, and leads to one thinking how this man can be a "pure" moral judge when he speaks of drinking blood and attacking his mother with daggers...? All of his language is really quite dark and sadistic, and his attempt to morally decide Claudius's fate while he believes he's confessing is far from what one would think a moral judge would act like. Hamlet speaking of tripping Claudius so "that his heels may kick at heaven" (act III, scene III, line 97) is more so something of a demonic tendency rather than that of an angelic, moral judge and makes it quite clear that Hamlet is simply "seeming" when he's attempting to portray himself as someone full of wisdom on other's fait. Ya feel me?