Isn't it just like Shakespeare, king of wordplay,
to use Hamlet as an exploration of the uncertainty
of certainty.
Did you catch that?
Basically, Shakespeare is saying that you
can't be certain about certainty.
For certain!
More on this theme ... coming up.
For a guy who's allegedly crazy, Hamlet is
pretty intent on getting his facts straight.
He wants to be sure that Claudius is his father's
murderer before he takes any action.
Think about it.
The Ghost's speech in Act I enrages Hamlet—and
he vows revenge.
But then what does he do?
He basically waits until Act V to act.
And what is he doing in the meantime?
He's trying to get at the truth.
Like in Act III, scene ii, when he stages
a play to mimic his father's murder and watches
for Claudius's reaction.
But Hamlet's uncertainty is bigger than just
the issue of King Hamlet's unfortunate demise.
It permeates his interactions with all the
characters in this play; he doesn't trust
them; he's never sure they're being honest
with him.
And can you blame the guy?
Seems like everyone has it out for him.
So what was Shakespeare getting at with this
theme of uncertainty?
He was getting at exactly what Hamlet experiences
throughout the play:
That it's basically impossible to know what's
in another person's heart.
That truth is unknowable.
That believing that another is honest is a
matter of great trust—or great naïveté.
Not exactly a hopeful message.
Then again, Shakespeare didn't call this play
a tragedy for nothing.
