Hamlet as the normal guy

Hamlet as the moral judge or savior?

So I've decided to type up some of the post it notes from the class discussion giant sheet thing we had and then address them one at a time. So here we go:

'Hamlet believes himself to be the moral judge: trying to avenge his father, sees it as the right thing to do, trying to get his mother away from Claudius'
Well I do not agree that he thinks he is the moral judge, I think it is just in his nature to be the judge. He does not go around trying to pass judgement on his friends and family, it just comes out of his mouth with all of the other intelligent nonsense he says. Yes he is trying to avenge his father, but is that because its the right thing to do or because the ghost scared the heck out of him and told him he was a fat weed for not doing anything? I think its the second one because prior to the ghost's appearance, Hamlet was not taking any action except for being sassy. Then yes he is trying to keep him mother away from Claudius, but that does not seem too moral judgey to me. If my uncle killed my dad and then married my mom, I'd be pretty uncomfortable too and I'd try and get her to realize it was super gross.


'"When he is drunk, asleep, or in his rage, or in the incestuous pleasure of his bed... then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven, and that his soul may be damned and black as hell" (end scene III) Hamlet as the moral judge likens himself to God in determining how Claudius will go to hell in death.'
Here it seems to me like he is being more of a god type figure rather than a moral judge. he isn't passing judgement on Claudius, he's damning him to hell and plotting his death. Also, with the beliefs of these people in mind, if I was Hamlet I would totally try to get Claudius to go to hell since he killed my dad. That's where he deserves to be.


'Hamlet watches Claudius's expressions while Claudius is watching the play to determine if he committed the crime. "For I mine eyes will rivet to his face, and after we will take our judgement ...."'
Okay so I know that he literally says that he's passing judgement here, but I think its more like he'll decide if he is guilty or not. This is just Hamlet being a good guy. he wants to make sure that he isn't attacking an innocent man and I think that is totally normal and rational.


'Hamlet's condemnation of Gertrude as a sinner and his condemnation of Ophelia for lying are examples of him being a moral judge.'
Okay well first the definition of condemnation is the expression of very strong disapproval or the action of condemning someone to a punishment. Now, the first one I can agree with, but I have a feeling that this person meant the second definition (unless they were Shakespeare then they meant all of them). I definitely disagree that Hamlet was condemning either of the women. In my opinion, he seriously loved both of them, and, seeing the end of the play, he did not wish either of them a bad end or any harm at all. So yeah I don't agree with this one at all.