Analysis of Hamlet's character and motivations

Hamlet tragic flaw is his inability to deal with problems head on. He has to think about them and find what he thinks is the absolute best solution, and often, he thinks about them so much that he never does come to a conclusion. He cannot act, he has to think, think, think, and it gets in the way of everything else in his life. He is also extremely cynical and negative, which only adds to his ultimate tragic law.

If Claudius were simply evil, he would be a one-dimensional character, and he certainly is not that. He is manipulative, almost paranoid, and power-hungry. However, he, at least at times, seems to genuinely care for Gertrude, and he is certainly wise enough to fear Hamlet when he learns he has killed Polonius. He is not purely evil, he display some characteristics that are not evil, although he does show remorse, and prays for forgiveness, showing that he is not completely evil and without any morals, even though his actions sometimes seem like it.

Gertrude is an intriguing character that challenges the reader to decide why she does the things she does. While it would seem that she did not love her husband, but it really seems like Gertrude marries Claudius so quickly because she knows it is the only way to preserve her status and position in the kingdom, otherwise she will lose power, rank, and privilege. She needs a man to protect her, and she uses Claudius to save herself, just as Claudius uses her to ensure he can take over the kingdom.