The opening line of Hamlet (Links to an external site.) reads “Who’s there?” Though the line is spoken by Bernardo and refers to Francisco, who has come to take his turn for the watch, scholars have seen this question as not just about the changing of the guard but rather a philosophical question that captures the essence of the play. Indeed, the play as a whole seems to be constantly raising questions that are often difficult to answer: Can Hamlet believe the ghost and his story? How is Hamlet to exact revenge? How does one solve such deep problems? What can Hamlet be certain of? How does one go about acting or making decisions when such uncertainty is so pervasive? The question of “who’s there?” also seems to refer most directly to Hamlet himself. Indeed, the entire play seems calculated to present us with an altogether new and modern kind of human being. For your reading response, address the question of who Hamlet is. Craft a response — a clear, focused argument — to one or more these questions: Who is Hamlet? What kind of a character is he? What motivates him? What prevents him from making decisions and acting upon them? In what way is Hamlet a “new” type of character?
