Hamlet lives in a Kingdom of lies, and betrayal. He does not trust the new King Claudius and becomes isolated from everyone in the Kingdom. Hamlets isolation is caused by his responsibilities to himself, to his father, and responsibilities as the prince. These responsibilities take over Hamlets life and do not allow him to have time to think about what he is doing. When he is not true to his responsibility he avoids it.
Hamlets self responsibilities add to his isolation throughout the play. Hamlet feels his own responsibility is to carry on, and keep on going. He says in his first soliloquy: “O, that this too too-solid flesh would melt, thaw, and resolve itself into a dew! Or that the Everlasting had not fix’d his canon ‘gainst self-slaughter! God! O God!” (1.2 129-32).
Hamlet wishes to be dead, he thinks it is the easy way out. It is his responsibility to not kill himself, because it is a sin. Hamlet does not decide to kill himself, to save his soul. This causes him isolation, because he wishes he was dead and away from it all. Hamlet is following his responsibility to not commit suicide, although he still wishes to be dead. This attitude of wanting to die, keeps Hamlet isolated from everyone else, because Hamlet does not want to be around everything. Hamlets self responsibilities continue when he hears of how his father died. Hamlet said immediately after hearing from the dead king: “Haste me to know’t; that I, with wings as swift as meditation or thoughts of love, May sweep to my revenge.” (1.5 29-31) This revenge to Claudius is Hamlets revenge, as he says not revenge for his father. This causes isolation because Hamlet now is against the new king, while everyone else supports Claudius, so Hamlet finds himself alone. Hamlet finds that his father’s death is now his utter responsibility. Hamlet said after talking to the ghost; “I’ll wipe away all trivial fond records, All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past, That youth and observation copied there; And they commandment all alone shall live within the book and volume of my brain, unmix’d with baser matter.” (1.5 100-05) Hamlet seems to decide with determination that he will “wipe away” all of his memories of “youth”, and all “past pressures” so that he could do what the ghost says.
Now hamlet cannot be himself, for fear of himself being loyal, he has just dedicated his life to another cause. Now his life is dedicated solely to one thing, which causes him isolation from other things. Hamlet plans on getting rid of his own life, just to seek this revenge, which he appointed himself responsible for. This vengeance was appointed by Hamlet as his own responsibility, which causes him seclusion from his own life. Hamlet remains in isolation from the world because of his responsibilities.
The bond between a father and a son is one of the strongest relationships in any young person’s life. Hamlet grew up with the guidance of his father, learning so much. Hamlet still would listen to the ghost as if it were his regular father and obey it. Hamlets role to his father, is one of the reasons for Hamlets isolation in the play. In the forest when the Ghost told hamlet: “So art though to revenge” (1.5 8), the ghost knew that young Hamlet will want to get revenge for the dead King. The ghost influences young Hamlet to avenge him, which will have Hamlet show his true loyalty. The ghost practically commands him. This causes Hamlet isolation from the kingdom, because he cannot like the new King. Whenever he shall see this new King, he will always want vengeance. This causes Hamlet to avoid everyone, while he plots his revenge. Hamlet would not even be royalty if it wasn’t for his father. Hamlets loyalty is to his father, and he feels he should continue to show it. This is shown at the beginning when Hamlet first comes into the play wearing dark clothing;
KING. “How is it that the clouds still hang on you?”
HAMLET. “I am too much I’ the sun.”
QUEEN. “Good Hamlet, cast thy knighted colour off, and let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark.”
(1.2 66-69)
Hamlet role is to still grieve over his dead father. He feels that in respect, it is too soon to celebrate the new king, and that he should continue to be dark and mourning over the dead king. The Queen and King are dressed in bright colours and are against Hamlet’s grieving. This causes Hamlet to be isolated from them, as he is loyal to his true father unlike the rest of the Kingdom. Hamlet does not like what he has to do, by seeking vengeance, but he will do it jus for his duty to his father. Hamlet said to himself “The time is out of joint; O cursed spite, that ever I was born to set it right!” (1.5 90-1) Hamlet bemoans the responsibility he now carries, but does it just for his responsibility to his father. This causes Hamlet’s isolation because he is changing his life just to avenge his father. Hamlet is dedicating his life, to help his father. As Hamlet’s role and responsibility is to his father, he cannot like the new King Claudius. Because Hamlet does not like Claudius, this causes him isolation from the rest of the Kingdom, because Hamlet does not do his role as the prince.
Hamlets role as the prince is to support the King and protect the monarchy. If Hamlet were to stay as the prince, and not seek vengeance, he would feel treacherous to his father. Claudius tells Hamlet in front of all: “… for let the world take note, you are the most immediate to our throne,…” 1.2 (108-109).
Hamlet has the duty as a prince, that he is high classed. He must respect the King. This causes isolation because he does not like Claudius, for many reasons including marrying Hamlets mother. Hamlet finds himself not fulfilling his duties, because he does not like to be around his mother and Claudius. Everyone in the Kingdom sees Hamlet as royalty, and considers him to be superior. Polonius tells Ophelia to stay away from Hamlet because:
“…His greatness weigh’d, his will is not his own; For he himself is subject to his birth: He may not, as unvalued persons do, Carve for himself, for on his choice depends The safety and the health of the whole state; And therefore must his choice be circumscribed Under the voice and yielding of that body Whereof he is the head.”
(1.3 17-24)
Hamlet has all of these duties as a prince, for a King he does not trust. These duties keep Ophelia from Hamlet, as Polonius tells her not to get involved with him. This duties cause Hamlet to be isolated from Ophelia. Hamlet has many duties, and responsibilities. He is the highest class compared to all people, and is treated differently. When he is addressed by Polonius he is called a lord: “Do you know me, my lord?…Not I, my lord…Honest, my lord?” (2.2 171-175) Hamlet is treated different from his friends, and all people who are not royalty. This adds to Hamlets isolation because he is treated so differently. Since Hamlet is treated so special, he feels he has more responsibilities. To kill the king, including your uncle is considered to be the most ‘unholy’ of all crimes. Hamlet wants to kill the King, which goes against his duty as a prince to protect the Kingdom. Hamlets duties as a prince cause Hamlet to isolate himself because he does not believe in the Kingdom.
It is hard to be in association in a Kingdom of people when you do not trust or like the head of the Kingdom. Hamlet becomes isolated because of his responsibilities, to himself, to his father and to the kingdom. These responsibilities lead to Hamlet to be distant from everyone, where he does not trust anyone in the Kingdom.