The deception, mystery, murder and betrayal are all very captivating and together have the makings of a daytime soap opera. In this case, however, they are part of Hamlet's tragedy. The funniest aspects of this play, despite the entertaining and compelling qualities just mentioned, are the revenge and the surprisingly unattractive nature of the main character, Hamlet. Over the course of the play, Hamlet makes stupid choices that will ultimately lead to his own death and the deaths of many around him. Hamlet should not be identified as a brave hero seeking to avenge his father but rather as a coward lacking determination. Hamlet and revenge are almost synonymous. Hamlet and determination no. As the main theme of the play, revenge is very easy to spot throughout and with it so is Hamlet's lack of fortitude. At various points in the play, Hamlet is given opportunities and possibilities to take revenge on his father's behalf. However, he lacks the determination and courage to do so. Hamlet himself is discouraged by his lack of action; “But I have pigeon liver, and lack gall” (Shakespeare 2.2.526). He calls himself a good-for-nothing who does not have the courage to kill Claudio and instead "must, like a whore, fill my heart with words" (2.2.535). Hamlet's cowardice, in this part of the scene, is easily noticeable. The man is berating himself and whining instead of doing the very thing he blamed himself for not doing. For much of the play, Hamlet laments the death of his father. To be obstinate and like a girl «in obstinate mourning is a conduct / of impious obstinacy. It is an unmanly pain” (1.2.94), if you were to ask the new king Claudius. As the future king, Hamlet should be able to assert himself and tell Claudius that he knew... middle of the card... a. He makes mistakes, has a crazy family, and can't always understand why things happen a certain way. As a hero and courageous protagonist, Hamlet makes a spectacle of himself; however, as a play intended to concern many, aspects of Hamlet can be found in many parts of human nature. Revenge, lies and uncertainty are things we are all familiar with. Works Cited Eliot, T.S. "Hamlet." Hamlet by William Shakespeare. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House, 1996. 48-49. Print.Know, Ronald. “Hamlet and Counterhumanism” 52 (1999): 1046-1069.JSTOR. Network. 11 April 2014Sen, Taraknath. "Hamlet's Treatment of Ophelia in the Nunnery Scene." 35(1940): 145-152. JSTOR. Network. 11 April 2014Shakespeare, William. "Hamlet, Prince of Denmark." Literature: a portable anthology. Ed Janet E. Gardner et al. 2nd ed. Boston: Bedford, 2009. 777-898. Press.