Character Analysis: Hamlet (part 2 of 2) -- Hamlet by William Shakespeare

(continued from part 1) ...A just man will have just intentions and perform tasks in a just fashion. Hamlet, the just man proves to favor some men over others. For example, he is good to his friend Horatio, who is deemed to be unconditionally loyal to Hamlet. However, Hamlet will not choose to favor Claudius, Polonius, Laertes, or anyone else who deceives him. Hamlet finds no need to be faithful to the men who kill his father, spy on him, (Act III, Scene III; Polonius: My lord, he's going to his mother's closet. Behind the arras I'll convey myself To hear the process. I'll warrant she'll tax him home.) or take his love away from him. Hamlet also does not favor Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, the two courtiers who the King summoned to spy on him. Though Hamlet was friendly with the two courtiers, he was alert in suspecting that they were performing a deceptive deed for the King. (Act II, Scene II; Claudius: ...Something have you heard of Hamlet's transformation...To draw him onto pleasures, and to gather So much as from occasion you may glean.) Generally speaking, Hamlet is loyal to the people whom he finds the most trust in. He proves to be a reasonable man who has reasons to be upset with the latter (Claudius, Polonius, Laertes, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, etc). Hamlet is fair, but the one deed in the play he committed that was unjust was when he killed Polonius, thinking that it was Claudius (Act III, Scene IV; Hamlet: [Draws] How now? A rat? Dead for a ducat, dead! [Stabs through the arras and] kills Polonius) Perhaps, this was fair because Polonius was engaging in a sinful act of spying.