Individuals respond to internal and external conflict in many different ways. In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the character Hamlet must deal with both external and internal conflict. Hamlet is forced to face his knowledge that his beloved father has been murdered by his uncle, Claudius. Hamlet knows that he must take revenge for his father, his response to these external conflicts and his own internal views show his true nature and character.
             Hamlet is distraught and grief-stricken for the death of his father, the King of Denmark. Hamlet is also extremely upset that his mother, soon after his father's death, has run off and married his uncle Claudius, who has now become king. All of this puts Hamlet in an emotional state of mind. In his first soliloquy, he ponders suicide. He wonders what use there is in living when all he sees is total madness all around him. Nothing seems to make sense anymore. Hamlet greatly disapproves of his mother and uncle's positive attitudes towards his beloved father's death. Hamlet shows that he cares about his father very much by refusing to put on a show of cheer - his father is dead. He also shows his sensitive side when he talks about wanting to die, and intelligence with his plays on words when speaking with the king and queen. These responses tell of Hamlet's character.
             Later on, Hamlet runs into his father's ghost. Hamlet is told that his father was poisoned and that Hamlet must now seek out revenge for his father. This meeting with the ghost confirms Hamlet's suspicion that Claudius killed his father. Hamlet begins to feign madness until he is able to devise a plan of revenge. Meanwhile, Polonius, advisor to the king, believes Hamlet's condition stems from his separation from Ophelia, Polonius' daughter, whom Polonius has forbidden to see Hamlet. In his conversation with Polonius, Hamlet shows his cunningness and supreme ability to act by being both critical and playful with Poloniu...