Like Othello, Hamlet is one of Shakespeare's four great tragedies, but it differs from Othello in several important ways. First, it is much longer. In our text Hamlet stretches on for 88 pagers whereas Othello is complete in 72. Moreover Hamlet feels long. There are subplots involving additional characters, the time span is uncertain but it must extend for weeks if not months, and the location moves about. The play is set in Denmark- more specifically, the castle at Elsinore, but Hamlet travels to England and back. His girlfriend's brother, Laertes, goes to Paris in Act 1 and returns in Act 4. In contrast Othello is nearly one continuous action. Yes, everyone leaves Venice at the end of Act 1, but they arrive in Cyprus at the beginning of Act 2. From then on the play is a headlong rush for catastrophe.

The audience viewing Hamlet yearns for the young prince to do something- to take some action against the forces of injustice. The audience viewing Othello almost cries out from their seats for Othello to delay action. Wait, don't be so hasty. Get more information. The two characters are almost completely opposite.Hamlet is thoughtful and cautious. Othello admittedly abandons thought and is directed only by his passion; his emotional response to a woman he irrationally believes has betrayed him.

Why do we have these vast differences in personality. To begin with Hamlet is a student- a college student- something of a scholar. He has been away from Denmark studying at the University of Wittenberg. He came home for his father's funeral, but arrived just in time for his mother's wedding. We don see Gertrude having a little talk with Hamlet explaining why she remarried so soon after her husband's death, and we don't get the impression that such a conversation ever took place. Hamlet seems to be out of the loop since he has returned from college. Perhaps you felt a bit the same way when you first returned home after being at school for a month or six weeks. You return home and discover that life has continued without you. Your mother and father, brothers and sisters have not suspended all activities awaiting your return and participation. You may feel a bit out of the loop as well.

Uncertainty and disorientation ...