At the beginning of the 17th century, William Shakespeare wrote Hamlet. Today, four hundred years later, in the 21st century, the subtleties and complexities of the play are still examined and analyzed by readers around the world. One of the most discussed topics is Hamlet, the tragic hero and beloved prince of Denmark. In Scene 3, Act 2, lines 395-396, Hamlet says to Guildenstern: “You would tear out the heart of my mystery. » This is exactly what many readers and characters in the play are trying to do: determine who Hamlet is. His enigmatic aura is what draws us to his character. He is both practical and emotional, thoughtful and impulsive, crazy and intelligent; his character himself is enigmatic and Shakespeare shows us this through each of Hamlet's actions. At the beginning of the play, Hamlet is informed that the ghost of his deceased father is wandering the castle. When confronted by the ghost, he immediately decides to follow it, renouncing the risk he faces; he let his emotions get the best of him. Hamlet says, “He will not speak.” Then I will follow him” (1.4.70). This impulsive decision gives the reader the mental image that Hamlet is immature and reckless. However, when he returns to Horatio and Marcellus, he acts cautiously and makes them swear to silence about the incident with the ghost, wanting to keep it a secret. Hamlet now acts wisely, which contradicts his previous actions of following the ghost. He shows this paradoxical behavior again at the end of act 3. Hamlet comes across King Claudius while his back is turned and Hamlet decides not to kill him because he is praying. The soliloquy in Act 3, scene 3, lines 77-101, shows this long and practical thought process...... middle of paper ...... personality traits; bold, courageous, cunning, emotional, crazy, etc. However, none of these traits really define him. The character of Hamlet is not limited to a few adjectives but is rather enigmatic. He is inscrutable, and this mysterious personality is what sets Hamlet apart from many other well-known flat literary characters such as Romeo or Odysseus. This personality is also similar to the stereotype of the misunderstood modern teenager. Hamlet is called a madman and is treated as such by everyone except his peer, Horatio. The same could be said of today's teenagers; they are characterized as rebellious and disrespectful and are rarely understood by others outside their age group. If Hamlet had been better understood, perhaps the cornucopia of death at the end of the play might not have occurred. If adolescents were better understood…the possibilities would be endless.