Isolation as the root of Hamlet's tormentIs Hamlet alone? Does this mogul of English literature maintain a bond of friendship with those around him, or does he overcome his dilemmas of indecision, inaction, and punishment in solitude? Although the young Dane interacts with Shakespeare's entire host of characters, most of his speech lies under a cloud of sarcasm, double entenders and contempt. As each member of Claudius' royal court delivers his often veiled and highly motivated speech, Hamlet retreats further and further into the confused depths of his conflict-stricken mind. The death of a father, the betrayal of a mother, the contempt of a lover, and the loathing of an uncle leave the hero with nowhere to turn, perhaps creating a sense of isolation painful enough to push him to the brink of madness . With the supporting cast of detractors surrounding him, Claudius clearly forms the core of Hamlet's opposition. The king's animosity towards Hamlet spreads to the rest of his entourage in the same way that his refusal to mourn his brother's death left the prince alone in black robes and with dark, sorrowful eyes. Claudius and the others each make feeble attempts to gain Hamlet's support, but the deafening falsity of their gestures leaves little doubt as to their true feelings. The first appearance of the king and his nephew together begins with the false greeting: "But now, my cousin Hamlet and my son -" (1.2, 64) to which Hamlet sardonically retorts: "A little more than kin and less than kind! " (1.2, 65). This initial meeting between the two men reveals a sea of ​​mutual hostility and as mediator of the king's will, Polonius parallels this antagonism. The councilor's first meeting with Haml... in the middle of the paper... is inaction. The tragic hero plays a very solitary role, and this isolation probably deserves mention in literature's eternal search for the roots of his torment. In words wiser than he realizes, Polonius condenses Hamlet's entire struggle into a single poignant idea: "The origin and beginning of his sorrow / Sprung from neglected love" (3.1, 180-181) . Polonius and Laertes derail Ophelia's tenderness, and Claudius' persuasion steals Gertrude's heart. A unanimous lack of mourning mocks Hamlet's deep respect for his fallen father and even the company of his childhood friends succumbs to Claudius' threatening demands. The end result is a yawning chasm between ally and adversary, a chasm that ultimately plunged Hamlet into the depths of psychological torment. Works Cited: Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Ed. David Bevington. New York: Longmann,1997.