Self-Doubt in HamletWilliam Shakespeare is widely known for his ability to take a sad story, illustrate it with words, and turn it into a tragedy. Usually human beings include some discrepancies in their personality which can sometimes find them in undesirable or difficult situations. However, those exemplified in Shakespeare's tragedies include "character flaws" that are so destructive that they ultimately cause their downfall. For example, Prince Hamlet, from Shakespeare's tragedy “Hamlet,” is apparently horrified by what his father's ghost makes clear about his death. Yet Hamlet's actions following this revelation do not seem to coincide with the disgust he expresses immediately after the ghost warns him of the true cause of his death. Therefore, it is evident that the self-doubt instilled in Prince Hamlet is like the wand that Shakespeare uses to turn an otherwise sad story into an unfortunate tragedy. Dismayed, upset, anguished. These three words are the resounding cry of Act I, Scene V of the opera. They are felt by both characters present. The ghost, O King Hamlet, because he was killed without the possibility of repenting of his sins and now dwells without purpose "... doomed for a time to walk by night, and for the day confined to fast in the fire" , until the disgusting crimes committed in [his] natural days will not be purged." (Act I, scene V lines 10-12) While Hamlet can only utter: "Alas, poor ghost", suffering is "bound to feel" from voice he once knew as his father's. As the ghost begins to tell how, "...[his] habit always of the afternoon, in his safe hour [Prince Hamlet's] uncle stole, with cursed ebona juice in a vial, and in [his] pockets ears poured the leprous distillate, the effect of which nourishes such enmity with the blood of man that the rapid mercury flows through the natural gates of the body..." and thus sent him to his untimely death, Hamlet can only swear that he will never forget the words spoken by the ghost. (Act I, scene V lines 60-7) Hamlet vows to “…erase all the trivial fond memories, all the book saws, all the forms, all the pressures beyond that youth and observation copied there.." so that "[his father's] commandment all alone will live...within the book and volume of [his] brain, unmingled with matter more vile.