[Johnson discusses the major interpretations of Hamlet's character that have evolved over the past two centuries, concluding with Ernest Jones's Freudian reading of the role (see ex- cerpt above). The critic takes particular ex-ception to Jones's view of Hamlet, asserting that if such aperspective were true, there would be no moral dilemmain the tragedy. Johnson then details his own interpretation of the protagonist as ahero whose complex- dilemmais "to disentangle himself from the temptation to wreakjusticefor the wrong reasons and in an evil passion. and to do what he must do at last for the pure sake of justice, for the welfare of the State, to weed the unweeded garden of Denmark and set right the time that is out of joint" The critic also focuses on the concept of appearance versus reality in Hamlet, applying.....
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