Hamlet the Porky Prince
It may seem comedic at first to think of the great tragic hero, Hamlet Prince of Denmark, as some lazy overweight guy living at home with his mother. Once looked into, it seems ever more likely that Hamlet really could be overweight. Harbage argues that the reason it took him so long to enact his revenge was because of Hamlet's weight problem. Hamlet being overweight is well within the realm of possibilities as royalty was known to be overweight, his weight is referenced several times throughout the text, and the characteristic of sloth, which Hamlet possesses, is attached to being overweight. Hamlet is slow to action due to his “lymphatic temperament” caused by his heavy build.
If you were to visit an art gallery or a museum, you would certainly notice a trend amongst the portraits of history’s royalty; almost all are portrayed as grand and/or fat. Being fat was a privilege known only to the aristocracy. Since the aristocrats/royals owned most of the land, they also owned what was grown on it. They were free to eat whatever was available to them, and there was plenty to procure. Since the rich had a lot to eat and the poor little, fatness was a sign of wealth while thinness was associated with poverty. Notable fat/gluttonous royalty include Henry VIII, Queen Victoria, and Marie Antoinette. Even the great-grandson of Charlemagne was known as “Charles the Fat”! As I am sure Shakespeare was aware when writing Hamlet, royalty is fat, consequently, Hamlet is fat.
One does not have to travel back in time to prove Hamlet is fat. There is proof available in the manuscript of Hamlet; text that implies Hamlet is fat. During the duel between Hamlet and Laertes, Hamlet’s mother Gertrude refers to Hamlet in a way that makes the reader wonder if Hamlet is out of shape. “He’s fat and scant of breath- here, Hamlet, take my napkin, rub thy brows.” (V, ii, 281-283). Gertrude acknowledges her son’s weight which causes him to lack energy during the duel. Also, Hamlet himself points out his physique, “Oh, that this too, too sullied flesh would melt.” (I, ii, 128- 129), referring to his body as “sullied flesh”. Hamlet makes this remark in his first soliloquy. This is relevant because, during this moment, Hamlet is alone with his thoughts. He does not have to lie to himself. He is recognizing his impure body. Throughout the play, it is implied Hamlet has a figure that is fitting of a medieval prince.
Although not particularly politically correct, a defining characteristic of fatness is being lazy; and Hamlet has proven to be quite lazy. Hamlet is a prince, royalty, someone who does not have to lift a finger their whole life. Hamlet is conditioned to think things will be done for him. Over many years of inactivity, his body must have stored all the unused energy and converted it into fat. This is a positive feedback loop; Hamlet’s life long inactivity making him fat, then his obesity stopping him from taking action, which makes him fatter, and so on. When it came time to revenge his father’s murder, it took Hamlet many months to take the slightest action. This sheer laziness is caused by his sloth. As Vince Lombardi said, “Fatigue makes cowards of us all.”
Hamlet being overweight is well within the realm of possibilities as royalty was known to be overweight, his weight is referenced several times throughout the text, and the characteristic of sloth, which Hamlet possesses, is attached to being overweight. It should no longer be seen as far-fetched or comedic to assume Hamlet’s reluctance to act throughout the play was caused by his fatness or “lymphatic temperament” as Harbarge puts it. Hamlet, therefore, delayed his plans to exact revenge due to his laziness caused by his girth. Hamlet gives a new meaning to the term “Danish pork”.