---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The trap in Hamlet is he's the most…"
description: "\"The trap in Hamlet is he's the most passive of Shakespeare's characters. He's not a Richard III, not out there taking a lot of action. It's a lot of as..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/kurt-sutter-12447_action_the-trap-in-hamlet-is-he-s-the-most-pass_1125587.jpg"
---

#  The trap in Hamlet is he's the most passive of…

![“The trap in Hamlet is he's the most passive of Shakespeare's characters. He's not a Richard III, not out there taking a lot of action. It's a lot of asides and soliloquies where he's wrapped in angst, and that's not a very interesting character.” quote by Kurt Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/kurt-sutter-12447_action_the-trap-in-hamlet-is-he-s-the-most-pass_1125587.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/kurt-sutter-12447_action_the-trap-in-hamlet-is-he-s-the-most-pass_1125587.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/kurt-sutter-12447_action_the-trap-in-hamlet-is-he-s-the-most-pass_1125587.jpg)

> “The trap in Hamlet is he's the most passive of Shakespeare's characters. He's not a Richard III, not out there taking a lot of action. It's a lot of asides and soliloquies where he's wrapped in angst, and that's not a very interesting character.”

[Kurt Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-sutter/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Hamlet is portrayed as largely passive, relying on introspection rather than decisive action, making him less compelling compared to more dynamic characters.

**In simple terms:** Hamlet is mostly thoughtful, not active.

Key Takeaway

Consider adding decisive choices to engage audiences.

Themes

character development passivity dramatic tension

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

literary critical

When to use this quote

- stage performance
- creative writing
- character analysis

Key Concepts

Shakespearean tragedy psychology of indecision

Questions to Reflect On

- How does passivity affect audience empathy?
- Can introspection replace action in storytelling?

A Different Perspective

Passive characters can still drive plot through internal conflict.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Angst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angst/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Hamlet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hamlet/) [Hamlet Passive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hamlet-passive-3067757/) [He](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he/) [Iii](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iii/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lot/) [Most](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/most/) [Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out/) [Passive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passive/) [Passive Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passive-shakespeare-3067758/) [Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/richard/) [Richard ii](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/richard-ii/) [Richard Iii](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/richard-iii/) [Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shakespeare/) [Shakespeare Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shakespeare-characters-1604107/) [Taking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taking/) [Trap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trap/) [Trap Hamlet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trap-hamlet-3067756/) [Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very/) [Where](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/where/) [Wrapped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrapped/)

## Related quotes

> [I'd seen a play of 'Richard III' in Coventry when I was 15, which sowed the seeds that you could act for a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-coyle/i-d-seen-a-play-of-richard-iii-in-coventry-when-i-was-15-which-sowed/)

[Brendan Coyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-coyle/)

> [Richard III is not likeable. Macbeth is not likeable. Hamlet is not likeable. And yet you can't take your eyes off them. I'm far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beau-willimon/richard-iii-is-not-likeable-macbeth-is-not-likeable-hamlet-is-not/)

[Beau Willimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beau-willimon/)

> [Francis Underwood was entirely based on Richard III. When Michael Dobbs wrote 'House of Cards' in the original British series, Richard III is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/francis-underwood-was-entirely-based-on-richard-iii-when-michael/)

[Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/)

> [When I read 'Paradise Lost,' or 'Richard III,' it is clear that Milton and Shakespeare took real pleasure and satisfaction from creating these epitomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/when-i-read-paradise-lost-or-richard-iii-it-is-clear-that-milton-and/)

[Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/)

> [I would love to play Richard III.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dinklage/i-would-love-to-play-richard-iii/)

[Peter Dinklage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dinklage/)

> [I love 'Richard III,' but in terms of a general play, 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' has always been a big one for me. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-maher/i-love-richard-iii-but-in-terms-of-a-general-play-a-midsummer-night-s/)

[Sean Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-maher/)

> [“C. S. Lewis wrote that if there is a God, we certainly don’t relate to him as people on the first floor of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/c-s-lewis-wrote-that-if-there-is-a-god-we-certainly-don-t-relate-to/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

> [The range of Shakespeare's characters is just enormous. Each one of them, whether it's a man or woman, prince or pauper, hero or anti…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-kapoor/the-range-of-shakespeare-s-characters-is-just-enormous-each-one-of/)

[Kunal Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-kapoor/)

> [Shakespeare put characters in extreme circumstances, all over his plays. Therefore their behaviour becomes extreme, in ways that can be both extremely good and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/shakespeare-put-characters-in-extreme-circumstances-all-over-his/)

[Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/)

> [The leaping Jaguar on the bonnet, to me, makes it look more like a hunter than something that is getting away. It's a hunter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-kingsley/the-leaping-jaguar-on-the-bonnet-to-me-makes-it-look-more-like-a/)

[Ben Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-kingsley/)

> [My role 14 years ago in Richard III - that was the first time I played a bad guy and learned a lot about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/my-role-14-years-ago-in-richard-iii-that-was-the-first-time-i-played/)

[Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/)

> [Theater will cast in a more open way; Denzel Washington might play Richard III. Television and film don't really cast openly like that. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/theater-will-cast-in-a-more-open-way-denzel-washington-might-play/)

[Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/)

> [“It is hard to tell the story of Elizabeth of York without her farbetter-known husband, Henry VII, as the hero. Henry himself, Jasper Tudor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/it-is-hard-to-tell-the-story-of-elizabeth-of-york-without-her/)

[Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/)

> [“brain activity in a heartbeat. All of that says Richard. But the DNA in consort with the paper trail of a genealogy available only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rutherford/brain-activity-in-a-heartbeat-all-of-that-says-richard-but-the-dna-in/)

[Adam Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rutherford/)

> [“I once came upon a definition of history as ‘the process by which complex truths are transformed into simplified falsehoods’. That is particularly true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-kay-penman/i-once-came-upon-a-definition-of-history-as-the-process-by-which/)

[Sharon Kay Penman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-kay-penman/)

## More by Kurt Sutter

> [As an actor, I've been drawn to those characters that are further away from who I may be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-sutter/as-an-actor-i-ve-been-drawn-to-those-characters-that-are-further-away/)

[Kurt Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-sutter/)

> [I love being able to stay real to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-sutter/i-love-being-able-to-stay-real-to-the-world/)

[Kurt Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-sutter/)

> [I'm a storyteller... I haves a God-given gift that I can share with you and perhaps entertain you and bring you along for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-sutter/i-m-a-storyteller-i-haves-a-god-given-gift-that-i-can-share-with-you/)

[Kurt Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-sutter/)

> [I wish I had tougher skin, but I don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-sutter/i-wish-i-had-tougher-skin-but-i-don-t/)

[Kurt Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-sutter/)

> [The allegations against Harvey Weinstein are clearly deplorable. No matter how many great films he's bullied into production, or his guilt-induced contributions to left-minded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-sutter/the-allegations-against-harvey-weinstein-are-clearly-deplorable-no/)

[Kurt Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-sutter/)

> [You have to be driven by something greater than you, where you don't surrender, and you commit to something like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-sutter/you-have-to-be-driven-by-something-greater-than-you-where-you-don-t/)

[Kurt Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-sutter/)

> [For me, money is about respect, and that is really important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-sutter/for-me-money-is-about-respect-and-that-is-really-important-to-me/)

[Kurt Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-sutter/)

> [The great thing about having a serialized drama (like 'Sons of Anarchy') is that I'm allowed to bring up events and circumstances that have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-sutter/the-great-thing-about-having-a-serialized-drama-like-sons-of-anarchy/)

[Kurt Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-sutter/)

> [I do not write political shows; I should not write political shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-sutter/i-do-not-write-political-shows-i-should-not-write-political-shows/)

[Kurt Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-sutter/)

> [I am a pile of reworked flaws weaved into a semi-functioning man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-sutter/i-am-a-pile-of-reworked-flaws-weaved-into-a-semi-functioning-man/)

[Kurt Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-sutter/)

> [I was really exposed to great old-time literature - the classics, the poetic realists like Strindberg and Ibsen and all those guys. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-sutter/i-was-really-exposed-to-great-old-time-literature-the-classics-the/)

[Kurt Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-sutter/)

> [I navigate through the world with the excitement and determination of a child. That's why I'm an artist. I'd die without an outlet for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-sutter/i-navigate-through-the-world-with-the-excitement-and-determination-of/)

[Kurt Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-sutter/)

> [All the people who follow me on Twitter know my sense of humor. I sometimes forget the blogosphere will give it more weight than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-sutter/all-the-people-who-follow-me-on-twitter-know-my-sense-of-humor-i/)

[Kurt Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-sutter/)

> [I think there's a part of me that feels the need to hide a little bit behind a character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-sutter/i-think-there-s-a-part-of-me-that-feels-the-need-to-hide-a-little-bit/)

[Kurt Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-sutter/)

> [The whole Twitter phenomenon is really indicative of what's happening in this country. And I say this in condemnation of myself as much as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-sutter/the-whole-twitter-phenomenon-is-really-indicative-of-what-s-happening/)

[Kurt Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-sutter/)

[Explore all 55 Kurt Sutter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-sutter/)

## More Action quotes

> [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/)

[Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/)

> [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/)

[Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/)

> [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/)

[William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/)

> [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/)

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

> [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/)

[Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/)

> [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/)

[Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/)

> [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/)

[Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/)

> [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/)

[Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/)

> [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/)

[Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/)

> [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

[Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The trap in Hamlet is he's the most passive of Shakespeare's characters. He's not a Richard III, not out there taking a lot of action. It's a lot of asides and soliloquies where he's wrapped in angst, and that's not a very interesting character.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Kurt Sutter"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-sutter/the-trap-in-hamlet-is-he-s-the-most-passive-of-shakespeare-s/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Action"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-sutter/the-trap-in-hamlet-is-he-s-the-most-passive-of-shakespeare-s/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/kurt-sutter-12447_action_the-trap-in-hamlet-is-he-s-the-most-pass_1125587.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/kurt-sutter-12447_action_the-trap-in-hamlet-is-he-s-the-most-pass_1125587.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/066/kurt-sutter-12447_action_the-trap-in-hamlet-is-he-s-the-most-pass_1125587.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The trap in Hamlet is he's the most passive of Shakespeare's characters. He's not a Richard III, not out…” — Kurt Sutter",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Kurt Sutter",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-sutter/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The trap in Hamlet is he's...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-sutter/the-trap-in-hamlet-is-he-s-the-most-passive-of-shakespeare-s/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-sutter/the-trap-in-hamlet-is-he-s-the-most-passive-of-shakespeare-s/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
