Hamlet the Avenger

If Hamlet never saw the Ghost, would he still avenge his father's death?
I believe he still would because he had built up anger in him, all it took was a ghost (which could've been a figment of his imagination) to push him towards avenging. If the ghost was a figment, then yes he would've avenged no matter what because his subconscious would've imagined the ghost so that he would have a reason to push himself to avenge. I personally believe that the ghost is a figment, but my theory could easily be diminished since others are able to see the ghost. Perhaps the ghost was a real ghost and everyone (except the Queen) could see it, but only Hamlet could hear it because he was making up the words in his head. Or maybe the ghost is the devil and came to destroy the city because of all the corruption that was happening, which would make sense why everyone dies. To me, this theory makes the most sense. The ghost is a devil but everyone sees it as a ghost. The devil talks to Hamlet because he knows if he acts to be Hamlet's dad, then Hamlet will definitely avenge Claudius. The devil/ghost knows that Hamlet will act as a catalyst towards destroying their kingdom.
Is Hamlet actually mad? Are other characters mad?
I believe that anyone who can see the ghost is considered 'mad', so perhaps the Queen is the only sane one. But I personally believe that Hamlet isn't 'mad' because he's just angry. Since he didn't see a therapist, he has anger management issues and built up anger that he's ready to kill because he hasn't developed coping skills to control his anger and frustration. I understand why people argue that he's mad, because he acts incredibly irrational at times, but I believe that he is just so angry that he doesn't know what to do with himself. And in Alice and Wonderland, the Mad Hatter says that everyone's a little mad, so that would make sense in this story.

Hamlet Act 3 Scene 4

Where the first real death takes place...when Hamlet kills Polonius. I understand that he was eavesdropping, but why would he choose to stand behind a curtain? Is this supposed to have a deeper meaning, like 'coming out of the closet'? That's what I thought when I read it. Also, good for Hamlet for sticking it to his mom. At this point, I don't think that he's acting mad because he's able to hold conversations and think for himself. For example, he's able to confront his mom about marrying his uncle. But he does seem violent and angry when he does so, so I believe he may be mad, but not acting mad (if this makes sense). My favorite line from this scene is after Hamlet kills Polonius, the Queen says Hamlet committed a dirty dead and Hamlet says, "A bloody deed- almost as bad, good mother, as kill a king and marry with his brother" (171). That is the ultimate burn. He is able to declare that what he did was bad, but he also justifies his actions by saying what his uncle and mother did was worse. I also love the term "good mother" because it's totally mocking the queen, there's no way that she's a "good mother". And what kind of kingdom do they live in where it's okay to kill someone and marry their wife??? And I don't understand why the king killed Hamlet's dad, was it only because he wanted to be king himself?
Also, Hamlet doesn't seem too bothered that he killed the wrong person (Polonius). Could this be because he's possessed by the devil/ghost? That's what I am thinking at the moment. I know that Hamlet is perhaps 'mad' after seeing the ghost, but wouldn't someone who is mad be at least a little apologetic for killing the wrong person? I believe he is possessed, because he doesn't seem to care about the death.

Act 2 Scene 1 Hamlet: The Present Day "White Girl"

If Hamlet's Act 2 Scene 1 was written in modern day language, it would be rather amusing so I'm going to translate it....

Ophelia: Oh my God, Dad I'm so scared!
Polonius: Chill, what happened?
Ophelia: I was on tumblr on my computer in my room and my bae came in.
His jacket was unzipped (omg can you believe that??) and he didn't even have his snapback on! His socks were kinda messed up and he had some weird 50-shades-of-gray-like chains on.
He really needed a spray tan or blush or something, and his knees were moving like he was doing the Elvis dance, but he looked so crazy and he was just trying to gossip to me!
Polonius: Damn he must want you.
Ophelia: Idk but I kinda hope so but I'm kinda scared too.
Polonius: What he say?
Ophelia: He looked like the girl in the Exorcist, flailing around and grabbing my arm and falling everywhere. Then he just walked out.
Polonius: I'm going to text the King, he must want you so bad that he's intoxicated with love. Damn he's desperate for you. I'm sorry to hear that. Were you mean to him?
Ophelia: No, but I blocked him on my phone.
Polonius: That must've done it.

When Ophelia is describing his outfit it sounds like Mr. Klein telling someone that they're not in dress code because the things she describes about his outfit are so insignificant but I guess it was a big deal back then. I wish they modernized this play and Ophelia was the "common white girl". It sounds as stupid as a middle school romance, and I think it's hilarious that Hamlet's like possessed by this ghost and Ophelia and Polonius think it's because he wants her so bad. I wonder how she'll act if she ever finds out that he's only acting this way because he's seen a ghost.
Maybe she secretly wants him......

Hamlet: Act 1

After reading Act 1, I found that Hamlet is a lot easier to read than the other Shakespeare plays that I've read, though I don't find it quite as interesting just yet. It reminded me of "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe, because everything seems dark and dreary in this Act.
I have a really hard time understanding who the characters are and how they're related/what their jobs are, like Marcellus and Horatio?
I believe this play would be considered magical realism because of the encounter with the ghost. The fact that no one seems too worried by the ghost freaks me out a bit, but also is a sign that maybe this is magical realism.
One of the first things I noticed was that the King seems like he's a dick, but maybe it's just how Shakespeare writes? When the King is giving his speech about his brothers death. He seems that he doesn't really care about him dying, especially when he says that he wants the town to celebrate with his marriage rather than focus on his brother dying. So selfish, he's making it all about himself. King Claudius and his wife also seem like they're forcing Hamlet to move on with the death rather than just letting him grieve, which kind of bugs me too. It seems like they aren't phased by the death at all, which also seems weird to me.
Also, how do Ophelia and Hamlet know each other? I hadn't seem any encounter (or maybe I missed it somewhere) with them and then she's talking about him loving her?
I do like how the different scenes skip back and forth from different characters, but sometimes that can make it a bit confusing.
One random question to finish up: Can everyone see the ghost of the King, or can only a select few see it?