Final answer:
Hamlet's interests are deeply philosophical and existential, focusing on revenge, morality, madness, and the effects of his mother's guilt. Shakespeare crafts a complex character whose preoccupations speak to the human experience and the challenges of representing it in art.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hamlet's interests lie in multiple complex directions, reflecting the nuances of William Shakespeare's portrayal of the character.
Hamlet is preoccupied with the moral implications of revenge, the phenomenon of madness—both feigned and real—and the psychological effects of his mother's guilt.
Some interpretations suggest Shakespeare was also commenting on the difficulties of conveying such complex emotions through the art of playwriting, as indicated in T.S. Eliot's 'Hamlet and His Problems'. The character explores existential questions, struggles with action versus inaction, and grapples with the veracity of the supernatural, as shown in his interactions with the Ghost and his philosophical musings.