Question

the tragedy of hamlet, prince of denmark
act iii. scene ii.
a hall in the castle.
enter hamlet and certain players.
hamlet: speak the speech, i pray you, as i pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue; but if you mouth it, as many of your players do, i had as lief the town-crier spoke my lines. nor do not saw the air too much with your hand, thus; but use all gently; for in the very torrent, tempest, and— as i may say—whirlwind of passion, you must acquire and beget a temperance, that may give it smoothness. o! it offends me to the soul to hear a robustious periwig-pated fellow tear a passion to tatters, to very rags, to split the ears of the groundlings, who for the most part are capable of nothing but inexplicable dumb-shows and noise: i would have such a fellow whipped for o’er-doing termagant; it out-herods herod: pray you, avoid it.
first player: i warrant your honour.
hamlet: be not too tame neither, but let your own discretion be your tutor: suit the action to the word, the word to the action; with this special observance, that you o’erstep not the modesty of nature; for anything so overdone is from the purpose of playing, whose end, both at the first and now, was and is, to hold, as ’twere, the mirror up to nature; to show virtue her own feature, scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time his form and pressure. now, this overdone, or come tardy off,
hamlet: sir, i lack advancement.
rosencrantz: how can that be when you have the voice of the king himself for your succession in denmark?
hamlet: ay, sir, but ‘while the grass grows,’—the proverb is something musty.
hamlet’s character is complex in the excerpt because
his loyalty to his ally endures hardship.
his quest for political power is unwavering.
his erratic behavior confuses his friend.
his desire for revenge defines him.

Explanation:

In the excerpt, Hamlet's statements (about lacking advancement with a musty proverb) and his instructions to players show inconsistent, unpredictable behavior. Rosencrantz is confused by Hamlet's situation ("How can that be..."), indicating Hamlet's erratic actions puzzle his friend. Other options: loyalty to ally isn't shown, political power quest isn't the focus here, and revenge desire isn't evident in this excerpt's interaction.

Answer:

his erratic behavior confuses his friend.