Eduard and Otto Devrient’s Discussion of Hamlet's Age

From the introduction to Deutscher Bühnen and Familien Shakespeare, 1873, p. 9. The Devrients ascribe a great deal more authority to Q1 than any modern scholar. —Steve Roth

As quoted in Furness's Variorum, Vol. II p. 346:

Taking Hamlet to be in his minority [on the authority of Q1], we have the fact explained that, gifted with no mean understanding, he has not yet at the beginning of the piece, with all his diligence, completed his studies, but resolves to return immediately to Wittenberg.

Upon this supposition of the minority of Hamlet is explained also the murderous scheme conceived by his uncle Claudius. If he wished to gratify his ambition, it behooved him to lose not time. While Hamlet is still a minor, the death of his father raises to the throne the widow whom Claudius had already won before his brother was put out of the way. With the consent of the nobles, she chose her husband co-regent. Claudius is compelled by Hamlet's reversionary right to the throne, which is unquestioned, to educate the young philosopher for political life. Hence he opposes his return to Wittenberg, and keeps him neearest to himself as the first person of his court. The character of guardian in which he meets the prince, and the sullen obedience which Hamlet renders to his uncle, are clearly significant of the relations between the two. Hamlet, as a full-grown man, silently submitting to such reproofs as he receives in the first scene at court, must at the outset forfeit our respect, while as a youthful enthusiast, under age, he wins all our sympathy.

But all those facts which go to show Hamlet's unripe youth first derive their full force from his inner qualities: this all-emkbraching pain (Weltschmertz), this pessimism, which springs from idealism, this blazing up of quickly-excited passion, this irresolute endurance of evil treatment, this yearning for the superlative and overlooking the positive, this continual carping and wanting everything better, this self-esteem with constant self-disparagement, and all the thousand little things which betray youth and excuse it, all show Hamlet as a very young prince, most lovable, unripe, enthusiastic, upon whom is imposted a man's task.