Hamlet Characters, structure, and themes

William Shakespeare Born in 1564 to a successful middle-class glove-maker in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. In 1582 married Anne Hathaway and had three children with her In 1590 he left his family behind and traveled to London to work as an actor and playwright

Shakespeare His career bridged the reigns of Queen Elizabeth I ( ) and James I ( ) Wealthy and renowned, he retired to Stratford and then died at age 52 in Literary luminaries such as Ben Jonson hailed his works as timeless

Shakespeare Although Shakespeare’s works are undoubtedly admired, his life was somewhat shrouded in mystery. Some speculate that he was not the actual author of all 37 plays and 154 sonnets. Skeptics point to Sir Francis Bacon and the Earl of Oxford as possibilities.

Shakespeare Hamlet was probably first performed in 1602 Shakespeare could have taken the story of Hamlet from several sources including a 12 th century Latin history of Denmark.

Shakespeare Some ambiguities found in Hamlet include: 1. Does Gertrude share any guilt with Claudius for the murder? 2. Does Hamlet still love Ophelia after he berates her? 3. Is Ophelia’s death an accident or suicide? 4. Is the ghost reliable or is he trying to tempt Hamlet? 5. Is Hamlet justified in his taking revenge on his uncle?

Shakespeare Remember the climate in England when Shakespeare wrote Hamlet. It resonates with the most fundamental themes of the Renaissance which focused on the capabilities and virtues peculiar to human beings. Renaissance humanism is evident in Hamlet’s speech from Act II, “What a piece of work is a man...” Hamlet is a play that deals with the difficulty of living in a world made up of appearances-guilt and innocence, sanity and insanity, motivations, and feelings.

Hamlet Plot/subplot structure Main Plot – court –Hamlet’s grief –Revenge of Old Hamlet’s death –Dealing with Fortinbras –Plots and machinations Subplots – Polonius family –Ophelia and Hamlet’s love –Laertes in France –Revenge of Polonius’ death –Ophelia’s madness

Hamlet Plot/subplot structure Main Plot – revenge –Revenge of Old Hamlet’s death –Revenge for Polonius’ death –Fortinbras’ revenge Subplots –Hamlet’s grief, thoughts of death –Hamlet’s antic disposition –Hamlet’s relationship with Ophelia –Ophelia’s madness

Hamlet Foiling Character foiling –Fortinbras, Hamlet, Laertes: lost father, revenge –Hamlet, Ophelia: madness –Old Hamlet, Polonius, Claudius: give advice to child(ren) Parallel scenes –Act 1, scenes 2, 3, 5: Parents give advice to children –Act 2 and Act 4: Hamlet and Ophelia’s madness

Hamlet themes revenge madness grief ideal king, politics eavesdropping, spying power of art, plays

Hamlet issues to resolve Ghost –Is it real or not? –If it is real, is it a good ghost or an evil ghost? Is Hamlet really mad or feigning madness? Does Hamlet procrastinate? If so, why? Is Hamlet a scourge and/or minister? How much should characters obey parents? Whose view of revenge is right: Hamlet’s or Laertes’?

Hamlet -- Act I Scene 1 Horatio to speak with Ghost Scene 2 Claudius at Court Hamlet’s grief Horatio tells Hamlet about Ghost Scene 3 Polonius and Ophelia say goodbye to Laertes Scene 4 Hamlet waiting for Ghost “Stamp of one defect” Scene 5 Hamlet and Ghost antic disposition

Hamlet -- Act II Scene 1 Polonius/Reynaldo Ophelia’s report re/Hamlet Scene 2 Claudius with Ros and Gild Polonius’s report Hamlet and fishmonger Players/Pyrrhus “The play’s the thing”

Hamlet -- Act III Scene 1 NUNNERY SCENE Hamlet and Ophelia Scene 2 MOUSETRAP SCENE Hamlet and players Play within a play Scene 3 PRAYER SCENE Claudius/Hamlet Scene 4 CLOSET SCENE Gertrude/Hamlet Death of Polonius

Hamlet -- Act IV Scene 1 Gertrude/Claudius Scene 2 Ros and Gild seek Hamlet Scene 7 Letter to Horatio from Hamlet Scene 4 Hamlet sees Fortinbras Scene 6 Gertrude Ophelia’s madness Laertes’ threat Scene 3 Claudius sends Hamlet to England Scene 8 Claudius and Laertes’ plans against Hamlet Gertrude’s report of Ophelia’s death

Hamlet -- Act V Scene 2 FOIL SCENE Hamlet/Horatio Laertes’ challenge Duel Death of Gertrude/Claudius Death of Laertes/Hamlet Fortinbras Scene 1 GRAVEYARD SCENE Gravediggers/Hamlet Burial of Ophelia