Shakespeare’s Hamlet English poet and playwright English poet and playwright 38 plays, 154 sonnets, 2 narrative poems 38 plays, 154 sonnets, 2 narrative poems Carrier began as an actor, writer, and owner (acting company– called “players”) Carrier began as an actor, writer, and owner (acting company– called “players”) Few records of Shakespeare survive– as elusive as homer! Few records of Shakespeare survive– as elusive as homer! Much speculation about his physical appearance and authorship Much speculation about his physical appearance and authorship speare.jpg

Revenge tragedy very popular in Shakespeare’s time (Elizabethan England) very popular in Shakespeare’s time (Elizabethan England) influenced by Aeschylus and a Roman poet (Seneca) influenced by Aeschylus and a Roman poet (Seneca) predecessors—Thomas Kyd and Marlowe predecessors—Thomas Kyd and Marlowe

Elizabethan England Queen Elizabeth’s reign (1558–1603) is often considered to be the Golden Age (reference to Pericles’ Athens) of English history Queen Elizabeth’s reign (1558–1603) is often considered to be the Golden Age (reference to Pericles’ Athens) of English history Height of the English Renaissance (Northern Literary) Height of the English Renaissance (Northern Literary) Emphasis on music, literature, and poetry Emphasis on music, literature, and poetrystosyth.gov.uk

See what a jilted lover can to do a girl?

Renaissance (Northern Literary as opposed to Mediterranean artistic) literally means "rebirth" literally means "rebirth" refers especially to the rebirth of learning that began in Italy in the fourteenth century, spread to the north, including England, by the sixteenth century, and ended in the north in the mid-seventeenth century (earlier in Italy) refers especially to the rebirth of learning that began in Italy in the fourteenth century, spread to the north, including England, by the sixteenth century, and ended in the north in the mid-seventeenth century (earlier in Italy) -enormous renewal of interest in and study of classical antiquity (5th century Greece) -enormous renewal of interest in and study of classical antiquity (5th century Greece) acropolis-landmark-1.jpg acropolis-landmark-1.jpg

Context of Hamlet Written sometime between Set in Denmark

In order to be a revenge tragedy melancholy hero/avenger (not emo!) melancholy hero/avenger (not emo!) hesitating avenger hesitating avenger villain who is to be killed in revenge villain who is to be killed in revenge murders and physical horrors murders and physical horrors play within a play play within a play sexual obsession, lust—related to the revenge sexual obsession, lust—related to the revenge supernatural (ghost who calls for the revenge) supernatural (ghost who calls for the revenge) theme of real or feigned madness theme of real or feigned madness _sucks.jpg _sucks.jpg

Protestant Reformation European Christian reform movement European Christian reform movement Established Protestantism as a branch of Christianity Established Protestantism as a branch of Christianity Began with Martin Luther posting “95 Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences” Began with Martin Luther posting “95 Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences” England splits with the Catholic church England splits with the Catholic church r2.jpg

Morality of revenge Old (Old Testament, The Agamemnon) vs. New (Eumenides, New Testament) Old (Old Testament, The Agamemnon) vs. New (Eumenides, New Testament) revenge was a crime (against the law) revenge was a crime (against the law) Protestant church said revenge was a sin and the soul would be damned to suffer in hell Protestant church said revenge was a sin and the soul would be damned to suffer in hell

Catholic? or not? Hamlet was written during a time of religious upheaval in England and during the English reformation. Hamlet was written during a time of religious upheaval in England and during the English reformation. The play has references to both Catholicism and Protestantism. The play has references to both Catholicism and Protestantism. Catholic: Catholic: Ghost says he is in purgatory Ghost says he is in purgatory Ghost says he died without his last rites Ghost says he died without his last rites Ophelia is denied full burial Ophelia is denied full burial Revenge is more offensive to Catholics (Spain and Italy) Revenge is more offensive to Catholics (Spain and Italy) In Catholic doctrine, strong loyalty to God and family In Catholic doctrine, strong loyalty to God and family Protestantism: Protestantism: Denmark: predominantly protestant Denmark: predominantly protestant Wittenberg: where Luther first nailed up his 95 Theses, also where Hamlet and Horatio (and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern) attend school Wittenberg: where Luther first nailed up his 95 Theses, also where Hamlet and Horatio (and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern) attend school

Actors to play Hamlet

Hamlet’s rhetoric Hamlet is a man of words, not action Hamlet is a man of words, not action Skilled speaker and writer Skilled speaker and writer In speech, Hamlet is precise and straightforward (a bit verbose, though, as was the tradition in Renaissance speech) In speech, Hamlet is precise and straightforward (a bit verbose, though, as was the tradition in Renaissance speech) Hamlet does not repress his emotions– he acticely displays his dissatisfaction or pleasure Hamlet does not repress his emotions– he acticely displays his dissatisfaction or pleasure Frequently uses puns, anaphora, metaphors, and classical allusions Frequently uses puns, anaphora, metaphors, and classical allusions

Hamlet’s Philosophy Existentialism: Existentialism is a philosophical movement of the 19 th and 20 th centuries Existentialism is a philosophical movement of the 19 th and 20 th centuries Belief that man should be concerned with his immediate experiences and individual experience Belief that man should be concerned with his immediate experiences and individual experience Man is responsible for his own experiences– not god or government (those institutions may fail us) Man is responsible for his own experiences– not god or government (those institutions may fail us)

Women and madness tate.org.uk

Hamlet and Ophelia