Hamlet In a Nutshell This is a witty metaphor for Hamlet’s entrapment within the “foul and pestilent” Denmark

What we know of Hamlet’s language: - Hamlet has the sensitivities of a poet (He perceives the world with all its beauties and flaws, and looks beneath the surface while other characters seem unable to recognize all the corruption and superficiality in the world.) - He uses puns to turn the words of others inside out

Hamlet Vs. Polonius Hamlet’s language is eloquent, poetic, incisive, expressive, and beautiful. Polonius is verbose, self-serving, dithering, even obtuse to the point of comic relief Language is everything in Shakespeare. Elevated style and language demonstrates intellect.

What we know of Hamlet’s moral sensibilities: - Disgusted at his uncle’s drunkenness Loathes his mother’s sensuality (calls it incest) astonished by his mother’s apparent shallowness contempt for everything false and pretentious indifference to the merely external (seems) appalled by neglect of duty towards his father

Signs of Hamlet’s genius: - in conversation, the wit and humor - quickness of perception and retort - great mental agility and shifting of mental attitude - easily sees through others and masters them verbally - depth of imagination (poetic ponderings) - he questions what others take for granted

Hamlet Sees Through the Exterior: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Ophelia Polonius King and Queen

Hamlet’s Wit “A little more than kin and less than kind.”(1.2.65) “It shall to the barber’s with your beard!” (2.2.245) “the funeral bak’d meats did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables.” (1.2.180-181)

Hamlet’s Melancholy (Samples) “th’exterior nor the inward man resembles what it was”(2.2.7) “Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other” (2.1.81) “He waxes desperate with imagination” (1.4.87) and he speaks in “wild and whirling words” (1.5.131)

Hamlet’s Melancholy “I have of late, but wherefore I know not, lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exercises; and indeed, it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a most sterile promontory; this most excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o’erhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire: why it appeareth to me nothing but a foul and pestilent congregation of vapors…Man delights not me; nor woman neither.” (2.2.273-280) “How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable, seem to me all the uses of this world!” (1.2.133-134)

Mystery and Manners Hamlet – Mystery and Manners Franzen reference (It’s been a while!) He quotes Flannery O’Connor, saying that all things in literature come down to the mystery and the manners. Hamlet is no different

Mystery – Death and the afterlife - He attempts to come to terms with the grief of his father’s death - He also must attempt to understand his duty to take revenge Traditionally, this would be well within his rights, but thinking about it, is this fair to Hamlet?

Mystery – Contd. - Hamlet mentions the possibility of suicide - In “To be or not to be,” he worries about the dreams that happen after death, afraid that the afterlife will not end the suffering he endures here on earth. - Fate: Is there something out there that guides our destiny? “I cursed spite, that ever I was born to set this right” (1.3.5)

Hamlet’s Behavior Towards Ophelia Explanations: - She obeys her father’s instruction to deny Hamlet her company - Hamlet’s fury with his mother has tainted him against all women (“Frailty!...” 1.2.146) - His mother’s relationship with Claudius renders all sensuality gross and hideous “Get thee to a nunnery” - She submits to King/Queen/Polonius spying on Hamlet. She is a mere pawn for them.

The Arts Hamlet escapes the “grossness” of his world by embracing the players. He is revived by theater Similarly, the audience come to the theater to escape their own mundane existence…to be transported elsewhere. The sign that the arts have declined in Denmark is another sign of the rank and gross nature of Claudius’ Denmark.

How does Hamlet feel about Queen? King? Polonius? Ophelia? Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? Himself? Maybe this begins to explain his melancholy.

What/So What What: Hamlet fumes at Ophelia, “Get thee to a nunnery: why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners?” (3.1.118) So-What?: