Hamlet William Shakespeare

General Background 1600 – Sometime around 1600 a.d., William Shakespeare, already a successful playwright, wrote Hamlet – Sometime around 1600 a.d., William Shakespeare, already a successful playwright, wrote Hamlet – The play was probably first performed in 1601 on the stage of the Globe Theater on London’s Bankside – The play was probably first performed in 1601 on the stage of the Globe Theater on London’s Bankside. First Quarto, the Second Quarto, and the First Folio – Three published versions of the play – First Quarto, the Second Quarto, and the First Folio – Three published versions of the play – Second Quarto of 1604 – considered the “official” version Second Quarto of 1604 – considered the “official” version 1623 – First Folio was published seven years after Shakespeare’s death – First Folio was published seven years after Shakespeare’s death.

Shakespeare’s Sources for Hamlet A story of revenge – Saxo Grammaticus A story of revenge – Saxo Grammaticus Hamlet is based on a twelfth-century story about an early Prince of Denmark, Amleth. The tale, by Saxo Grammaticus, was published in Latin in 1514, but most scholars believe that Shakespeare read a 1570 French version of the story by Francois Belleforest. The old story has many similarities with Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Hamlet is based on a twelfth-century story about an early Prince of Denmark, Amleth. The tale, by Saxo Grammaticus, was published in Latin in 1514, but most scholars believe that Shakespeare read a 1570 French version of the story by Francois Belleforest. The old story has many similarities with Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

Shakespeare’s Sources cont. In the original story, Amleth’s father is King of Denmark. He defeats the King of Norway in a duel, but is murdered by Feng, his own brother. Feng quickly marries the queen, Gerutha, Amleth’s mother. In pursuit of revenge, Amleth feigns madness (In Danish, Amleth meant ‘simpleton’ or idiot). But his language in such a mixture of insanity and cleverness that he is tested in various ways. In the original story, Amleth’s father is King of Denmark. He defeats the King of Norway in a duel, but is murdered by Feng, his own brother. Feng quickly marries the queen, Gerutha, Amleth’s mother. In pursuit of revenge, Amleth feigns madness (In Danish, Amleth meant ‘simpleton’ or idiot). But his language in such a mixture of insanity and cleverness that he is tested in various ways.

Theatrical Influences Shakespeare’s production of Hamlet is also influenced by: Shakespeare’s production of Hamlet is also influenced by: Tragedies of the Roman dramatist, Seneca Tragedies of the Roman dramatist, Seneca Thomas Kyd’s hugely popular play The Spanish Tragedy Thomas Kyd’s hugely popular play The Spanish Tragedy Play, now lost, which is known as the Ur- Hamlet (Ur means early) – a play of Hamlet that existed at least 10 years before Shakespeare’s Hamlet, but Shakespeare transformed the genre as well as the character of Hamlet. Play, now lost, which is known as the Ur- Hamlet (Ur means early) – a play of Hamlet that existed at least 10 years before Shakespeare’s Hamlet, but Shakespeare transformed the genre as well as the character of Hamlet.

Metafiction/Metadrama Metafiction as a play or has occasion to It is a kind of fiction that comments on the very devices of fiction it employs. It usually involves irony and is self-reflective. Metafiction as a play or has occasion to It is a kind of fiction that comments on the very devices of fiction it employs. It usually involves irony and is self-reflective. Metadrama is similar. It is drama that calls attention to itself as a play or has occasion to comment on its own actions and devices. Metadrama is similar. It is drama that calls attention to itself as a play or has occasion to comment on its own actions and devices. These devices are most apparent in the play-within-the play in Hamlet but also subtlety throughout the play as a whole in the constant juxtaposition of appearance vs. reality as well as the many faces of Hamlet, himself. These devices are most apparent in the play-within-the play in Hamlet but also subtlety throughout the play as a whole in the constant juxtaposition of appearance vs. reality as well as the many faces of Hamlet, himself.

Shakespeare’s Language (stylistic devices) Imagery Imagery Doubling (pairing of characters and situations) Doubling (pairing of characters and situations) Puns Puns Syntactic inversion Syntactic inversion Repetition Repetition Verse vs. prose Verse vs. prose Soliloquy (abounds in this play) Soliloquy (abounds in this play) Pronoun Selection (royal we) Pronoun Selection (royal we)

Setting The story takes place in the country of Denmark in the late medieval period. The story takes place in the country of Denmark in the late medieval period.

Motifs in Hamlet Action vs Inaction Action vs Inaction Madness Madness Death and Decay Death and Decay Disease Disease Appearance vs. Reality Appearance vs. Reality Revenge Revenge Incest Incest Theater Theater Political Corruption Political Corruption Honor and Revenge Honor and Revenge The Supernatural The Supernatural Certainty and Uncertainty Certainty and Uncertainty Questions Questions Misogyny and Gender Misogyny and Gender Language and Meaning Language and Meaning

Tragic hero A tragic hero has the potential for greatness but is doomed to fail. A tragic hero has the potential for greatness but is doomed to fail. He makes some sort of tragic flaw, and this causes his fall from greatness. He makes some sort of tragic flaw, and this causes his fall from greatness. Realizes he has made an irreversible mistake Realizes he has made an irreversible mistake Faces and accepts death with honor Faces and accepts death with honor Meets a tragic death Meets a tragic death

Tragic heroes are: Born into nobility Born into nobility Responsible for their own fate Responsible for their own fate Endowed with a tragic flaw Endowed with a tragic flaw Doomed to make a serious error in judgment Doomed to make a serious error in judgment

The End

The Revenge Tragedy Seneca – Roman playwright (4 b.c. – 65 a.d) Seneca – Roman playwright (4 b.c. – 65 a.d) A collection of Seneca’s tragedies was published in A collection of Seneca’s tragedies was published in Seneca found material for his tragic dramas in Greek mythology. Seneca found material for his tragic dramas in Greek mythology. Many revenge plays imitated his example. Many revenge plays imitated his example.

The Senecan Revenge Tragedy Features A ghost appears calling for revenge. A ghost appears calling for revenge. Revenge dominates characters’ motives, and provides dramatic suspense. Revenge dominates characters’ motives, and provides dramatic suspense. Revengers use exaggerated and hyperbolic language. Revengers use exaggerated and hyperbolic language. Characters descend into madness. Characters descend into madness. The use of a play-within-a play. The use of a play-within-a play. Much tragic loss Much tragic loss Five-part structure: Five-part structure: Act I – ghost appeals for vengeance Act I – ghost appeals for vengeance Act II – the revenger plots revenge Act II – the revenger plots revenge Act III – the confrontation of avenger and victim Act III – the confrontation of avenger and victim Act IV – vengeance is prevented Act IV – vengeance is prevented Act V – revenge is completed Act V – revenge is completed

Hamlet The Prince of Denmark, the title character, and the protagonist. About thirty years old at the start of the play, Hamlet is the son of Queen Gertrude and the late King Hamlet, and the nephew of the present king, Claudius. The Prince of Denmark, the title character, and the protagonist. About thirty years old at the start of the play, Hamlet is the son of Queen Gertrude and the late King Hamlet, and the nephew of the present king, Claudius.

Hamlet continued Hamlet is melancholy, bitter, and cynical, full of hatred for his uncle's scheming and disgust for his mother's sexuality. A reflective and thoughtful young man who has studied at the University of Wittenberg, Hamlet is sometimes indecisive and hesitant, but at other times prone to rash and impulsive acts. Hamlet is melancholy, bitter, and cynical, full of hatred for his uncle's scheming and disgust for his mother's sexuality. A reflective and thoughtful young man who has studied at the University of Wittenberg, Hamlet is sometimes indecisive and hesitant, but at other times prone to rash and impulsive acts.

Claudius The King of Denmark, Hamlet's uncle, and the play's antagonist. The villain of the play, Claudius is a calculating, ambitious politician, driven by his sexual appetites and his lust for power, but he occasionally shows signs of guilt and human feeling—his love for Gertrude, for instance, seems sincere. The King of Denmark, Hamlet's uncle, and the play's antagonist. The villain of the play, Claudius is a calculating, ambitious politician, driven by his sexual appetites and his lust for power, but he occasionally shows signs of guilt and human feeling—his love for Gertrude, for instance, seems sincere.

Gertrude The Queen of Denmark, Hamlet's mother, recently married to Claudius. Gertrude loves Hamlet deeply, but she is a shallow, weak woman who seeks affection and status more urgently than moral rectitude or truth. The Queen of Denmark, Hamlet's mother, recently married to Claudius. Gertrude loves Hamlet deeply, but she is a shallow, weak woman who seeks affection and status more urgently than moral rectitude or truth.

Polonius The Lord Chamberlain of Claudius's court, a pompous, conniving old man. Polonius is the father of Laertes and Ophelia. The Lord Chamberlain of Claudius's court, a pompous, conniving old man. Polonius is the father of Laertes and Ophelia.

Horatio Hamlet's close friend, who studied with the prince at the university in Wittenberg. Horatio is loyal and helpful to Hamlet throughout the play. After Hamlet's death, Horatio remains alive to tell Hamlet's story. Hamlet's close friend, who studied with the prince at the university in Wittenberg. Horatio is loyal and helpful to Hamlet throughout the play. After Hamlet's death, Horatio remains alive to tell Hamlet's story.

Ophelia Polonius's daughter, a beautiful young woman with whom Hamlet has been in love. Ophelia is a sweet and innocent young girl, who obeys her father and her brother, Laertes. Polonius's daughter, a beautiful young woman with whom Hamlet has been in love. Ophelia is a sweet and innocent young girl, who obeys her father and her brother, Laertes.

Ophelia continued Dependent on men to tell her how to behave, she gives in to Polonius's schemes to spy on Hamlet. Even in her lapse into madness and death, she remains maidenly, singing songs about flowers and finally drowning in the river amid the flower garlands she had gathered. Dependent on men to tell her how to behave, she gives in to Polonius's schemes to spy on Hamlet. Even in her lapse into madness and death, she remains maidenly, singing songs about flowers and finally drowning in the river amid the flower garlands she had gathered.

Laertes Polonius's son and Ophelia's brother, a young man who spends much of the play in France. Passionate and quick to action, Laertes is clearly a foil for the reflective Hamlet. Polonius's son and Ophelia's brother, a young man who spends much of the play in France. Passionate and quick to action, Laertes is clearly a foil for the reflective Hamlet.

Fortinbras The young Prince of Norway, whose father the king (also named Fortinbras) was killed by Hamlet's father (also named Hamlet). Now Fortinbras wishes to attack Denmark to avenge his father's honor, making him another foil for Prince Hamlet. The young Prince of Norway, whose father the king (also named Fortinbras) was killed by Hamlet's father (also named Hamlet). Now Fortinbras wishes to attack Denmark to avenge his father's honor, making him another foil for Prince Hamlet.

The Ghost The specter of Hamlet's recently deceased father. The ghost, who claims to have been murdered by Claudius, calls upon Hamlet to avenge him. The specter of Hamlet's recently deceased father. The ghost, who claims to have been murdered by Claudius, calls upon Hamlet to avenge him.

The Ghost continued It is not entirely certain whether the ghost is what it appears to be, or whether it is something else. Hamlet speculates that the ghost might be a devil sent to deceive him and tempt him into murder, and the question of what the ghost is or where it comes from is never definitively resolved. It is not entirely certain whether the ghost is what it appears to be, or whether it is something else. Hamlet speculates that the ghost might be a devil sent to deceive him and tempt him into murder, and the question of what the ghost is or where it comes from is never definitively resolved.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Two slightly bumbling courtiers, former friends of Hamlet from Wittenberg, who are summoned by Claudius and Gertrude to discover the cause of Hamlet's strange behavior. Two slightly bumbling courtiers, former friends of Hamlet from Wittenberg, who are summoned by Claudius and Gertrude to discover the cause of Hamlet's strange behavior.