1. Example: The question is ‘Hamlet is a story about sex. Discuss.’
Hamlet Themes
Consider before we begin the worst case scenarios for questions that could appear about themes.
How could you pivot back to what you are comfortable with in that situation?
Example: The question is ‘Hamlet is a story about sex. Discuss.’
You could pivot to a bit you have prepared about love, appearance, corruption, loyalty or even revenge could work.

2. Hamlet Themes In order of importance / likelihood of appearance:
REVENGE!
Love.
Appearances (False), Corruption, Hypocrisy, Reality
Loyalty and Betrayal
Others: sex, madness, fortune, etc
Two approaches: character by character or as the story goes on. Recommendation: never asked for a plot summary, are asked about characters.

3. Objectives:
Know what you need to be able to discuss the themes of Hamlet.
Have quotes to be able to do so.
Understand said quotes.

4. REVENGE! – intro ideas
How is Hamlet is the quintessential (most perfect representation) revenge tragedy in the world when, in fact, the protagonist has huge problems with the concept of revenge?
Shakespeare was a renaissance man representing the clash of medieval and renaissance ideas. ‘An eye for an eye’ is barbaric and uncivilised yet it was the law for a long time.
You could mention 2011 Osama bin Laden as a modern example and ethical questions from the news today.

5. The Beginning – Hamlet #1
Hamlet had a pretty great, if not perfect, life before the events of the play. Then his world comes crashing down around him and he has no idea what to do. Hamlet is quite honest about his reluctance to kill his uncle when he learns of his misdeeds:
“The time is out of joint. O cursed spite That ever I was born to set it right!” (Act 1 scene v)
(Key words: fratricide, brother–in–law = incest more in those days, serpent –religious imagery, ill-suited to avenger, his soliloquies reflect )
Could copy and paste an intro from the Hamlet character intro. Mention his state of mind, his suicidal soliloquy, guilt in Heccuba one.

6. Fortinbras contrast
Fortinbras grief motivates him into action while Hamlet plunges himself into a gloomy inertia (state of doing nothing). Horatio’s words hint that we should not approve of this either however, that it is a dangerous, vicious and pointless act:
“young Fortinbras, Of unimproved mettle hot and full..... Sharked up a list of landless resoulutes, For food and diet...” (Act 1, scene i)
(key words: results, bringing anyone back?, motivation, desperate)
(Is this the way Hamlet should be is the question? At first it seems like yes, but thinking about it further, maybe not.)
(You could treat this like a section ‘ actions versus thought’ in revenge).

7. Back to Hamlet – explain his plan
Hamlet can’t find a balance. He either acts without thinking (killing Polonius) or thinks so much that he is incapable of action. Claudius quickly sees through his ‘antic disposition’, realising something is amiss.
“What he spake, though it lack’d form a little, Was not like madness” (Act 3 scene i)
(You could mention several declarations for blood, Hamlet gives a lot of them)

8. Laertes contrast “To cut his throat i’th’ church”. (Act 4, scene vii)
Laertes sets his conscience aside and is very impulsive. He wants revenge at any cost. He was even willing to kill Hamlet on holy ground. His father’s murder was public and so his response must be the same.
“To cut his throat i’th’ church”. (Act 4, scene vii)
“To hell allegiance, vows to the blackest devil, conscience and grace to the profoundest pit”. (Act 4, scene v)
(Compared to Hamlet – Claudius praying)
(His moral standing using the sword too) (He exchanges forgiveness)

9. End on Hamlet
In Act 5, we see a new Hamlet, capable of thinking and acting decisively. This could be attributed to his belief in providence.
“There’s a divinity that shapes our ends” (act 5, scene ii)
He gets his revenge on his own terms then.
“Here, thou incestuous, murderous, damned Dane, Drink off tis potion” (act 5, scene ii)
Could end comparing revenge to vigilantism, (Batman a bad idea). Think on who died because Hamlet was slow.

10. Love

11. Love intro Two kinds of love in the play: Family and romantic.
Generally seen in a negative light, with many of the characters being disloyal, insensitive or cruel to those they profess to love.
Family Love: Fathers-sons, Mother-son, father-daughter
Romantic love: Gertrude and King Hamlet / Claudius and Hamlet and Ophelia.

12. Love of Fathers.
Hamlet’s grief for his father shows the extent of his love. It also show the painful side of love, as in his suicide soliloquy (quote from day1).
Fathers do not treat their children well however. Polonius uses his children as spies and objects “At such a time I’ll loose my daughter to him” (Act 2, scene ii)
You could also look at the other sons whose father’s deaths drive them to do foolish things.

13. Love of Mothers.
Although he is furious with his mother, Hamlet loves Gertrude very much. One of the most emotional scenes in the play is Hamlet pleading with her to see Claudius’ villainy:
“Look here upon this picture, and on this, The counterfeit presentment of two brothers….. Here is your husband, like a mildew’d ear Blasting his wholesome brother.” (Act 3, scene iv)
Could keep it innocent or take the Oedipal route.

14. Claudius
Does Claudius love Gertrude, Ophelia or Hamlet or are they a means to an end? He confesses his love to Laertes:
“The Queen is his mother…. [is] so conjuctve to my life and soul, That, as the star moves not but in his sphere, I could not but by her” (Act 4, scene 7).
(public and private feelings)

15. Hamlet and Ophelia
Love is a weakness in the play, as Ophelia is manipulated into conspiring against Hamlet. This betrayal hurts Hamlet, prompting a bitter attack:
“Get thee to a nunnery. Why, wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners?” (Act 3, scene i)
We treat those we love the most the worst.

16. Certain love – Hamlet and Laertes
The act of forgiveness between Hamlet and Laertes shows they love each other.
“Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet/ Mine and my father’s death come not upon thee, Nor thine on me.” (act 5, scene ii)
Horatio is someone Hamlet can always rely on. He is a loyal and steadfast friend.
The Ghost also seems to love Gertrude (love lasting beyond death)

17. Love
Love would be a nice question as you could plan it out like this quickly.
Hamlet – father – other fathers
Hamlet – mother – both ways
Hamlet’s mother - new father – mature love
Hamlet – Ophelia – young love
Hamlet – friends – nice ending

18. APPEARANCE/REALITY
Corruption, hypocrisy
Public versus private

19. Introduction.
You can paint Hamlet as the hero against falsehood. He rejects the hypocrisy of court life and wants to remove the false appearances that exist.
Most of the Danish court wear masks, pretending to be things they’re not. Moral and political corruption are everywhere.

20. START – the world we’re in.
(several quotes so far given by Hamlet and Claudius about the corrupt world – the “corrupt currents” and 1in10,000)
There are many images of sickness and rottenness in the Danish court, Hamlet referring to Claudius as “this canker of our nature” (disease)(Act 5, scene ii) and the court as “an unweeded garden” (Act 1, scene ii)
(surface – good, dignified, noble. Reality – corrupt)

21. Gertrude
At first described as “my most seeming virtuous queen” by the ghost, Gertrude appeared loyal to the king.
“she would hang on him as if increase of appetite had grown by what is fed on” (Act 1, scene ii)
In fact however, she was betraying the king in life and death. She is deliberately blind to the truth, even when Hamlet confronts her.

22. Polonius
Polonius epitomises the corruption and falsehood of the court. He is the spymaster whose job is to find “where truth is hid”. He outright tells the king the duplicity of the court as he say:
“Tis too much proved that with devotion’s visage and pious action we do sugar o’er the devil himself” (Act 3, scene i)
He appears to love his daughter but uses her for spying.

23. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
Their sole aim is to get the kings favour. To this end they are willing to betray an old friend and spy on him. But Hamlet sees through their façade:
“there is a kind of confession in your looks which your modesties have not craft enough to color. I know the good king and queen have sent for you”. (Act 2, scene ii)
He then describes them as snakes and sponges for the king.

24. Laertes
He appears to be “a noble youth”, and perhaps he was, but is corrupted by Claudius and revenge. He dismisses notions of nobility:
“Conscience and grace to the profoundest pit” (Act 4, scene v)
The dual is an example of appearance / reality in and of itself.

25. Images then which could help
The prayer scene with Claudius.
Polonius “The apparel oft proclaims the man”.
Black clothing representing Gertrude’s mourning.
Hamlet pretending to be crazy.
All the characters accept these false appearances in the play except Hamlet, who publically rejects them.