1. H AMLET – N OTES Act 1

2. S HAKESPEARE ’ S S OURCES  Primary source for Hamlet: Francois de Belleforest’s Histories Tragique (1570) A collection of stories, one based on the Danish legend of “Amleth” from Historica Danicae or History of the Danes (12 th Century) Very similar plot elements, but Amleth is a simpleton who pretends to be mad to seek revenge  Patterned his tragedies after Seneca (Greek playwright) – but expanded to create a richer story (intimacies of the human mind, behavior, relationships)

3. D RAMATIC E LEMENTS IN H AMLET Imagery: Claudius – corruption and disease, Hamlet – inky cloak (black cloud of grief), Women – makeup (artificial appearance), Ophelia – violets (her relationship with Hamlet = weeds) Irony: Verbal = gravedigger scene in Act 5, Situational = Claudius at prayer / can’t pray, Dramatic = “maimed rites” – funeral procession (Act 5)

4. C RITICISM Samuel Johnson (1765) = wrote that Hamlet was a failure as a play Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote that the character Hamlet was impotent The Romantics used Goethe’s term “the melancholy Dane” to describe Hamlet 20 th Century = critics began to re-evaluate his character after the discovery of the 1603 (or 1 st ) Quarto in 1823

5. A CT 1, S C. I Horatio = established as a messenger and a scholar (not superstitious like the soldiers) Consider the Mood = middle of the night, appearance of a ghost (omen, sign of trouble for Denmark) Horatio speculates: This may mean Norway is preparing for war against Denmark / they decide to tell Hamlet

6. A CT 1, SC. II  Brightness and warmth stand in contrast to the darkness in scene 1 Only the dark figure of Hamlet reminds us that something is rotten inside the castle as well  Parallels b/t Families Norway, like Denmark has an elected monarchy Fortinbras Sr.’s brother (Old Norway) has been elected, just like Claudius has (not the sons) Both Hamlet and Fortinbras Jr. have lost their fathers and will seek revenge  Hamlet seems to be the only one who remembers his father died 2 months ago  Claudius – Duel Nature (incest, Henry VIII)

7. A CT 1, SC. 2 CONTINUED  Hamlet – witty puns: “I am too much i’ the sun” Inky Cloak (symbolic) Clearly has a poetic, idealistic soul – his world is crumbling around him (idolized his father and mother)  First Soliloquy: Fury and shock Feels the presence of an evil he cannot define  Greets his friends with genuine pleasure (another side of him) – they tell him of the ghost

8. A CT 1, SC. III  Intimate family conversation: Polonius, Laertes, Ophelia Laertes warns Ophelia against intimacy with Hamlet (he’s royalty, can’t marry for love) – he’s nervous for the family name, as well Laertes = “reckless libertine” (foil to Hamlet who wants to leave Denmark to continue studying)  Polonius’ Precepts: Hypocrisy “neither a borrower nor a lender be”  Ophelia – trapped by these men – must do as her father says (they want to control her)

9. A CT I, SC. IV  Waiting for the ghost…  Danish reveling (Beowulf – Mead Hall) – showcases Claudius’ excessiveness (and the Danish tradition) – Hamlet is disgusted by it  Hamlet contemplates life: what the “dram of evil” can do  Throws caution to the wind and follows the ghost (desperate to find the truth / Viking sense of camaraderie)

10. A CT 1, SC. V  “I am thy father’s spirit.” (9) Cannot rest until the sins of his soul are burned away “Murder” and “Revenge” are stressed (feel like physical blows to Hamlet’s ears) King was poisoned and refused his “Last Rites” and thus is in purgatory  “Taint not thy mind” (and don’t harm mom)  “Remember me…” (91)  Swears his friends to secrecy, even is he begins acting “mad” (ghost speaks 3 times: “Swear!”) – his path is determined: revenge