by William Shakespeare
First performed - probably around 1600
Source - apparently an older play, now lost. This
previous version was based
on a work called Historia Danica, written in the 1100s, but first printed
in 1514.
Polonius -- Polonius is stabbed by Hamlet, in Queen Gertrude's
closet
Rosencrantz -- Arrived at England, with orders that he be killed.
Guildenstern -- Arrived at England, with orders that he be killed.
Ophelia -- Ophelia drowns, "accidentally"; she fell, but reportedly
made no attempt to save herself.
Laertes -- Is stabbed, with his own poison-tipped sword, by
Hamlet.
King Claudius -- Hamlet stabs him, and then pours poison down his
throat.
Queen Gertrude -- Accidentally drink from a poisoned cup.
Hamlet -- Is stabbed, by Laertes, with a poison-tipped weapon.
The action takes place at Elsinore, the castle to the King of Denmark
King Claudius, the King of Denmark, and an uncle to Hamlet
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
Polonius, a counselor to the King
Horatio, a friend to Hamlet
Laertes, the son of Polonius
Gertrude, Queen of Denmark, and Hamlet's mother
Ophelia, the daughter of Polonius
Rosencrantz, a courtier, and also a friend of Hamlet
Guildenstern, a courtier, and also a friend of Hamlet
Marcellus, a soldier and castle guard
Bernardo, a soldier and castle guard
Francisco, a soldier and castle guard
Ghost of Hamlet's father, the former King of Denmark
Voltemand, a courtier
Cornelius, a courtier
Osric, a courtier
A gentleman, a courtier
Reynoldo, a servant to Polonius
Players (also known as actors)
Two gravediggers, also described as "clowns."
Fortinbras, a Prince of Norway
A Norwegian Captain
English Ambassadors
Lords, Ladies, Priests, Officers, Soldiers Sailors, Messengers, Attendants
Ideas for essays... The following are some of the issues, ideas, and themes which the play suggests. Any of these could work as excellent choices for a class paper.
"Spying" -- Hamlet is full of scenes in which people spy on other people, or "eavesdrop," or "listen" in on private conversations. Polonius hires a messenger to spy on his son at school, and he spies on Hamlet several times. Claudius and Polonius hide and listen in on Hamlet's conversation with Ophelia. Hamlet listens in on a funeral procession. Is it ever necessary to spy on another person? Is it ever justified? Do the "spying scenes" accomplish anything in the play? Does any good come out of this?
"Action" vs. "Thought" -- Some critics argue that Hamlet is too "intellectual," and spends too much time "thinking," instead of "doing." He is given clear instructions from the ghost, but does not carry them out right away. Why? Is this his failing, or his "flaw"? Is it possible to "over-intellectualize," and miss out on perfect opportunities? Even Hamlet begins to compare himself to others who do "act." For example, he seems envious of Fortinbras in Act IV, scene 4.
"Madness" -- Hamlet pretends to be mad. Early on, he even warns Horatio that he is going to put an "antic disposition" on. Ironically, this pretended "madness" may even contribute to Ophelia's real madness. At the end of the play, is Hamlet still feigning madness? Or, has he finally been driven mad? Is the use of "madness" as a theme in this play supposed to teach us something?
"Conscience" -- Many of the plays of Shakespeare deal with the issue of a clear conscience. According to the "church," one who commits suicide would not enter Heaven. This is because of the person's unresolved sins. The Ghost explains that he was murdered before he could confess them. Hamlet refrains from stabbing Claudius because he wants Claudius to die with his sins unresolved. Hamlet contemplates suicide several times in the play. Ophelia's death is a sort of an accident (as she fell), yet a sort of a suicide (as she made no attempt to save herself). The priests refuse to allow her a Holy burial, because of this. At the end, Queen Gertrude "accidentally" commits suicide. Laertes clears his conscience by revealing the whole plot. Then, he dies. Horatio attempts suicide, which presumably would have sent him to his death with unresolved sins. Is there a "moral" or a "lesson" to be learned from this?
"The Oedipal controversy" -- Some critics have argued that Hamlet is a very "Oedipal" character. They are convinced that part of his problem is his attraction to his own mother. He does seem to dwell on her relationship to Claudius, in several scenes. Indeed, some argue that he seems more angry over this "relationship" than he seems over Claudius' murder of his father. Are these critics correct? Is Hamlet more upset that his mother is sleeping with his uncle? In Act III, scene 4, the Ghost appears, and almost seems to be reminding Hamlet that his mother should not be the source of his anger, and that he should be more concerned with Claudius. Is Hamlet's obsession misplaced?
"For this relief, much thanks." [Francisco, I, i, 8]
"A little more than kin, and less than kind." [Hamlet, I, ii, 68-69]
"O, that this too, too solid flesh would melt" [Hamlet, I, ii, 135]
"Frailty, thy name is woman!" [Hamlet, I, ii, 152]
"But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue." [Hamlet, I, ii, 165]
"In my mind's eye" [Hamlet, I, ii, 195]
"For the apparel oft makes the man." [Polonius, I, iii, 76]
"Neither a borrower, nor a lender be." [Polonius, I, iii, 79]
"This above all: to thine own self be true." [Polonius, I, iii, 82]
"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark." [Marcellus, I, iv, 100]
"Murder most foul, as in the best it is" [Ghost, I, v, 32]
"Leave her to heaven" [Ghost, I, v, 93]
"...One may smile, and smile, and be a villain." [Hamlet, I, v, 115]
"The time is out of joint." [Hamlet, I, v, 215]
"O cursed spite! That ever I was born, to put it right." [Hamlet, I, v, 215-216]
"...Brevity is the soul of wit." [Polonius, II, ii, 96]
"Though this be madness, yet there is method in't." [Polonius, II, ii, 102]
"What a piece of work is a man." [Hamlet, II, ii, 319]
"The play's the thing..." [Hamlet, II, ii, 612]
"To be, or not to be, that is the question." [Hamlet, III, i, 64]
"Suit the action to the word, the word to the action." [Hamlet, III, ii, 17-18]
"The lady doth protest too much, methinks." [Queen Gertrude, III, ii, 243]
"Now, might I do it pat..." [Hamlet, III, iii, 76]
"I took thee for thy better..." [Hamlet, III, iv, 39]
"How all occasions to inform against me." [Hamlet, IV, iv, 34]
"Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio." [Hamlet, V, i, 177-178]
"Sweets to the sweet!" [Queen Gertrude, V, i, 239]
"There's a divinity that shapes our ends." [Hamlet, V, ii, 11]
"Good night, sweet Prince..." [Horatio, V, ii, 385]
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