Hamlet “the dark prince” Why can’t he do what he has to do?

Hamlet

“the dark prince”

Why can’t he do what he has to do?

The most controversial and discussed play ever written

• Long and intricate – can run 3 hours+• Scholarly – intellectual “food” for many academic

disciplines, esp. psychology, politics, art, and sociology

• Mysterious – What happens?• Drama and suspense – 2 or 3 famously exciting

scenes• Hamlet’s delay or inability to act is the heart of

the controversy. Why does he delay?

Background

• Written 1599-1601• Hamlet, the avenging son, comes from

Danish legend of the 1100’s• A “revenge tragedy” – murder, madness,

revenge, and (of course) supernatural intervention

• Perhaps Shakespeare’s favorite play• Written during a period of profound

disillusionment

Hamlet presents Shakespeare’s thoughts on a variety of topics

• Fathers and children• Sex• Drunkeness • Suicide• Loyalty• Acting• Glory and honor • Handwriting• Fate• Man and the universe• Which of these is raised in Act I? Identify by scene and

line and be ready to read and discuss in class

Theme

• Shakespeare always in his tragedies tries to show how the breaking of moral law leads inevitably to destruction.