Background on Background on HamletHamlet

The Globe TheatreThe Globe Theatre

Size and ShapeSize and Shape Opened in 1599; Opened in 1599;

Shakespeare's Shakespeare's company regularly company regularly performed there.performed there.

Polygonal shape Polygonal shape with as many as 20 with as many as 20 sides.sides.

The Globe TheatreThe Globe Theatre

The "hell" at the The "hell" at the bottom was a bottom was a space for devils space for devils and others to and others to emerge.emerge.

Roof or covering Roof or covering was called "the was called "the heavens." heavens."

The Globe TheatreThe Globe Theatre

Yard of the Yard of the Globe was 80' in Globe was 80' in diameter; held diameter; held 800 spectators.800 spectators.

"Groundlings" in "Groundlings" in front of the front of the stage were stage were rowdy.rowdy.

The Globe TheatreThe Globe Theatre

Platform for the thrust stage was 40' Platform for the thrust stage was 40' wide.wide.

The theatre probably held 1500 people The theatre probably held 1500 people in the galleries, making 2300 in all.in the galleries, making 2300 in all.

PerformancesPerformances

The players were all men; the The players were all men; the women's parts were played by women's parts were played by boys.boys. ----Shakespeare in LoveShakespeare in Love

Specific parts were written for Specific parts were written for specific actors.specific actors.

Book SizesBook Sizes

1. Folio: Sheet folded in half to make 4 1. Folio: Sheet folded in half to make 4 sidessides

2. Quarto: Sheet folded twice so as to 2. Quarto: Sheet folded twice so as to make 4 leaves or 8 pages, (9 1/2" x 12") make 4 leaves or 8 pages, (9 1/2" x 12")

3. Octavo: Sheet folded so as to make 8 3. Octavo: Sheet folded so as to make 8 leaves or 16 pages (6 x 9" )leaves or 16 pages (6 x 9" )

4. Duodecimo: Sheet folded so as to 4. Duodecimo: Sheet folded so as to make 12 leaves or 24 pages (about 5 xmake 12 leaves or 24 pages (about 5 x 7")7")

Early Editions of Early Editions of HamletHamlet

First Quarto (1603) First Quarto (1603) For Hamlet, the First Quarto presents a For Hamlet, the First Quarto presents a

"bad" or memorially reconstructed text."bad" or memorially reconstructed text. Some scholars believe that these came Some scholars believe that these came

from minor players remembering and from minor players remembering and dictating the play, although others have dictating the play, although others have discredited this theory. In discredited this theory. In HamletHamlet, they , they believe that the actor playing Marcellus believe that the actor playing Marcellus

does this.does this.

Early Editions of Early Editions of HamletHamlet

The First Quarto text of Hamlet The First Quarto text of Hamlet presents a much more sympathetic presents a much more sympathetic vision of Gertrude; she swears to assist vision of Gertrude; she swears to assist Hamlet in his revenge, for example.Hamlet in his revenge, for example.

A scene between Gertrude and Horatio A scene between Gertrude and Horatio exists in this version and disappears in exists in this version and disappears in later ones. Gertrude is told the news later ones. Gertrude is told the news that Hamlet tells in his letter to Horatio, that Hamlet tells in his letter to Horatio, thus establishing her as Hamlet’s ally.thus establishing her as Hamlet’s ally.

Early Editions of Early Editions of HamletHamlet

Second Quarto (1604).Second Quarto (1604). J. D. Wilson showed in 1934 that J. D. Wilson showed in 1934 that

this quarto was prepared from this quarto was prepared from Shakespeare’s original Shakespeare’s original manuscript or possibly from a manuscript or possibly from a corrected edition of the First corrected edition of the First Quarto.Quarto.

The Second Quarto has about 200 The Second Quarto has about 200 lines not in the Folio. lines not in the Folio.

Early Editions of Early Editions of HamletHamlet

First Folio (1623) First Folio (1623) Contains 18 Contains 18

plays previously plays previously printed in quarto printed in quarto editions and 18 editions and 18 others that others that would not would not otherwise have otherwise have survived.survived.

Early Editions of Early Editions of HamletHamlet

The Folio edition The Folio edition has stage has stage directions. directions.

The Folio edition The Folio edition includes about includes about 90 lines not in 90 lines not in the Second the Second quarto. quarto.

““To be or not to be” in the To be or not to be” in the FolioFolio

To be, or not to be, that is the question:To be, or not to be, that is the question:Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to sufferWhether ‘tis nobler in the mind to sufferThe slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,And by opposing, end them. To die, to sleepAnd by opposing, end them. To die, to sleep

——No more, and by a sleep to say we endNo more, and by a sleep to say we endThe heart-ache and the thousand natural The heart-ache and the thousand natural

shocksshocksThat flesh is heir to . . . That flesh is heir to . . .

““To be or not to be” in the To be or not to be” in the QuartoQuarto

To be or not to be, ay there’s the point;To be or not to be, ay there’s the point;

To die, to sleep, is that all? Ay, all.To die, to sleep, is that all? Ay, all.

No, to sleep, to dream; ay marry, there it goes.No, to sleep, to dream; ay marry, there it goes.

For in that dream of death, when we awakeFor in that dream of death, when we awake

And borne before an everlasting judge,And borne before an everlasting judge,

From whence no passenger ever returned,From whence no passenger ever returned,

The undiscovered country, at whose sightThe undiscovered country, at whose sight

The happy smile, and the accursed damned . . The happy smile, and the accursed damned . .

SourcesSources

Thomas Kyd's Thomas Kyd's HamletHamlet in the in the 1580s (now lost); 1580s (now lost); this is referred to this is referred to as the “Ur-as the “Ur-Hamlet.” Hamlet.”

Thomas Kyd's Thomas Kyd's Spanish TragedySpanish Tragedy (1587) (Revenge (1587) (Revenge tragedy)tragedy)

SourcesSources

Saxo Saxo Grammaticus's Grammaticus's Historica Historica DanicaDanica written written in second half in second half of twelfth of twelfth centurycentury

SourcesSources

Shakespeare also may have used Shakespeare also may have used volume 5 (1570) of volume 5 (1570) of Histoires Histoires tragiques,tragiques, a free translation of Saxo a free translation of Saxo by François de Belleforest. by François de Belleforest.

The Hystorie of Hamblet,The Hystorie of Hamblet, an English an English version of Belleforest's work, was version of Belleforest's work, was published in London in 1608, after published in London in 1608, after Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s HamletHamlet had been had been performed.performed.

SourcesSources

Hamlet is from Hamlet is from Amleth in Amleth in Belleforest; it's a Belleforest; it's a word that means word that means fool or one who fool or one who feigns madness feigns madness in Danish.in Danish.

SourcesSources

In the original, In the original, Amleth feigns Amleth feigns madness to madness to keep away keep away from his from his murderous murderous uncle.uncle.

SourcesSources

The ghost in the The ghost in the original play by original play by Belleforest said Belleforest said "Hamlet! "Hamlet! Revenge!" Revenge!" frequently, which frequently, which must have been a must have been a joke by the time joke by the time of the Hamlet.of the Hamlet.

Sources Sources

From Harold Bloom, From Harold Bloom, Shakespeare: The Shakespeare: The Invention of the Invention of the HumanHuman

Bloom believes that Bloom believes that Shakespeare Shakespeare himself wrote the himself wrote the ur-Hamlet play ur-Hamlet play from 1589 and that from 1589 and that he made several he made several changes in this changes in this version. version.

SourcesSources

The Ghost The Ghost (which (which Shakespeare Shakespeare probably played) probably played) is less prominent is less prominent in the version of in the version of HamletHamlet that we that we know. know.

Hamlet SitesHamlet Sites

The Enfolded HamletThe Enfolded Hamlet Hamlet on the RampartsHamlet on the Ramparts Shakespeare Quartos OnlineShakespeare Quartos Online The Authorship DebateThe Authorship Debate