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.