The Tragedy The Tragedy of Hamlet, of Hamlet, Prince of Prince of DenmarkDenmarkWilliam ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

PublicationPublication

Written during the first part of the Written during the first part of the

seventeenth century (probably in 1600 seventeenth century (probably in 1600

or 1601), or 1601), HamletHamlet was probably first was probably first

performed in July 1602. It was first performed in July 1602. It was first

published in printed form in 1603 and published in printed form in 1603 and

appeared in an enlarged edition in 1604. appeared in an enlarged edition in 1604.

GenreGenre

Revenge tragedyRevenge tragedy

Tragic dramaTragic drama

SettingSetting

Denmark during the late

middle ages (circa 1200),

though characters in the play

occasionally reference things

or events from the

Elizabethan Age (circa 1500).

Historical RelevanceHistorical Relevance Story of Hamlet based on

a Danish revenge story from the 1100s -Shakespeare modified to fill with dread and uncertainty…

Product of Reformation (Protestants broke away from church & skeptical humanism) Hamlet has constant

anxiety about appearance vs. reality, concerns with religion (related to the Reformation)

Plot/CharacterPlot/CharacterClimax: The climax of Hamlet is a

subject of debate. Some say it occurs when Hamlet kills Claudius, others when Hamlet hesitates to kill Claudius while Claudius is praying, others when Hamlet kills Polonius, and still others when Hamlet vows to focus on revenge at the end of Act 4.

Protagonist: HamletAntagonist: Claudius

HamletHamlet

The Prince of Denmark, The Prince of Denmark,

the title character, and the title character, and

the protagonist. About the protagonist. About

thirty years old at the thirty years old at the

start of the play, start of the play,

Hamlet is the son of Hamlet is the son of

Queen Gertrude and Queen Gertrude and

the late King Hamlet, the late King Hamlet,

and the nephew of the and the nephew of the

present king, Claudius.present king, Claudius.

Hamlet continuedHamlet continued

Hamlet is melancholy, bitter, and Hamlet is melancholy, bitter, and cynical, full of hatred for his uncle's cynical, full of hatred for his uncle's scheming and disgust for his mother's scheming and disgust for his mother's sexuality. A reflective and thoughtful sexuality. A reflective and thoughtful young man who has studied at the young man who has studied at the University of Wittenberg, Hamlet is University of Wittenberg, Hamlet is sometimes indecisive and hesitant, but sometimes indecisive and hesitant, but at other times prone to rash and at other times prone to rash and impulsive acts.impulsive acts.

ClaudiusClaudius The King of Denmark, The King of Denmark,

Hamlet's uncle, and the Hamlet's uncle, and the play's antagonist. The play's antagonist. The villain of the play, villain of the play, Claudius is a Claudius is a calculating, ambitious calculating, ambitious politician, driven by his politician, driven by his sexual appetites and sexual appetites and his lust for power, but his lust for power, but he occasionally shows he occasionally shows signs of guilt and signs of guilt and human feeling—his human feeling—his love for Gertrude, for love for Gertrude, for instance, seems instance, seems sincere.sincere.

GertrudeGertrude

The Queen of Denmark, The Queen of Denmark,

Hamlet's mother, Hamlet's mother,

recently married to recently married to

Claudius. Gertrude loves Claudius. Gertrude loves

Hamlet deeply, but she Hamlet deeply, but she

is a shallow, weak is a shallow, weak

woman who seeks woman who seeks

affection and status affection and status

more urgently than more urgently than

moral rectitude or truth.moral rectitude or truth.

PoloniusPolonius

The Lord The Lord

Chamberlain of Chamberlain of

Claudius's court, a Claudius's court, a

pompous, conniving pompous, conniving

old man. Polonius is old man. Polonius is

the father of Laertes the father of Laertes

and Ophelia.and Ophelia.

HoratioHoratio

Hamlet's close friend, Hamlet's close friend,

who studied with the who studied with the

prince at the university prince at the university

in Wittenberg. Horatio in Wittenberg. Horatio

is loyal and helpful to is loyal and helpful to

Hamlet throughout the Hamlet throughout the

play. After Hamlet's play. After Hamlet's

death, Horatio remains death, Horatio remains

alive to tell Hamlet's alive to tell Hamlet's

story.story.

OpheliaOphelia

Polonius's daughter, Polonius's daughter, a beautiful young a beautiful young woman with whom woman with whom Hamlet has been in Hamlet has been in love. Ophelia is a love. Ophelia is a sweet and innocent sweet and innocent young girl, who young girl, who obeys her father and obeys her father and her brother, Laertes. her brother, Laertes.

LaertesLaertes

Polonius's son and Polonius's son and Ophelia's brother, a Ophelia's brother, a young man who young man who spends much of the spends much of the play in France. play in France. Passionate and Passionate and quick to action, quick to action, Laertes is clearly a Laertes is clearly a foil for the foil for the reflective Hamlet.reflective Hamlet.

FortinbrasFortinbras

The young Prince of The young Prince of Norway, whose father Norway, whose father the king (also named the king (also named Fortinbras) was killed Fortinbras) was killed by Hamlet's father by Hamlet's father (also named Hamlet). (also named Hamlet). Now Fortinbras wishes Now Fortinbras wishes to attack Denmark to to attack Denmark to avenge his father's avenge his father's honor, making him honor, making him another foil for Prince another foil for Prince Hamlet.Hamlet.

The GhostThe Ghost

The specter of The specter of

Hamlet's recently Hamlet's recently

deceased father. deceased father.

The ghost, who The ghost, who

claims to have been claims to have been

murdered by murdered by

Claudius, calls upon Claudius, calls upon

Hamlet to avenge Hamlet to avenge

him. him.

The Ghost continuedThe Ghost continued

It is not entirely certain whether the It is not entirely certain whether the ghost is what it appears to be, or ghost is what it appears to be, or whether it is something else. Hamlet whether it is something else. Hamlet speculates that the ghost might be a speculates that the ghost might be a devil sent to deceive him and tempt devil sent to deceive him and tempt him into murder, and the question of him into murder, and the question of what the ghost is or where it comes what the ghost is or where it comes from is never definitively resolved.from is never definitively resolved.

RosencrantzRosencrantz andand Guildenstern Guildenstern

Two slightly bumbling Two slightly bumbling courtiers, former courtiers, former friends of Hamlet friends of Hamlet from Wittenberg, who from Wittenberg, who are summoned by are summoned by Claudius and Claudius and Gertrude to discover Gertrude to discover the cause of Hamlet's the cause of Hamlet's strange behavior. strange behavior.

ThemesThemes

Themes are the Themes are the

fundamental and fundamental and

often universal often universal

ideas explored in a ideas explored in a

literary work. literary work.

Appearance vs. RealityAppearance vs. Reality

Appearance doesn’t match reality often.Hamlet struggles to determine who his

true friends areClaudius appears to be a true and just

king and Gertrude his virtuous queenRosencrantz and Guildenstern appear to

be true friends, etc.

Sanity vs. InsanitySanity vs. Insanity

In many ways this theme is intertwined with the theme of appearance vs. reality. Hamlet’s sanity or insanity has baffled critics for years. Even the characters in the play discuss inconsistencies in Hamlet’s behavior, sometimes assuming he is really insane, at other times amazed by his clarity of thought.

Theme of CertaintyTheme of Certainty

What separates What separates HamletHamlet from other from other revenge plays (and maybe from every revenge plays (and maybe from every play written before it) is that the action play written before it) is that the action we expect to see, particularly from we expect to see, particularly from Hamlet himself, is continually Hamlet himself, is continually postponed while Hamlet tries to obtain postponed while Hamlet tries to obtain more certain knowledge about what he more certain knowledge about what he is doing. This play poses many is doing. This play poses many questions that other plays would simply questions that other plays would simply take for granted.take for granted.

Theme of UncertaintyTheme of Uncertainty

Many people have seen Many people have seen HamletHamlet as a as a play about indecisiveness, and thus play about indecisiveness, and thus about Hamlet's failure to act about Hamlet's failure to act appropriately. It might be more appropriately. It might be more interesting to consider that the play interesting to consider that the play shows us how many uncertainties our shows us how many uncertainties our lives are built upon, how many unknown lives are built upon, how many unknown quantities are taken for granted when quantities are taken for granted when people act or when they evaluate one people act or when they evaluate one another's actions.another's actions.

Theme of Action vs. InactionTheme of Action vs. Inaction

Directly related to Directly related to the themes of the themes of certainty and certainty and uncertainty is the uncertainty is the theme of action. theme of action. How is it possible How is it possible to take to take reasonable, reasonable, effective, effective, purposeful action? purposeful action? Is it possible to actIs it possible to act without without taking taking action? action?

DeathDeath

In the aftermath of In the aftermath of his father's murder, his father's murder, Hamlet is obsessed Hamlet is obsessed with the idea of with the idea of death, and over death, and over the course of the the course of the play he considers play he considers death from a great death from a great many perspectives. many perspectives.

Decay and CorruptionDecay and Corruption

Among the most powerful images of the play are those which reveal disintegrating situations, both in personal terms for Prince Hamlet, and in political terms for Denmark.

RevengeRevenge Since death is both the Since death is both the cause and the cause and the consequence of consequence of revenge, it is revenge, it is intimately tied to the intimately tied to the theme of revenge and theme of revenge and justice—Claudius's justice—Claudius's murder of King Hamlet murder of King Hamlet initiates Hamlet's initiates Hamlet's quest for revenge, and quest for revenge, and Claudius's death is the Claudius's death is the end of that quest.end of that quest.

MotifsMotifs

Motifs are recurring Motifs are recurring

structures, structures,

contrasts, or literary contrasts, or literary

devices that can devices that can

help to develop and help to develop and

inform the text's inform the text's

major themes. major themes.

Motif of Ears and HearingMotif of Ears and Hearing Focus on the Focus on the

“slipperiness” of “slipperiness” of language—words language—words communicate ideas, but communicate ideas, but they can also be used to they can also be used to distortdistort the truth, the truth, manipulate other people, manipulate other people, and serve as tools in and serve as tools in corrupt quests for power. corrupt quests for power. Claudius, the shrewd Claudius, the shrewd politician, is the most politician, is the most obvious example of a obvious example of a man who manipulates man who manipulates words to enhance his words to enhance his own power. own power.

SymbolsSymbols

Symbols are objects, Symbols are objects,

characters, figures, characters, figures,

or colors used to or colors used to

represent abstract represent abstract

ideas or concepts. ideas or concepts.

The EndThe End