HAMLET

Viewing notes #1

Middle of night (midnight)

Dark

Winter “bitter cold”

Castle

Exterior shots

First words! “Who’s there?”

“Who’s there?”

“Who is on watch?”

Horatio comes to confirm the appearance of the ghost

“Beast” / “it”/ “what art thou?” “By Heaven – speak” / “it is offended” / “Before God…” (3rd vision bad omen for Denmark)

Horatio (Hamlet’s good friend) has inside info.

War preparations are secret. “whisper” – behind closed doors.

King Hamlet “beat” the Norwegian Fortinbras. Hamlet killed King Fortinbras. Young Fortinbras – full of revenge – forming an army to recover the lands lost by his father.

There is trouble brewing. Foreshadowing revenge Foreshadowing the Ghost’s request of young Hamlet to exact revenge on Claudius

“trouble the mind’s eye” – first reference to madness

“Heaven and earth” – first scene.

“speak” repeated – “speak to me” “speak”

“they say” “they say” “they say” – several allusions to pagan beliefs

NEXT SCENE

The wedding!

Claudius Getrude Ophelia

“our sometimes sister – now our queen” Cl

“War-like state” – but still got married – even though they’re still in mourning for our “dear brother”

Cl – brings up fortinbras.

Cl writes to Fortinbras’ uncle!

Hamlet and Fortinbras are both under the power of their respective uncles.

Laertes – Ophelia’s older brother and Polonius’ son – asks for permission to return to Paris.

Cl – “My cousin. My son”Hamlet’s first words “a little more than kin – and less than kind” (to Cl) / Not so My lord – I am too much in the sun (son)”

Ophelia – tries to comfort Hamlet – by telling him that death is a natural part of life. Cl – “mourning duties” / Obsequious sorrow / is an insult to heaven and to God and to Hamlet’s father. “think of us as a father…. / … you are the most immediate to our throne”

Cl – refuses to allow Hamlet to leave court and return to schoolHamlet “I shall do my best to obey you” to Ophelia…….

HAMLET’S FIRST SOLILOQUYHamlet want’s to disappear! He sees the world as an unweeded garden…”“So excellent a King - so loving to my mother” “heaven and earth” “and she would hang on him as if increased appetite had grown from what he had…”“less than two months [after Hamlets death]”“frailty thy name is woman”“a little month” “o God!”“ A beast would have mourned longer” “unrighteous tears”“o most wicked speed / incestuous sheets” “can not come to good”

IT WILL “BREAK MY HEART… I MUST HOLD MY TONGUE”

…. NEXT SCENE:Horatio – Marcelas – Bernardo

Hamlet is happy to see Horatio – plans to get smashed with him. Funeral sweet meats marriage table.

“me thinks I see my father… in my mind’s eye” Hamlet “ he was a man…”

Horatio tell Hamlet about the appearance of the Ghost – three time it has appeared.

“more sorrow than anger” Horatio

Hamlet comments that he will speak to the ghost… even “if HELL itself should gape and bid me hold my peace…” shows that Hamlet knows (believes) that it is dangerous and a sin to commune with a spirit / ghost /

Hamlet tells them to keep it top secret!! – and send them off

H -“so all is not well” / “I doubt some foul play” / “foul deeds will rise for all the earth to overrun to mens eyes” H….

NEXT SCENE:

Ophelia is fare welling Laertes - and Laertes is warning her Hamlet’s seduction. He says that his first and only loyalty is to Denmark. She should fear him – and stay away from Hamlet. “be wary then…” Ophelia gives Laertes a similar warning to stay “virtuous”

Polonius then gives Laertes solemn advice before he leaves for Paris –which foreshadows what’s to come…“give thy thoughts no tongue” “give everyman thine ear – but few thy voice” “the apparel oft proclaims the man”“neither a borrower or lender be”ABOVE ALL - “to thine own self be true”

***

NEXT SCENE

P forbids O to spend “private” time with Hamlet.

P says that O is “green” and naiive

O says that H loves her.

P rants on that H is speaking from “unholy suits” and not from love. O obeys P.

NEXT SCENE – HAMLET – HORATIO – MARCELAS… on the night watch to see the Ghost

- Cl and G are having a party – Hamlet criticizes the party and the states his hatred of alcohol in a great source of corruption. “the dram of evil”

- The ghost appears. - H is warned NOT to go with the ghost- HoR and Marcelas try to stop Hamlet from following the ghost – fearing that it is evil – and will lead to

Hamlet’s doom! FORESHADOWING!!

Horatio – screams at Hamlet to not to go with the ghost – to stay in the castle – with the guards – that the ghost will “deprive your sovereignty of reason and draw you into madness” – “brains to the fathom of sea”

Hamlet threatens Ho – that he will kill anyone who tries to stop him from following the ghost. this is the first instance where Hamlet behaves “out of character”… and shows his rage and “madness” he would kill his best friend and loyal subject Ho????

H – “I’ll follow you”

“There’s something rotten in the state of Denmark” symbolizes something “decaying” within Hamlet.

HAMLET’S next soliloquy

Followed by the conversation between The Ghost and Hamlet.

The ghost has been doomed to be a ghost because he was killed – murdered – without the receiving the Last Rites from a priest.

“revenge most foul”

“that incestuous – that adulterer” – the ghost – who continues to tell H that he loved G – but G was a “fake” who pretended to be virtuous – but was pure evil/sin

The ghost makes clear references that he was imperfect – that he was guilty and has committed many sins and died with his sins commiting him to “horrilble”

Th Gh tells H that he should “taint not thy mind” – and leave O “to heaven” – not to touch O… let her live and suffer her guilt.

“heaven… and earth” H

Hamlet says that he will only “remember” the ghosts’ instructions and words. He will forget all the good and sensible thoughts and values he has learned and that he “knows”

Ho and Marcelas catches up with Hamlet – Hamlet starts ranting. He makes them swear that they never EVER tell anyone about the ghost and Hamlet’s private time with the Ghost.

“THERE ARE MORE THINGS IN HEAVEN AND EARTH – HORATIO – THAN ARE DREAMT OF IN OUR PHILOSPHY!!” HAMLET

***

NEXT SCENE;

POLONIUS SENDS RENALDO TO PARIS TO CHECK ON LAERTES. P sets up R to be sneaky and “deceitful” in talking with Parisiens to find out the “truth” about La in Paris.

Key quote!!! From P to R = “your bait of falsehood takes this cup of truth”

Ophelia then comes rushing in to tell Polonius that Hamlet is acting “crazy”… that he frightened her. Ophelia described in detail the disheveled appearance of Hamlet.

“as if he is speaking of hell” O (see the script for the exact quote – which matches Horatio’s warning to Hamlet to stay away from the Ghost.

Polonius assumes that Hamlet is “mad” with love for O – and is acting crazy because O has been avoiding and rejecting Hamlet’s seduction.

** interesting that O reveals Hamlet’s behavior… immediately after P has told R to “pretend” to get the truth!

Film shows O as being emotional and passionate

***

Next Scene:

Rosencratz and Gildenstern:

“we have to use you…” “Hamlet’s transformation” Cl

R and G (H’s childhood friends) are summoned to cheer up H.

***

P approaches Cl – and claims he has “found the very cause for Hamlet’s lunacy”

Cl tells G that P knows the reason for Hamlet’s “distemper”

G says that its reason is “his father’s death and our o’er hasty marriage”

***

Next scene:

The ambassasors of Norway meet with Cl – and retells the events of young Fortinbras and his uncle.

YF is arrested by his uncle and charged with treason against Denmark. YF claims he is not preparing revenge against Denmark. YF is rebuked by his Uncle – and YF vows to never seek revenge on Denmark. New plan – YF will use the armies he has raised to pass through Denmark – to invade Poland!

Is Fortinbras or his uncle “pretending”? are they “acting” loyal to Denmark and Cl? Is the story “false bait” This is further development of the concept of plotting / corruption / people believe what they want / it’s easy to trick people / loyalty / self-protection /

***

Next scene:

Pelonius reveals his theory about Hamlet’s “mad love” for Ophelia.

“Brevity is the soul of wit” P

“your noble son is mad” “he’s mad – tis true” “mad - let us grant it then” P

P reveals a letter written y H to O… is it genuine? Is H planting “false bait?”

The letter – “doubt truth to be a liar” H

(Hamlet’s “madness” post-Ghost chat happened at the same time as P telling O to stop seeing H.)

P – “I will find were truth is hid”

Pelonius hatches a plan with Cl and G to draw H into a room with O – where Cl and P will hide and spy on H.

Again – P is playing the “fasle bait” game. – where they will use O to get H to talk.

***

Next Scene.

Polonius approaches Hamlet…

Hamlet speaks in riddles and connotation:

H –“you are fishmonger” “I would you be so honest a man”

P – “honest sir”

H – “honest as this world…

Irony of Hamlet’s raising of the topic of honesty – immediately after P’s plotting scheme!

H - “have you a daughter” “conceive” “conception”

P – “he’s gone… far gone” P is convincing himself that H is mad – and H’s reference to P’s daughter plays into P’s assessment. Does he “want” H to love H? Or – does P want truly want to find out the cause of H’s mad behavior.

P – “what are you reading?”

H – “words – words – words!!” (power of language… reveals H’s possible use of words as weapons of manipulation – as “false bait”) –Powerfully potently believe it as these words are set down.

P – if this be madness yet there is method in it” ?????

P – “how pregnant his responses”

Aside – “tedious old fool!” – connotation that he doesn’t take P seriously… OR – that his “false bait” of weird words has successfully manipulated P’s interpretation.

***

Next scene:

Rosencratz and Gildenstern arrive and greet Hamlet.

The banter – with sexual innuendo.

H – “Denmark is a prison” “to me it is a prison” “I have bad dreams”

H -“ to speak you like an honest man” “were you not sent for?” “There is a kind of confession in your look in which your modesty has crafty enough to colour” implies that H knows that to hide the truth from loved ones and good friends is very difficult to do – is he aware of this because he – in fact – himself – does have the “craft enough to colour” his true intentions?

H “I have of late – lost all my mirth…” – all things beautiful are now “foul pestilent”

H “Man’s delight’s not me” ??????

R and G tell H that they’ve organized a theatre group to put on a play – that will cheer him up.

H – he seems very happy that the players are coming. He’s excited. He shows “genuine” interest and enthusiasm. The scene becomes jovial and energetic!! Hamlet is very welcoming to R and G and the players!

Hamlet quite mad – “over excited” about the play.

P – comic relief as he explains all the different dramatic forms (kind of a dig at Shakespeare himself).

H asks the players to perform a speech. Use of word “honest”

Hamlet recites a very black and dark speech from a play – about a terrible murder,

P tells H that his recital was done well – with “well spoken – with good accent and good discretion” ironic… in that P is also speaking with “good accent and good discretion”

The main actor then performs the scene from the Greek tragedy. – which tells of a terrible murder in the battlefield.

“moblied queen”

The Greek tragedy – narrates a gruesome murder of the queen’s husband.

Here – Hamlet tells the lead player that H will write an alternative speech for the murder of the play… which will be performed tomorrow night.

***

Next scene.

Hamlet’s soliloquy:

“oh what a rogue a peasant slave am I?”

Hamlet admires the skills and talent of the actor who had just performed.

“the faculty of eyes and ears”

“vengeance!!!”

“prompted to revenge from heaven and hell”

H plans to play the events of his father’s murder”

“the spirit may be the devil!’ H is aware that he may being “played” by the devil. That the ghost could laying “false bait”.

“The play is the thing - where-in I’ll catch the conscience of a King!”

***

Next Scene:

Ro and Gi with Oph, Ge, P and Cl.

Ro and Gi report that they feel that H is forcing something. “with a crafty madness he keeps aloof” when faced with confessing his “madness”

Cl tells Ge to go away – so he and P and Oph can “trap” Hamlet to reveal the true cause of his “madness”.

** look at Cl’s “aside” speech here….

***

NEXT SCENE – HAMLET’S SOLILOQUY

ACT 3 – Sc -1 L 56 “TO BE OR NOT TO BE…”

Speech reflects. H questions himself. His beliefs, The plight of the “sin” of revenge – and the possibility of heaven?? He questions death – and reflects on what a “conscience” really is.

Op enters.

H - “The fair of Ophelia”

Hamlet denies that he gave Ophelia anything – no letters –

H – “are you honest” “are you fair”? on and on about “honesty” “I loved you once – I loved you not”“get thee to nunnery!!”

There is a noise… Hamlet hears it. He shows anger – sorrow – anger – rage – madness!

H - “God gives you one face – and you make yourself another!”

“All but one shall live”

Ophelia is grief stricken – aware of her woe… her disgrace.

Cl hatches a plan to send Hamlet to England until he’s “recovered”

P hatches another plan! P will hide in Ge’s chamber and listen to Ge speak to H. This way – a final attempt to get Hamlet to reveal his true nature / intentions. P tells Cl to wait until after this – and if nothing is revealed – then H should be sent to England.

***

Next scene:

Hamlet “coaching” the players.

He makes comments about Christian and pagan. He mentions the representation of “human nature”

They make preparations for the play.

Check out the conversation between Horatio and H. H asks Horatio to observe Cl during the play.

Hamlet wants someone he can trust to help him decide it the Ghost’s story is true – that Cl really did murder King Hamlet.

Allusion to Shakespeare’s play Julius Ceasar. Comic relief.

Hamlet then acts like a goose in front of everyone. He’s quite rude and disrespectful to Oph. He shames her with sexual innuendo on the whole court.

“tis brief my lord” Op

“like women’s love” H – to Gertrude.

ACT 3 – sc 2 – L 135 THE PLAY “The Mouse Trap” IS PERFORMED

The play is provocative. Iambic pentameter – unmistakable images so it’s not misinterpreted by the audience.

The play clearly shows that Ge and KH were deeply in love. That a true queen would never marry twice.

“methinks the lady doth protest too much!” Ge…

H - “if I could see the puppets dallying”

“frighted with false fire”

Cl stops the play.

Hamlet starts ranting. Everyone leaves.

H “The king likes not the comedy!”

H - “my wit’s diseased” to R and Gi

Ro and Gi gives Hamlet the message that Ge wants to see her straight away.

H - “it is as easy as lying” “You would play upon me” referencing the pipe / recorder … ranting at Ro and Gi. Metaphor of the pipe being played like Hamlet is being played.

Cl decided to send H to England if the King dies… the state dies.

P turns up and tells Cl he will spy on H. Then P goes and tries to get H to visit his mother.

Then P turns up and goes to hide in Ge chamber.

Cl “confesses” his brother’s death in a chapel. Not to a priest.

“my stronger guilt defeats my stronger intent” emotion trumps values

***

Act 3 – scene 3 – L 68 Hamlet’s soliloquy before he goes to his mother. CHECK THIS IN THE SCRIPT.

Hamlet “now he’s a praying – so he goes to heaven… “ why would killing Cl be revenge if he goes to heaven? Hamlet has strong religious values and faith.

ACT 3 – Sc 4 –

Ge – “…thou hast your father much offended…”

H says he would that she was not his mother.

Why does H react so violently? Is he “pretending” to be shocked that someone is spying? Was he afraid he was about to be killed by Cl? Or a “hitman” from Cl? Was he afraid that Ge was about to be murdered?

His attack on Ge??? Is he trying to understand his mother’s actions? Is he trying to empathise? Or – is he furious with Ge? Ha is exposing all Ge flaws and faults.

Ge – begs H to stop revealing her flaws and mistakes – and error of judgment. She expresses self-loathing.

The ghost appears again. The ghost reminds Hamlet of his promise. Do NOT punish Ge – but kill Cl. The Ghost is not happy that Hamlet is attacking Ge – the Ghost appears to be impatient with Hamlet’s failure / delay in following his vengeful instructions.

What does this reveal about Ge? If the Ghost is the devil… would he be so compassionate with Ge? If the Ghost if an angel and indeed the spirit of H’s father… what does his re-appearance reveal about

his affection for Ge?

H reveals to Ge that he sees the ghost of his father.

Ge tells that H is hallucinating. H claims he’s not mad.

H tries to get Ge to confess – is he trying to find out if she helped Cl -

“be cruel to be kind” he has used “craft of madness” to appear mad.

Conspires with Ge to seduce and try to get Cl to confess his murder of his brother.

H continues to reveal his is fully aware of all the plotting and plans of which he has been subjected.

What does this scene reveal about H?? His qualities? His flaws? His intentions? His behavior? His values and beliefs?

ACT 4 – sc 1

Does Ge “believe” that Hamlet is truly mad? Or – is she playing along with H?

Cl becomes extremely paranoid – he could have been killed instead of P

Ge defends H – it was an accident… H was trying to protect Ge.

Can we believe Ge? Where does her loyalty lie?

ACT 4 – sc 2

H is approached by R and Gi and Op and H acts mad – again. Lots of puns and paradoxes and nonsense.

ACT 4 – Sc 3

Cl and H have a tense and sarcasm-filled discussion.

Cl orders H to England. H complies.

Cl plans to write a letter to the King of England to kill H.

Ophelia goes mad with grief for her father’s death. Or – is it her grief over H’s rejection. – in Branagh’s film… not in the play-script.

ACT 4 – Sc 4

Young Fortinbras (and his army) arrives to seek “passage through Denmark”.

Hamlet intercepts the Captain of Fortinbras – who tells H of the Norwegian plan hatched by young Fortinbras. H seems to know nothing about Fortinbras’ plan nor the agreement which has been made with Norway. This seems odd – since Hamlet was present in ACT 1 –Sc 2 – when Cl declared the agreement with Old Fortinbras.

The captain reveals that the “little patch of ground” is worthless – that he wouldn’t pay $5 do farm it. H replies that there will be no battle – since Poland will see no point in defending it.

The captain states that the land has already been “garrisoned” and will be defended.

Hamlet questions the point of the exercise. And – he admonishes himself for not being “a man!” – he admonishes and questions himself for allowing to let all Cl and Ge “all sleep” – He compares the senseless and mass slaughter of the battle that will ensue in Poland (for no real wealth or honour to be gained) with the “noble and honorable” act that he has been his “dull revenge” of killing one man – who has murdered the King.

He compares the “delicate and tender Prince” of Norway (who’s father was also recently killed) - that if Fortinbras has the courage, the resources and the power to follow-through on mass murder (in revenge for this father’s death by Denmark) what kind of “man” (indeed what kind of Prince) is Hamlet if he can’t kill one man?

This is the turning point for H – he vows to – “from this time forth..” to only be focused on murder “thoughts be bloody or nothing worth”

***

ACT 4 – Sc 5

Ophelia has gone mad.

Ge is informed by Horatio and a gentlewoman

Ge - “my sick soul” “ so full of artless jealousy is guilt”

Op – “we not what we are – but not what we may be”

“tomorrow is Valentines Day” why has Ophelia gone mad? What is the effect of the rhyming and rhythm? Contrasted with the prose and verse?

Does Ophelia feel “guilty for her father’s death? Does she believe that he was punished for her sins? (She was a very “obedient” daughter!) Is Ge line re: “sick soul” and “full of--- guilt” a connotation which reveals the true cause of Op’s madness? Is Ph racked with guilt – that she was seduced by H?

Laertes gathers an “army” to kill Cl .

Larges in his violence and instant revenge is a stark contrast to Hamlet’s ‘delay’

Cl – “I am guiltless of thy father’s death” links to Hamlet’s knowledge of Cl’s guilt of his “father’s death”

Laertes is shocked by Ophelia’s mental state consider a psychological reading of the play? consider a feminist reading of the play?

Feminist reading of the play? female identity (and very psyche) becomes extinct without a defined purpose which is only possible with a relationship with a man (father / ’husband’ / and brother). Does Laertes feel guilty that he is also responsible for Ophelia’s descent into madness).

ACT 4 – Sc 6

Horatio receives a letter(s) from Hamlet – who has been separated from Ro and Gi. Hamlet has sent letters to Cl – which are passed on by a messenger.

Hamlet (in his letter to Horatio) bids that Ho come (via the sailors) to where Ha is.

ACT 4 – Sc 7

Cl and La… Why does Cl NOT proceed against Hamlet after his “murder” of P? Is Claudius afraid that H will reveal the truth…

Cl receives the letters. Cl reads the letters to La. H reveals that he will return “alone” to Denmark.

La states he will take his revenge on H. Cl (again) plots with La to kill Ha.

Cl claims H is envious of La’s lifestyle and freedoms to live in Paris. Cl flatters La – with great enthusiastic and glorious tales of La’s skill with a sword and horse – which is

far superior to Ha. Hamlet “so envenom with his envy” Note Cl comments about revenge. “that we would do / we should do when we would… as delays as

many as there are tongues” (tongues = words?).

La plots to stain his sword with a poison – to ensure that Hamlet dies

Cl plots to place poison in Hamlet’s goblet – to kill him if La’s sword fight doesn’t succeed.

Ge enters – and reports that Ophelia is dead – drowned. adds to La’s grief and rage “a speech of fire”

Note Cl comments about calming La rage. Is he planting a seed in Ge’s mind? Ironic – he wants la to be as enraged as possible. the more enraged that La is seen to be – the more likely that people will believe that La is soley responsible for Hamlet’d death. – does Cl seem surprised by the news of Op’s death? Do you suspect Cl in plotting her death?

In Branagh’s film, Ge refuses to follow Cl what is the significance of this?

ACT 5 – sc 1

The clowns – gravediggers.

Question of Christian burial? Clown demonstrates that social position is more powerful than Christianity.

What is the significance of the riddles and discussion?

Why include the grave scene? What is the purpose of this scene in the integrity of the entire play?

Note the vocab here which appears in the opening Act of the play.

What does the line “Alas Poor Yorrick – I knew him” – the court jester. again… H is reflecting on the past – his identity – and his purpose. Questioning the very meaning of life!

Title and social position is meaningless? nihilist perspective?

The funeral commences.

Hamlet watches – oblivious to who is about to be buried.

How does Ophelia’s death connect with the opening scene? What are the similarities between Ophelia’s death and King Hamlet’s death?

Ge reveals that she wanted Op to be Ha’s wife.

Hamlet reveals himself. What does this scene reveal about Ha’s true feelings for Op?? How does this impact on what you understand of Ha’s abuse of Op in Act 3? Has Ha been trying to protect Oph? Did he believe (know) that Oph’s life was at risk if their relationship was known?

ACT 5 – Sc 2

Ha and Ho… Ha is recounting the events that unfolded on the ship to England.

Note Hamlets comments “our deep plots do pall… / there’s a divinity that shapes our end”

What do you make of Ha’s “forged letter” to the English King which setences Ro and Gi to death? how is this linked to the last line of Hamlet’s solil and last line of Act 4?

Osric enters and welcomes Ha.

The banter ensues regarding the wager between Cl and La. Cl has challenged Ha to fight “play” with La.

Ho warns Ha that he cannot win. Does Ha even “want” to win? Has he lost everything that he lived for. Except for this mother and Ho – everyone he loves is dead. Does he feel that he has now endangered Ge’s life too?

Ha asks La for forgiveness. He “repents” and claims he was insane – therefore innocent.

Why does Hamlet speak of himself in the 3rd person.

In terms of “honour”

It appears that they have “made up” :/

Cl – “the king drinks to Hamlet”

Cl starts a drinking game with pearls! Every “hit” made by Hamlet – requires a drink! Gertrude drinks for Hamlet – despite Cl warning not to… Ha chooses not to drink

Fortinbras’ army approaches.

Laertes cheats! The fight is now “real” Gertude begins to die – Hamlets “fears” have been realised Hamlet kills Laertes “I am justly killed by my own treachery” Laertes confesses – and warns Hamlet “the King’s to blame!” Hamlet kills Claudius Laertes – says to Hamlet – this is not your fault! “I am dead, Horatio” Horatio wants to drink – but Hamlet convinces him not to…but appeals to

Horatio to tell his story “NOW CRACKS THE NOBLE HEART – SWEET PRINCE – FLIGHTS OF ANGELS TAKE THEE TO THY REST”

Fortinbras enters.

“Oh proud death”

“Ro and Gi are dead”

Note Horatio’s final speech…

Fortinbras asks to hear Horatio’s story.

Hamlet is buried as a hero (as a soldier). Fortinbras claims Denmark.

Questions???

Should Hamlet have acknowledged / listened to the Ghost? conjuring evil spirits?

Listened to the Ghost – but, rather, than delay, kill Claudius straight away? would everyone have died if he had killed Claudius sooner?

Was it all Polonius’ fault? Was Hamlet a genius strategist? If Hamlet was “mad” – is there a point where he stops being mad? How much did a sense of “guilt” and “fear of God” influence Hamlet’s “mad” behavior? Did Hamlet ‘delay’ to protect Gertrude from further suffering / grief Was Hamlet weak? Was Hamlet only thinking of himself? What are Hamlet’s qualities as a human being and prince? What are his flaws? Are the characters, relationships, events and conflicts in the play still evident today?