HamletHamletWilliam Shakespeare (1564-1616)William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

Shakespearean TragedyShakespearean Tragedy Shakespearean tragedy dates itself to the Shakespearean tragedy dates itself to the

RenaissanceRenaissance Queen Elizabeth was the reigning monarch and Queen Elizabeth was the reigning monarch and

brought stability to Englandbrought stability to England Time of exploration in search of spices, gold, cloth Time of exploration in search of spices, gold, cloth

(and wealth)(and wealth) Man saw things differently than Greek timesMan saw things differently than Greek times Revival of classical artsRevival of classical arts Humanism – man seen as centre of universeHumanism – man seen as centre of universe Copernicus raised questions about sun centred Copernicus raised questions about sun centred

universe challenging Ptolemy’s theory and forcing universe challenging Ptolemy’s theory and forcing Christians to reconsider belief systemChristians to reconsider belief system

Theory of Divine Right of Kings was also causing Theory of Divine Right of Kings was also causing disorder and chaosdisorder and chaos

ContinuedContinued Shakespearean drama is a unique blend of the traditional style Shakespearean drama is a unique blend of the traditional style

(Greek) and the modern style(Greek) and the modern style Traditional – dramatizes the struggle between good and evil; Traditional – dramatizes the struggle between good and evil;

absolute power of death; fall of the great manabsolute power of death; fall of the great man Modern – uncertainty of the world and man’s place in the scheme Modern – uncertainty of the world and man’s place in the scheme

of things; questions man’s moralityof things; questions man’s morality Shakespearean tragedies emphasize not so much Fortune and the Shakespearean tragedies emphasize not so much Fortune and the

punishment of evildoers, but the hero as an instrument of his own punishment of evildoers, but the hero as an instrument of his own destinydestiny

The hero falls b/c of some error in judgement or some obsessionThe hero falls b/c of some error in judgement or some obsession The tragedy is a story about the “waste of that which is good”The tragedy is a story about the “waste of that which is good” Differences btwn. Shakespearean and Greek tragedy:Differences btwn. Shakespearean and Greek tragedy: no gods appear-although other supernatural forces existno gods appear-although other supernatural forces exist the plays offer many scenesthe plays offer many scenes large cast of characterslarge cast of characters Christian insistence on free willChristian insistence on free will A feeling of “What a pity it was this way, when it could have been A feeling of “What a pity it was this way, when it could have been

different”different”

Introduction to Introduction to HamletHamlet

In 1603, Hamlet appeared in print in quarto In 1603, Hamlet appeared in print in quarto form. However it was a “bad” quarto. form. However it was a “bad” quarto. Scholars believe that the actor who played Scholars believe that the actor who played Marcellus recreated what he could Marcellus recreated what he could remember of the play and sold it to an remember of the play and sold it to an unscrupulous printer. This “bad” First unscrupulous printer. This “bad” First Quarto was about half the length of the Quarto was about half the length of the more authoritative Second Quarto which more authoritative Second Quarto which appeared in print in the following year.appeared in print in the following year.

Scholars are divided Scholars are divided as to when the play as to when the play was actually was actually written. Some written. Some place it as early as place it as early as 1589 and others as 1589 and others as late as 1601.late as 1601.

A 12A 12thth Century Danish Century Danish monk wrote the first monk wrote the first history of Amlethhistory of Amleth

The Appeal of The Appeal of HamletHamlet

If Shakespeare is greatest playwright then If Shakespeare is greatest playwright then Hamlet may be greatest play ever written.Hamlet may be greatest play ever written.

HamletHamlet is much more than an enduring is much more than an enduring cultural monument – it is a living and cultural monument – it is a living and popular work of drama. For over 400 years popular work of drama. For over 400 years it has dominated stages all over the world it has dominated stages all over the world and feature film versions of this and feature film versions of this masterpiece continue to be produced.masterpiece continue to be produced.

Why do people never tire of Why do people never tire of HamletHamlet? ? Perhaps its appeal can be attributed to the Perhaps its appeal can be attributed to the story itself. The plotline seems to have all story itself. The plotline seems to have all the elements of an engaging story. the elements of an engaging story.

Horatio seems to be speaking for the author when Horatio seems to be speaking for the author when he promises late in the play, to tellhe promises late in the play, to tell

Of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts,Of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts,Of accidental judgments, casual slaughters,Of accidental judgments, casual slaughters,Of deaths put on by cunning and forcedOf deaths put on by cunning and forced cause,cause,And, in this upshot, purposes mistookAnd, in this upshot, purposes mistook

Fallen on the inventors’ headsFallen on the inventors’ heads (5.2).(5.2).

However, more exciting plots have been devised However, more exciting plots have been devised and forgotten. We must look elsewhere to and forgotten. We must look elsewhere to explain the appeal of the play. Perhaps what explain the appeal of the play. Perhaps what continues to draw people to the play is the continues to draw people to the play is the character of Hamlet himself.character of Hamlet himself.

In 1817, William Hazlitt recognized Hamlet’s In 1817, William Hazlitt recognized Hamlet’s timeless and universal appeal when he declared timeless and universal appeal when he declared that “It is we who are Hamlet.”that “It is we who are Hamlet.”

Shakespeare’s verse and proseShakespeare’s verse and prose

Elizabethans did not really speak the Elizabethans did not really speak the way Shakespeare’s characters do. way Shakespeare’s characters do. Shakespeare wrote using a poetic form Shakespeare wrote using a poetic form known as known as blank verseblank verse. This produces . This produces an elevated style which would have an elevated style which would have been very different from everyday been very different from everyday speech during the Elizabethan period. speech during the Elizabethan period. Blank verse contains a rhythmic Blank verse contains a rhythmic pattern known as pattern known as iambic pentameter.iambic pentameter.

Iambic PentameterIambic Pentameter

This means that most lines contain 5 This means that most lines contain 5 feet (pentameter) and each foot feet (pentameter) and each foot contains an unstressed and a contains an unstressed and a stressed syllable (an iamb). The stressed syllable (an iamb). The rhythm pattern sounds like this:rhythm pattern sounds like this:da DA da DA da DA da DA da DAda DA da DA da DA da DA da DA

Hamlet’s first lines in the play would look like this in terms of Hamlet’s first lines in the play would look like this in terms of stressed and unstressed syllablesstressed and unstressed syllables

~ / / ~ / ~ / ~ /~ / / ~ / ~ / ~ /A little more than kin, and less than kindA little more than kin, and less than kind

The play The play HamletHamlet is an approximately 4000 is an approximately 4000 lines long and of these, a full quarter are lines long and of these, a full quarter are written in prose. Prose contrasts strongly written in prose. Prose contrasts strongly with the elevated style of blank verse. with the elevated style of blank verse. Persons of noble birth speak in verse and Persons of noble birth speak in verse and servants and members of the lower servants and members of the lower classes usually speak in prose. However, classes usually speak in prose. However, Hamlet speaks in prose when he Hamlet speaks in prose when he addresses commoners. Letters and addresses commoners. Letters and documents, scenes of comic relief, and documents, scenes of comic relief, and scenes involving madness are also usually scenes involving madness are also usually written in prose.written in prose.

Hamlet Hamlet in in Popular CulturePopular CultureThe Lion KingThe Lion King was inspired by was inspired by HamletHamlet. .

Gilligan's IslandGilligan's Island episode "The Producer," the episode "The Producer," the

castaways put on a musical production of castaways put on a musical production of HamletHamlet set to the music of set to the music of CarmenCarmen. .

The SimpsonsThe Simpsons offered a shortened version of offered a shortened version of HamletHamlet in the episode " in the episode "Tales from the Public DomainTales from the Public Domain". After this, ". After this, Homer claims that Hamlet was made into the Homer claims that Hamlet was made into the film film GhostbustersGhostbusters. .

South ParkSouth Park :Terrance and Philip's professional :Terrance and Philip's professional relationship fails, resulting in one of them relationship fails, resulting in one of them becoming a Shakespearean actor, becoming a Shakespearean actor, subsequently performing subsequently performing HamletHamlet with other with other Canadian actors, with the ending of the play Canadian actors, with the ending of the play being shown in the episode. being shown in the episode.

SpongeBob SquarePantsSpongeBob SquarePants has an episode has an episode called "called "To SquarePants or Not to To SquarePants or Not to SquarePantsSquarePants". ".

Wizards of Waverly Place: Wizards of Waverly Place: Alex and Justin Alex and Justin start a plan B; they create a band and one of start a plan B; they create a band and one of their lyrics includes, "though there is method their lyrics includes, "though there is method to this madness". to this madness".

Just the FactsJust the Facts Author:Author: William Shakespeare  William Shakespeare

Born:Born: April 23, 1564; Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England  April 23, 1564; Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England Died:Died: April 23, 1616; Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England  April 23, 1616; Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England

Type of Work:Type of Work: Drama  Drama Type of Plot:Type of Plot: Tragedy  Tragedy Time of Work:Time of Work: c. 1200  c. 1200 Locale:Locale: Elsinore, Denmark  Elsinore, Denmark

Principal Characters:Principal Characters:    HamletHamlet, the prince of Denmark  , the prince of Denmark  The GhostThe Ghost, Hamlet’s father, the former king of Denmark  , Hamlet’s father, the former king of Denmark  ClaudiusClaudius, the present king  , the present king  GertrudeGertrude, Hamlet’s mother  , Hamlet’s mother  PoloniusPolonius, a courtier  , a courtier  OpheliaOphelia, his daughter  , his daughter  LaertesLaertes, his son  , his son  HoratioHoratio, Hamlet’s friend  , Hamlet’s friend