HamletHamlet

William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

PublicationPublication

Written 1600 or 1601Written 1600 or 1601

Probably first performed in July 1602 Probably first performed in July 1602

First published in printed form in First published in printed form in

16031603

Larger print edition in 1604. Larger print edition in 1604.

Johann GutenbergJohann GutenbergJohannes Gensfleisch zur Laden Johannes Gensfleisch zur Laden

zum Gutenbergzum Gutenberg (c. (c. 1398 – – February 3, , 1468))

German goldsmith and goldsmith and inventor Invented Invented movable type printing in in

Europe (ca. 1450). Europe (ca. 1450). The Gutenberg Bible, also known as The Gutenberg Bible, also known as

the 42-line bible, high aesthetic and the 42-line bible, high aesthetic and technical quality.technical quality.

SettingSetting

Denmark in the Denmark in the

late medieval late medieval

period.period.

The StoryThe Story

Danish prince Danish prince Uncle murders the prince's father, Uncle murders the prince's father, marries his mother, marries his mother, and claims the throne. and claims the throne.

HamletHamlet

The Prince of Denmark,The Prince of Denmark,

the protagonist. the protagonist.

the son of Queen the son of Queen

GertrudeGertrude

And the late King And the late King

HamletHamlet

the nephew of the the nephew of the

present king, Claudius. present king, Claudius.

Hamlet continuedHamlet continued

melancholy, bitter, and cynical, melancholy, bitter, and cynical, disgust for his mother's disgust for his mother's

sexuality. sexuality. reflective and thoughtful reflective and thoughtful indecisive and hesitantindecisive and hesitantprone to rash and impulsive actsprone to rash and impulsive actsstudied at the University of studied at the University of

WittenbergWittenberg

ClaudiusClaudiusThe King of DenmarkThe King of DenmarkHamlet's uncleHamlet's unclethe play's antagonist. the play's antagonist. calculating, ambitiouscalculating, ambitioussexual appetites and lust sexual appetites and lust

for powerfor powerbut shows signs of guilt and but shows signs of guilt and

human feelinghuman feelinglove for Gertrude seems love for Gertrude seems

sincere.sincere.

GertrudeGertrude

The Queen of DenmarkThe Queen of Denmark

Hamlet's motherHamlet's mother

recently married to Claudius. recently married to Claudius.

Gertrude loves Hamlet deeplyGertrude loves Hamlet deeply

she is a shallow, weak womanshe is a shallow, weak woman

seeks affection and status seeks affection and status

more than moral rectitude or more than moral rectitude or

truth.truth.

Ham.Ham.O that this too too solid flesh would melt,O that this too too solid flesh would melt,Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew!Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew!Or that the Everlasting had not fix'dOr that the Everlasting had not fix'dHis canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God! O God!His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God! O God!How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitableHow weary, stale, flat, and unprofitableSeem to me all the uses of this world!Seem to me all the uses of this world!Fie on't! O fie! 'tis an unweeded garden,Fie on't! O fie! 'tis an unweeded garden,That grows to seed; things rank and gross in That grows to seed; things rank and gross in naturenaturePossess it merely. That it should come to this!Possess it merely. That it should come to this!But two months dead!--nay, not so much, not two:But two months dead!--nay, not so much, not two:So excellent a king; that was, to this,So excellent a king; that was, to this,

Hyperion to a satyr; so loving to my mother,Hyperion to a satyr; so loving to my mother,That he might not beteem the winds of heavenThat he might not beteem the winds of heavenVisit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth!Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth!Must I remember? Why, she would hang on himMust I remember? Why, she would hang on himAs if increase of appetite had grownAs if increase of appetite had grownBy what it fed on: and yet, within a month,--By what it fed on: and yet, within a month,--Let me not think on't,--Frailty, thy name is Let me not think on't,--Frailty, thy name is woman!--woman!--A little month; or ere those shoes were oldA little month; or ere those shoes were oldWith which she followed my poor father's bodyWith which she followed my poor father's bodyLike Niobe, all tears;--why she, even she,--Like Niobe, all tears;--why she, even she,--

O God! a beast that wants discourse of reason,O God! a beast that wants discourse of reason,Would have mourn'd longer,--married with Would have mourn'd longer,--married with mine uncle, My father's brother; but no more mine uncle, My father's brother; but no more like my father Than I to Hercules: within a like my father Than I to Hercules: within a month;month;Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tearsEre yet the salt of most unrighteous tearsHad left the flushing in her galled eyes,Had left the flushing in her galled eyes,She married:-- O, most wicked speed, to postShe married:-- O, most wicked speed, to postWith such dexterity to incestuous sheets!With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!It is not, nor it cannot come to good;It is not, nor it cannot come to good;But break my heart,--for I must hold my But break my heart,--for I must hold my tongue!tongue!

PoloniusPolonius

The Lord ChamberlainThe Lord Chamberlain

a pompous, conniving old man. a pompous, conniving old man.

Polonius is the father of Laertes Polonius is the father of Laertes

and Ophelia.and Ophelia.

HoratioHoratio

Hamlet's close friendHamlet's close friend

Students at University Students at University

of Wittenberg. of Wittenberg.

Horatio is loyal.Horatio is loyal.

Horatio remains alive Horatio remains alive

to tell Hamlet's story.to tell Hamlet's story.

OpheliaOphelia Polonius's daughterPolonius's daughter beautiful young womanbeautiful young woman in love with Hamlet.in love with Hamlet. Ophelia is a sweet, Ophelia is a sweet,

innocent young girlinnocent young girl obeys her father and her obeys her father and her

brother, Laertes. brother, Laertes. Maidenly unitl death, Maidenly unitl death,

singing songs about singing songs about flowers.flowers.

LaertesLaertes

Polonius's sonPolonius's son Ophelia's brotherOphelia's brother Most of the play in Most of the play in

France. France. Passionate and quick to Passionate and quick to

actionaction Laertes is a foil for the Laertes is a foil for the

reflective Hamlet.reflective Hamlet.

FortinbrasFortinbras

The young Prince of NorwayThe young Prince of Norway father the king (also named father the king (also named

Fortinbras) Fortinbras) killed by Hamlet's father killed by Hamlet's father

(also named Hamlet). (also named Hamlet). Fortinbras wishes to attack Fortinbras wishes to attack

Denmark to avenge his Denmark to avenge his father's honorfather's honor

another foil for Prince another foil for Prince Hamlet.Hamlet.

The GhostThe Ghost The specter of Hamlet's The specter of Hamlet's

recently deceased father. recently deceased father.

The ghost, claims to have The ghost, claims to have

been murdered by Claudius,been murdered by Claudius,

calls upon Hamlet to avenge calls upon Hamlet to avenge

him. him.

Angel or devil Angel or devil

never definitively resolved.never definitively resolved.

RosencrantzRosencrantz andand Guildenstern Guildenstern

bumbling courtiersbumbling courtiers former friends of former friends of

Hamlet from Hamlet from WittenbergWittenberg

summoned by Claudius summoned by Claudius to discover Hamlet's to discover Hamlet's strange behavior. strange behavior.

Look for type of Look for type of characterization: characterization: static, flat, etc.static, flat, etc.

ThemesThemes

Themes:Themes:

FundamentalFundamental

often universal often universal

ideasideas

Theme of Theme of Certainty/UncertaintyCertainty/Uncertainty

Unique to Unique to HamletHamlet the action continually postponedthe action continually postponeda misleading fiend? a misleading fiend? reliable knowledge about its own reliable knowledge about its own

deathdeathor is the ghost itself deluded?or is the ghost itself deluded?

More QuestionsMore Questions

Guilty by watching? Guilty by watching? the afterlife?the afterlife?uncertainties our lives are built uponuncertainties our lives are built uponevaluate one another's actions.evaluate one another's actions.

Theme of ActionTheme of Action

Related to the Related to the theme of certainty. theme of certainty.

need for certaintyneed for certainty emotional, ethical, emotional, ethical,

and psychological and psychological factors. factors.

Acting RecklesslyActing Recklessly

Possible to act in a controlled, Possible to act in a controlled, purposeful way.purposeful way.

Hamlet prefers to do it blindly, Hamlet prefers to do it blindly, recklessly, and violently. recklessly, and violently.

Acting FoolishlyActing Foolishly

Claudius action ends in his Claudius action ends in his conscience being tormented . . . conscience being tormented . . . Dies. Dies.

Laertes resolves no distraction, but is Laertes resolves no distraction, but is Claudius’s pawn. Claudius’s pawn.

Theme of DeathTheme of Death

Hamlet obsessed Hamlet obsessed with deathwith death

Considers death Considers death from all angles. from all angles.

Aftermath of DeathAftermath of Death

spiritual aftermath of death--ghostspiritual aftermath of death--ghostthe physical remainders of the dead--the physical remainders of the dead--

Yorick's skullYorick's skullthe themes of spirituality, truth, and the themes of spirituality, truth, and

uncertaintyuncertaintyDeath would bring truth in an Death would bring truth in an

ambiguous world. ambiguous world.

Revenge to DeathRevenge to Death

Connection of Connection of death to revengedeath to revenge

SuicideSuicide

To be or not to be, whether . . . To be or not to be, whether . . . morally legitimate? morally legitimate? longs for death to end sufferinglongs for death to end sufferingfears eternal suffering in hell– fears eternal suffering in hell–

Catholic prohibition of suicide. Catholic prohibition of suicide.

““To be or not to be”To be or not to be” To be, or not to be: that is To be, or not to be: that is

the question: Whether 'tis the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing troubles, And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep; end them? To die: to sleep; No more; and by a sleep to No more; and by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache say we end The heart-ache and the thousand natural and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to, shocks That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation 'tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish'd. Devoutly to be wish'd.

To die, to sleep; To sleep: perchance to To die, to sleep; To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub; For in that sleep dream: ay, there's the rub; For in that sleep of death what dreams may come When we of death what dreams may come When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause: there's the respect That makes us pause: there's the respect That makes calamity of so long life; For who would bear calamity of so long life; For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, The the whips and scorns of time, The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, The pangs of despised love, the contumely, The pangs of despised love, the law's delay, The insolence of office and the law's delay, The insolence of office and the spurns That patient merit of the unworthy spurns That patient merit of the unworthy takes, When he himself might his quietus takes, When he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin? who would make With a bare bodkin? who would fardels bear, fardels bear,

To grunt and sweat under a weary life, But To grunt and sweat under a weary life, But that the dread of something after death, The that the dread of something after death, The undiscover'd country from whose bourn No undiscover'd country from whose bourn No traveller returns, puzzles the will And makes traveller returns, puzzles the will And makes us rather bear those ills we have Than fly to us rather bear those ills we have Than fly to others that we know not of? Thus conscience others that we know not of? Thus conscience does make cowards of us all; And thus the does make cowards of us all; And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o'er with native hue of resolution Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought, And enterprises of the pale cast of thought, And enterprises of great pith and moment With this regard their great pith and moment With this regard their currents turn awry, And lose the name of currents turn awry, And lose the name of action. - Soft you now! The fair Ophelia! action. - Soft you now! The fair Ophelia! Nymph, in thy orisons Be all my sins Nymph, in thy orisons Be all my sins remember'd. remember'd.

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 MisogynyMotif of Misogyny

Greek Greek misogynia,misogynia, from from miseinmisein to to hate + hate + gynēgynē woman. woman.

cynical, even neurotic, about womencynical, even neurotic, about womenconnection between female sexuality connection between female sexuality

and moral corruption. and moral corruption.

““Frailty, thy name is woman”Frailty, thy name is woman”

Ophelia and Gertrude. Ophelia and Gertrude. Ophelia to go to a nunnery rather Ophelia to go to a nunnery rather

than experience the corruptions of than experience the corruptions of sexuality and exclaims of Gertrude, sexuality and exclaims of Gertrude, "Frailty, thy name is woman""Frailty, thy name is woman"

Motif of Ears and HearingMotif of Ears and Hearing

Words for truth or Words for truth or deceit deceit

Use of WordsUse of Words

images of ears and hearing,images of ears and hearing, Claudius's murder of the king Claudius's murder of the king Hamlet's claim to Horatio that "I have Hamlet's claim to Horatio that "I have

words to speak in thine ear will make thee words to speak in thine ear will make thee dumb". dumb".

"the whole ear of Denmark" is "Rankly "the whole ear of Denmark" is "Rankly abused….". abused….".

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.

RegicideRegicide

Etymology: Etymology: Latin Latin reg-, rexreg-, rex king + English king + English -cide-cide — —

more at more at royalroyal Date: Date:

circa 1548 circa 1548

Yorick’s SkullYorick’s Skull

Hamlet discovers Hamlet discovers in the graveyard in in the graveyard in the first scene of the first scene of Act V. Act V.

Different Aspects of DeathDifferent Aspects of Death

InevitabilityInevitability disintegration of the body. disintegration of the body. "get you to my lady's chamber, and tell "get you to my lady's chamber, and tell

her, let her paint an inch thick, to this her, let her paint an inch thick, to this favor she must come"—no one can avoid favor she must come"—no one can avoid death. death.

He also traces the skull's mouth and says, He also traces the skull's mouth and says, "Here hung those lips that I have kissed I "Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft,“--physical know not how oft,“--physical consequences of death. consequences of death.

Decay of the Human BodyDecay of the Human Body

noting that Polonius will be eaten by noting that Polonius will be eaten by worms, worms,

that even kings are eaten by wormsthat even kings are eaten by wormsdust from the decayed body of dust from the decayed body of

Alexander the Great might be used Alexander the Great might be used to stop a hole in a beer barrel.to stop a hole in a beer barrel.

The EndThe End