HamletHamlet

William 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.

SettingSetting

The story takes The story takes

place in the country place in the country

of Denmark in the of Denmark in the

late medieval period.late medieval period.

The StoryThe Story

The raw material that Shakespeare The raw material that Shakespeare appropriated in writing appropriated in writing HamletHamlet is the is the story of a Danish prince whose uncle story of a Danish prince whose uncle murders the prince's father, marries murders the prince's father, marries his mother, and claims the throne. his mother, and claims the throne. The prince pretends to be feeble-The prince pretends to be feeble-minded to throw his uncle off guard, minded to throw his uncle off guard, then tries to kill his uncle in revenge. then tries to kill his uncle in revenge.

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 prince at the

university in university in

Wittenberg. Horatio is Wittenberg. Horatio is

loyal and helpful to loyal and helpful to

Hamlet throughout the Hamlet throughout the

play. play.

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.

Ophelia continuedOphelia continued

Dependent on men to tell her how to Dependent on men to tell her how to behave, she gives in to Polonius's behave, she gives in to Polonius's schemes to spy on Hamlet. Even in schemes to spy on Hamlet. Even in her lapse into madness, she remains her lapse into madness, she remains maidenly, singing songs about maidenly, singing songs about flowers.flowers.

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.

The EndThe End