Hamlet

1. Hamlet • The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601. • Hamlet is Shakespeare's longest play • According to a popular theory, Shakespeare's main source is believed to be an earlier play—now lost—known today as the Ur-Hamlet. Possibly written by Thomas Kyd or even William Shakespeare himself, the Ur-Hamlet would have been in performance by 1589 and the first version of the story known to incorporate a ghost

2. Act I • Scene i- Ghost of Hamlet’s Father seen • Scene ii- Claudius announces joy/sorrow of King’s death/ his own marriage to Gertrude. -Laertes returns to Paris -Hamlet stays in Denmark…King and Queen want him to cheer up…Hamlet’s resentment grows -Hamlet told by Horatio of his father’s ghost

3. Scene iii- Laertes warns Ophelia to avoid “affections” with Hamlet…Polonius does the same. • Polonius gives advice to Laertes..”To thine own self be true..” • Scene v- Ghost tells Hamlet he was killed by Claudius (his brother) by poison whilst sleeping. -Ghost must suffer b/c he never confessed his sins. -Hamlet is to avenge his death -Hamlet not to seek revenge against mother -Hamlet not sure of ghost. (Could be a spirit)

4. Characters • Claudius–King of Denmark • Hamlet–Son of the former king, and nephew of the present King • Gertrude–Queen of Denmark, and mother to Hamlet • Polonius–Lord Chamberlain • Ophelia–Daughter to Polonius • Horatio–Friend to Hamlet • Laertes–Son to Polonius • Voltimand, Cornelius–Courtiers • Rosencrantz, Guildenstern–Courtiers, friends to Hamlet • Osric–a Courtier • Marcellus–an Officer • Bernardo–an Officer • Francisco–a Soldier • Reynaldo–Servant to Polonius • Ghost of Hamlet's Father • Fortinbras–Prince of Norway • Gravediggers–A sexton and a clown • Player King, Player Queen, Lucianus, etc.–Players

5. Hamlet and Religion Written at a time of religious upheaval, and in the wake of the English Reformation, the play is alternately Catholic (or piously medieval) and Protestant (or consciously modern). The Ghost describes himself as being in purgatory, and as dying without last rites

6. Hamlet and Philosophy Hamlet is often perceived as a philosophical character, expounding ideas that are now described as relativist, existentialist, and skeptical. For example, he expresses a subjectivistic idea when he says to Rosencrantz: "there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so". The idea that nothing is real except in the mind of the individual finds its roots in the Greek Sophists, who argued that since nothing can be perceived except through the senses—and since all individuals sense, and therefore perceive, things differently—there is no absolute truth, only relative truth.

8. Act II • Scene i-Polonius wants Reynaldo to spy on Laertes -Ophelia tells her father (Polonius) Hamlet’s odd behavior Scene ii-King tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern snoop info out of Hamlet. -Polonius tells King and Queen that Hamlets is literally “crazy” over Ophelia. -King, Queen, Polonius try to trap Hamlet with Ophelia as bait. -R and G talk to Hamlet…players (performers) enter -Hamlet thinks he is weak, needs to test ghost’s story…”The play’s the thing wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King”

9. Act III • Scene i- “To be or not to be…” speech -Hamlet and Ophelia argue, Hamlet cruel….King and Polonius listen. “Madness in great ones must not unwatched go” Scene ii- The play The Mousetrap performed Scene iii- Hamlet to be sent to England/Refuses to slay Claudius Scene iv- Hamlet chastises mother, Kills Polonius

10. Act IV • Scene i- Gertrude Tells Claudius about Hamlets murder of Polonius. • Scene ii- Rosen. & Gilden. Ask Hamlet about Polonius’ body. • Scene iii- Claudius sends Hamlet to England and asks England to kill Hamlet • Scene iv- Hamlet allows Norway to use its land for war against Poland. Hamlet weighs in on his causing death, but not being able to kill Claudius.