When it comes to the works of William Shakespeare, Hamlet is often regarded as one of his most cherished plays. It was first performed sometime between 1599 and 1602, a time of political unrest in England. The country had just undergone the beheading of King Charles I, the rise of the Commonwealth under Lord Protector Cromwell, and the eventual restoration of the monarchy. These events may have influenced the plot and themes of the play.
In a time when revenge tragedies were popular, Shakespeare's Hamlet stood out for its focus on character development rather than graphic violence. The main character, Hamlet, is faced with a moral dilemma as he seeks revenge for his father's death.
Hamlet is highly esteemed in the world of theatre, as the play is driven primarily by its complex characters rather than action. Critics have applauded the play for its examination of psychology, personal philosophy, and moral code.
Literary critic Ernest Jones proposed that Hamlet's struggle to act may stem from his Oedipal complex. This idea, first put forth by Sigmund Freud in 1913, suggests that all young boys experience an unconscious phase in which they desire their mothers and view their fathers as rivals. Jones believed that Hamlet's difficulty in coming to terms with his uncle's actions of killing his father and marrying his mother was a result of these unconscious desires.
Fun fact: Shakespeare drew inspiration from various sources for his plays, including the Scandinavian figure of Amleth in Saxo Grammaticus' works for Hamlet.
The play opens in the castle of Elsinore in Denmark, where the guards are preparing to end their shift. They discuss a ghost that resembles the recently deceased King. The ghost appears and disappears, and the guards inform Prince Hamlet about it.
Meanwhile, King Claudius addresses the court and mentions his brother's death and his marriage to his brother's widow, Queen Gertrude. He questions why Hamlet continues to mourn his father's death while everyone else has moved on, hinting that it goes against divine will. Queen Gertrude also asks Hamlet about his grieving.
Hamlet expresses his sorrow, saying his father was like a god to him. He is disgusted by Claudius' comments and his mother's quick rebound from her husband's death after being seduced by Claudius. After the court disperses, the guards tell Hamlet about the ghost. He agrees to meet them at the battlements to learn more.
In the meantime, Ophelia's father and brother warn her not to speak to Hamlet or acknowledge his advances. When Hamlet and the guards encounter the ghost, he reveals that Claudius killed him and urges Hamlet to seek revenge. Hamlet makes the guards promise not to reveal the ghost's appearance or their conversation.
Hamlet is consumed by grief and the need to make things right. In a disheveled and disturbed state, he visits Ophelia but does not speak to her and quickly leaves. Ophelia confides in her father Polonius, who decides to report Hamlet's odd behavior to the King. The King and Queen summon two of Hamlet's friends, hoping they can cheer him up as he is not the same man they once knew. Polonius tells them that Hamlet is madly in love with Ophelia, which he believes is the cause of his strange actions. To test this theory, the King and Queen decide to eavesdrop on a conversation between Ophelia and Hamlet.
Hamlet, displaying signs of odd behavior and depression, toys with Polonius and his friends, who he knows have been summoned to check on him. He proclaims that life holds no pleasure for him and he does not enjoy it. Meanwhile, a group of actors arrive at Elsinore. Hamlet meets with them and asks them to perform a play, The Murder of Gonzago, with certain lines altered by him.
Feeling frustrated by his lack of determination in seeking revenge, Hamlet devises a plan to observe the King and Queen during the performance of the play. He hopes that when Claudius sees their wrongdoings reflected in the play, he will be compelled to confess to the murder of the King and Gertrude will feel remorse for her disloyal actions.
Hamlet's two friends inform the King and Queen that Hamlet is speaking like a madman, but they cannot figure out the cause of his madness. Polonius and Gertrude believe that Hamlet's love for Ophelia is the source of his unusual behavior.
In the kingdom of Denmark, Polonius arranges a meeting between Ophelia and Hamlet. However, Hamlet's cold treatment of her and his cynical views on humanity leave Ophelia heartbroken. Claudius overhears their conversation and dismisses Hamlet's behavior as lacking the passion of a man in love. Instead, he sees Hamlet as a threat to his reign and decides to send him away on an ambassadorial mission to England.
The royal court gathers for a play performance, but Hamlet continues to behave oddly towards everyone. During the play, the character of the King is assassinated, mirroring the Ghost's revelation about Claudius' guilt. This disturbs Claudius, who leaves along with most of the court. However, Hamlet stays behind with his friend Horatio. He takes Claudius' reaction as proof of his guilt, along with Horatio.
Polonius and Hamlet's friends inform him that the King and Queen are upset with him and demand a private meeting. Hamlet mocks them and then meets with Queen Gertrude. Fearing for his reign, Claudius orders Hamlet's friends to escort him to England. During a heated argument with Queen Gertrude, Hamlet accuses her of being seduced by someone as immoral as Claudius. The Ghost appears once again and reminds Hamlet of his duty to seek revenge. In a fit of rage and confusion, Hamlet accidentally stabs Polonius, who was spying on him, and Gertrude. Terrified, Gertrude informs Claudius of what happened and Hamlet flees.
Claudius is informed of Polonius' death, and Ophelia's madness. Her brother Laertes blames Claudius for his father's death and vows to seek revenge. Claudius denies any involvement and promises to explain everything to Laertes. Meanwhile, Hamlet returns to Denmark and requests a private meeting with the King. In a letter to Horatio, he reveals how he escaped from the ship to England during a pirate attack. Laertes learns of his sister's death by drowning and becomes even more enraged. He and the King plot to kill Hamlet in a fencing match, with Laertes using a sharp blade with a poisoned tip.
As tensions rise and secrets are revealed at Ophelia's funeral, Laertes and Hamlet engage in a fencing duel. Both are wounded by the poisoned tip, and Gertrude unknowingly drinks the poisoned wine and dies. As Hamlet's life also comes to an end, he injures the King with the poisoned blade and forces him to drink the poisoned wine.
As Hamlet's life slips away, he turns to his friend Horatio to clear his name. In the midst of this, the King of Norway enters and lays claim to Denmark, leading to a military burial for Hamlet. The kingdom is left in turmoil, with the tragic deaths of the royal family and the rightful ruler still in question.
Hamlet
O God, God,
How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable
Seem to me all the uses of this world!
(Act 1, Scene 2)
These famous lines from Hamlet's first soliloquy reveal the turmoil within his mind and heart.
After the sudden death of his father and his mother's swift marriage to Claudius, Prince Hamlet is consumed with grief, anger, and disgust. As he processes these intense emotions, he questions the purpose of life and expresses his lack of pleasure in existing. He is overwhelmed and conflicted, torn between seeking revenge for his father's murder and adhering to his moral code.
In an attempt to confirm Claudius' guilt, Hamlet devises a plan to stage a play reenacting his father's murder. He hopes that this will provoke a reaction from Claudius and expose him. However, Hamlet is wary of trusting outward appearances and fears that his plan may not be foolproof.
"To be or not to be—that is the question . . ." These iconic words from Hamlet's soliloquy in Act 3, Scene 1, reveal his contemplative nature and struggle with moral choices. He grapples with the idea of taking his own life to escape the world full of betrayal and deceit, ultimately deciding to face whatever may come rather than succumb to death.
In Act 3, Scene 2, during the "play within a play," Queen Gertrude famously remarks, "The lady doth protest too much, methinks." This line has become a popular saying to refer to someone who is being dramatic or insincere. The use of "a play within a play" or "framed narrative" is a technique often employed by authors and playwrights to add intrigue and explore concepts of reality and illusion. Shakespeare also uses this technique in other works such as Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Prince Hamlet's struggle with his own morality and the devastating consequences of seeking revenge is the central conflict in this classic revenge tragedy by William Shakespeare. The clash between action and contemplation is a recurring theme as Hamlet weighs his desire for retribution against his moral compass.
Hamlet falls under the category of revenge tragedy, a genre that aims to depict human suffering and emotions. Like Greek tragedies, it evokes a sense of "catharsis" in the audience. Hamlet's inner turmoil and philosophical musings on life and death serve as the driving force of this genre. As the play progresses and tension builds, it ultimately finds release in the revealing of Claudius' guilt and the downfall of both Hamlet and Claudius.
The Emotional Release of Catharsis
As the tension and emotions intensify throughout the play, the audience experiences a feeling of catharsis when they are ultimately released at the end. This is a form of emotional release and often brings a sense of pleasure in pain as they witness the characters' turmoil and ultimate resolutions.
The renowned play, Hamlet, explores the eternal conflict between personal morality and societal norms. Written by William Shakespeare, it is said to be inspired by the Danish prince Amleth, documented by historian Saxo Grammaticus.
Although Hamlet is a fictional work, it finds its roots in real life. The story of the Danish prince serves as the foundation for this timeless masterpiece.
One of the most famous lines in literature is uttered by Hamlet himself in Act 3 Scene 1: "To be, or not to be, that is the question." This line encapsulates the internal struggle of the protagonist, torn between his personal morals and societal expectations.
The core theme of Hamlet revolves around the conflict between individual ethics and societal pressures. Hamlet grapples with the moral dilemma of seeking revenge for his father's death, knowing that it goes against his beliefs. As the story unfolds, the consequences of his actions lead to the downfall of several characters, including himself.
Even after centuries, the story of Hamlet continues to captivate audiences, as it delves into the complexities of human emotions and moral dilemmas. Shakespeare's masterpiece serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us of the consequences of succumbing to external pressures and acting impulsively.
