HamletHamlet

Characters,

structure, and themes

HamletHamletPlot/subplot structurePlot/subplot structure

• Main Plot – court– Hamlet’s grief

– Revenge of Old Hamlet’s death

– Dealing with Fortinbras

– Plots and machinations

• Subplots – Polonius family– Ophelia and Hamlet’s love

– Laertes in France

– Revenge of Polonius’ death

– Ophelia’s madness

HamletHamletPlot/subplot structurePlot/subplot structure

• Main Plot – revenge– Revenge of Old Hamlet’s death– Revenge for Polonius’ death– Fortinbras’ revenge

• Subplots – Hamlet’s grief, thoughts of death– Hamlet’s antic disposition– Hamlet’s relationship with Ophelia– Ophelia’s madness

HamletHamletFoilingFoiling

• Character foiling– Fortinbras, Hamlet, Laertes: lost father, revenge

– Hamlet, Ophelia: madness

– Old Hamlet, Polonius, Claudius: give advice to child(ren)

• Parallel scenes– Act 1, scenes 2, 3, 5: Parents give advice to children

– Act 2 and Act 4: Hamlet and Ophelia’s madness

HamletHamletthemesthemes

• revenge

• madness

• grief

• ideal king, politics

• eavesdropping, spying

• power of art, plays

HamletHamletissues to resolveissues to resolve

• Ghost– Is it real or not?– If it is real, is it a good ghost or an evil ghost?

• Is Hamlet really mad or feigning madness?• Does Hamlet procrastinate? If so, why?• Is Hamlet a scourge and/or minister? • How much should characters obey parents?• Whose view of revenge is right: Hamlet’s or

Laertes’?

Hamlet -- Act IHamlet -- Act IScene 1

Horatio to speakwith Ghost

Scene 2Claudius at Court

Hamlet’s griefHoratio tells Hamlet about

Ghost

Scene 3Polonius andOphelia say goodbye to

Laertes

Scene 4Hamlet waiting

for Ghost

“Stamp of one defect”

Scene 5Hamlet and Ghostantic disposition

Hamlet -- Act IIHamlet -- Act IIScene 1

Polonius/ReynaldoOphelia’s report

re/Hamlet

Scene 2Claudius with Ros and Gild

Polonius’s reportHamlet and fishmonger

Players/Pyrrhus

“The play’s the thing”

Hamlet -- Act IIIHamlet -- Act IIIScene 1

NUNNERY SCENEHamlet and Ophelia

Scene 2MOUSETRAP SCENE

Hamlet and playersPlay within a play

Scene 3PRAYER SCENE

Claudius/Hamlet

Scene 4CLOSET SCENEGertrude/HamletDeath of Polonius

Hamlet -- Act IVHamlet -- Act IVScene 1

Gertrude/ClaudiusScene 2

Ros and Gildseek Hamlet

Scene 7Letter to Horatio

from Hamlet

Scene 4Hamlet seesFortinbras

Scene 6Gertrude

Ophelia’s madnessLaertes’ threat

Scene 3Claudius sends

Hamlet to England

Scene 8Claudius and Laertes’plans against HamletGertrude’s report of

Ophelia’s death

Hamlet -- Act VHamlet -- Act VScene 2

FOIL SCENEHamlet/Horatio

Laertes’ challengeDuel

Death of Gertrude/ClaudiusDeath of Laertes/Hamlet

Fortinbras

Scene 1GRAVEYARD SCENE

Gravediggers/HamletBurial of Ophelia