William Shakespeare and Hamlet

William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

Shakespeare was an English poet and playwrite. He is considered to be the greatest writer of the English language.
Shakespeare designed the Globe Theater and founded a theater group.
During his lifetime wrote 37 plays and 154 sonnets.
Second most quoted writer in the English language. (First is authors of the Bible)
Shakespeare invented over 100 words and phrases still used today. (Some examples are : "Eyeball," "Watchdog," "All that glitters isnt gold," and "Break the ice")
Shakespeare died on what was believed to be his birthday in 1616. His tombstone bears an inscription of a curse to anyone who tries to steal his body.

Hamlet

Publication date is uncertain for the play but is believed to be between 1600 and 1606

Believed to have been published by Nicolas Ling

Hamlet is a tragedy

Hamlet is believed to have been written in the early 1600s (1601)

Hamlet is Shakespeare's longest play. (4,042 lines and 29,551 words)

Alas, Poor Yorick! A Fellow of Infinite Jest

Act V Scene I

I think this scene depicts the two sides of people. Hamlet describes Yorick as "a fellow of infinite  jest," however, Yorick is now a corpse (no more jest, not infinite). Also, he realizes that death is imminent for everyone. Earlier in the story he hesitated to kill Claudius and himself because he was afraid of death, but after finding Yorick's skull, he sees death as inevitable. He also describes passionate feelings for Ophellia which werent shown while she was still alive. But now it is too late.

Hamlet through other media

1. Disney's THE LION KING  is based on Hamlet. Simba, a young lion is troubled after his father dies, leaving his kingdom to his evil brother and murderer, Scar. Simba goes into the wilderness and contemplates if his life is worth living and thinks he is bad. His love convinces him to go back to his kingdom and avenge his father's death. Released in 1994.

2. Hamlet has been adapted to a movie multiple times. The most famous movie versions were released in 1948, 1990, 1996, and 2000. They have starred actors including Mel Gibson (1990), shown in the following photo.

Parental Issues

1990 Choose a novel or play that depicts a conflict between a parent (or a parental figure) and a son or daughter. Write an essay in which you analyze the sources of the conflict and explain how the conflict contributes to the meaning of the work. Avoid plot summary.



    In 'Hamlet' by William Shakespeare, the main character, Hamlet faces conflict with his father, mother, and his step-father. The conflict between Hamlet and his mother stems from her disbelief that her new husband killed his brother and with his step-father, comes from the fact that he murdered Hamlet's father. These conflicts contribute to the play in that they give Hamlet a motive to avenge his father's death and cause him to perform other actions. The whole play is driven by Hamlet's love for his father,  desire for revenge on  his step-father and for his mother to realize her new husband is evil. 
    One of the major influences in Hamlet's life is his father. Hamlet looked up to his father and adored him. He is very troubled after his father's death and does everything in his power to get revenge for it. Although he loved his father deeply, he feels like his father left too early and did not give him the support and tools he needed. He is upset that he must continue life without him. When his father's ghost appears to him, he views him and his advice as divine or holy. Hamlet is so passionate about his father and avenging his  murder that he will do whatever it takes to get revenge. The source of conflict between Hamlet and his father is his father's death and in turn, the fact that he is no longer there to guide Hamlet, as well as the country, to be good. This contributes to the meaning of the work in that Hamlet loves his father and is so determined to avenge his death that he kills whomever and does whatever he has to to get even. 
     Not only does Hamlet have conflicts with his dead father, the relationship between Hamlet and his mother, Gertrude, is often strained. Hamlet is disappointed that his mother would marry her late husband's brother just days after his passing and questions her love for his father. He tries to convince her that Claudius was responsible for (King) Hamlet's death, but she gets mad at him for offending her husband. Although he is sometimes frustrated with her, Hamlet still loves his mother very much. When he asks that she doesnt sleep with Claudius in certain beds, she is kind and honors his request. His mother is the only woman Hamlet loves (Hamlet thinks all women are cheaters, including Ophellia). However, it still troubles him that she would marry Claudius. This is the main conflict between Hamlet and his mother. It contributes to the work because it shows how Claudius is evil and how she is an object of lust for him. 
     Hamlet begins with the ghost of (King) Hamlet telling Hamlet that his uncle and new step-father, Claudius,  is evil and that he committed the murder of King Hamlet. This establishes Hamlet's main motive throughout the play to avenge his father's death. Claudius, however, is also very powerful, full of charisma, manipulative and the new King of Denmark. The main conflict between Hamlet and Claudius is the fact that Claudius murdered Hamlet's father (also tried to murder him). This conflict contributes to the work in that it establishes the motive for almost all of Hamlet's actions; it is the main idea of the play. 
     Hamlet has conflicts with three parental figures in the story. His conflict with his father is that his father is no longer alive. His conflict with his mother is that she would marry her late husband's murderer. His conflict with his step-father is that he was the one who murdered his real father. These conflicts shape the play by giving Hamlet motive and basically are the reasons for all of Hamlet's actions. 

"OMG That Would Totally Be Like Not Good" Thank You Queen Gertrude

Act III Scene IV

Even after watching a play about characters based on her husband and  herself, Queen Gertrude still doesnt get it. She doesnt understand that the play shouldve made her realize her husbands guilt. She gets mad at Hamlet for offending Claudius, and doesnt realize that he is offended because the murderous character is based on him and someone has seen through his lies!!! She thinks Hamlet is crazy when he sees (King) Hamlet's ghost.

I Eat The Air and Chameleon's Dishes

Act III Scene II

First of all: INTERTEXTUALITY/ALLUSIONS/CONNECTIONS- Polonius refers to Julius Caesar and how he performed in that play as Julius Caesar when he was younger... coincidentally also written by Shakespeare. I think this is also foreshadowing that Polonius will die and his death will involve betrayal, like Caesar's.

When Claudius asks how Hamlet is doing, Hamlet responds "Excellent, i' faith, of the chameleon’s dish. I eat the air, promise-crammed. You cannot feed capons so." I think that "eating the air" means he tolerates the Claudius's fake interest in him and basically how he has lied to him since his father's death. He refers to it as air because it lacks substance and actual sincerity. I think Hamlet refers to himself as being like a chameleon because he hasnt really done anything openly to avenge his father's death, he has camouflaged his plans for revenge. 

The "To Be or Not To Be" speech. (Bet you didnt see that coming)

Act III Scene I

To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;
To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause: there's the respect
That makes calamity of so long life;
For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,
The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,
The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,
The insolence of office and the spurns
That patient merit of the unworthy takes,
When he himself might his quietus make
With a bare bodkin? who would fardels bear,
To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
But that the dread of something after death,
The undiscover'd country from whose bourn
No traveller returns, puzzles the will
And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of?
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all;
And thus the native hue of resolution
Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,
And enterprises of great pith and moment
With this regard their currents turn awry,
And lose the name of action.--Soft you now!
The fair Ophelia! Nymph, in thy orisons
Be all my sins remember'd.

Hamlet's speech in Act III Scene I is probably one of the most famous quotes from literature ever. Here, Hamlet is questioning himself about whether he should commit suicide, or if death would be worse than his life on Earth already is. Hamlet thinks life is full of troubles and suffering ( the "slings and arrows", "sea of troubles" and "thousand natural shocks") but worries that death might be worse. He describes death as "The undiscover'd country from whose bourn no traveller returns."

He better not kill himself!! In the end he asks Ophelia to remember his sins. I think he wants her to consider whether he is worth the trouble and all her time, because he doesnt think his life has enough worth (cause he's considering suicide). I think Hamlet wants to do it and hopes death will be like a dream, like being asleep, but is troubled by a smidgen of doubt and fear that he will go to Hell and suffer eternally.