Hamlet Flashcards
Hamlet critics
“Hamlet is haunted, not by the physical fear of dying, but of being dead.” CS Lewis
“Hamlet assumes without questioning that he ought to avenge his father”
“Hamlet is unable to carry out the sacred duty, imposed by divine authority, of punishing an evil man by death.” AC. Bradley
“The story of moral poisoning” Hippolyte Taine
“Hamlet’s mind is constantly occupied with the world within” Coleridge
Oedipus Complex
The attachment of a child to parent of opposite sex and aggressive feelings towards the parent of the same sex - Freudian theory
Marxist theory
Focus on class structure
Hamlet mocks Claudius’ true motives of getting economic power and climbing social hierarchy
Feminist theory
Women are dominated by men
Male characters are strong, females are weak/passive
Critical interp for Denmark as corrupt
“The number of images of sickness, disease and the idea of a tumour is descriptive of the unwholesome condition of Denmark morally” Caroline Spurgeon
What is existential nihilism?
Life has no intrinsic meaning or value, human/humanity is insignificant
What is metatheatre?
Aspects of a play which draw attention to it being a play e.g a play-within-a-play, pretending to be mad, making audience look up
Critical interp for Ophelia
Ophelia is deprived of thought, sexuality and language…she represents the strong emotions that Elizabethans thought womanish.” Elaine Showalter
Act 1
Scene 1 - Horatio sees ghost
Scene 2 - Court, Hamlet soliloquy on incestual marriage
Scene 3 - Polonius, Ophelia, Laertes
Scene 4 - Hamlet sees ghost
Scene 5 - Hamlet decides to avenge his father
Act 2
Scene 1 - Ophelia tells Polonius of Hamlet’s mad behaviour
Scene 2 - Rosencrantz & Guildenstern, asks to perform Murder of Gonzago
Act 3
Scene 1 - Meeting of Hamlet and Ophelia being spied upon, ‘To be or not to be’
Scene 2 - Play is performed
Scene 3 - Hamlet unable to kill Claudius whilst praying
Scene 4 - Gertrude closet, Polonius killed
Act 4
Scene 1 - Hamlet refuses to tell R&G where Polonius’ body is
Scene 2 - Claudius sends Hamlet to England
Scene 3 - Fortinbras orders army to go to Danish king
Scene 4 - Ophelia mad, Laertes returns
Scene 5 - Horatio gets letter from Hamlet to meet him
Scene 6 - Claudius and Laertes plan duel/poison, Ophelia drowns
Act 5
Scene 1 - Gravedigger/skull/ Yorick
Scene 2 - Duel takes place, everyone dies
RSC Tennant Production
Theme of surveillance through CCTV cameras, spying
Laurence Olivier Production
Emphasis on Oedipus complex as young actress plays Gertrude
Winding stairwells echo Hamlet’s mind
Melancholic and introspection - focus on existential crisis
- To be or not to be - edge of cliff with dagger
