Hamlet Critical Quotes

Question 1

French - women

Answer 1

‘for Hamlet, there is no mean between chastity - pure, cold, and holy - and depravity in women.’

Question 2

McEvoy - Claudius

Answer 2

Suggests that Claudius sends Hamlet away to England in order to ‘protect his country and himself from a destructive internal threat whom he knows enjoys popular sport.’ He suggests that Claudius genuinely believes that he will protect the country as well as himself, as, after the murder of Polonius, Hamlet is no longer a passive being that MIGHT pose a threat, but a violent one who could do anything at any time

Question 3

Holderness - corruption

Answer 3

‘This is not merely a matter of saying that the kingdom of Denmark is corrupt. Hamlet thinks it is, but Hamlet is not necessarily a reliable judge

Question 4

Smith - Gertrude

Answer 4

‘…a deceitful, highly sexual woman who arouses strong responses and violent reactions in men’

Question 5

Showalter - Ophelia

Answer 5

‘Does her madness stand for the oppression of women in society as well as in tragedy?’

Question 6

Hunt - Revenge (becomes villanous)

Answer 6

‘In order to act the part of revenger, he must become a bloody villain himself.’

Question 7

Edwards - the ghost

Answer 7

‘The ambiguity of the ghost is of fundamental importance’

Question 8

Davison - Hamlet’s wit

Answer 8

‘Hamlet’s humour is properly to be termed wit…a mark of his intellectual superiority’

Question 9

Belsey - ambiguity of Hamlet

Answer 9

‘The moral uncertainty persists to the end…Hamlet dies a revenger, a poisoner but also a soldier and a prince.’

Question 10

Watson - revenge

Answer 10

‘Revenge is tragic because (like ambition) it divides the protagonist against himself casting him in incompatible roles’