Hamlet Critics Flashcards
We can imagine Hamlet’s story without Ophelia but Ophelia literally has no story without Hamlet
Edwards
The single characteristic of hamlet’s character is by no means hesitation but the strong conflux of contending forces
Swinbourne
Hamlet seems incapable of deliberate action
Hazlitt
In Shakespeare’s society, the ideal female is cherished for her youth, beauty and purity
Rogers
Hamlet’s delay is due to a form of melancholy
Bradley
The ghost is the linchpin of the play
Wilson
The opening scene of Hamlet is as well constructed as that of any play ever written
T.S Eliot
Ophelia is deprived of thought sexuality and language
Showalter
Hamlet can be privileged in madness to say things about the corruption of human behaviour
Mack
Hamlet is rather an instrument than an agent
Johnson
Gertrude is a moral defective
Muir
Women are either innocent maiden saints or loathsome sinners
McGrory
Hamlet’s primary psychological endeavour is not merely to avenge his father’s death but to remake his mother
Adelman
The aim of tragedy to arouse sensations of pity and fear
Aristotle
Hamlets disgust at the feminine passivity in himself is translated into violent revulsion against women
Leverenz
Claudius is not a monster, he is morally weak
Mabillard
All duties seem holy to Hamlet
Von Goethe
Claudius shows every sign of being an excellent diplomat and king
(Knight)
Claudius’ soliloquy gives the impression of rhetorical pageantry rather than sincere contrition
Arnold
Polonius has trained his daughter to be obedient and chaste and is thus able to use her as a piece of bait for spying
Smith
Through madness, Ophelia makes a forceful assertion of her being
Charney
Polonius seems to love his children… his means of actions however are totally corrupt
Smith
Laertes is like a hurricane - he rushes into the palace in an uncontrolled rage roaring for blood
Prosser
Hamlet’s madness is associated with intellectual or imaginative genius but Ophelia’s madness is erotomania
Showalter
