Name: Angeline P.

Mandid
Section: EDE3B
Approach: Pure Literal Approach
Hamlet

Brief Overview:
“Hamlet” is a play written by the playwright William Shakespeare. The play begins in Denmark with the
appearance of the ghost of King Hamlet, who reveals to his son, Prince Hamlet, that he was murdered by his
brother Claudius, who is now the king. Hamlet is deeply troubled by this revelation and vows to avenge his
father's death. To uncover the truth, Hamlet pretends to be mad, which leads to a series of tragic events.Hamlet's
feigned madness causes chaos and confusion in the court. He accidentally kills Polonius, the king's advisor,
thinking it's Claudius. Ophelia, Polonius's daughter and Hamlet's love interest, descends into madness and
drowns. Laertes, Polonius's son, seeks revenge on Hamlet for his father's and sister's deaths.In the final act, a
duel is arranged between Hamlet and Laertes. Claudius has conspired to poison Hamlet during the duel, but the
plan goes awry. Gertrude, Hamlet's mother, drinks from the poisoned cup meant for Hamlet and dies. Laertes
wounds Hamlet with a poisoned sword, but they switch swords, and Laertes is also wounded. Before dying,
Laertes reveals Claudius's plot. Enraged, Hamlet kills Claudius and then succumbs to the poison himself. The
play ends with the Norwegian prince, Fortinbras, arriving to find the Danish royal family dead and claiming the
throne.

References: Folger Shakespeare Library. (n.d.). Hamlet. Folger Shakespeare Library. Retrieved from
https://www.folger.edu/explore/shakespeares-works/hamlet/read/
Screencraft. (n.d.). The 15 most important elements of a story. Screencraft. Retrieved from
https://screencraft.org/blog/the-15-most-important-elements-of-a-story/
Settings:
Time
The exact time period isn't specified in the play, but it is generally set in the late Middle Ages, around the 14th
or 15th century.
Physical Setting
The primary physical setting is Elsinore Castle in Denmark. The castle’s grand halls, royal chambers, and
battlements are the main backdrops. Additional locations include:
The Ramparts: Where the ghost of King Hamlet appears.
Gertrude’s Chamber: A pivotal location for several important scenes.
The Graveyard: Where Hamlet encounters Yorick’s skull.
Weather
The weather often reflects the dark and brooding atmosphere of the play. For example, the ghost first appears on
a cold, dark night, which adds to the eerie and tense mood. The overall weather is typically grim, underscoring
the themes of death and foreboding.
Atmosphere
The atmosphere is one of tension, uncertainty, and melancholy. It’s charged with the themes of betrayal,
revenge, and existential dread. The presence of the ghost, the plotting of Claudius, and Hamlet's feigned
madness contribute to a sense of unease and impending doom.
Social Condition
The play reflects the hierarchical and patriarchal social structure of the time. There is a clear distinction between
the royalty and common people, with the nobility wielding significant power and influence. The court is rife
with political intrigue, spying, and deceit, highlighting the corruption within the royal family and the state.
Period
Although not specifically dated, the story is set in a time of medieval monarchies. This period is characterized
by feudalism, political power struggles, and a focus on legacy and lineage.
Characters
Hamlet: The introspective and troubled prince.
Claudius: The usurping king and Hamlet’s uncle.
Gertrude: Hamlet’s mother and the queen.
Ophelia: Hamlet’s love interest, who descends into madness.
Polonius: The verbose and meddling royal advisor.
Laertes: Ophelia’s brother, seeking revenge for his father’s death.
Horatio: Hamlet’s loyal friend.
The Ghost: The spirit of King Hamlet.
Conflict
The central conflict is between Hamlet and Claudius, with Hamlet grappling internally over the morality of his
revenge mission. This conflict drives the narrative forward and culminates in the tragic conclusion.
Theme
Major themes include:
Revenge: The moral quandary of avenging a loved one’s death.
Madness: Both real and feigned, and its effects on perception and action.
Mortality: The inevitability of death and the afterlife.
Corruption: Moral and political decay.
Appearance vs. Reality: The discrepancy between how things seem and how they truly are.
Plot:
Exposition:
The play opens in Denmark, at Elsinore Castle, where the ghost of King Hamlet appears to soldiers and Prince
Hamlet's friend, Horatio. They decide to inform Hamlet about the apparition. Hamlet is deeply mourning the
death of his father, King Hamlet, and is further disturbed by his mother, Queen Gertrude, quickly marrying his
uncle, Claudius, who has now assumed the throne.
Rising Action
When Hamlet encounters the ghost, it reveals that Claudius murdered him by pouring poison in his ear while he
slept. The ghost demands that Hamlet avenges his death. Hamlet is horrified and swears to fulfill his father's
demand. To conceal his intentions, Hamlet decides to feign madness, which leads to a series of
misunderstandings and complicated relationships.
Major Events:
Hamlet’s "To be or not to be" soliloquy where he contemplates life, death, and the moral implications of
revenge.
The play-within-a-play, "The Mousetrap," where Hamlet stages a scene similar to his father's murder to gauge
Claudius's guilt. Claudius's reaction confirms his culpability.
Hamlet’s interactions with Ophelia, which drive her to madness due to his erratic behavior and the killing of her
father.
Climax
The climax of the play occurs when Hamlet mistakenly kills Polonius, the chief counselor to the king, believing
him to be Claudius hiding behind a curtain in Gertrude's room. This act propels the narrative towards its tragic
conclusion.
Falling Action
Following Polonius's death, Ophelia goes mad and eventually drowns. Laertes, Ophelia’s brother, returns to
Denmark to avenge his father's and sister’s deaths. Claudius manipulates Laertes’s desire for revenge to plot
Hamlet’s death. They plan a duel between Hamlet and Laertes, where Laertes's sword is poisoned, and a
poisoned cup is prepared for Hamlet.
Conclusion
The play reaches its tragic end during the duel:
Gertrude drinks the poisoned wine meant for Hamlet and dies.

Laertes wounds Hamlet with the poisoned sword, but they switch swords, and Laertes is also wounded.

As Laertes dies, he confesses the plot to Hamlet.

Hamlet, in his final moments, kills Claudius.

Prince Fortinbras of Norway arrives to find the Danish royal family dead and takes control of the kingdom. The
play concludes with Fortinbras ordering that Hamlet be given a soldier’s funeral.

Point of View
While the play is third-person, it gives us deep insight into Hamlet’s thoughts through his soliloquies, allowing
the audience to connect with his internal struggles.

7. Tone
The tone is dark, contemplative, and tragic, with elements of philosophical introspection. Hamlet’s soliloquies
add a profound and somber depth to the play.

8. Style
Shakespeare uses iambic pentameter and blank verse to create a rhythmic and poetic flow. Soliloquies are a key
stylistic element, providing a window into characters’ inner thoughts, especially Hamlet's.

9. Symbolism
Yorick’s Skull: A symbol of death and the inevitability of decay.

The Ghost: Represents unresolved issues and the call for justice.

Ophelia’s Flowers: Symbolize innocence, madness, and the themes of betrayal and love.

10. Motifs
Madness: Explored through Hamlet’s feigned madness and Ophelia’s genuine madness.

Incest and Corruption: Highlighted by Claudius’s marriage to Gertrude.

Misogyny: Reflected in Hamlet’s treatment of Ophelia and Gertrude.

11. Imagery
Shakespeare uses vivid imagery to convey themes of decay, disease, and corruption, often comparing the state
of Denmark to a rotting garden. This imagery enhances the mood and themes of the play.

12. Foreshadowing
The ghost’s appearance and its revelation of murder foreshadow the tragic events that follow. Hamlet’s musings
on death also foreshadow the play’s catastrophic conclusion.
13. Irony
There is dramatic irony in Hamlet’s feigned madness and the audience’s awareness of Claudius’s guilt.
Situational irony is also present, such as Hamlet’s hesitation to kill Claudius while he is praying, thinking it
would send Claudius to heaven.