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Class Notes For Hamlet

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18 views4 pages

Class Notes For Hamlet

Uploaded by

Vree D.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Overview

Hamlet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, set in Denmark. It follows the story of
Prince Hamlet, who seeks revenge on his uncle, Claudius, for the murder of his father, the king.
The play explores themes of death, madness, revenge, and the moral consequences of action
and inaction.

Key Characters

1.​ Hamlet – The Prince of Denmark, whose father was murdered by his uncle. He is deeply
philosophical, struggling with questions of life, death, and the nature of revenge.​

2.​ Claudius – Hamlet’s uncle, who becomes king after murdering his brother (Hamlet’s
father). He is a calculating and ambitious ruler.​

3.​ Gertrude – Hamlet’s mother, who marries Claudius shortly after the death of her first
husband (Hamlet's father).​

4.​ Ophelia – A young woman in love with Hamlet, and the daughter of Polonius. She
experiences immense grief after Hamlet's behavior changes and her father’s death.​

5.​ Polonius – The Lord Chamberlain of Denmark, and the father of Ophelia and Laertes.
He is an advisor to Claudius.​

6.​ Laertes – Ophelia’s brother, who seeks revenge against Hamlet for the death of his
father, Polonius.​

7.​ Horatio – Hamlet’s loyal friend who remains by his side throughout the play.​

8.​ The Ghost – The apparition of Hamlet’s dead father, who reveals to Hamlet that
Claudius murdered him.​

9.​ Rosencrantz and Guildenstern – Former friends of Hamlet, summoned by Claudius to


spy on him.​

Key Themes

1.​ Revenge and Justice – Hamlet’s desire for revenge against Claudius is central to the
plot. The theme explores the consequences of vengeance and the moral questions
surrounding it.​

2.​ Madness – Hamlet feigns madness as part of his plot for revenge, but it raises the
question of whether he is truly mad or simply pretending. Ophelia also descends into
madness after Hamlet’s actions and the death of her father.​

3.​ Death and Mortality – The play grapples with the idea of death, both physical and
existential. Hamlet is deeply affected by his father’s death and questions the meaning of
life and what lies beyond it.​

4.​ Corruption and Decay – The motif of rot and decay appears throughout the play,
symbolizing moral and political corruption in Denmark under Claudius’s rule.​

5.​ Action vs. Inaction – Hamlet struggles to act on his desire for revenge, constantly
debating the right time and method, which leads to delays and tragic consequences.​

Plot Summary

●​ Act 1:​

○​ The ghost of Hamlet’s father appears to Hamlet and reveals that he was
murdered by Claudius. Hamlet vows to seek revenge.​

○​ Claudius becomes king, marrying Gertrude shortly after the king’s death.​

○​ Hamlet is troubled by the speed of his mother’s remarriage.​

●​ Act 2:​

○​ Hamlet’s behavior becomes erratic, leading others to believe he has gone mad.
Claudius and Gertrude send Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spy on Hamlet.​

○​ Polonius believes Hamlet’s madness is due to his love for Ophelia, so he spies
on Hamlet.​

●​ Act 3:​

○​ Hamlet stages a play, "The Mousetrap," in which actors reenact the murder of
Hamlet’s father. Claudius’s reaction suggests his guilt.​
○​ Hamlet confronts Gertrude in her chambers, where he accidentally kills Polonius,
who was spying on them.​

○​ The ghost reappears, reminding Hamlet of his mission for revenge.​

●​ Act 4:​

○​ Claudius sends Hamlet to England, plotting to have him killed.​

○​ Ophelia goes mad from grief over Polonius’s death and eventually drowns.​

○​ Laertes returns to Denmark, seeking revenge on Hamlet for the death of his
father and sister.​

●​ Act 5:​

○​ Hamlet returns to Denmark, where he learns of Ophelia’s death and confronts


Laertes in a duel.​

○​ In the final scene, Hamlet, Laertes, Gertrude, Claudius, and others die in a
bloody series of events. Hamlet finally kills Claudius before he dies.​

○​ Fortinbras, Prince of Norway, arrives to take control of Denmark.​

Famous Quotes

●​ “To be, or not to be: that is the question.” – Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 1​

●​ “Frailty, thy name is woman!” – Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 2​

●​ “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” – Marcellus, Act 1, Scene 4​

●​ “The rest is silence.” – Hamlet, Act 5, Scene 2​

Important Symbols

1.​ Yorick’s Skull – In the graveyard scene (Act 5, Scene 1), Hamlet reflects on mortality by
holding the skull of the court jester Yorick, symbolizing the inevitability of death.​
2.​ The Ghost – The ghost of Hamlet’s father symbolizes the lingering effects of past sins
and the need for revenge.​

3.​ The Play Within the Play – The “Mousetrap” play reflects Hamlet’s desire to expose
Claudius’s guilt, but it also underscores the power of theater as a mirror to reality.​

Analysis of Hamlet’s Character

Hamlet is often considered one of the most complex characters in literature. His indecision,
philosophical outlook, and deep emotions drive much of the play’s tension. He is torn between
his desire for revenge and his moral and existential doubts. His soliloquies, especially the
famous "To be or not to be," offer deep insight into his internal struggles.

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