By: Cristian Escobedo Carmen Aguilar Ricky Herrera Bibi Guerrero

New Historicism  A literary theory originally proposed by Stephen Greenblatt in the 1980s, New Historicism seeks to reconnect a work with the time period by relating it to the configurations of power, society, or ideology of the author’s era  It’s all relative…  New Historicism arose in response to the tendency of New Criticism to treat a work in a historical vacuum, with no relation to its historical context

And here we go…  Historical events/periods are reflected in Shakespeare’s Hamlet through a variety of factors including the transfer of power from Elizabeth to James and the practices of the Jacobean court after James I took the throne.

Political Issues at the Time  There was much uncertainty and political unrest during the late 1500s and early 1600s due to the there being no clear successor to Queen Elizabeth despite her declining health.

While the play likely reflects the events in England, it certainly has ground in real life events in Denmark at the time.  Norway and Denmark formed an alliance that bears a striking resemblance to the alliance forged when Fortinbras arrives in Norway at the play’s end to unite the two kingdoms.  "For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune. I have some rights of memory in this kingdom, Which now to claim my vantage doth invite me." (IV, ii, ) (Fortinbras)

Customs and Beliefs of the Time  The actions of Hamlet resembles the customs of the Jacobean court after James I takes the throne following Queen Elizabeth’s death as well as those of the Elizabethan era.  "As thou'rt a man, Give me the cup. Let go! By heaven, I’ll have’t. *takes cup from HORATIO* O God, Horatio, what a wounded name, Things standing thus unknown, shall live behind me! If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart Absent thee from felicity a while, And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain To tell my story." (IV, ii, )

Religion and traditional values were particularly influential in England throughout the country’s history …  “I am thy father's spirit, Doom'd for a certain term to walk the night, And for the day confined to fast in fires, Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature Are burnt and purged away.” (I.v.5)

 Though Elizabeth was female, all monarchs in the play are male, which could possibly relate to the patriarchal ideology. This is further reflected in Hamlet’s accusations of his mother’s infidelity, which shows the strong opposition to female royalty.

It’s been a pleasure presenting!  While not as strong as in other works, historical events, both past and present are evidently expressed in Hamlet, as seen as in the reflection of the time’s customs and political turmoil.

Bibliography  Branagh, Kenneth, and William Shakespeare. Hamlet. New York: W.W. Norton &,  s/345world.html online.com/biography/patronjames.html timelines.org.uk/people-timelines/06- queen-elizabeth-i-timeline.htm s/345world.html online.com/biography/patronjames.html timelines.org.uk/people-timelines/06- queen-elizabeth-i-timeline.htm