WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S HAMLET Shelby Francks

AgreeDisagree Power eventually corrupts those who have it. Re-marrying very soon after the death of a spouse is acceptable Revenge is the only way to gain true justice Evil tends to spiral out of control. The end generally justifies the means.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE English Poet and Playwright Other well known works include: Romeo & Juliet, Macbeth, and King Lear.

IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT HAMLET  The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark  By William Shakespeare  Play  Written in the early 17 th century.  Set in Denmark

MAJOR CHARACTERS  Hamlet – Prince of Denmark  Claudius – New King of Denmark, married to Hamlet’s mother  Gertrude- Queen of Denmark, Hamlet’s mother  Polonius- Lord Chamberlain of Claudius’ court, father of Ophelia and Laertes

MAJOR CHARACTERS, CONT.  Late King Hamlet- believed to have been murdered by Claudius, apparitions of him are seen by Prince Hamlet.  Horatio- Hamlet’s close friend, is very faithful to Hamlet  Ophelia- Hamlet’s love interest, daughter of Polonius  Rosencrantz & Guildenstern- Old friends of Hamlet, summoned by the King and Queen to discover the reason for Hamlet’s behavior.

THEMES Here are some of the major themes in the play, there are more to be discovered, keep your eyes peeled!  Death  Madness  Revenge  Family

THE LATE KING VISITS FROM THE DEAD  Hamlet is Prince of Denmark  He begins to see and communicate with the ghost of his late father.  His father orders him to avenge his death by killing the man who killed him.  Convinced his father, late King Hamlet, was murdered by Claudius  Claudius is King Hamlet’s brother, and Queen Gertrude’s new husband.

HAMLET’S PATH TO MADNESS  Hamlet becomes determined to seek revenge.  Hamlet devices plans to prove that Claudius murdered his father.  His obsession leads him to begin displaying manic behaviors, his mother and step father become worried.  Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are employed to discover the reason for Hamlet’s madness  Polonius believes that Hamlet is mad with Love for Ophelia

THE PLAY  A group of travelling actors is hired by Hamlet to perform a play that mirrors the death he believes his father died. During the play, Claudius abruptly leaves, causing Hamlet to believe he is admitting guilt. Hamlet follows to kill Claudius, but finds him on his knees and believes he is praying. Hamlet does not want to kill him while praying in fear he will be granted access to heaven, and his father was not afforded the opportunity to pray before his death.

POLONIUS & OPHELIA DIE  Hamlet attempts to confront his mother in her room, and notices that the curtains move, he stabs the curtains, and kills Polonius.  Hamlet is sent away to England with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.  Ophelia becomes mad following the death of her father, and subsequently drowns in the lake.  Laertes learns this news and returns to Denmark in a rage.

PLOTTING A FIGHT  Claudius uses Laertes’ rage to ensure Hamlet be killed. The men are to fence, Claudius has poisoned Laertes’ blade so that if the blade breaks skin, Hamlet will die. He has also poisoned a goblet in case the sword does not kill Hamlet. At the funeral for Ophelia, Hamlet attacks Laertes in a declaration of his love for his late sister. Subsequently, the sword fighting begins.

THE FIGHT  During the fight, Gertrude takes a drink from the poisoned goblet and is killed instantly.  Hamlet is struck with Laertes’ blade, and does not immediately die.  Laertes is cut with his own blade, and admits to Hamlet that Claudius is responsible for the poison  Laertes dies.  Hamlet stabs Claudius with the poisoned blade, and forces him to drink the poison in the goblet as well.

AFTER HAMLET’S DEATH  Fortinbras arrives to tell the news that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead.  He finds the entire royal family slain, and proceeds to take over the kingdom,  Horatio, as promised, goes on to tell the story of Hamlet.

HAMLET MADE INTO FILM

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“This above all, to thine own self be true.”