Why is this question from Hamlet still “famous”??? Because the play (it’s characters, events, attitudes and conflicts) has “textual integrity”… It has continuing and enduring enduring appeal to new audiences

O The unity of a text; its coherent use of form and language to produce an integrated whole in terms of meaning and value. (p 100) O The unity of a text; its coherent use of form and language to produce an integrated whole in terms of meaning and value. (p 100) Agreement Harmony The way it “fits” together Agreement Harmony The way it “fits” together Clear Rational Consistent Reasonable Believable relevant Clear Rational Consistent Reasonable Believable relevant Method Play Script Structure construction Method Play Script Structure construction Language features Literary devices Dramatic techniques Style Register Language features Literary devices Dramatic techniques Style Register Believable Realistic No inconsistent actions or reactions Complete narrative Everything “fits” and makes sense – even the ambiguous bits Believable Realistic No inconsistent actions or reactions Complete narrative Everything “fits” and makes sense – even the ambiguous bits Ideas and their importance Worthiness of knowing the characters Relevance of the actions and consequences Merit usefulness Ideas and their importance Worthiness of knowing the characters Relevance of the actions and consequences Merit usefulness

O the features and elements of a text = O Language features O Poetic devices O Structure O Hamlet’s soliloquy O Religious symbolism and laws O The “delay” O Elizabethan (religious conflict) values and context O A play-within-a-play O A supernatural element Vs God = contrasting images / characters O Characterisation O Dramatic techniques

O the extent to which it may possess an overall unity = Language features Poetic devices Structure Themes / events / settings Hamlet’s soliloquy Religious symbolism and laws The “delay” Elizabethan (religious conflict) values and context A play-within-a-play A supernatural element Vs God = contrasting images / characters Characterisation Dramatic techniques… Language features Poetic devices Structure Themes / events / settings Hamlet’s soliloquy Religious symbolism and laws The “delay” Elizabethan (religious conflict) values and context A play-within-a-play A supernatural element Vs God = contrasting images / characters Characterisation Dramatic techniques… – when they’re all put together.. How important are all these things… – when they’re all put together.. How important are all these things… …in giving the play it’s… …in giving the play it’s… Consistent and “realistic & human” characters Believable events Relevant & “timeless” themes and issues Valid, interesting, controversial and ongoing appeal to different audiences, directors and actors Consistent and “realistic & human” characters Believable events Relevant & “timeless” themes and issues Valid, interesting, controversial and ongoing appeal to different audiences, directors and actors

So… O Literary students and academics – people who are educated and “cultured” – people who like to go to the theatre – English teachers – historians – play and film directors – actors – and, other people who like to argue over what things (texts) “really” mean – all these people - they all… …LUUUUUURRRRVE TO ARGUE… (and sound very intelligent) ABOUT WHAT THEY EACH THINK ABOUT THE “REAL”, TRUE NATURE OF THE CHARACTERS AND EVENTS IN HAMLET!!!

In simple 21 st -Century-teenage, non-board-of-studies, non-English-syllabus-jargon and plain-English-terms… Think of Shakespeare’s Hamlet as being the cause of arguments between readers (-- audiences – directors – and, actors) in the same way that 21 st Century texts cause you to “argue” with a friend (or frenemy) about things like:

Sparks “discussions” / arguments / debates about things like: O The book is so much more “believable” and powerful than the film O The film is not consistent with the book! O Katniss seems like a total in the film – whereas, in the book, that’s not her character at all! O Team Peter!!!… tots

Sparks “discussions” / arguments / debates about things like: O Kristen Stewart is a hopeless actress and is nothing like how Bella should be portrayed! O Team Edward! O All the characters are so superficial and one- dimensional!! None of them are believable at all! O I hate how all the supporting characters (especially the teenagers) are so stereotyped and “predictable”…

Hamlet… ??? The characters: their “true” natures and agendas; the events; the consequences of the events; the conflict between the Christian values and the human “flaws” and superstitions; the sexual desires and relationships among the characters; Etc.. The characters: their “true” natures and agendas; the events; the consequences of the events; the conflict between the Christian values and the human “flaws” and superstitions; the sexual desires and relationships among the characters; Etc.. It would seem that Shakespeare has deliberately and carefully written the play (and… a play-within-a-play) so that the “truth” is ambiguous… this ambiguity is the thing that ensures that you – and other readers - actors – directors – artists – students… …will continue to “argue” about the play for a long time to come! This is the thing… “the play is the thing”… that ensures its lasting appeal! It would seem that Shakespeare has deliberately and carefully written the play (and… a play-within-a-play) so that the “truth” is ambiguous… this ambiguity is the thing that ensures that you – and other readers - actors – directors – artists – students… …will continue to “argue” about the play for a long time to come! This is the thing… “the play is the thing”… that ensures its lasting appeal! Shakespeare uses dramatic and language techniques to make responders develop and form their own opinions, reactions and conclusions about the “true” nature (interpretation) of: Shakespeare uses dramatic and language techniques to make responders develop and form their own opinions, reactions and conclusions about the “true” nature (interpretation) of:

A writer needs to have a lot of skill with: O language O narrative structure O characterisation O motifs O lexical chains O imagery O irony – juxtaposition – connotation – metaphor and symbolism… etc… to be able to successfully develop lots of levels of ambiguity (and certainty of “truth”) in the characters and their relationships. If a composer is NOT skilled at doing this – the text will have NO textual integrity! The text will just be confusing and un-believable! Which means no-one would even bother discussing it…

Shakespeare’s Hamlet continues to spark “discussions” / arguments / debates about things like… O Hamlet is “acting” the whole time… he’s not mad at all!... O Hamlet is mad! He’s so paranoid and “messed up” in his grief, about his Dad being murdered AND his beloved mum committing the mortal sin of incest, that Hamlet completely looses the plot! (pardon the pun )… O Hamlet is “in lust” with Gertrude… and she’s “in lust” with Hamlet… O Hamlet really does love Ophelia – and just “pretends” to hate her in an attempt to protect her…