William Shakespeare

Most influential writer in English literature b. April 23, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon Attended only grammar school 1582: Married Anne Hathaway He was 18, she was 26 Had 3 children Susanna twins Hamnet and Judith Hamnet died at age : left his family to go to London to work as an actor and playwright

Wrote his first play in 1591 Became the most popular playwright in England Was favored by both monarchs of his lifetime Elizabeth I James I James gave Shakespeare’s company the title of the King’s Men (a very high honor) 1610: retired to Stratford, very wealthy and well- known d. April 23, 1616 (his 52 nd birthday) Overall, wrote 37 plays and 154 sonnets

Written in 1600 or 1601; first performed in : Both Shakespeare’s father and his son Hamnet died Tone of Shakespeare’s plays became somber, sad, and bitter People believed in ghosts Marriage to in-laws was considered incest Suicide was forbidden; those who killed themselves could not have a holy burial

Shakespeare borrowed the idea for the story from other sources (common practice) Based on a Norse legend written in Latin around 1200 AD. Two brothers (Orvendil and Fengi) are appointed to rule over Jutland, and Orvendil weds the king's beautiful daughter, Geruth. They have a son, Amleth. But Fengi, lusting after Orvendil's new bride and longing to become the sole ruler of Jutland, kills his brother, marries Geruth, and declares himself king over the land. Amleth is desperately afraid, and pretends to be crazy to keep from getting murdered. He plans revenge against his uncle and becomes the new and rightful king of Jutland. In Shakespeare’s story, Hamlet is philosophically-minded and doesn’t kill his uncle right away; his knowledge of what happened to his father is uncertain

1. Revenge must be on an individual level against some insult or wrong 2. The individual must not have recourse to traditional means of punishment (courts or police) because the person who committed the wrong is above the law 3. The lust for revenge is an internal desire, only satisfied by personally carrying out the revenge 4. The revenger must make the intended victim aware of why the revenge is being carried out 5. Revenge is a universal decree that supersedes any particular religious doctrine (incl. Christianity)

Appearance vs. Reality: Seemingly healthy exterior concealing an inner sickness or evil (also sanity vs. insanity) Poison: it spreads through the body to infect an individual, just as bad individuals can infect an entire court/nation The impossibility of certainty / indecision Hamlet worries about trusting secondhand information Hamlet worries about acting effectively; seeing others pay for doing what they feel is appropriate justifies his procrastination Death / Mortality Hamlet is obsessed with spiritual and physical death What is the meaning of life?

Revenge: Hamlet searches continuously for the answer to the question of whether or not he should avenge his father’s death. Relationships and how they work / affect others Father/son Mother/son Friendship Love relationships Youth and age Corrupt power / power corrupting

Not what decisions he should make, but whether he will be able to make any decisions at all. Goes against the traditional tragic hero role Hamlet is very philosophical and contemplative There is always more to him than other characters can figure out