Background and Characters of Hamlet
Shakespeare's Hamlet is a timeless tragedy set in Elsinore, Denmark, first published in 1603. The play draws inspiration from Thomas Kyd's works, particularly "The Spanish Tragedy" and an earlier version of "Hamlet".
Highlight: Hamlet is considered one of Shakespeare's most powerful and influential tragedies, exploring themes of revenge, madness, and moral corruption.
The cast of characters in Hamlet is rich and complex:
- Prince Hamlet: The protagonist, son of the late King Hamlet and Queen Gertrude.
- Ghost: The spirit of Hamlet's father, who reveals the truth about his murder.
- Claudius: Hamlet's uncle, now king and husband to Gertrude.
- Gertrude: Hamlet's mother, now married to Claudius.
- Ophelia: Daughter of Polonius and Hamlet's love interest.
- Horatio: Hamlet's loyal friend and confidant.
- Laertes: Son of Polonius and brother to Ophelia.
- Fortinbras: Prince of Norway, who ultimately claims the Danish throne.
- Rosencrantz & Guildenstern: Hamlet's former schoolmates.
- Polonius: The Lord Chamberlain, father to Ophelia and Laertes.
Vocabulary: Elsinore - The Danish castle where the majority of the play's action takes place.
The plot of Hamlet unfolds across five acts, each building upon the tension and tragedy of the previous:
Act 1: The ghost of Hamlet's father appears, revealing that Claudius murdered him. Hamlet vows revenge.
Act 2: Hamlet feigns madness as part of his plan. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are enlisted to spy on him. A group of actors arrives, and Hamlet plans to use them to confirm Claudius's guilt.
Example: Hamlet's "antic disposition" (feigned madness) is a key strategy he employs to throw off suspicion as he plots his revenge.
Act 3: This act contains some of the most famous scenes in the play. Hamlet contemplates suicide in the "To be, or not to be" soliloquy. The play-within-a-play is performed, confirming Claudius's guilt. Hamlet confronts his mother and accidentally kills Polonius.
Quote: "To be, or not to be, that is the question" - This iconic line encapsulates Hamlet's existential crisis.
Act 4: Claudius sends Hamlet to England with orders for his execution. Ophelia goes mad with grief and drowns herself. Laertes returns, seeking revenge for his father's death.
Act 5: The tragic conclusion unfolds. Hamlet returns and confronts Laertes at Ophelia's funeral. A duel is arranged, but Claudius and Laertes plot to poison Hamlet. In the ensuing chaos, Gertrude drinks the poisoned wine, Laertes is wounded by his own poisoned sword, and Hamlet finally kills Claudius. As Hamlet dies, he names Fortinbras as his successor.
Definition: Soliloquy - A dramatic device where a character speaks their thoughts aloud when alone, revealing their inner feelings to the audience.
This complex plot, filled with intrigue, philosophical depth, and tragic consequences, has made Hamlet one of the most studied and performed plays in the English language, cementing its place in literary history.
