Hamlet by William Shakespeare Shakespeare Background Review 1564

Hamlet, by William Shakespeare

Shakespeare Background Review 1564 -1616 (both April 23!) B. Stratford-upon-Avon Married Anne Hathaway, 8 years his senior and probably of a lower social class than he Not a lot is known—he left no diaries or letters Actor and playwright Owned part of the Globe Theater

Wrote 37 plays, over 150 sonnets One of the greatest lyric poets wrote in the language of the ordinary people characters and situations appeal to all social classes, from illiterate peasants to monarchs

Shakespeare’s Genius Displays a keen understanding of human nature Main characters are complex, often revealing ambiguities and person conflicts common to all people Able to write tragedies, histories, and comedies, and poetry

Hamlet One of the most popular and frequently performed Shakespearean plays A tragedy, specifically a “revenge” tragedy most revenge tragedies share same basic elements: the murder of a benign character, often a ruler a hero bent on vengeance for a real or imagined injury a ghost a descent in to madness mayhem and chaos the death of the hero

Centered around the universal theme of good vs. evil, Hamlet is inhabited by some of Shakespeare’s most psychologically complex characters. Characters are motivated by the most basic human emotions: love, anger, grief, and despair. Nothing is simple for these characters—every decision is fraught with complex emotion.

May have been inspired by the story told by Saxo Grammaticus in the 12 th century. Hamlet corresponds to the legendary Danish Prince Amleth (try rearranging the letters of Amleth!). The story was re-told again in the 16 th century by French author Francois de Belleforest. Either of these could have been Shakespeare’s inspiration, though many scholars choose Belleforest’s version, which had been translated into English.

Set in Denmark several hundred years before Shakespeare’s time Most of the action takes place in and around Denmark’s royal castle, Elsinore. Prince Hamlet, the protagonist of the play, is bent on avenging his father’s death Shakespeare’s complex characterization of Hamlet as a conflicted, troubled young man resonates with audiences

Characters King Hamlet—dead before the play starts, still has an integral role in the play Prince Hamlet—son of King Hamlet and Queen Gertrude—Hamlet’s mother, past and current queen of Denmark King Claudius—Hamlet’s uncle, married Gertrude after his brother (King Hamlet) died

Polonius—counselor to Claudius, Ophelia’s and Laertes’ father Horatio—Hamlet’s best friend Laertes—Polonius’ son Ophelia—Polonius daughter and Hamlet’s sometime girlfriend Rosencrantz and Guildenstern—Hamlet’s friends

Reynaldo—servant and spy for Polonius Fortinbras—Prince of Norway Ghost—appears to Hamlet

Themes Good vs. Evil Insanity Revenge Betrayal Appearance vs. Reality Corruption Dysfunction