Hamlet Characters structure and themes Hamlet Plotsubplot structure

Hamlet Characters, structure, and themes

Hamlet Plot/subplot structure • Main Plot – court – – Hamlet’s grief Revenge of Old Hamlet’s death Dealing with Fortinbras Plots and machinations • Subplots – Polonius family – – Ophelia and Hamlet’s love Laertes in France Revenge of Polonius’ death Ophelia’s madness

Hamlet Plot/subplot structure • Main Plot – revenge – Revenge of Old Hamlet’s death – Revenge for Polonius’ death – Fortinbras’ revenge • Subplots – – Hamlet’s grief, thoughts of death Hamlet’s antic disposition Hamlet’s relationship with Ophelia’s madness

Hamlet Foiling • Character foiling – Fortinbras, Hamlet, Laertes: lost father, revenge – Hamlet, Ophelia: madness – Old Hamlet, Polonius, Claudius: give advice to child(ren) • Parallel scenes – Act 1, scenes 2, 3, 5: Parents give advice to children – Act 2 and Act 4: Hamlet and Ophelia’s madness

Hamlet themes • • • revenge madness grief ideal king, politics eavesdropping, spying power of art, plays

Hamlet issues to resolve • Ghost – Is it real or not? – If it is real, is it a good ghost or an evil ghost? • • • Is Hamlet really mad or feigning madness? Does Hamlet procrastinate? If so, why? Is Hamlet a scourge and/or minister? How much should characters obey parents? Whose view of revenge is right: Hamlet’s or Laertes’?

Hamlet -- Act I Scene 1 Horatio to speak with Ghost Scene 2 Claudius at Court Hamlet’s grief Horatio tells Hamlet about Ghost Scene 4 Hamlet waiting for Ghost “Stamp of one defect” Scene 3 Polonius and Ophelia say goodbye to Laertes Scene 5 Hamlet and Ghost antic disposition

Hamlet -- Act II Scene 1 Polonius/Reynaldo Ophelia’s report re/Hamlet Scene 2 Claudius with Ros and Gild Polonius’s report Hamlet and fishmonger Players/Pyrrhus “The play’s the thing”

Hamlet -- Act III Scene 1 NUNNERY SCENE Hamlet and Ophelia Scene 3 PRAYER SCENE Claudius/Hamlet Scene 2 MOUSETRAP SCENE Hamlet and players Play within a play Scene 4 CLOSET SCENE Gertrude/Hamlet Death of Polonius

Hamlet -- Act IV Scene 1 Gertrude/Claudius Scene 2 Ros and Gild seek Hamlet Scene 3 Claudius sends Hamlet to England Scene 4 Hamlet sees Fortinbras Scene 6 Gertrude Ophelia’s madness Laertes’ threat Scene 7 Letter to Horatio from Hamlet Scene 8 Claudius and Laertes’ plans against Hamlet Gertrude’s report of Ophelia’s death

Hamlet -- Act V Scene 1 GRAVEYARD SCENE Gravediggers/Hamlet Burial of Ophelia Scene 2 FOIL SCENE Hamlet/Horatio Laertes’ challenge Duel Death of Gertrude/Claudius Death of Laertes/Hamlet Fortinbras