Hamlets Character 1 Character Analysis 1 Character Hamlet

Hamlet’s Character 1. Character Analysis 1

Character Hamlet Character Analysis David Tennant discusses his role as Hamlet (3 mins) NOTE There is no definitive version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Over the past 400 years, the text of the play has been printed in several formats. Directors of theatrical productions such as this one often make changes for dramatic effect. As a result, stage versions can differ in many ways from the written text that is being studied in school, and lines are sometimes omitted. 2

Character Hamlet Compare and Contrast • A foil is another character who is contrasted, usually with the main character, in order to highlight particular qualities in the main character. • Shakespeare presents the character of Hamlet to his audience by providing a number of foils: Horatio, Fortinbras, Claudius and Laertes. By comparing and contrasting these characters with Hamlet, the audience becomes more aware of the different aspects of Hamlet’s personality. 3

Character Hamlet Horatio Contrast: ’. • Unlike Horatio, Prince Hamlet is volatile, erratic, inconsistent, temperamental and unsteady. • Choose two adjectives from the following list to describe Horatio: steadfast, loyal, wavering, unstable. Compare: • Hamlet and Horatio both show a love of learning, reason and thought. They also value friendship. 4

Character Hamlet Claudius Contrast: • In sharp contrast to Claudius, Prince Hamlet believes in morality, yet he hesitates to act. • Choose two adjectives from the following list to describe Claudius: immoral, decisive, dull, loving. Compare: • Both Claudius and Hamlet are intelligent, manipulative and destroy others in pursuit of their aims. 5

Character Hamlet Fortinbras Contrast: • While Fortinbras is a man of action, Hamlet adopts an ‘antic disposition’ which gives him time to slowly pursue vengeance for his father. • Choose two adjectival phrases from the following list to describe Fortinbras: swift to act, single-minded, self-pitying, cautious and cowardly. Compare: • Both Fortinbras and Hamlet take on the burden of avenging their dead fathers and are successful, despite tremendous challenges. 6

Character Contrast: Hamlet Laertes • Hamlet is complex, thoughtful and pursues vengeance through underhand means such as the play-within-the-play. He is not easily manipulated. • Choose two adjectives from the following list to describe Laertes: simple, rash, dishonourable, vengeful. Compare: • Both Laertes and Hamlet seek revenge for injustices to their fathers. Both are physically courageous and both forgive each other for the wrongs they have done to each other. Each of them has also suffered and wrought destruction. 7

Character Hamlet An Antic Disposition • Hamlet’s portrayal of a madman is intense and convincing. Do you think Hamlet actually slips into insanity at any time in the play? Write a paragraph (150– 200 words) explaining your view. Consider: • • Although Hamlet’s language appears wild, does he make sharp observations? Is his decision to fake madness a ruse to confuse his enemies and conceal his pursuit of vengeance? Is he so traumatised by grief from his father’s death, his mother’s hasty remarriage to his uncle and the heavy burden of revenge placed on him by the Ghost that he breaks at certain points in the play? Refer to the play-within-the-play (Act 3, Scene 2), his confrontation with Ophelia (Act 3, Scene 1) and his defiant challenges to his mother (Act 3, Scene 4). 8