Hamlet Analysis
Hamlet Analysis
What are the side effects of revenge? What happens to someone as a result of
revenge? What about the people around them? Is it self destructive? Why? Who
gets hurt?
REVENGE
The Opening Scene – Act 1 Scene 1
What language
techniques have been Look at the purpose of the
used to create this ghost here. Does the ghost
foreshadow anything? What is
atmosphere?
the ghost’s attire?
Objective:
Understand the difference in the atmosphere between the first two scenes of the play
Discuss with the person next to you for 2 minutes the following things and be ready to
discuss as a class:
- Have compared the first two scenes
- Completed a comparative analysis statement
Act 1 Scene 2
Gertrude Laertes
Hamlet Ophelia
- Scene 5
How the Ghost compares himself to Gertrude and
Claudius
What does he say about his murder
What does he say about how quickly he was killed
The ghost in Hamlet no doubt performs an important
dramatic function. Whatever may have been Shakespeare's
belief about ghosts he utilizes the popular conception to
highlight what is in the minds of his characters. The ghosts
or witches that appeared to Macbeth spoke out only what
was in his mind, and revealed his inner thoughts to the
audience better than any words of his could do. In the same
way, the ghost in Hamlet discloses to us the suspicions
already in the minds of Hamlet and his friends. When
Hamlet sees the ghost and hears its revelations, he voices
this thought by saying, "Oh my prophetic soul!" (I. V. 40.)
And the fact that it first appears to the friends of Hamlet
suggests that they shared his suspicions and perhaps even
anticipated them, though no word had been spoken. The
inquiry of Marcellus about the cause of the warlike activity
and his later remark about the rotten condition of Denmark
seem to imply a suspicion that he is endeavoring to verify or
to disprove.
The skepticism that all at first show concerning the ghost
seems to indicate their unwillingness to put faith in their
suspicions. They do not willingly think evil of the king, and
they all want some undoubted proof, not only of the fact of
the ghost's appearance, but of the truth of his words.
Horatio hesitates to take ths word of Bernardo and
Francisco, and is convinced only by the actual sight of the
ghost. Hamlet, apparently the least suspicious of all, for he
is the last to see the ghost, seems reluctant to believe that
Horatio and the others have seen it. To convince him,
Horatio assures him with an oath of the truth of his report,
saying,
"As I do live, my honor'd lord, 'tis true."
(I. ii. 221.)
His doubts are not finally removed until the fourth scene
when he sees the ghost for himself. At last, the evidence
overcomes his moral reluctance to believe such foul
suspicions, and Hamlet is convinced of the guilt of the king
Discuss with the person next to you for 2 minutes the following things
and be ready to discuss as a class:
Madness
Revenge
Memory
Complete the three sections looking
closely at Act 1 Scene 5.
“I was the more
deceiv'd.”
~Ophelia, Act
III, scene 1
Humor in
Hamlet’s Madness
‘Get thee to a
nunnery’
Reversal of Roles
- Gertrude’s allegiance
-Ophelia’s betrayal
EXPLORE
Horatio…….the voice
of reason? Still?
Hamlet’s relationships
are developed…
Gertrude
Horatio
Rosencrantz
Ophelia And
Guildenstern
“Ophelia should be viewed
as a completely innocent
victim”
Argue for AND against this
statement
for against
Act 3 Scene 3
Potential
Explanations
for Hamlet’s
delay….
Plot Fairness
Device
The Closet Scene
What is the purpose
behind Hamlet’s
confrontation?
Confirms Make
Repair their
Claudius’ Gertrude
relationship
Guilt repent
Explore Gertrude’s
language whilst she is
talking to Hamlet-
what do you notice?
Explore Hamlet’s
control over the
conversation.
How does he
maintain this?
What do we make of Hamlet’s
spontaneous reaction?
“Act 3 Scene 4 proves that
Gertrude is just an innocent
victim”.