Who Was Shakespeare? Born: April 1564 Died: April 23, 1616 Spouse: Anne Hathaway Home: Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom Bio: Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright and actor, who was widely regarded as both the greatest writer in the English language and the world's greatest dramatist. He is often referred to as England's national poet, or the "Bard of Avon." His works consist of approximately 39 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and a few other verses. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. Shakespeare produced his works between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were usually comedies and histories. They are regarded as some of the best works ever produced in these genres. After this, until about 1608, he wrote mostly tragedies. These included Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, all of which are considered to be among the finest works in the English language. In the last phase of his life, he wrote tragicomedies (also known as romances). He also began collaborating with other playwrights. Why Is Hamlet Such a Famous Play? First performance: 1609 Genre: Tragedy Setting: Denmark Hamlet has been adapted into, or has inspired, hundreds of other plays, books, and movies. The play has stood the test of time due to its powerful moral themes and its maddening existential questions. Characters: Claudius, Gertrude, Polonius, Horatio, Ophelia, Laertes, Fortinbras, The Ghost, Rosencrantz And Guildenstern, Osric, Voltimand And Cornelius, Marcellus And Bernardo, Francisco, Reynaldo Morality in Hamlet: Throughout the play, immoral acts result in death and a cycle of the need for revenge. One character deems avenging his father a moral action and in doing so he creates a cycle of death. Many lives are lost in the pursuit to commit a moral act. Greek philosophy in Hamlet: On the surface, Hamlet contains the elements of a classic revenge tragedy. However, the themes run much deeper, alluding to philosophical musings by Aristotle and Socrates. The play is like a greek tragic drama wherein a character's tragic flaw causes catharsis in an audience. Influence on Existentialism: Hamlet is called to choose and create his identity or essence or self because man, according to existentialism, has no fixed nature. This freedom of choice entails commitment and responsibility. Therefore, he is caused great anguish. Breakdown of Main Characters in "Hamlet" Character Description Ophelia Ophelia is a character in William Shakespeare's drama Hamlet. She is a young noblewoman of Denmark, the daughter of Polonius, sister of Laertes, and potential wife of Prince Hamlet. King Claudius King Claudius is a fictional character and the primary antagonist of William Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet. He is the brother to King Hamlet, second husband to Gertrude and uncle and later stepfather to Prince Hamlet. Polonius Polonius is a character in William Shakespeare's Hamlet. He is chief counsellor of the king, and the father of Laertes and Ophelia. Laertes Laertes is a character in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. Laertes is the son of Polonius and the brother of Ophelia. In the final scene, he kills Hamlet with a poisoned sword to avenge the deaths of his father and sister, for which he blamed Hamlet. While dying of the same poison, he implicates King Claudius Horatio Horatio is a character in William Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet. Horatio's origins are unknown, although he was present on the battlefield when Hamlet's father defeated 'the ambitious Norway', Fortinbras, and attended Wittenberg University with Prince Hamlet. Character Description Fortinbras Fortinbras is either of two minor fictional characters from William Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet. The more notable is a Norwegian crown prince with a few brief scenes in the play, who delivers the final lines that represent a hopeful future for the monarchy of Denmark and its subjects. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are characters in William Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet. They are childhood friends of Hamlet, summoned by King Claudius to distract the prince from his apparent madness and if possible to ascertain the cause of it. Ghost of Hamlet's Father The ghost of Hamlet's father is a character from William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. In the stage directions he is referred to as "Ghost". His name is also Hamlet, and he is referred to as King Hamlet to distinguish him from the Prince. Main Themes in Hamlet Madness: Does Hamlet truly go "mad," or is it all an act? What lines of thought are within our control and which are not? Revenge: The play isn't about Hamlet's ultimately successful vengeance for his father's murder at all. Instead, most of the play is concerned with Hamlet's inner struggle to take action. The play is more interested in calling into question the validity and usefulness of revenge. Mortality: From Hamlet's initial confrontation with a dead man's ghost, to the final sword fight and bloodbath, the play is trying to come to grips with just the question: if we all die eventually, then does it really matter who kills us? Lies and Deceit: Hamlet depicts a scandalous political world, where deception is a necessary part of life. It's no wonder why directors seem to think it's infinitely adaptable: deceit isn't limited to one time or place. Amazing Quotes in "Hamlet" Character Quote Hamlet “To die, to sleep - To sleep, perchance to dream - ay, there's the rub, For in this sleep of death what dreams may come...” Hamlet “There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” Polonius “Though this be madness, yet there is method in't.” Character Quote Polonius “Brevity is the soul of wit.” Claudius “One may smile, and smile, and be a villain. ” Hamlet “God hath given you one face, and you make yourself another.” Hamlet “I must be cruel only to be kind; Thus bad begins, and worse remains behind.” Queen Gertrude “So full of artless jealousy is guilt, It spills itself in fearing to be spilt." Polonius “Doubt thou the stars are fire; Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I love .” Hamlet “To be or not to be that is the question.”
