Hamlet
Themes
There are many themes in the play Hamlet. Some of the more prominent themes
are:
Madness
Ophelia’s madness is indisputable. However, Hamlet’s “antic disposition” – his
make-believe madness – is a pose he hides behind while he contemplates his
revenge. But his actual state of mind seems terribly unstable at several points
throughout the play, and it is difficult to know for certain whether or not he ever
actually slips over the edge into genuine madness.
Is Hamlet truly mad, or is he just pretending? What does that say about the true
nature of “madness”?
Appearance Vs. Reality
Several characters throughout the play are not who they appear to be. Usually
this ruse has a very specific purpose, leaving viewers to wonder who and or what
is truly “real” in this play. Hamlet isn’t really “mad”, Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern aren’t really Hamlet’s “friends”, Ophelia bates Hamlet for her father,
and Gertrude doesn’t exactly look like she’s mourning…but does that mean
anything?
Which characters in the play keep a “hidden” side? Why do they do it?
Gender
“Frailty, thy name is woman!” How are the different genders portrayed in the
play?
Corruption (physical, moral, and sexual)
There are many examples of corruption in Hamlet. There are many images of
sickness and decay to demonstrate physical corruption. Claudius and his actions
are strong examples of moral corruption. The relationship between Claudius and
Gertrude hints at sexual corruption.
How does Hamlet view his world? How does this affect him?
Revenge
Hamlet is a revenge play, and in fact the play is structured around a double
revenge (both Hamlet and Laertes seek to avenge a father’s murder, but we
can’t forget Fortinbras and his sub-subplot!). Hamlet is actively seeking revenge
for his father’s murder, but he becomes a target of Laertes’ revenge for his
father’s murder. All of this revenging makes it difficult to separate the “good”
guys from the “bad” guys.
But when you are talking about revenge, is there such a thing as a “good” guy
and a “bad” guy? What does all of this talk of revenge say about human nature?
Is Hamlet’s quest for revenge justifiable?
Your Task:
Using a copy of the play, pick out specific events and passages which develop
these themes (3 is a nice round English number!). What message is being sent
through the examination of these themes?