HAMLET
By William Shakespeare
HAMLET
Key characters: Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, Horatio, Laertes,
Polonius, Ophelia
Religion
Truth, lies, acting, disguise
Politics
Ghosts
Summary
Key Characters
HAMLET
• He is introspective, thinking a lot about his actions.
• He seeks the truth so that he can be certain that what he does is
the right thing, especially when carrying out the revenge wished
for by the ghost of his death father.
• He is indecisive and fails to decide what to do throughout, until the
tragic ending.
• It seems he has a duty to perform, but does not know how to go
about it. He is angry with himself for not being able to kill
Claudius.
• He wants to do the right thing and does have ambition to be the
next king.
• He wants to see Claudius damned and so does not kill him when he
has the chance, as he has just been praying to god.
• He has strong religious beliefs.
• He would rather kill Claudius when he doing something sinful, like
sleeping with his mother in ‘incestuous sheets’.
• Many of the characters have opinions of Hamlet and he seems to try
and be the character they think he is, which is part of the play’s theme
of ‘seeming’ to be something that you are not.
• Who the real Hamlet is is something that has been debated since the
play was written. There is no definitive answer.
• Ophelia is in love with Hamlet, but he shows little sign of affection for
her.
• Hamlet is described as mad by many characters, but is the madness
real or just pretend? It seems from Hamlet’s many soliloquies that he is
of basically sound mind, but is confused. He pretends to be mad to
help enhance his plans.
King Claudius
• On the surface he seems to be a good King capable of dealing with the
politic issues of war.
• He has clearly killed King Hamlet to get the throne for himself and
gradually his guilt becomes more obvious to the audience.
• He covers up his true actions.
• He must love Gertrude to have married her.
• He genuinely seems to want Hamlet to get over the death of his father
and has his best interests at heart..
• He spies on Hamlet and plans to murder him to cover up his own evil
actions.
• He confesses his sins in the chapel so we are sure of his guilt.
• He seems to have a conscience and seems sorry for what he has done,
but this does not stop him from trying to kill Hamlet and keeping the
throne.
• Claudius’s plot to kill Hamlet fails and he dies at the hands of his own
poison.
Gertrude
• Her relationship with Hamlet (her son) is unusual.
• She loves him, but he hates her because she has quickly married Claudius.
Hamlet feels she should have more respect for her dead husband and should
have mourned for him longer.
• She married Claudius because she loved him and didn’t want to be alone.
• The role of women at this time was to be subservient and it would have been a
lonely place for her if she wasn’t Queen.
• It is speculated as to whether she was involved in the murder of her previous
husband, although nothing is proved, Hamlet feels it could be the case.
• It is Gertrude’s behaviour that destroys Hamlet’s faith in the fidelity of
women, which he later takes out on Ophelia.
• She accidentally drinks the poisoned wine in Act 5, ironically killed by her
new husband’s treachery.
• There are views that there is a strange, incestuous relationship between Hamlet
and his mother. There is a closeness about some of their meetings which may
suggest this.
Polonius
• He is seen as foolish by Hamlet and seems to be a rambling old man,
but he can be seen as evil and cunning.
• He is loyal to Claudius, acting out his spying plans for him, but is this
largely so that he can keep his revered position?
• Father of Ophelia and Laertes.
• He spends a lot of the play talking at length on a number of issues.
• He can be made fun of and is seen as a comic figure by Hamlet.
• Killed whilst spying on Hamlet, he meets a suitable end for his
treachery, although Hamlet thinks he is killing Claudius.
• He even asks Reynaldo to spy on his own son and to tempt him,
showing his lack of trust; ironic for someone who is working for a
traitor.
• Reputation is important to him and he thinks Hamlet’s relationship
with Ophelia could damage it.
• Polonius’ death causes Ophelia to go mad and makes Claudius worried
he may die next.
Laertes
• Son of Polonius. He kills Hamlet in the final scene.
• He is a loyal son and an honourable man.
• He returns from France to avenge his father’s death and Claudius points the
finger at Hamlet.
• Laertes is much more rash than Hamlet and acts quickly without thinking
about the consequences of his actions. He shows what can happen when you
act too quickly.
Ophelia
• Young and in love with Hamlet.
• She holds hope that Hamlet will show her some affection, but he never really
does.
• She is loyal to her father.
• An innocent character, her madness is genuine, unlike Hamlet’s pretence.
Horatio
• Hamlet’s friend.
• He acts as a sounding board for Hamlet.
• By actually seeing the ghost he proves it is not a figment of Hamlet’s
imagination.
• He is loyal, supportive and rational.
KEY THEMES
RELIGION
It been suggested that Hamlet's hesitation to kill Claudius
may be as a result of the religious beliefs of Shakespeare's
time.
The Reformation had generated discussion about the
existence of purgatory (where the Ghost of King Hamlet
claims he currently is).
The concept of purgatory (a place between heaven and hell) is
a Catholic one, and was frowned on in Protestant England.
The play questions such matters and manipulates the
audience’s views on religion.
Contextually this period is one of great religious confusion,
which the play exploits.
Truth/lies/acting/Disguise
This is a key theme.
The play within the play is the most obvious form of acting where the play reenacts the death of King Hamlet and allows Hamlet to see Claudius’ reaction,
confirming his guilt.
Many of the characters act throughout the play, not being their true selves.
Claudius pretends to be sad for King Hamlet’s death and he also pretends to
like Hamlet. Hamlet plays a variety of roles to suit the situation he is in or the
people he is with.
Hamlet feigns madness to put others off their guard and not take him as a serious
threat.
Politics
The play is played to a political backdrop and there is always the threat of war in
the background.
The clearest political theme is that of power and Claudius has gained his through
murder. He must now keep that power.
Set in Denmark but written for an English audience.
• Ghosts
The ghost of Hamlet’s father, the dead King Hamlet, appears several times
in the play.
He is a credible figure as there was strong belief in ghosts at the time the
play was written.
He exists as several characters see him, so he is not a figment of Hamlet's
imagination.
He demands revenge for his death and basically is responsible for
Hamlet’s agonies throughout the play.
Hamlet tests the ghost by staging the play and it confirms that what the
ghost says is true.
Summary
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•
•
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The play deals with deception and lies.
There is a political background to the plot.
Religion plays a key part in the text.
Hamlet thinks too much and spends too
long deciding whether to kill Claudius or
not.
• The play is a tragedy, ending, in true tragic
tradition, with the deaths of all of the major
characters.