Hamlet

FEELING'S

• Betrayal: Claudius- Kills Hamlet's father and marries Hamlet's mother
• Gertrude- Marries Claudius within a month of his father's death
• Rosencrantz & Guildenstern- Spied on Hamlet for Claudius when they were his "friends."
• Anger - Learning the truth behind his father's death
• Gertrude marrying Claudius
• Love: Telling Ophelia to stay away for her own good

SIGNIFICANCE

• Title of the play is after HAMLET
• Catalyst for most of the action
• His wanting of revenge caused many deaths

HAMLET'S THOUGHTS

• Suicide: In his "To be or Not to be" soliloquy, Hamlet contemplates whether suicide is ideal
• Revenge plan: Hamlet had to constantly think about the next advancement of his plan
• Ophelia's death- Hamlet acted insane but also was insane in some parts. Ophelia was his last link to sanity. Her death caused him to lose it.

LAERTES' THOUGHTS/FEELINGS

• Laertes blames Hamlet for everything. In Act IV scene VII, Laertes lists off in his own way the numerous tragic events that have happened as of late, and he states “…but my revenge will come.” Similar to his foil character, Laertes’ only concern was avenging the death of his sister and father.

LAERTES' IMPACT

• Laertes was strong. He was humble and loyal. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, quality stands over quantity. Even though Laertes only made his grand appearance towards the end, he left a mark on the story. Without Laertes, Hamlet would not have his foil. Laertes brought passion and drive, as well as ambition and strength.

THOUGHTS/FEELINGS

• Ophelia was always thought to be obedient and possibly maybe way too obedient
• She was not allowed to express herself or her true feelings
• She believed that Hamlet loved her even when he claimed he did not
• Throughout the play she is torn between three males - her father, brother and Hamlet
• She wanted to please everyone but ultimately chose her father's side when she chose to stop seeing Hamlet

CONTINUATION

• Zero control over herself in terms of her body, personal decisions, maintenance of relationships
• Due to her being so passive she thinks it's okay to be abused emotionally/physically by one who loves you
• Due to her guilt, it brings her to a standstill of sanity and insanity
• Her inability to keep balance in her life drove her to a state of madness
• Coming in/out of abuse caused her to go haywire. She commits suicide.

SIGNIFICANCE

• Portrays Hamlet's evolution - she was his last link to sanity
• Face of incorruption
• Static and completely one dimensional
• HAD the potential to become a tragic heroine -- to overcome the adversities inflicted upon her -- but she instead crumbled into insanity, becoming merely tragic ("Mabillard").
• Tragic victim

CONTINUATION..

• She highlighted the most important themes which were corruption, patriarchy and deception ("The Dramatic Function of Ophelia in Shakespeare's Hamlet").
• Portrayed as a weak character who requires sympathy
• Limited influence because she was a female.
• Her death is a depiction of the harmful effects of male domination

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HORATIO'S SIGNIFICANCE

• He helps show the credibility of other characters
• Horatio gives us an insight on Hamlets madness from a different point of view - We tend to hang on to the thoughts that he gives us about Hamlet( he says hamlet isn't crazy, we believe hamlet isn't crazy) ("Introduction to Horatio in Hamlet")
• He is the only other person that gives us an inside look at Hamlet - From the very beginning Hamlet trust and tells Horatio everything he is thinking and feeling - Only person that lives on and is able to tell everything he knows about his beloved friend

CLAUDIUS AND HIS PLOTTING..

• Since his introduction he's been speaking rehearsed lines.
• Since his introduction he's been speaking rehearsed lines. In Act 1 scene 2 he gives Hamlet a speech that almost seems planned out, and tries to help Hamlet move on too quickly (Bonnet).
• Later finding that he had murdered king Hamlet and only saying these things to him so he would not get caught
• Using Laertes Rage to his own ends - In Act 4 scene 5 Claudius turns Laertes rage on Hamlet in order to take out the only person trying to make Claudius accountable for his actions.

HOW DOES HE REALLY FEEL?

• Throughout most of the play his actions seem to only show selfish and malicious intent
• Killing his own brother, marrying his brothers wife
• Trying to send Hamlet to England.
• Act 3 Scene 3- Claudius makes his confessions in private stating, "Oh, my offense is rank, it smells to heaven (39)."
• Shows a piece of repentance within him.
• Last bullet is immediately questioned by him trying to send Hamlet away to be killed in England.

WHY IS HE IMPORTANT?

• He's the main antagonist in the whole play! (Other than Hamlet to himself)
• Where is the conflict without the murder he commits?
• He forces Hamlet to make decisions by constantly potting against him. - Sending him to England - Putting him up against Laertes

SIGNIFICANCE

• She triggered Hamlet's rise to anger, furthering the plot
• Drank the poison cup before Hamlet, furthering the plot

FEELINGS

• Guilt..
• Marrying so quickly after losing her husband

QUEEN GERTRUDE'S THOUGHTS

• Hardly any because she was not present enough to give the reader enough information
• She was her own person - she did not depend on Claudius as it seems she does in the beginning of the novel. She shows her independence when Claudius tells her not to drink but does.