THEMES IN HAMLET

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The University of Queensland *

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QWQ

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Arts Humanities

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Oct 30, 2023

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Revenge Most revenge tragedies share some basic elements: a play within a play; mad scenes; a vengeful ghost and a central character who has a serious grievance. Hamlet seeks revenge privately after justice has failed him publically. He is a tragic hero in that he is aware of the moral implications involved in exacting his revenge. Key revenge plot elements Quotes to support The ghost of Hamlet’s father (bear in mind his reappearance later in the play) “Extorted treasure in the womb of earth, For which, they say, your spirits oft walk in death” (Act 1, Scene 1) Horatio “Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damned, Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell” (Act 1, Scene 4) Hamlet “The serpent that did sting thy father’s life, now wears his crown” (Act 1, Scene 5) Ghost “So lust, though to a radiant angel linked, Will sate itself in a celestial bed And prey on garbage” (Act 1, Scene 5) Ghost The Murder of Gonzago ( The Mousetrap ; the play within the play) Hamlet’s opportunity to kill Claudius in his chamber and his decision not to “A villain kills my father, and, for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send To heaven” (Act 3, Scene 3) Hamlet “He took my father so grossly, full of bread, with all his crimes broad blown… ‘Tis heavy with him. And am I then revenged” (Act 3, Scene 3) Hamlet

Hamlet’s killing of Polonius “How now a rat? Dead for a ducat, dead!” (Act 3, Scene 4) Hamlet “A bloody deed? Almost as bad, good mother, As kill a king and marry with his brother” (Act 3, Scene 4) Hamlet Claudius’ attempt to have Hamlet assassinated (in England; upon his return) Hamlet’s eventual achievement of revenge upon Claudius

Morality and moral corruption Many Shakespearian dramas deal with the concept of life and death as well as the corruption of the characters’ sense of right and wrong. Key elements of morality and moral corruption Quotes to support Hamlet’s view of his mother’s marriage to Claudius The Murder of Gonzago ( The Mousetrap ; the play within the play) Claudius’ attempt to have Hamlet assassinated (in England; upon his return) Laertes and his revenge on Hamlet Hamlet’s debate over whether suicide is an effective solution to pain Hamlet’s uncertainty over the true nature of his father’s ghost Hamlet’s conversation with the grave diggers Deception

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This is an essential element of Shakespearian drama and can be destructive or benign; practiced on others or self-inflicted. Key deception elements Quotes to support Hamlet’s madness which is devised to draw attention away from his suspicious activities as he tries to gather evidence against Claudius The Murder of Gonzago ( The Mousetrap ; the play within the play) His meeting with Gertrude in her closet Hamlet’s discovery of the death warrant carried by Rosencrantz and Guidenstern Hamlet’s philosophical reluctance to murder Claudius resulting in his self-deception Hamlet’s deception of Ophelia regarding his love for her