The document discusses several key aspects of Shakespeare's play Hamlet. It defines tragedy as involving a noble hero who is destroyed through circumstances beyond their control. It outlines the three stages of Shakespeare's tragic heroes: introduction, struggle with conflict, and recovery/enlightenment. It also discusses themes of revenge tragedies like Hamlet, including a justified hero seeking revenge on an equal opponent in a gloomy atmosphere. Finally, it notes Hamlet's complex personality can be viewed through different lenses.

1. HamletHamlet

2. The TimesThe Times
 Humans have potential for developmentHumans have potential for development
 Everyday life is meaningful, here and nowEveryday life is meaningful, here and now
 Ideal man: talented, adventurous, fencer,Ideal man: talented, adventurous, fencer,
poet, conversationalist (witty)poet, conversationalist (witty)
 Arranged marriages, women lesser socialArranged marriages, women lesser social
statusstatus
 Proper order of all things: order = harmonyProper order of all things: order = harmony
 Rulers are God’s agentsRulers are God’s agents

3. Tragedy DefinedTragedy Defined
 A noble, heroic central character isA noble, heroic central character is
destroyed because he is incapable ofdestroyed because he is incapable of
dealing with a destructive situation causeddealing with a destructive situation caused
by another character or by circumstances.by another character or by circumstances.
Before he dies he gains insights whichBefore he dies he gains insights which
make him a more perceptive human beingmake him a more perceptive human being
than he was when the play began.than he was when the play began.

4. 3 stages to Shakespeare’s Tragic3 stages to Shakespeare’s Tragic
HeroHero
1.1. Introduced to the audience; trueIntroduced to the audience; true
character revealedcharacter revealed
2.2. Tries to cope with the conflict and isTries to cope with the conflict and is
changed to become almost his ownchanged to become almost his own
oppositeopposite
3.3. Recovery and enlightenment; reachesRecovery and enlightenment; reaches
serenity regarding his fateserenity regarding his fate
Hero is less a pawn of fate and moreHero is less a pawn of fate and more
responsible for his downfall: waste ofresponsible for his downfall: waste of
human potentialhuman potential

5. Revenge TragedyRevenge Tragedy
 Hero has been violently wronged and is justified in hisHero has been violently wronged and is justified in his
revengerevenge
 Revenge is aimed at a worthy opponent who is equal toRevenge is aimed at a worthy opponent who is equal to
hero in cunning and powerhero in cunning and power
 An atmosphere of gloom and terror-preferably withAn atmosphere of gloom and terror-preferably with
supernatural elementssupernatural elements
 The woman loved by the hero may become an innocentThe woman loved by the hero may become an innocent
obstacle in revengeobstacle in revenge
 Revenge is a universal decree that supersedes allRevenge is a universal decree that supersedes all
religious doctrines, including Christianityreligious doctrines, including Christianity
 Also…revenge is delayed and the hero ensures that theAlso…revenge is delayed and the hero ensures that the
victim will be eternally damnedvictim will be eternally damned

6.  Prominent themes to consider as you read:Prominent themes to consider as you read:
•
RevengeRevenge
•
Appearance vs. reality (Claudius, Ghost, R & G,Appearance vs. reality (Claudius, Ghost, R & G,
O, suicide, acting, “assume” “painting”)O, suicide, acting, “assume” “painting”)
•
Sanity vs. madnessSanity vs. madness
•
Decay and corruptionDecay and corruption
•
Action vs. inactionAction vs. inaction
 Prominent motifs to consider as you read:Prominent motifs to consider as you read:
•
incest and incestuous desireincest and incestuous desire
•
misogynymisogyny
•
ears and hearingears and hearing
•
the supernaturalthe supernatural
•
death by poisondeath by poison

7. Hamlet’s many facesHamlet’s many faces
1. Indecisive procrastinator
2. Melancholy depressive
3. Superior egoist (moves alone and fails)
4. Deeply moral and sensible (retribution is
impossible)
5. Shocked idealist (disappointed in man)
6. Obsessed w/ death (unhealthy
preoccupation)