Exam (elaborations)
KEY CRITICS FOR HAMLET
- Course
- Institution
- Book
A variety of critics for Hamlet divided into themes.
[Show more]
Connected book
Book Title:
Author(s):
- Edition:
- ISBN:
- Edition:
More summaries for
-
Hamlet quotes by theme
-
Zusammenfassung Hamlet
-
Model Hamlet Part A and B essay
Seller
Follow
17cchambers-blake
Content preview
35. .Explore how ● Melancholy as a mental affliction - considered a form of madnessShakespeare
presents ideas ● Hamlet feigns madness as a tool
about madness.
● The ambiguity of Hamlet’s madness - some argue that it is genuine
● Ophelia’s madness as a foil to Hamlet’s
36. Explore how ● Corruption and moral decay as rife in the court and the wider setting of Denmark
Shakespeare
presents ideas ● Women, specifically female sexuality, as corrupt
about corruption.
● Corruption pervades even the noble Hamlet
● Explores punishments for corruption, including Denmark’s loss of sovereignty
37. Explore how ● Hamlet’s worshipful admiration of his father
Shakespeare
presents ● Hamlet’s inability to emulate the heroic nature of his father - leads to self-loathing/melancholy
father-son
relationships. ● Fathers having a severe - even sinister - level of control over their sons
● Hamlet as more motivated by his mother - perhaps due to a coldness in his relationship with his
father?
38. Explore how ● Women as undeveloped characters, especially Gertrude
Shakespeare
presents women. ● Women live under the control of men
● Women as corrupt
● The significance of Hamlet’s relationship with his mother
39. To what extent is ● Hamlet’s nobility and superiority established at the beginning
Hamlet presented
as a noble ● However, Hamlet lacks the qualities of medieval chivalric nobility
character?
● Hamlet loses his moral superiority
● Hamlet regains his nobility at the end of the play, although this remains ambiguous
40. Explore how ● Death has had a profound impact on him at the beginning - arguably the cause of his melancholy -
Shakespeare the death of his father
presents ideas
about death. ● Hamlet longs for the ease of death - insight into his melancholy
● Hamlet’s uncertainty about death and what happens after death - leads to his delay
● Hamlet arguably overcomes his fear of death, enabling him to act
● The symbolic death of Ophelia
, 41. Explore how ● Revenge is structurally important to the play - 3 sons avenging their fathers
Shakespeare
presents ideas ● Hamlet as an unusual and unsuitable revenge hero - deeply contemplative
about revenge.
● Hamlet’s obstacles as internal - subversion of Senecan revenge tragedies
● Is Shakespeare exploring the corruptive nature of revenge? Consider the effect that the task of
revenge has on Hamlet
● The effects of the revenge quest on Hamlet’s sanity - ‘remember me’
42. Explore how ● Polonius’s control over his children
Shakespeare
presents the ● A ruthless and Machiavellian politician, at the heart of the Danish nation
character of
Polonius. ● Interactions with Hamlet highlight Hamlet’s moral superiority
● The symbolic significance of Polonius’s death and his rotting body
43. Explore how ● An atmosphere of uncertainty from the beginning - establishing Elsinore as a setting where
Shakespeare appearances cannot be trusted.
presents ideas
about uncertainty. ● Uncertainty about the ghost’s identity - explores contemporary uncertainties about death and the
afterlife
● Hamlet’s other uncertainties about enacting revenge - is he suitable for and capable of the role?
● Overcomes his uncertainty
44. Explore the ● Ophelia as controlled by men
significance of
Ophelia. ● Ophelia’s madness as a foil to Hamlet’s feigned madness
● Ophelia’s madness as transgressive - an act of agency
● Ophelia’s symbolic death - exposing the powerlessness of women in the court
45. How does ● Hamlet’s own sense of entrapment is mirrored in the claustrophobic and confined setting
Shakespeare use
setting? ● The contrast between characters in private and in public
● Private settings convey an intimacy between characters
● The setting of the graveyard - Hamlet experiences an epiphany
46. How does ● The symbolism of decay runs through the play - Denmark as full of moral decay and corruption
Shakespeare use
symbolism? ● The symbolism of ears - you cannot trust what you hear
● Ophelia’s symbolic death - symbolic of a woman’s place within the court?
● The symbolism of Yorick’s skull - leads to realisations and an epiphany for Hamlet - changes his
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller 17cchambers-blake. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for CA$5.46. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
75323 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now