Hamlet-other

Hamlet-other

1. The political state of Denmark can be related back to hamlets state of mind throughout the play. When he is mad, there is chaos, when he dies, there is no problems Fortinbras takes over.

2. There are few women in the play, Hamlet cares for and distrusts both. He liked Ophelia but then becomes paranoid believing she was scheming with Claudius, Polonius and Gertrude. In reality she was obeying her father and monarch

   • He feels that both of them have let him down. In love but also in caring for him. He wanted their support.

3. Though Hamlet began acting mad, his behaviour becomes more erratic and believable to be madness. He has moments of extreme violence. It brings the question 'why is there no consequence for him'??.

4. Hamlet isn't scared to die, he's afraid of what happens after. Will he go to heaven or hell. He's obsessed with suicide but put off of it by his uncertainty.

   • he is revolted by the corruption but realises that everyone is equal in death. However his questions still go unanswered in the end. He represents an exploration and discussion without a true resolution.
     • The social hierarchy is an illusion and with break down, just like the dead and the bones in the graveyard. His closeness with death is oddly comforting to him.

5. Hamlet believes women to be weak, 'frailty thy name is woman'. But men in the play are incredibly unstable and do nothing to show society a good example. The men in the play are the wrongdoers, the women's guilt is ambiguous.

6. Gertrude says the branch broke and swept Ophelia down into the river, drowning her. However she is denied a Christian burial, suggesting it was suicide. Gertrude seems caring here? Is she protecting Laertes from further harm, Ophelias reputation and right to a burial or trying to protect Laertes family reputation.

7. Ophelia is forced to define herself through her male counterparts.

8. Ann Thompson says Shakespeare intends for his male characters to have a limited understanding of the female. The men misread the women and it leads to disaster.

9. Ophelia has no other women in her life to guide her and help her. Men dominate her world with too many contradictions.She cannot comply with their wills nor assert her own. She doesn't exist as her own self.