Hamlet

Slide 1

• 
• Hamlet
• Character Analysis

Hamlet

• The prince of Denmark.
• He is the title character.
• Was inline to be the next king.
• He is reflective, thinking a lot about his actions
• He seeks the truth so that he can be certain he is taking the right actions, especially when taking revenge for his fathers death.
• He is very indecisive and fails to make decisions.
• He wants to do the right thing and he has the ambition to be the king.
• Hamlet wants to kill Claudius at the right time, yet never does it when he gets the chance. For example, when he is praying.
• Hamlet can also be rash and act out of impulse.
• The real Hamlet is something that is debated and no one really knows.
• Many characters see Hamlet as mad, yet no one knows if it is real or pretend. Hamlet says he is pretending but no one really knows the truth.
• 

Hamlet QUotations

• "Seems? Nay, it is, I know not seems" - Implies he is pretending madness
• "Fragility thy name is women" - View of women as weak
• "Oh villain, villain, oh damned smiling villain" - View of Claudius
• "The plays the thing, wherein i'll catch the conscience of the king" - Using the play to find out the truth

Claudius

• Main antagonist and second husband to Gertrude.
• On the surface he seems to be a good king, capable of this role.
• He has killed old King Hamlet and his guilt starts to become clear throughout the play.
• He plans to get Hamlet killed to cover up his own actions.
• He confesses to his sins in the chapel so we know he is guilty.
• He seems to be sorry for what he done yet he still tries to kill Hamlet and keeps the throne.
• His plot to kill Hamlet fail and he dies from his own plot.
• 

Gertrude

• 
• Hamlets mother, the queen.
• She was married to old King Hamlet but is now married to his brother the new king, Claudius.
• Her relationship with Hamlet is unusual. She loves him but he resents her for her hasty remarriage to Claudius.
• Hamlet feels she should have mourned his father for longer.
• It is questioned if she knows about her past husbands murder. It isn't proved but Hamlet thinks it could be a possibility.
• Gertrude's behaviour destroys Hamlets faith in the fidelity of women.

Gertrude Quotations

• Gertrude ; "Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended" Hamlet ; " Mother, you have my father much offended" - Not his real father, Hamlet reminds her of her hasty remarriage
• King ; "Gertrude, do not drink." Gertrude ; "I will, my lord; I pray you pardon me..." - Shows her loyalties are with Hamlet as she drinks the poisoned wine.

Ophelia

• 
• In love with Hamlet. Had a relationship with him in the past.
• She longs for affection from Hamlet, but we never see him give her any.
• She is loyal to her father.
• Her madness is real after her tragedy.

Polonius

• 
• Father of Ophelia and Laertes
• He is seen as foolish by Hamlet.
• He can also be seen as evil, as he obeys Claudius' every command.
• He is loyal to Claudius and carries out his spying for him. This is a foolish decision by Polonius as this is how he is killed.
• Reputation is important to him and he doesn't let Ophelia have a relationship with Hamlet as he feels this will ruin her reputation.
• Polonius' death makes Ophelia go mad and worries Claudius that he may be killed next.

The Ghost

• 
• Hamlets father and Queen Gertrude's past husband.
• The ghost tells Hamlet that his brother, the new king, Claudius killed him and Hamlet must avenge his death.

Horatio

• 
• Hamlets best friend.
• Only person Hamlet can trust.
• He also sees the ghost. This proves it is not just a figure of Hamlets imagination.
• He is loyal and supportive.

Laertes

• 
• Son of Polonius and brother of Ophelia.
• He kills Hamlet in the final scene in a plot put together by Claudius.
• He is a loyal son.
• He returns from France to avenge his fathers death. Claudius points the finger at Hamlet
• He is much more rash than Hamlet. He acts quickly without thinking of the consequences.
• He is killed by Hamlet in the final scene.