University of Education, Lahore
English Department
Assignment topic:
“Hamlet; Mona Lisa of English Literature”
Date of submission:
05-12-2022
Session:
Morning
2019-2023
, Hamlet; Mona Lisa of English Literature
“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your
philosophy.”
Hamlet by William Shakespeare is undoubtedly one of the greatest plays by the greatest
writer of English Literature. Despite being one of the greatest plays of all time (In English Literature)
Hamlet is one of the most confusing and controversial plays also. Shakespeare, the Bard of Avon, is
also controversial; some people believe that Shakespeare was not educated enough to write the plays
that are attributed to him. The most common anti-Shakespearean theory claims that the Earl of
Oxford, Edward de Vere was the person who wrote the plays and used the name of Shakespeare as
the frontman. Most of the time we hear that many of Shakespeare’s works are not his own, as
aristocrats at his time were not allowed to write. In spite of all these rumours, Shakespeare is the
most influential writer in the history of the English Language, even today! It is Shakespeare’s
splendour style and the marvellous language that made his plays universal and him the greatest
English writer of all time. And Hamlet is one of the most performed and discussed plays in the
English Language. The appeal of Hamlet is universal, as it has interest for all kinds of people of all
ages and climes. Referring to this quality of Hamlet Stopford Brooke has observed in his book,
“Ten more plays of Shakespeare”:
“I do not suppose that there is any product of modern genius that has been more written
about, or created more curiosity than Hamlet.”
If we look at the play Hamlet critically, we come to realize that both the main character of the
play and the play Hamlet are confusing. Play is confusing does not imply the entirety of the play
rather it means the puzzling parts of the play that make it a subject to controversy. Close scrutiny of
the character of Hamlet suggests that he is educated, philosophic, scholarly, noble, melancholic,
procrastinator, depressive, and impulsive, he is in a state of deep grief, and dilemma. The most
striking features which make Hamlet’s character controversial are his procrastination, his madness,
his impulsive nature, Hamlet’s blaming only Claudius (for Gertrude’s marriage to Claudius), and his
use of puns in his conversations. Let’s see them in detail.
English Department
Assignment topic:
“Hamlet; Mona Lisa of English Literature”
Date of submission:
05-12-2022
Session:
Morning
2019-2023
, Hamlet; Mona Lisa of English Literature
“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your
philosophy.”
Hamlet by William Shakespeare is undoubtedly one of the greatest plays by the greatest
writer of English Literature. Despite being one of the greatest plays of all time (In English Literature)
Hamlet is one of the most confusing and controversial plays also. Shakespeare, the Bard of Avon, is
also controversial; some people believe that Shakespeare was not educated enough to write the plays
that are attributed to him. The most common anti-Shakespearean theory claims that the Earl of
Oxford, Edward de Vere was the person who wrote the plays and used the name of Shakespeare as
the frontman. Most of the time we hear that many of Shakespeare’s works are not his own, as
aristocrats at his time were not allowed to write. In spite of all these rumours, Shakespeare is the
most influential writer in the history of the English Language, even today! It is Shakespeare’s
splendour style and the marvellous language that made his plays universal and him the greatest
English writer of all time. And Hamlet is one of the most performed and discussed plays in the
English Language. The appeal of Hamlet is universal, as it has interest for all kinds of people of all
ages and climes. Referring to this quality of Hamlet Stopford Brooke has observed in his book,
“Ten more plays of Shakespeare”:
“I do not suppose that there is any product of modern genius that has been more written
about, or created more curiosity than Hamlet.”
If we look at the play Hamlet critically, we come to realize that both the main character of the
play and the play Hamlet are confusing. Play is confusing does not imply the entirety of the play
rather it means the puzzling parts of the play that make it a subject to controversy. Close scrutiny of
the character of Hamlet suggests that he is educated, philosophic, scholarly, noble, melancholic,
procrastinator, depressive, and impulsive, he is in a state of deep grief, and dilemma. The most
striking features which make Hamlet’s character controversial are his procrastination, his madness,
his impulsive nature, Hamlet’s blaming only Claudius (for Gertrude’s marriage to Claudius), and his
use of puns in his conversations. Let’s see them in detail.
