The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
Longest play (Shortest is Comedy of Errors); 4,042 lines; 1599 & 1602
Anti-Stratfordian theory initially given by James Wilmot is that these plays have been written by
Francis Bacon or Edward de Vere, the Earl of Oxford (or Elizabeth- the Queen or Morlowe)
Setting of the play: Elsinore Castle, Denmark; late Middle Ages; Reformation & humanist thought
& Oedipal complex; based on Danish revenge story first recorded by Saxo Grammaticus in the
1100s; many modern adaptations (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead)
Characters:
Hamlet: mother Gertrude & father King Hamlet; Uncle Claudius (Now step father); friend Horatio
Fortinbras: prince of Norway, foil of Hamlet; Yorick: deceased royal jester, skull is played
Polonius (advisor to Cla.): daughter Ophelia (Ham. lover) & son Laertes (scholar, expressive)
The Story
Barnado replaced by Francisco; horrified; asks to send Horatio & Marcellus to join; they join &
Fran. Leaves; Horatio is to watch apparition the other two have watched twice; Ghost of late King
appears; Horatio fearfully talks, ghost leaves; Horatio: something bad will happen; Fortinbras will
avenge his father; ghost reappears; Horatio offers help for peace; roster crows & ghost disappears;
Horatio says he will talk to son Hamlet; let us inform him
Cla. Court; gives speech; mourns the death; resolves to make Denmark strong against Fortinbras;
gives a letter to Voltemand and Cornelius for Fortinbras’ uncle; gives permission to Laertes to go
France; to Hamlet: “the clouds [of grief] still hang”; Hamlet: “too much in the sun.” Gertrude: it’s
common to die; treat Cla. well; Cla. calls his mourning “impious stubbornness.”; stay in Denmark;
he agrees; all makes merry; Hamlet alone says: life “unprofitable”, the marriage “incestuous” but
holds tongue for peace; Horatio (friend from Wittenberg)with 2 other comes; Hamlet happy &
sad to know; says he saw father last night; explains; Hamlet will join tonight; ghost may ask for
“foul play”
Laertes leaves for France & advises not to love Hamlet; she promises; Polonius farewells son;
advises him to make let not trustable near; Polonius asks; Ophelia reveals relationship; forbids to
keep on
Hamlet waits for ghost; Cla. enjoys parties; enrages Hamlet; Ghosts appear & asks Hamlet to
follow, he follows; they stops but Hamlet goes; Marcellus: “something is rotten in the state of
Denmark.” Asks ghost to stop; tells he is father’s spirit; take revenge of his; Hamlet asks for detail;
tells that Cla. poisoned in ear; Hamlet promises revenge; Horatio & Marcellus asks but he doesn’t
tell; they swear to keep secrecy; ghost asks to re-swear on Hamlet sword not to tell anyone & help
Hamlet
Polonius sends Reynaldo to watchdog Laertes as an acquaintance; Ophelia comes pale; tells about
Hamlet grabbing her wrist; readmits he loves; afraid Polonius takes her to Cla. for complaint
Longest play (Shortest is Comedy of Errors); 4,042 lines; 1599 & 1602
Anti-Stratfordian theory initially given by James Wilmot is that these plays have been written by
Francis Bacon or Edward de Vere, the Earl of Oxford (or Elizabeth- the Queen or Morlowe)
Setting of the play: Elsinore Castle, Denmark; late Middle Ages; Reformation & humanist thought
& Oedipal complex; based on Danish revenge story first recorded by Saxo Grammaticus in the
1100s; many modern adaptations (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead)
Characters:
Hamlet: mother Gertrude & father King Hamlet; Uncle Claudius (Now step father); friend Horatio
Fortinbras: prince of Norway, foil of Hamlet; Yorick: deceased royal jester, skull is played
Polonius (advisor to Cla.): daughter Ophelia (Ham. lover) & son Laertes (scholar, expressive)
The Story
Barnado replaced by Francisco; horrified; asks to send Horatio & Marcellus to join; they join &
Fran. Leaves; Horatio is to watch apparition the other two have watched twice; Ghost of late King
appears; Horatio fearfully talks, ghost leaves; Horatio: something bad will happen; Fortinbras will
avenge his father; ghost reappears; Horatio offers help for peace; roster crows & ghost disappears;
Horatio says he will talk to son Hamlet; let us inform him
Cla. Court; gives speech; mourns the death; resolves to make Denmark strong against Fortinbras;
gives a letter to Voltemand and Cornelius for Fortinbras’ uncle; gives permission to Laertes to go
France; to Hamlet: “the clouds [of grief] still hang”; Hamlet: “too much in the sun.” Gertrude: it’s
common to die; treat Cla. well; Cla. calls his mourning “impious stubbornness.”; stay in Denmark;
he agrees; all makes merry; Hamlet alone says: life “unprofitable”, the marriage “incestuous” but
holds tongue for peace; Horatio (friend from Wittenberg)with 2 other comes; Hamlet happy &
sad to know; says he saw father last night; explains; Hamlet will join tonight; ghost may ask for
“foul play”
Laertes leaves for France & advises not to love Hamlet; she promises; Polonius farewells son;
advises him to make let not trustable near; Polonius asks; Ophelia reveals relationship; forbids to
keep on
Hamlet waits for ghost; Cla. enjoys parties; enrages Hamlet; Ghosts appear & asks Hamlet to
follow, he follows; they stops but Hamlet goes; Marcellus: “something is rotten in the state of
Denmark.” Asks ghost to stop; tells he is father’s spirit; take revenge of his; Hamlet asks for detail;
tells that Cla. poisoned in ear; Hamlet promises revenge; Horatio & Marcellus asks but he doesn’t
tell; they swear to keep secrecy; ghost asks to re-swear on Hamlet sword not to tell anyone & help
Hamlet
Polonius sends Reynaldo to watchdog Laertes as an acquaintance; Ophelia comes pale; tells about
Hamlet grabbing her wrist; readmits he loves; afraid Polonius takes her to Cla. for complaint
