Introduction
The first scene in Hamlet is one of the most profound first scenes in the history of drama. It starts when one of the guards asks, “who is there?” (Shakespeare, 1602, p. 5). This depicts a revealing of one’s identity. The answer the other guard gives is quite strange. He says, “Nay, answer me: stand, and unfold yourself” (Shakespeare, 1602, p. 5). The words, ‘unfold yourself’ indicate a deeper meaning which is to reveal one’s innermost identity. Hamlet and the other characters do not really know who they are and this is a theme subtly brought to light here and more so, it echoes throughout the whole play.
It seems as though the mood is cautious, apprehensive, and frightened which would explain why the second guard does not want to reveal his identity when asked who he is. Later on, it is disclosed that this is because they have seen a ghost of the king who has just been killed. Horatio and Hamlet are then introduced when the ghost appears in the midst, and Horatio’s doubting self contradicts Hamlet’s deeper seeking character since he starts to ask himself what this ghost appearing could mean. While Horatio says, “Before my God, I might not this believe without the sensible and true avouch of my own eyes” (Shakespeare, 1602, p. 8), meaning he seeks to confirm it with his senses, Hamlet is convinced that it is a sign that there is going to be an attack in the state. This contrast gives insight into Hamlet’s pivotal personality and also introduces thematic ideas.
When it comes to describing the chief type of conflict in the drama, it seems internal, and it involves the main character, Hamlet. In this case, it is a battle within him which points to one of the main themes (An interplay between free will and fate). Inside him is a war that leaves him confused because he does not know whether to avenge his father’s death by taking revenge or let nature take its cause. More so, he feels distraught by his mother’s (Gertrude) decision to marry Claudius, his uncle, right after his father’s passing and again, he is to choose whether to do anything about it. These elements in the play portray the conflict and the theme behind it.
The dominant complications that the characters face as the drama unfolds are quite intriguing. Major characters in the play include Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, Ophelia, and Polonius. Firstly, Hamlet is faced with three sets of crisis whereby his nation is under attack, his family is barely holding together, and personally, he feels deeply unhappy. Gertrude is a woman who is hardly independent and relies heavily on the men in her life. She is deeply affected when she sees her son supposedly mad. Claudius is a manipulative character who has a thirst for power, and when the current king stands in his way, he decides to kill him.
Ophelia is the daughter of Polonius, and she also has a romantic relationship with Hamlet. When Hamlet accidentally kills Polonius and Ophelia sees just how cruel her love really is, grief consumes her, and she ends up going mad then dying mysteriously. Polonius, on the other hand, is a loving father who is very close to his two children. His vital concern is protecting his children even though at some point he uses his daughter to trick Hamlet, and he also spies on his son, Laertes. This shows just how much he is far from being a perfect father.
The number of crises in the play is quite extensive. To begin with, a ghost appears in the first scene, and it speaks to Hamlet asserting itself as his father’s spirit and asking him to seek vengeance for his death. Besides, the spirit also wants Claudius to pay for marrying his wife, Queen Gertrude, right after his death. Hamlet resolves to do this, but first, he contemplates it deeply. The more he does this, the more there seems to be torn apart since a battle begins within him. Another one is when Ophelia is pressured by his father Polonius to do away with her relationship with Hamlet, claiming that Hamlet does not have her best interests. Moreover, the other crisis is when Polonius dies after having been stabbed by Hamlet, who mistakenly thought it was king Claudius hiding behind the blinds. Claudius also decides to get rid of Hamlet and ends up dying too after being stabbed by Hamlet. Hamlet also goes to confront his mother in his bedchamber, and it is when doing this that he mistakenly kills Polonius.
The climax or pivotal scene in the play is when Hamlet, Laertes, Gertrude, and Claudius all die at the same time from poison that was meant to only kill Hamlet. It is quite unusual to have almost all the characters in the play dying. These deaths are both a cause and a consequence of revenge. Laertes wanted to kill Hamlet for killing his father and he also believed that he caused his sister’s death too. Claudius wanted to kill Hamlet and instead killed Gertrude, and after being stabbed by Hamlet, the same wine that killed Gertrude is the same one he is forced to take. In this case, it seems as though fate played its part in everything that unfolds.
There are a few flashbacks in the play, such as the play within a play when the writer shows how Claudius actually killed his brother the king. Another one is when Hamlet remembers what happened in the ship some time after it had happened. It is designed to point one towards gaining a deeper understanding of what happened, and it also creates an air of mystery in the plot, capturing one’s interest as the reader ponders on what really happened.
Hamlet says, “A dream itself is but a shadow” (Shakespeare, 1602, p. 261), indicating how uncertain a dream really is. This adds to the air of doubt and uncertainty that is depicted throughout the play. It also portrays the theme of ignorance which is certainly one of the basic ideas that the writer wants to pass across. This dream element is critical in showing one of the themes concerning death and also giving a hint that helps to understand the character, Hamlet.
Hamlet’s plot is dominated by the relationships between the characters in the play rather than action. Hamlet is in an internal battle which prolongs him from taking action since he wants to be sure he is doing the right thing. He is in a crisis since his family barely gets along, there is a possibility that Denmark is under attack, and he feels deeply unhappy to the extent of thinking of suicide. It is these key factors that drive the plot of the play, and the characters help in exploring these major ideas.
The ending does not leave any speculation about what happens next even after the story is complete since all the major characters end up dying. With Fortinbras taking over Denmark after the whole family ends up in gruesome death, it seems as though there is a new beginning now that there is a new King on the throne. The corruption in the royal family ends up making Denmark fall at his enemy’s feet and lose their freedom.
Characters
Hamlet is the main protagonist in the play since it all revolves around him. As mentioned before, the main plot is driven by his internal struggle as he deeply goes within, wondering what he stands for and whether the action his father’s ghost wants him to take will really be worth it. He has a romantic affair with Ophelia, who ends up dying in grief. Apart from this, he strongly opposes his mother’s marriage to Claudius right after his father’s death. Moreover, he also needs to protect Denmark from the coming invasion. The primary antagonist is Claudius who is a thorn in Hamlet’s flesh. To a great extent he is the reason for Hamlet’s misery.
The crucial characters in the play include Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, Ophelia, and Polonius. Hamlet is a deep thinker, enigmatic, deliberate and not driven by emotion. He takes time before making a decision, such as when he thinks deeply before deciding what to do with Claudius. Claudius is manipulative and has intense greed for power which is what drives him to kill the king. Gertrude is very much dependent on the men in her life and she uses them to preserve her need for status and affection. She also has an inclination towards power and this is what drives him to marry Claudius.
Ophelia is innocent and trusting towards the authority figures in her life, who are Polonius, Laertes and Hamlet. She follows instructions without much question, and this is partly what leads to her doom. Polonius is an affectionate father who cares a lot about the wellbeing of his children, which contrasts sharply with Claudius’ family. He is somewhat manipulative, too, since he uses his daughter Ophelia to trick Hamlet at some point.
The minor characters in the play include Laertes, the Ghost, Fortinbras, Rosencrantz Guildenstern, Horatio, Osric, Voltimand, Cornelius, Marcellus, Bernardo, Francisco, and Reynaldo. These characters act as the narrators that tell the story outside the immediate play. They also create contrasts that help us understand the main characters better. For example, when Hamlet is compared with Laertes, the reader gets a few insights into Hamlet’s character. They also have a direct effect on the play. For example, the play within a play, exposes Claudius’ guilt thus driving forward the plot of the play. These characters also bring to light the good and pure, as well as the vile corruption that affects Elsinore.
It is indeed true that some of the minor characters serve as foils to reveal contrast with the main characters so as to better understand them. For example, the reaction when logical Horatio sees the ghost and the meaning he gives it compared to Hamlet, reveals that Hamlet is an analyst who seeks to see the prime meaning of things. Laertes also contrasts sharply with Hamlet one takes into consideration how they both respond to their fathers’ deaths. Laertes seeks immediate revenge while Hamlet’s analytical nature prolongs him from the action.
The main characters, who include Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, Ophelia, and Polonius, seem well developed while a character like Fortinbras seems one- dimensional. Fortinbras who appears very few times and hardly engages in depth leaves a shallow overview into who he really is. He however is crucial in bringing out the theme involving politics in the story.
One dynamic character is Hamlet while a static character in the play is Polonius. Hamlet, for instance, changes his attitudes and actions as the play progresses, showing a contrast from how he acts at the beginning of the play. Polonius character, on the other hand, is static, for his character remains consistent throughout the play. Another dynamic character is Laertes who changes from being a normal college boy to a vengeance seeking being while Gertrude is a static character since she stays loyal to the king up until her death.
The author appears to show sympathy for the main protagonist in the story who is Hamlet. In as much as he commits many unsympathetic acts, almost 40% of the play is concentrated in his inner dialogue which gives the reader a deeper view of his inner agony and makes the reader understand him. The reader comes to see how misunderstood he really is and also how suicide comes into the picture.
Gertrude and Ophelia could be considered a cultural stereotype in the play. In a male dominated society, women are often viewed as weaklings who need to lean heavily on the male figures in their lives and this situation is no different. Ophelia is expected to obey her father and brother and even act submissive towards Hamlet while Gertrude uses the men in her life to gain power and status as though she could not do much if she stood on her own. Her solutions heavily rely on the men in her life.
It appears that in this case, the names do not seem to give any insight into the personalities of the characters in the play. However, one name, Hamlet, means a setting that is smaller than a village. Symbolically, it may mean that Hamlet’s world was not one to be understood by many. It was a hamlet and maybe that is why soliloquy is used a lot in the play.
Setting
The play is set up in Denmark, which is a geographical setting with elements of history in it. Elsinore was a military base with a magnificent castle in it. The descriptions are vague but the name points to an actual place that exists in reality. Just as reality, Elsinore is a cultural center that is visited by many, travelling actors included. This makes it a hub of modern day living at the time and it represents the renaissance. Characters like Hamlet, Horatio, and Laertes are mentioned as having visited it. It represents philosophical unsureness, moral decisions and anxieties that were major at the time. The whole play takes place inside the Elsinore castle except Act five scene one, which takes place outside the castle. The playwright focuses on this scene to bring out a fundamental universal message which is that Hamlet, just like the restricted area, feels trapped by his loyalty to his father and his duty as a prince to the Danish royal family.
Moreover, Gertrude, Ophelia, Claudius and even Polonius have private spaces where they retreat for some alone time. However in various scenarios, there is intrusion through constant spying and this reveals the mistrust and uncertainty as an atmosphere in the play. The setting is supportive of the characters situations, especially when they need to retreat and reflect even though there is spying.
Themes
The main ideas brought to light in the play are action versus inaction, the aspect of women, appearance versus reality, religion, honor, revenge, poison, corruption and death. These ideas have mostly been revealed though the characters but the central idea of the drama is Hamlet’s agony as he faces an internal struggle concerning fate versus free will. His state is under possible attack, his family is in shambles and he is deeply unhappy. The conflicts within the play show this by giving scenarios where Hamlet’s moral battle is revealed. To reveal a larger social conflict, Denmark is described as being ill because of Claudius and Gertrude’s ruling style and the atmosphere is anxious and dreadful. The Ghost is symbolic of what is to happen to the nation for it ends up being ‘killed’ or conquered.
Point of View
Hamlet appears to be the spokesperson in the play that drives the political drama forward. He sees Claudius as an inferior person and beneath him and he mentions this a few times in the play. His suspicion that Denmark is under possible attack also proves to be true. In contrast, Horatio is the narrator in the play and even when Hamlet dies in the end, he lives on to tell the story. Hamlet however appears to be the playwright’s spokesperson since his main ideas are highlighted through this character. What he describes goes hand in hand with what was happening in reality at the time. His views come through the characters who drive the main ideas discussed at the theme section above. Furthermore, his views are neither expressed through others nor does he indicate a personal view. The play is written in third person and is highly objective. At the end of the play, the main message is that the moral corruption of the Danish royal family has placed Denmark in the hands of the invader.
Form
The play does follow the traditions of the fourth wall theatre but it breaks it at some point when Hamlet addresses the audience viewing himself as being in the play. While he truly mourns his father’s death, he acts as though the rest are only acting. The playwrights style of writing ranges between philosophical revealed when Hamlet is by himself, and double-speak where Hamlet seems to conceal the real meaning behind his words as he speaks. Additionally, the play is the longest that Shakespeare has ever written and the longest scene is the seventh one (Shakespeare, 1602). However, these acts and scenes were not there in the original text even though currently, it is written in acts and scenes.
These scenes indicate transitions, present contrast, call attention to the characters, and facilitates the plot. For example, the first act shows exposition. It exposes the murderer, the victim, and what the avenger needs to do. Horatio’s reaction contrasts with that of Hamlet, which helps the reader gain insight into Hamlet’s character and this, in turn, lays the foundation for the story. In contrast, there are some offstage events in the play, such as when a ghost appears to let Hamlet know what happened when his ship’s trip is aborted before he goes to England, and when Ophelia dies. He appears on stage with a letter telling the audience of this. The playwright expresses their significance through other characters.
Language, Style, and Tone
The language is stylized showing philosophical speech at one moment, especially when Hamlet is on his own and showing double-speech when he communicates with others where he intentionally conceals the real meaning of his words. More so, the opening scene of the play positions the tone, chief concepts and ideas, and the environment of the characters. When one of the guards asks, “who is there?” (Shakespeare, 1602, p. 5) and a reply comes a reply saying that he ‘unfold thyself showing a more profound meaning. A possible significance is to divulge to the world who one really is or reveal one’s deepest identity. Self –knowledge is a key theme in the play and this introduces one to it. Since Francisco refuses to do this, already it indicates, mistrust and a sense of anxiety which is echoed through the whole play.
The writer uses dialogue to establish character and this is disclosed through a soliloquy when Hamlet is speaking to himself as he holds a debate within him. Some of the words that have more extensive meaning are ‘unfold thyself’ meaning show the world your real identity and this is what Hamlet sets out to do. He needs to find himself then act according to his truest self. The language used differs, and Hamlet speaks dissimilarly depending on his environment. The whole play also uses old English depicting the language as it was then. The figures of speech used include similes, metaphors, personification, allusion and metonymy all of which set the tone of the play bringing vivid images to mind.
Symbols, Images, Allegories, Allusions, Myths
Yorick’s skull is one symbol used in the play and it depicts death, decay and the doom that is going to befall the royal family even though death is inevitable. Another style used in writing is allusion which is shown plenty of times. For example, “Like Niobe, all tears” (Shakespeare, 1602, p. 129) is alluding to a grieving woman in Greek mythology. This example points to ancient myths and stories which the reader is expected to know. Shakespeare’s other works show similar techniques in writing such as breaking the fourth wall theatre.
Cultural and Social Connections
The play’s setting is geographical and the castle is similar to that in Elsinore which exists in reality. This alludes to what was happening then, meaning that he addresses some of the issues that were being faced at the time. It does reveal how much human nature remains the same throughout history as modern time societies face these issues too and readers can relate to this. Hamlet represents the social conditions that readers can relate to and the political climate at the time is somewhat relatable to what is there now. In conclusion, this is a play well relatable to modern times.
Reference
Shakespeare, W. (1602). Hamlet: Prince of Denmark. The University of Adelaide.