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Hamlet: The Rotten Truth of Denmark

A classic tragedy exploring revenge, sin, corruption, and deception in the morally decaying society of Denmark. This play delves into themes of madness, hesitation, ambition and loyalty, religion, and the role of women.

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Hamlet: The Rotten Truth of Denmark

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  1. Hamlet What’s rotten in Denmark?

  2. General Info • Registered in 1602 on the 26th of July as “The Revenge of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” • A Classic Tragedy • Hamlet is Tragic Hero • But what is his tragic flaw?

  3. Setting • The primary setting is Elsinore Castle in Denmark, which was based on Kronberg Castle. • Elsinore is an important port city that got fat based on taxes it charged for passing ships. • The setting is seen as rotten or decaying because of political and moral corruption.

  4. Old Hamlet, murdered King of Denmark Claudius, Old Hamlet’s Brother and murder victim, New King of Denmark Gertrude, widow of Old Hamlet, mother of Hamlet, wife of Claudius Hamlet, son of Old Hamlet and Gertrude, nephew to Claudius Horatio, best friend of Hamlet Polonius, chief advisor to Claudius and father of Laertes and Ophelia Laertes, son of Polonius who travels to France Ophelia, daughter of Laertes and Hamlet’s love Reynaldo, Polonius’ servant Fortinbras, Prince of Norway Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, friends of Hamlet from school Characters

  5. Revenge • Hamlet is a son bent on revenge as Claudius has murdered his father and married his mother. • Fortinbras also seeks revenge for his father’s murder at the hands of Old King Hamlet. • Laertes also later seeks revenge.

  6. Sin and Corruption • Hamlet reflects humans as fallen beings--full of sin and corruption. • Is Claudius the rightful heir to the kingdom if he murdered Old King Hamlet and seduced Gertrude? • Is the political Kingdom corrupt or rotten? Or the physical one, full of weeds? • Is nobility generally corrupt? • Is the ghost the devil in disguise? • Did Hamlet and Ophelia have sex? • Are women natural temptresses?

  7. Deception • The murder was deceptive, but so is Hamlet’s knowledge of it. • The ghost’s words to Hamlet. • Polonius’ actions of spying. • Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s feigned friendship. • Hamlet’s actions throughout the play???

  8. Madness • Is it pretended or real? • Must true madness wear the mask of sanity? • Was the ghost the devil trying to drive Hamlet mad? • What drives Ophelia to her end? Pregnancy or Madness?

  9. Hesitation • According to custom, Hamlet has an obligation to seek revenge for his father. What makes him hesitate? Is it the moral code of “thou shalt not kill”? • Why does he hesitate?

  10. Ambition and Loyalty • Does Claudius seek the crown or Gertrude? • In any case, he kills his brother. • Why does Polonius spy? • What is the relationship between Horatio and Hamlet?

  11. Religion and Emptiness • The religion of the time is Roman Catholic. • There are tons of allusions to The Bible • But all characters seem to have a general spiritual anxiety. • Murder, Ghosts, Suicide, Adultery…

  12. Gender • “Frailty thy name is woman” • What is the role of the woman in this society?

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