Introduction to Hamlet

The Melancholy Prince

Simpson’s Version of Hamlet  http://paoloesquivel.multiply.com

/video/item/4

Enjoying Hamlet: historical background

The

Tragedy of Hamlet

 What matters most at the end of an important tragedy is

not success or failure, but what a man is.

 Tragedy moves into the realm of

the human spirit

and

at the end we contemplate the nature of man.

Tragedy of Hamlet

 Horror and grief are used as entertainment.

 Tragedy uses them as truth.

 We must face them and as we face them, they lose their terror and the tragedy passes beyond them.

Tragedy of Hamlet

 “It is not surprising, then, that the greatest tragedies are those involving the greatest horrors, for

facing

a great horror

demands greatness of spirit.”

Tragedy of Hamlet

 At the close of the tragedy we are not so much concerned with Hamlet or Othello as

individuals

as with

the spirit of man triumphant in defeat

.

 (Introduction,

Hamlet

, p. xxiv)

Hamlet

 Is Shakespeare’s best known and most popular play.

English Renaissance      -occurred during the reign of

Elizabeth I

(1558-1603) And the early part of

James I

(1603-1625) Renaissance means

“rebirth”

A renewed interest in

“classical”

values People moved away from ‘God” centred society to a more ‘human’ centred (

humanistic

) society, where earthly pursuits were considered important for their own sake.

Denmark  In the play, pictured as both  A

martial

and

imperial

nation  Today, Denmark is a

peaceful

,

civilized

little state that minds its own business  It doesn’t annoy its neighbours  It is largely stable, healthy, and pacific

In 1700 Denmark joined Poland & Russia vs Sweden)  The last time Denmark deliberately entered a war of her own accord, in the role of aggressor (King Frederick IV)

In Shakespeare’s time     

Hamlet

was written in 1600 or 1601 King Christian IV was king (1588-1648) Ruled over some German duchies, all of Norway and portions of southern Sweden, Iceland and Greenland.

It was still an imperial nation

Nor is it the Denmark of Shakespeare’s time  That appears in

Hamlet

 But a far older Denmark,  Even bloodier and more threatening and aggressive

Hamlet

, based on legendary material  Reaches us in a book

Historia Danica

written about 1200 by a Danish historian  Saxo Grammaticus  It gives an account of some 60 legendary Danish kings (some mythical Norse gods)

Included in Saxo Grammaticus’ tales    A bloody one (fictional) concerning a prince he called Amlethus (Shakespeare calls him Hamlet) It may have had its origin in dim tales of Vicking feuds.

It includes   A dead father A usurping uncle   Feigned madness Revenge

Comparisons can be made  While

Hamlet

the play contains not one clearly historical character or event,  Comparisons can still be made with actual events in the 11 th century

Setting  We might set the time of the play

Hamlet

as 1050.

 Kronborg Castle in Elsinore  The castle still stands and Shakespeare’s play has made it world-famous  In fact, Hamlet is played in its courtyard occasionally.

Kronborg Castle

One Minute Shakespeare  One Minute Hamlet – famous last nerds  Hamlet the music video (Sir Laurence Olivier)  http://www.youtube.com/results?

search_query=hamlet+the+musi c&search_type=&aq=f

Topics in Hamlet            Death/dead bodies murder Suicide Disease Graves adultery Incest Sex Madness Spying/mystery/intrigue Deception/betrayal

Enjoying Hamlet  Examines “the stupidity, falsity and sham of everyday life” without laughing and without easy answers.

 Appearance vs reality  Hamlet’s genuineness, thoughtfulness, and sincerity make him special

Hamlet is no saint  But unlike most of the other characters in the play (and most people today), Hamlet chooses not to compromise with evil.

Dying,  Hamlet reaffirms the tragic dignity of a basically decent person in a bad world.

Life  “Hamlet” is the first work of literature to show  an ordinary person looking at the futility and wrongs in life,  asking the toughest questions and  coming up with honest semi answers like most people in an imperfect world.

While reading

Hamlet

 Watch how Hamlet —who starts by wishing he was dead —  comes to terms with life, keeps his integrity,  and strikes back successfully at what’s wrong around him.