Hamlet

Play by William Shakespeare

Per:1600-1601 Pub:1623

Overall Critical Analysis of Hamlet

Hamlet, one of William Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies, delves into the complexity of
revenge, madness, and moral corruption. The play centers on Prince Hamlet’s quest for
revenge against his uncle Claudius, who has murdered Hamlet’s father, taken his throne,
and married his mother, Gertrude. As Hamlet wrestles with his conscience, feigns madness,
and contemplates the meaning of life, he embodies themes of existentialism, the conflict
between action and inaction, and the consequences of moral decay. The play's intricate
character relationships, rich soliloquies, and philosophical depth make it a compelling
exploration of human nature.

Shakespeare uses Hamlet’s inner struggles to highlight the tragedy of human

life—particularly the idea that moral integrity often comes into conflict with worldly success.
Hamlet’s hesitance, his intellectual nature, and his complex moral conscience lead him on a
path that ultimately results in his destruction and the collapse of the Danish court.

Characters:

1. Hamlet
Prince of Denmark and the protagonist of the play.
Son of the late King Hamlet and Queen Gertrude.
Nephew to the current King Claudius.
His central conflict is avenging his father's murder while dealing with his own doubts and
moral questions.

2. King Hamlet (Ghost)

Former King of Denmark and Hamlet's deceased father.
Appears as a ghost to inform Hamlet that he was murdered by Claudius and urges him to
seek revenge.

3. Claudius
King of Denmark and the play's antagonist.
Hamlet's uncle who murders King Hamlet (Hamlet's father) and marries Gertrude to claim
the throne.
Struggles with guilt and fear of exposure.

4. Gertrude
Queen of Denmark and Hamlet's mother.
Marries Claudius shortly after her husband’s death, which deeply disturbs [Link]
motivations are complex, caught between her love for her son and her loyalty to Claudius.
5. Ophelia
Daughter of Polonius and sister to Laertes.
Hamlet's love interest, though their relationship becomes strained as Hamlet grows
increasingly obsessed with avenging his father.
Struggles with her loyalty to her family versus her feelings for Hamlet, ultimately leading to
her tragic downfall.

6. Polonius
Chief counselor to Claudius and father to Laertes and Ophelia.
Known for his verbosity and meddling.
He spies on Hamlet and ultimately dies at Hamlet’s hands, mistaking him for Claudius.

7. Laertes
Son of Polonius and brother to Ophelia.
Initially a friend to Hamlet, but later becomes his adversary.
Returns to Denmark to avenge his father’s and sister’s deaths, leading to a tragic
confrontation with Hamlet.

8. Horatio
Hamlet's close friend and confidant.
Loyal and level-headed, providing Hamlet with moral support.
Survives the tragic events and is tasked by Hamlet to tell his story.

9. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

Former friends of Hamlet, summoned by Claudius to spy on him.
They unwittingly participate in Claudius’s schemes, leading to their eventual deaths in
England.

10. Fortinbras
Prince of Norway, whose father was killed by King Hamlet.
Seeks to avenge his father's death and reclaim lost territories.
His presence as an external threat mirrors Hamlet's internal struggle with revenge.

Supporting Characters

Osric: A courtier who organizes the fencing match between Hamlet and Laertes.
Marcellus and Bernardo: Danish soldiers who first encounter the ghost.
Gravediggers (Clowns): Comic relief characters who discuss death philosophically and dig
Ophelia’s grave.

Relationships Summary:

Hamlet is torn between love and revenge, especially concerning his mother Gertrude and his
uncle Claudius.
Ophelia is caught in familial and romantic conflict between Hamlet and her father Polonius.
Laertes shares a sibling bond with Ophelia and ultimately becomes Hamlet’s adversary.
Horatio remains Hamlet's loyal friend, a rare constant in Hamlet's turbulent life.
The play explores themes of betrayal, revenge, loyalty, and existential questioning through
these intricate relationships.

Explanation of Every Act with Important Quotes

Act I: The Inciting Incident

The play opens with a mysterious appearance of the ghost of King Hamlet, who reveals to
his son, Prince Hamlet, that he was murdered by Claudius. The revelation sets Hamlet on a
mission to avenge his father.

Important Quote: “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” (Act I, Scene 4) – This line
foreshadows the corrupt state of the kingdom.

Important Quote: “Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.” (Act I, Scene 5) – The
ghost’s demand for revenge motivates the plot.

Act II: Hamlet’s Feigned Madness

Hamlet begins to act irrationally, leading others to suspect he is mad. Polonius, the king’s
advisor, believes Hamlet’s behavior is due to unrequited love for Ophelia, while Claudius
suspects something more sinister. Hamlet organizes a play to confirm Claudius’s guilt.

Important Quote: “Brevity is the soul of wit.” (Act II, Scene 2) – Polonius, ironically, speaks
this line while being long-winded, showing his lack of self-awareness.

Important Quote: “What a piece of work is a man!” (Act II, Scene 2) – Hamlet reflects on the
nobility and paradoxes of human nature.

Act III: The Play Within a Play

Hamlet stages a play, The Mousetrap, mirroring his father’s murder to gauge Claudius’s
reaction. Claudius reacts guiltily, confirming his guilt to Hamlet. Hamlet later confronts his
mother, Gertrude, and accidentally kills Polonius, thinking he is Claudius.

Important Quote: “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.” (Act III, Scene 2) – Gertrude’s
reaction to the play suggests irony and foreshadows her own questionable loyalty.

Important Quote: “To be or not to be, that is the question.” (Act III, Scene 1) – Hamlet’s
famous soliloquy where he contemplates life, death, and the meaning of existence.
Act IV: The Consequences of Revenge

After Polonius’s death, Claudius sends Hamlet to England with a plot to have him killed.
Ophelia, devastated by her father’s death and Hamlet’s behavior, descends into madness
and drowns. Laertes returns to Denmark, seeking revenge for his father’s death.

Important Quote: “When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions.” (Act
IV, Scene 5) – Claudius laments the piling misfortunes, a reflection of the play’s tragedy.

Important Quote: “O, from this time forth, My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!” (Act
IV, Scene 4) – Hamlet vows to focus on revenge.

Act V: The Tragic Conclusion

Hamlet returns to Denmark and confronts Laertes in a duel. Claudius has poisoned a cup
and Laertes’s sword, intending Hamlet’s death. However, the plan backfires: Gertrude drinks
the poisoned wine, Hamlet is wounded, and Laertes is fatally injured. Hamlet kills Claudius
before succumbing to the poison, leaving Fortinbras to take the throne.

Important Quote: “The rest is silence.” (Act V, Scene 2) – Hamlet’s final words as he dies,
suggesting the end of his torment and a tragic finality.

Important Quote: “Good night, sweet prince, And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.” (Act
V, Scene 2) – Horatio’s farewell to Hamlet, expressing deep loyalty and sadness.