Notes Nov 29- Dec 3

Hamlet Discussion
Questions to ponder... day 1 of discussion

• What's up with the delay? Why does Hamlet take so long for revenge?
• Maybe he's scared to do it, hesitant, coward
• careful thinker, takes a lot of things into consideration
• Why do Hamlet's words dominate the play and yet we still don't know much about him?
• constantly changes what he's thinking
• sometimes pretending to be another type of person- so you never get his true personality
• What is Shakespeare trying to reveal with Hamlet?
• Oedipal Complex- Hamlet and Gertrude- scene in her room
• Fortinbras and Hamlet --> foils
• Laertes is also a foil
• foil is like protagonist in all ways but one
• Fortinbras and Hamlet: both looking for revenge, both their fathers died, both royals.
• Laertes and Hamlet: both looking for revenge, both their fathers died, but he isn't royal.
• If they are foils, why did Fortinbras survive? What is the one thing different about him?
• Is Hamlet really mad and insane?
• How should we feel about Hamlet?
• Is the ghost really his father? Is it trying to trick him?
• Hamlet has a new set of values brought from Germany. Should he ignore his values and listen to what his father is telling him to do?

Discussion day 2


Why does this play open with a question ("Who's there?")? Of what significance is its answer?

• *Opening of play is a question of identity.
• Shows confusion, shows that maybe its dark and foggy because they can't see who is there.
• audience confused- we don't know who characters are at first.
• Everyone's on edge, mistrust
• Importance of showing loyalty- "long live the king" (password)
• differences between good and bad.
• King either came back as ghost to help and warn city of trouble or maybe he hid treasure and came to get it.
• day more pure than night- ghosts only come out at night- not holy, bad                      ----> Scene ends with question of ghost's identity.

Ophelia

Act 1 Scene 3

• violet- symbol of innocence
• "no more but so?" - tone used in line can completely change our perspective of Ophelia
• Changing moon- good, bad, night, day
• "For nature cresent..." everything at night is bad
• moon is insane, can't be trusted- always changing- like Hamlet
• --> saying Ophelia's relationship with Hamlet won't last
• "But here my father comes."
• father-son motif
• it's not just his father
• father giving advice about how to get ahead no matter what- speech seems typical on the surface but is really political
• Polonius always rises to top, powerful
• Ophelia and Laertes were raised by him
• Laertes confident knowing he will be ahead in the world
• Polonius criticizing Ophelia for falling in love with Hamlet without playing the game, worried about his reputation
• after speech Ophelia not sure about his love
• BUT is she innocent and humble after his remarks or is she just playing him trying to get him to stop talking/

Act 2 Scene 1

• When Hamlet comes into Ophelia's closet, instead of going and asking him what's wrong she goes to tell her father.
• They don't speak even when they have a moment alone
• Maybe she made this whole scene up to show her father that Hamlet really does love her?

Act 3 Scene 1

• Gertrude likes Ophelia and would be okay with her and Hamlet marrying even though she isn't as high of class.
• Hamlet and Ophelia's discussion
• Hamlet accuses her of sexual corruption- but he's the one who corrupted her.
• But she is actually corrupt because she is spying for her father
• Does Hamlet know they're spying?