Hamlet

Hamlet
Name	Hamlet
Caption	Edwin Booth as the title character, c. 1870
Writer	William Shakespeare
Characters	Claudius, Gertrude, Polonius, Ophelia, Horatio, Laertes
Setting	Elsinore, Denmark
Subject	Revenge, madness, mortality
Genre	Shakespearean tragedy
Premiere date	c. 1600–1601
Premiere place	The Globe, London
Orig lang	Early Modern English

Hamlet. A tragedy by William Shakespeare, written between 1599 and 1601. It is one of his most powerful and influential works, set in the royal court of Elsinore Castle in Denmark. The play explores profound themes of revenge, moral corruption, and existential doubt through its complex protagonist.

Plot

The Ghost of the recently deceased King Hamlet appears to his son, Prince Hamlet, revealing he was murdered by his brother, Claudius, who has since seized the throne and married the queen, Gertrude. Charged with revenge, Hamlet feigns madness to investigate, staging a play, *The Mousetrap*, to observe Claudius's reaction. His erratic behavior leads to the accidental killing of the courtier Polonius, which drives Polonius's daughter, Ophelia, to madness and death. Her brother, Laertes, returns seeking vengeance, conspiring with Claudius in a rigged fencing match. The climax results in the deaths of Gertrude, Laertes, Claudius, and Hamlet himself, leaving the kingdom to Fortinbras of Norway.

Characters

The central figure is the philosophical and melancholic Prince Hamlet, whose introspection drives the action. The antagonist, Claudius, is a cunning usurper and the new King of Denmark. Gertrude, Hamlet's mother, is caught between her son and new husband. The loyal friend Horatio serves as Hamlet's confidant. The doomed Ophelia, daughter of Polonius, is a pivotal figure in the exploration of madness. Laertes acts as a foil to Hamlet, representing a more direct path to vengeance. Other key figures include the verbose Polonius, the scholar Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and the Norwegian prince Fortinbras.

Sources and context

Shakespeare likely adapted the story from the legendary Amleth, preserved in the 12th-century *Gesta Danorum* by Saxo Grammaticus. A lost earlier play, known as the *Ur-Hamlet*, is also believed to have been a source. The work was composed during the reign of Elizabeth I, a period of political intrigue and philosophical uncertainty, with influences from Renaissance humanism and the works of Michel de Montaigne. Contemporary dramas like Thomas Kyd's *The Spanish Tragedy* established the popular revenge play genre which Shakespeare both utilized and transcended.

Themes and interpretations

Central themes include the complexity of revenge and the paralysis of indecision, encapsulated in the "To be, or not to be" soliloquy. The play deeply probes madness, both real and feigned, and the nature of death and mortality, symbolized by Yorick's skull. Themes of moral corruption and political decay permeate the court of Elsinore Castle. Interpretations have varied widely, from Freudian analyses focusing on the Oedipus complex to political readings viewing it as a commentary on Elizabeth I's court. The character's introspection is often seen as a precursor to modern existentialism.

Performance history

Early performances likely occurred at the Globe Theatre with Richard Burbage in the lead role. The Restoration era saw adaptations like those by William Davenant. The 18th and 19th centuries were dominated by legendary actors including David Garrick, Sarah Siddons, and Edwin Booth. The 20th century featured landmark performances by John Gielgud, Laurence Olivier—who also directed a famed 1948 film—and Richard Burton. Notable modern stagings include those by directors Peter Brook and Ingmar Bergman, while film adaptations range from Kenneth Branagh's 1996 full-text version to more abstract interpretations like Grigori Kozintsev's 1964 Soviet film.

Legacy and influence

The play has had an immeasurable impact on global literature and culture. It has inspired countless works, from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's *Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship* to Tom Stoppard's *Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead*. Phrases like "Neither a borrower nor a lender be" and "The lady doth protest too much, methinks" have entered common parlance. The character has become an archetype of the brooding intellectual, influencing figures from Romantic poets to characters in modern fiction. It remains a cornerstone of Western theatrical repertoire and academic study, continuously reinterpreted across media from opera to animation.

Category:Plays by William Shakespeare Category:1600s plays Category:English Renaissance plays