What is “Hamlet” about? When I tried to answer this question for myself, I realized that any interpretation would be objective. Your idea of a story’s theme may be different from mine, and yet we might both be right.
If you say “Hamlet is about…” I would somehow agree and say, “Yes, sure. Partly.”
Lets say Hamlet is about indecision? Of course. Partly. But what does Ophelia’s “O what a noble mind” speech have to do with indecision?
Some will argue the play is about decay. Sure. At some points. But what does the Mousetrap have to do with decay?
So I set down and I made a list of some of the major topics the play explores:
1/ Revenge. The play begins with a request from the ghost of king Hamlet; it ends with that action completed (Claudius's …show more content…
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. Ophelia and Gertrude are sexually rotten (according to Hamlet). Claudius's soul is rotten (according to Claudius). Hamlet compares King Hamlet and Claudius: Claudius = a "mildewed ear". Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are corrupt friends.
6/ Death. To be or not to be: death is fearful. Alexander stops up a bung-hole: death is meaningless. Providence in the fall of a sparrow: Death is inevitable and meant to be.
7/ Parents and Children. King Fortinbras and Prince Fortinbras: Son takes action to regain father's lost lands. Polonius and Laertes: Father spies on son; Son avenges father. Polonius and Ophelia: Father uses daughter; Daughter mourns father. King Hamlet and Prince Hamlet: Father burdons son; son worships father. Hamlet and Claudius: Stepfather rewards and punishes stepson; Stepfather indulges son; Stepfather tries to kill stepson; Stepfather tries to kill stepson; stepson curses stepfather; stepson tries to murder stepfather. Hamlet and Gertrude: son curses mother; son tries to help mother; son (possibly) tries to kill mother; mother tries to help son; mother punishes son. Senior gravedigger and his apprentice: Senior gravedigger tutors apprentice. Senior gravedigger order …show more content…
Polonius spying on Laerties (via Reynaldo). Polonius and Claudius spying on Hamlet. Polonius spying on Hamlet in Closet Scene. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern spying on Hamlet for Claudius. Hamlet and Horatio spying on courtiers in Grave Scene. Hamlet asking Horatio to spy on Claudius during Moustrap Scene.
10/ Repentance: King Hamlet died without repenting his sins. As does Claudius, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Polonius, Gertrude, Hamlet and Ophelia. Laertes seemingly repents, at least somewhat.
11/Sex: Claudius and Gertrude seem to have a good sex life. According to Hamlet, King Hamlet idolized Gertrude in a way that seems non-sexual. Hamlet is disgusted by Claudius's lechery. Hamlet is disgusted by Gertrude and Ophelia's sexuality. Hamlet is attracted to Ophelia and discusted by that attraction. Hamlet possibly impregnated Ophelia. Laertes and Polonius try to halt Ophelia's sexuality.There's a (maybe one-sided?) homosexual feel to Horatio's relationship with Hamlet.
12/ Madness: Hamlet fakes madness. Hamlet really goes mad (or so it seems, at times). Ophelia goes
If you say “Hamlet is about…” I would somehow agree and say, “Yes, sure. Partly.”
Lets say Hamlet is about indecision? Of course. Partly. But what does Ophelia’s “O what a noble mind” speech have to do with indecision?
Some will argue the play is about decay. Sure. At some points. But what does the Mousetrap have to do with decay?
So I set down and I made a list of some of the major topics the play explores:
1/ Revenge. The play begins with a request from the ghost of king Hamlet; it ends with that action completed (Claudius's …show more content…
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. Ophelia and Gertrude are sexually rotten (according to Hamlet). Claudius's soul is rotten (according to Claudius). Hamlet compares King Hamlet and Claudius: Claudius = a "mildewed ear". Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are corrupt friends.
6/ Death. To be or not to be: death is fearful. Alexander stops up a bung-hole: death is meaningless. Providence in the fall of a sparrow: Death is inevitable and meant to be.
7/ Parents and Children. King Fortinbras and Prince Fortinbras: Son takes action to regain father's lost lands. Polonius and Laertes: Father spies on son; Son avenges father. Polonius and Ophelia: Father uses daughter; Daughter mourns father. King Hamlet and Prince Hamlet: Father burdons son; son worships father. Hamlet and Claudius: Stepfather rewards and punishes stepson; Stepfather indulges son; Stepfather tries to kill stepson; Stepfather tries to kill stepson; stepson curses stepfather; stepson tries to murder stepfather. Hamlet and Gertrude: son curses mother; son tries to help mother; son (possibly) tries to kill mother; mother tries to help son; mother punishes son. Senior gravedigger and his apprentice: Senior gravedigger tutors apprentice. Senior gravedigger order …show more content…
Polonius spying on Laerties (via Reynaldo). Polonius and Claudius spying on Hamlet. Polonius spying on Hamlet in Closet Scene. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern spying on Hamlet for Claudius. Hamlet and Horatio spying on courtiers in Grave Scene. Hamlet asking Horatio to spy on Claudius during Moustrap Scene.
10/ Repentance: King Hamlet died without repenting his sins. As does Claudius, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Polonius, Gertrude, Hamlet and Ophelia. Laertes seemingly repents, at least somewhat.
11/Sex: Claudius and Gertrude seem to have a good sex life. According to Hamlet, King Hamlet idolized Gertrude in a way that seems non-sexual. Hamlet is disgusted by Claudius's lechery. Hamlet is disgusted by Gertrude and Ophelia's sexuality. Hamlet is attracted to Ophelia and discusted by that attraction. Hamlet possibly impregnated Ophelia. Laertes and Polonius try to halt Ophelia's sexuality.There's a (maybe one-sided?) homosexual feel to Horatio's relationship with Hamlet.
12/ Madness: Hamlet fakes madness. Hamlet really goes mad (or so it seems, at times). Ophelia goes