Major Work Analysis: Hamlet
Author, Title, Genre
Hamlet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare.
Setting
Hamlet takes place in Denmark. In several acts, the characters are within the castle of Elsinore talking or plotting against each other. Some other minor places they were located at were Polonius’ house, the ship ports, and graveyard. This play was written in the early seventeenth century during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. It reflects the uncertainties of the crown and how the power of the crown was going to be distributed.
Characters
Hamlet
He is the protagonist of the play. He is the son of King Hamlet and Queen Gertrude. His father, the former King, was killed and decides avenge him. He suspects that his uncle, Claudius, killed …show more content…
It contributes to the theme of death. Death cannot be avoided and must happen. The body will decay and become dust. Everyone must die at some point in their life. No can live forever. Famous people end up dead, so in the end everyone is the same.
Metaphors
The metaphor “No, nor the fruitful river in the eye,” compares a river to crying. Hamlet exaggerates how much he is mourning for his father’s death. Claudius has no empathy or sympathy for him because he is the one who killed his father. It contributes to the theme of death. How people should feel after a loved one has died.
The quote “to sleep – no more – and by a sleep we say we end the heartache, and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to” compares death to slumber. That dying is a solution to troubles that people are facing. Hamlet ponders if death is really a good solution to the many problems before him.
Themes
One of the themes of Hamlet is that death is inevitable. In this play, Hamlet has a few soliloquies contemplating death. He thinks about what happens after death, the soul and the physical remains. Hamlet ponders on the thought of death and committing suicide in his soliloquy of “To be or not to be.” Concluding that taking his life would be a sin, he stays
Author, Title, Genre
Hamlet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare.
Setting
Hamlet takes place in Denmark. In several acts, the characters are within the castle of Elsinore talking or plotting against each other. Some other minor places they were located at were Polonius’ house, the ship ports, and graveyard. This play was written in the early seventeenth century during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. It reflects the uncertainties of the crown and how the power of the crown was going to be distributed.
Characters
Hamlet
He is the protagonist of the play. He is the son of King Hamlet and Queen Gertrude. His father, the former King, was killed and decides avenge him. He suspects that his uncle, Claudius, killed …show more content…
It contributes to the theme of death. Death cannot be avoided and must happen. The body will decay and become dust. Everyone must die at some point in their life. No can live forever. Famous people end up dead, so in the end everyone is the same.
Metaphors
The metaphor “No, nor the fruitful river in the eye,” compares a river to crying. Hamlet exaggerates how much he is mourning for his father’s death. Claudius has no empathy or sympathy for him because he is the one who killed his father. It contributes to the theme of death. How people should feel after a loved one has died.
The quote “to sleep – no more – and by a sleep we say we end the heartache, and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to” compares death to slumber. That dying is a solution to troubles that people are facing. Hamlet ponders if death is really a good solution to the many problems before him.
Themes
One of the themes of Hamlet is that death is inevitable. In this play, Hamlet has a few soliloquies contemplating death. He thinks about what happens after death, the soul and the physical remains. Hamlet ponders on the thought of death and committing suicide in his soliloquy of “To be or not to be.” Concluding that taking his life would be a sin, he stays