Analysis of Hamlet

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Analysis of Hamlet

Hamlet is one of Shakespeare's four great tragedies and has received amount of

studies and critics in recent years. This essay will analyze Hamlet from seven aspects,

that is, setting, plot,character, structure, style, atmosphere and theme. Through this

essay, people who know nothing about Hamlet can have a rough idea about Hamlet

and who know it well can have a better understanding of it.

Ⅰ.Setting of Hamlet

Setting is the time and place the story takes place .The main setting of Hamlet is

at the beginning of seventeenth century .It is based on the Danish court life .The

whole story takes place in Denmark and is concerned with the royal family of

Denmark .The most important place is Elsinore Castle in eastern Denmark, where

Prince Hamlet lives .In Shakespeare's time, Elsinore was an extremely important port.

Elsinore is better known as Helsingoer to the Danish population and to Shakespeare

enthusiasts and the English, it is better known as Elsinore. This is a true location and

it serves as the literary home to Hamlet. It has become apparent that Shakespeare was

very familiar with the state of Denmark as he accurately described all the necessary

details of the country.

The motifs of spying and deception in “Hamlet” are helped along significantly

by the setting, which includes the castle itself and multiple chambers bearing scenes.

In general, the close quarters of the castle provide great opportunity for plenty of

eavesdropping between characters. However, a closer look at specific scenes

highlights even further Shakespeare’s use of setting to be successful with these

themes. For instance, the very opening of the play depicts deception and mistrust as

the guards who are friends still must question who is approaching before any trust or

kind words are offered. This is due to Shakespeare’s setting engaging the audience to

immediately perceive a sense of dishonesty and a lack of loyalty.

Another scene which demonstrates the significance of setting is the graveyard

scene ,that is Cemetery. When Hamlet returns to Denmark ,he finds out that Ophelia

died at the Cemetery. In this specific scene, Hamlet to espouses his existential ideas

on the meaning (or lack thereof) of life in a graveyard, surrounded by bones of the

dead. There is not a place more ideal for this event to happen.

Ⅱ.Plot of Hamlet

Plot is the process of the story and it involves the conflict between the

protagonist and the antagonist.

The main plot is that Hamlet, prince of Denmark, is very sad about the death of

his father,the old king of Denmark. What strikes him most is that one month after the

death of his father , his mother remarries to his uncle, the new king of Denmark.

Hamlet is not happy to have his uncle as his new step-father. On the political front,

Prince Fortinbras of Norway plans to invade Denmark.The ghost of the old king

appears to Hamlet and he is told that it is the new king who murdered his father. So

Hamlet is asked to take revenge for the old king. In order to make sure whether

Claudius, the new king ,is guilt or not ,Hamlet feigns madness. However ,at the same

time ,Ophelia ,Hamlet’s girlfriend, and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern ,his former

schoolmates are asked to discover the secret of his “antic behavior” and whether he is

mad or not. But all these are in vain.

The climatic moment comes when Hamlet plays a drama in the castle to confirm his

uncle’s guilty.But when the king sees that the crime reenacted,he cries out and rushes

away.This makes Hamlet realizes that his uncle is the murderer and he decides to find

the right opportunity to take revenge. After the play ,Hamlet visites his mother ,where

he mistakes Polonius for the king and kills him. The killing of Polonius drives

Ophelia mad and also convinces the king that Hamlet is dangerous. So the king sends

Hamlet to England to collect tribute ,but in reality to be murderer . However Hamlet

escapes from the trip and returns to Denmark only find that Ophelia has drawn to

death. Laertes , Ophelia’s brother returns to Elsinore after hearing of his father's death,

and Claudius tells him to blame Hamlet. Hamlet returns, and Claudius advises Laertes

to duel with Hamlet. Claudius plans to have Laertes kill Hamlet with a poisoned tip

sword..To ensure Hamlet's death, Claudius intends to present Hamlet with a poisoned

goblet of wine. Gertrude tells Claudius and Laertes that Ophelia drowned in a creek.

The duel begins and Hamlet scores two hits. Gertrude grabs the poisoned goblet

and drinks to Hamlet's fortune. Laertes manages to wound Hamlet, but in the scuffle