Hamlet Exam Notes free essay sample

More to him then meets the eye †¢Extremely philosophical †¢Stabs Polonius (didn’t know it was him)- then becomes very angry, and gets the role of a madman. He upsets other characters with this angry approach †¢Extremely sad, bitter- disconnected with the state of affairs in Denmark, and his family †¢Upset with his mother marrying his uncle (Gertrude marries Claudius) †¢Tells Ophelia he doesn’t love her, and she gets very sad †¢ Considers the option of suicide Son of queen Gertrude, and late King Hamlet †¢Cant make a decision, and waits to long to make decisions Claudius – (antagonist) †¢The King of Denmark †¢Hamlet’s uncle †¢The villain of the play †¢Claudius is a calculating, ambitious politician, driven by his sexual appetites and his lust for power †¢Occasionally shows signs of guilt and human feeling—his love for Gertrude, for instance Gertrude †¢The Queen of Denmark †¢Hamletà ¢â‚¬â„¢s mother, recently married to Claudius Gertrude loves Hamlet deeply, but she is a shallow, weak woman who seeks affection and status †¢Does care how she gets attention, just wants it (could be negative or positive attention) Polonius †¢The Lord Chamberlain of Claudius’s court †¢A cocky, pig headed, full of himself old man †¢Polonius is the father of Laertes and Ophelia. We will write a custom essay sample on Hamlet Exam Notes or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Horatio †¢Hamlet’s close friend †¢Studied with the prince at the university in Wittenberg. †¢Horatio is loyal and helpful to Hamlet throughout the play †¢After Hamlet’s death, Horatio remains alive to tell Hamlet’s story. Ophelia †¢Polonius’s daughter, a beautiful young woman †¢Whom Hamlet has been in love †¢Ophelia is a sweet and innocent young girl, who obeys her father and her brother, Laertes. †¢Dependent on men to tell her how to behave, she gives in to Polonius’s schemes to spy on Hamlet †¢Even in her journey into madness and death, she remains maidenly, singing songs about flowers and finally drowning in the river amid the flower garlands she had gathered. Laertes Polonius’s son and Ophelia’s brother †¢A young man who spends much of the play in France †¢Passionate and quick to action †¢Laertes is clearly a foil for the reflective Hamlet Fortinbras †¢The young Prince of Norway †¢Father the king (also named Fortinbras) was killed by Hamlet’s father (also named Hamlet) †¢Now Fortinbras wishes to attack Denmark to avenge his father’s honor, making him another enemy for Prince Hamlet The Ghost †¢The specter of Hamlet’s recently deceased father The ghost, who claims to have been murdered by Claudius, calls upon Hamlet to avenge him †¢However, it is not entirely certain whether the ghost is what it appears to be, or whether it is something else †¢Hamlet speculates that the ghost might be a devil sent to deceive him and tempt him into murder †¢The question of what the ghost is or where it comes from is never definitively resolved. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern †¢Two slightly stupid courtiers †¢Former friends of Hamlet from Wittenberg †¢Who are told by Claudius and Gertrude to discover the cause of Hamlet’s strange behavior. Osric †¢The foolish courtier who summons Hamlet to his duel with Laertes. Voltimand and Cornelius †¢Courtiers whom Claudius sends to Norway to persuade the king to prevent Fortinbras from attacking. Marcellus and Bernardo †¢The officers who first see the ghost walking the ramparts of Elsinore and who summon Horatio to witness it †¢Marcellus is present when Hamlet first encounters the ghost. Francisco †¢A soldier and guardsman at Elsinore. Reynaldo †¢Polonius’s servant, who is sent to France by Polonius to check up on and spy on Laertes How each character dies Hamlet the Elder poisoned (through the ear) by his brother Claudius Polonius- stabbed (through the arras) by Hamlet Ophelia accidently drowned when she went crazy Gertrude- drinks poison intended for Hamlet by Claudius Claudius- stabbed with poisoned sword, and then made to drink the rest of his own poisoned drink Laertes and Hamlet stabbed with the same poisoned sword Themes The Impossibility of Certainty The Complexity of Action The Mystery of Death The Nation as a Diseased Body Symbols Yorick’s Skull- discovered In the graveyard