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TITLE: HAMLET

NAME:

SCHOOL:

2 What is the context of the speech? Hamlet comes home from school because his father had just died. He feels genuinely sad and depresses everyone around him. He greatly adored his father and had much respect for him his death therefore affected him deeply. To add to that his mother decided to marry his uncle Claudius and this does not add up well with Hamlet. He feels that his mother Gertrude is a traitor and is being incestuous (Shakespeare 1603/2002 p.1579). Since she remarried two months after his fathers death and more so married her deceased husbands brother. Gertrude and Claudius wants Hamlet to get over it, however Hamlet is not ready and even considers suicide. When a ghost is spotted by the night guards they are sure it is Hamlets fathers and it turns out it is him when Hamlet goes to confirm. The ghost tells him that he was murdered by his uncle Claudius and Hamlet is devastated by not only this news but also the appearance of such a horrific scene. Although he is upset by the news he is cautious and questions the legality of the ghost (Hazlitt 2000-2005). He plans to prove that the ghost is true before he prepares for revenge against his uncle whom he does not hold in high esteem. He contemplates that the ghost would have come from the evil one and he does not want to harm an innocent person (Chan2004). What conversation or action has preceded it? The death of Hamlets father had caused Hamlet so much pain and anguish and he even contemplates revenge on everyone involved and at some point even suicide. We see Hamlet very desperate to get even and bitter about her mothers action not only to remarry too fast but also to marry his uncle. What is the soliloquy about? Hamlet is lamenting about the death of his father who he greatly adored and whom he felt that his mother treasured and should have mourned him a little longer. Instead he felt its unfair she waited

3 just two months before remarrying. On top of that she married his fathers brother that Hamlet found incestuous and unforgivable. He is so devastated that he plans to kill his uncle and even contemplates taking his own life. Whats on the speakers mind? Hamlet is the speaker and thinks that his fathers death was undeserving. He further questions his mothers action of getting married to his fathers brother just two months after his death. Hamlets way of avenging his fathers death is by killing his uncle although he wants to prove that his uncle killed his father first. At some point Hamlet contemplates committing suicide. What does the audience gain? Hamlet teaches the audience the aspect of rationality. Although there are allegations that his father was murdered by his uncle he does not revenge without prove. He plans to confirm these allegations first before killing his uncle. On the other hand Hamlet reasons first before committing suicide. How is our understanding of the speaker increased? Hamlet is portrayed as an emotionally unstable person when he contemplates taking his own life after finding out his father was murdered. He is also seen as being morally conscious when he describes his mothers action of marrying his uncle incestuous. Hamlet is also vengeful since he plans to kill his uncle after he is able to prove he actually murdered his father. How does the speech advance the plot of the play? Hamlets speech forms the theme of the play. This is because he plans to avenge the death of his dear father before which he needs to prove that his uncle did in fact kill his father. References:

4 1. Chan, K. Quintessence of Dust: The Mystical Meaning of Hamlet: New York: Berkley Publishing Group, 2004 2. Hazlitt, W. Hamlet Character analysis: Calvinist Publishing House: London, 2000-2005