Hamlet

Title: Hamlet

Author: William Shakespeare

ISBN: 9780743477123

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Copyright: 2003 (1602)

Genre: Play/Historical Fiction

Age Range: 15+

Reader’s Annotation: Prince Hamlet searches for the truth about his father’s murder and bitter revenge.

Plot Summary: Hamlet is the prince of Denmark whose father mysteriously died. His uncle, Claudius, has married his mother and taken over the thrown. Denmark is on the brink of war with Norway. The Norwegian prince Fortinbras is expected to lead the invasion. The play opens with the ghost of King Hamlet appearing to the sentry that guards Elsinore, the Danish royal castle. The ghost appears and disappears to each of the guards. The decide to tell prince Hamlet that his father’s ghost is wandering the castle. Inside the castle, Claudius and Gertrude talk to Laertes and Polonius about a trip to France. Hamlet mopes around pondering his want to find the truth and get revenge for his father. Marcellus, Horatio and the sentry enter and tell Hamlet about his father’s ghost. He is determined to see it himself. 

            Claudius and Gertrude have enlisted two school firens, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, to keep an eye on Hamlet. Hamlet is wise to this. That night, the ghost appears to Hamlet and tells him that Claudius murdered him by pouring poison in his ear. The ghost demands revenge. Polonius bids farewell to Laertes as he goes to France for his studies. They both warn Ophelia of Hamlet’s foul disposition. Ophelia meets Hamlet secretly. He is acting weird and tries to drive her away, specifically to a nunnery. Hamlet is unsure that the ghost has told him the truth. He writes a play for a group of actors that had just arrived that re-enacted his father's murder. Hamlet will gauge Claudius's response to see if he is guilt or innocence. After the play, Gertrude demands Hamlet explain himself in her bedroom. On the way there, Hamlet hears Claudius confess to killing King Hamlet. Prince Hamlet does not kill him there in the chapel for fear of Claudius going straight to heaven. Hamlet has a spat with his mother while Polonius spies. Hamlet kills Polonius accidentally and hides the body. The ghost pops up and reminds Hamlet of his duty. Gertrude cannot see the ghost and calls Hamlet mad. Claudius, in fear, banishes Hamlet to England under Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s watch.

            Depressed by her father’s death, Ophelia wanders Elsinore singing weird songs. Laertes arrives back from France full of rage from his dead father and demented sister. Claudius and Laertes plan to poison Hamlet by either sword tip or wine. Their collusion is interrupted by the news that Ophelia has drowned. Two gravediggers discuss Ophelia's suicide while digging her grave. Hamlet arrives with Horatio and banter about mortality. Laertes arrives at the gravesite and begins a fight with Hamlet. The fight is broken up, and they all go to Elsinore. With Hamlet back home, he is ready to avenge his father.

Critical Evaluation: Hamlet is often a play that is covered in American high schools. It is a good piece of literature for any collection. At one time or another teens are going to be exposed to Shakespeare’s work. The language used in Hamlet is a high lexicon that will help them build English skills. During the education of teens, Hamlet will be discussed at least once. Often, the various philosophical statements will travel into other classes. The knowledge of Hamlet will aid in understanding those references. There are many versions of Hamlet. If a library has an audio visual collection, having this play will pair well with a video version of the play or a more theatrical movie release.

Author Information: Information about the life of William Shakespeare is often open to doubt. Some even doubt whether he wrote all plays ascribed to him. From the best available sources it seems William Shakespeare was born in Stratford on about April 23rd 1564. His father William was a successful local businessman and his mother Mary was the daughter of a landowner. Relatively prosperous, it is likely the family paid for Williams education, although there is no evidence he attended university.

In 1582 William, aged only 18, married an older woman named Anne Hathaway. Soon after they had their first daughter, Susanna. They had another two children but William’s only son Hamnet died aged only 11.

After his marriage, information about the life of Shakespeare is sketchy but it seems he spent most of his time in London writing and performing in his plays. It seemed he didn’t mind being absent from his family - only returning home during Lent when all theatres were closed. It is generally thought that during the 1590s he wrote the majority of his sonnets. This was a time of prolific writing and his plays developed a good deal of interest and controversy. Due to some well timed investments he was able to secure a firm financial background, leaving time for writing and acting. The best of these investments was buying some real estate near Stratford in 1605, which soon doubled in value. Source - http://www.biographyonline.net/poets/william_shakespeare.html

Curriculum Ties: English, Theater Arts

Challenge Issues: Violence

Booktalk Ideas: Rotten – One can use the story of Hamlet by introducing it as a “who done it” mystery.