Summary Hamlet all themes, critics, quotes and productions.
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7000 Word Hamlet document which covers EVERY theme. Each theme is linked with key quotes, critics and productions, all relating to the chosen theme. Once revised, you will be able to achieve an A* at A level.
] Themes: Broken down into Quotes: Critics: Productions:
points
1. - R+ G: 1. Robert Evans: R+ G ‘seem 1. Branagh: The first encounter of
Friendship 1. R+ G (Good Guildenstern calls H his genuinely friendly and capable of H, R + G is somewhat a childlike
friends) ‘Honoured lord’/ R ‘most dear lord’ serving as Hamlet’s true friends’ image of H watching two men wave
at him from a train – suggests there
1a. Hamlet calls them his ‘excellent true 1a. Evans - ‘such language subtly was a sense of innocence and
friends’ underscores their childhood playfulness between the men.
2R+G connections with the prince’
2. R+ G (Bad ‘Can you by no drift of circumstance get
friends) from him why puts on this confusion? – 2- Marilyn French ‘R + G sacrifice 2 – Manchester Royal Exchange
Claudius. R+ G help the corrupt king the bond of human friendship to production (2014) – R + G are
a social propriety’ dressed in black which makes them
H describes R + G as ‘sponges’ that ‘soak look like sinister spies; represents
up the kings countenance’ 2 – Katy Limmer ‘There that they are a threat to Hamlet
friendship is based on political and pose as deceivers.
‘I will trust as I will adders fanged’ – H and economic usefulness’
calls his friends ( R+ G ) snakes
‘lawful espials’
3. Laertes + 3. L + C
Claudius Claudius uses friendship to manipulate 3- Evans argues that ‘Incapable
those around him of genuine friendship, Claudius
seeks to use others as
C offers L friendship in exchange for instruments’
revenge on Hamlet – goads on his anger
asking ‘Are you like the painting of a
sorrow, a face without a heart’
C pushes Laertes to the realisation that
‘revenge should have no bounds’ – C’s
, manipulations end in the final duel
4. Hamlet and Horatio 4 ‘Horatio is a fine character of
Horatio is loyal to Hamlet by agreeing to friendship’ – Pope 4. Gregory Doran – As Hamlet falls
his plan to see if C killed his father: ‘Well to the ground in pain, Horatio runs
4. Hamlet + my lord if he steals aught whilst this play ‘Horatio can be welcomed as a to hold him.
Horatio is playing, and scape detecting, I will play friend because he is not a -They hold each other’s hands,
the theft’ possible enemy’ – Evans starring into one another’s eyes
‘Let me speak to yet the unknowing - Sad music whilst Horatio holds
world how these things came about’ – hamlets dead body
Horatio vowing to tell the story of what
happened to Hamlet Horatio is cradling a dying and
vulnerable Hamlet.
‘So shall you hear of carnal, bloody,
unnatural acts’ – H promises to tell Rory Kinnear – ‘There are more
Hamlet’s story things in Heaven and Earth Horatio
that are dreamt of in your
‘Observe my uncle’ philosophy’ is changed to ‘our
philosophy’ – shows how they are
‘He that thou knowest tine’ – Lasting united in their thought process.
friend Horaito
1. O+ H (Love) 1-Joshua Brooks ‘Ophelia 1-Branagh 1996 – Shows a
Relationships/ ‘I’d loved Ophelia, forty thousand displays her innocent devotion to flashback of Ophelia and Hamlet in
Love brothers could not, with all their quantity Hamlet by enduring his sharp bed
1. Ophelia + of love, make up my sum’ – Hamlet and obscene language
Hamlet overcome with grief that he leaps into 1-Edmund Kean- Hamlets love for
(love) the grave Knight: ‘One thing left that Ophelia remained evident
might’ve saved [Hamlet], in the throughout the play
, Act 2 S1, Hamlet, after seeing the ghost desert of his mind, was one
goes to O’s room. This is one of his flower, his love for Ophelia’
weakest moments where he is torn and
upset, and the first person he goes to see
is O for comfort. ‘’Lord Hamlet with his
doublet all unbraced’
Hamlet’s letter: ‘O dear Ophelia, I am ill
at these numbers’/ ‘I love thee best’ – In
the letter, H tells O that his love for her is
undying
2. (H + O little love)
‘I loved you not’/ ‘Get thee to a nunnery’ 2- Wilson Knight - In the nunnery 2- Steven Pimlott: Hamlet spits on
-telling O that she is unworthy of his scene, in Hamlets eyes ‘Ophelia, Ophelia and throws her to the
2. Ophelia + love. who was once goddess’ ground + Ophelia’s mistreatment is
Hamlet (little (Nymph), turns to be a stupid emphasised through her youth, the
love) ‘I have heard of your paintings too, God doll’ – after O rejects H letters in actress who played her was only 19
has given you one face, and you make the nunnery scene
yourself another’
‘Hamlet never loved Ophelia, he
Revenge overpowers Hamlets love for O only lusted after her’ –
– in his case H must revenge his fathers Mohammed Arif
‘most foul and unnatural murder’
‘Hamlet’s actions in the nunnery
‘O what a noble mind is o’thrown’ – O is scene reflects his real opinions’
aware of his disposition and hurt by his
actions to seek revenge
, 3- ‘Stewed in corruption, honeying and
making love over the nasty sty’ – Hamlet Lawrence Oliver: Hamlet throws his
obsessed with G’s sexuality + sexual Freudian critics link ‘Hamlet’s mother onto the bed – viewers can
3. Hamlet + allusions violence towards his mother is a sense the air is filled with sexual
Gertrude result of his desires for her’ tension. Within the production,
(Love for sexuality) H attempts to control his mother’s they share a kiss linking to (Oedipus
sexuality as a result of his lust towards ‘Hamlet was in love with his complex) and Freudian theories.
her. mother and inhabited from
killing his rival’ – Lee Edwards
‘O most wicked speed, to post with such
dexterity to incestuous sheets’ – H anger
and jealousy
‘Confess your way to heaven’/ ‘repent
what’s past, avoid what is to come’ – H’s
anger towards his mother for her sin
‘Frailty thy name is women!’ – control his
mother through manipulation of guilt
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