Hamlet By William Shakespeare (1564–1616): Why Hamlet Critic

Hamletby William Shakespeare 1564 1616why Hamletcritic Harold Bloom

Hamlet by William Shakespeare () Why Hamlet? Critic Harold Bloom calls it “one of the summits of Western literature.” Although written more than 400 years ago (circa 1600), actors and producers still stage it. Each new theater season brings countless new productions of the play all over the country and even the world. Reason: Hamlet the main character one of the first truly realistic characters on the English stage. Has psychological depth and complexity – a true inner life.

Hamlet the basis of thousands of adaptations. Has anyone seen Disney’s The Lion King? Contains many original phrases that have become part of the English language. Example: “to thine own self be true.” Shakespeare the man. Born in a London suburb (Stratford on Avon) in 1564.

Father a humble glove maker. Young William not of royal blood, and received no special education that we know of. How he came to write the greatest, most enduring plays in the English language remains a mystery. Church records show he married Anne Hathaway (no, not that Anne Hathaway) at the tender age of 18 in 1582. Daughter Susanna born in 1583, twins Judith and Hamnet in 1585.

Unexplainably left for London soon thereafter. For the next twenty years or so enjoyed a successful career on the London stage at the Globe Theater as part of the theater’s home troupe. Over the course of his membership in the theater company, wrote 37 plays for the company to put on in a variety of genres: histories, comedies and tragedies. Also wrote some great poetry (mainly sonnets) more than 150 in all. Gained enough financial prosperity over his career to buy a large house in Stratford, to which he returned upon retirement to live out his last few years.

Died in 1616 at 52. Ongoing controversy about the authorship of plays. Some critics believe a member of Queen Elizabeth’s court wrote them; preferred to remain anonymous; put Shakespeare’s name on scripts Elizabethan England A very different world from ours. Not a democracy; no belief in equality. The world was seen an orderly hierarchical structure ordained by God.

Just as lions were the king of beasts and earth the “king” of heavenly bodies and planets, society had its own rightful structure, from kings down to peasants and beggars. Any violation of the proper order of things was considered unnatural and a threat to the very stability and health of the society – like pulling out a card from under a house of cards. Hamlet the play The tragedy takes place not in 1600 England, but some centuries earlier in Denmark. Based loosely on historical chronicles Shakespeare had read, but mostly a made-up tale. Shakespeare’s longest play at more than 4,000 lines (twice the length of Macbeth).

No act and scene divisions in original script. Amazingly, was played straight through without intermission in 3-4 hours. And no modern rest rooms! No female actors. Men played all the female roles.

The entire play is a poem! It is written in blank verse (i.e., unrhymed iambic pentameter). Some themes and motifs in Hamlet Appearances vs. reality. In other words, things are not always what they seem. Can we trust our eyes?

Associated motifs (recurrent images in the play) include numerous references to eyes, tears, etc. Another related motif is reference to stage acting, roles, masks, etc. “Nature” – more specifically order vs. chaos. (See slide #4 above.) In Hamlet’s world, nature means the proper order of things – not trees and rivers as we think of it. Associated motifs include numerous references to garden and plant imagery. So, for example, a reference to an “unweeded garden” stands for a kingdom out of order.

Words vs. actions. When is it appropriate to stop thinking and talking and take action? (Note how Hamlet loves to play with words.) Human mortality. What does life mean if we just die and turn to dust? Hamlet struggles with this issue after the death of his dad. Now read and watch.

For Lesson 7, read all of Act 1 of Hamlet. You may read any version you can find in a book store or online. But I recommend a helpful version called NoFear Shakespeare: Hamlet, published by Norton and Co. that costs only $5.95. Available at our WCC bookstore or at any Barnes and Noble, this version includes modern day translations alongside the Shakespearian text for those who find the old-fashioned version hard to understand. For your convenience, I have also uploaded a link to an online version of the full text of the play in the “Web Links” area of your Blackboard screen.

Finally, in the Web Links area, you will find a link to an excellent film version of the play that I want you to watch as we go through it over the next five weeks. It is the version directed by Kenneth Branagh, widely available if you prefer to obtain and watch a DVD. After reading and watching Act 1, go to the Discussions Forum to see your writing assignment.

Paper For Above instruction

This paper examines William Shakespeare’s tragedy "Hamlet," emphasizing its significance in Western literature and its enduring relevance. Harold Bloom, a renowned critic, considers "Hamlet" as one of the highest achievements of Western literary tradition. Despite being written around 1600, it remains a staple in theatrical productions worldwide. Its main character, Hamlet, distinguished by psychological depth and complex inner life, epitomizes early realism on the English stage. The play’s influence extends beyond literature into popular culture, evident in adaptations like Disney’s "The Lion King," which borrow language and motifs from the original work.

William Shakespeare, born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564, was the son of a humble glove maker. His rise to literary fame remains partly shrouded in mystery, with some critics suggesting alternate authorship. Married to Anne Hathaway at age 18, he had three children. His career in London spanned two decades, during which he wrote 37 plays across various genres—histories, comedies, tragedies—and more than 150 sonnets. His success enabled him to purchase a large house in Stratford, where he retired and died in 1616 at age 52.

"Hamlet" was composed during a period when England was a hierarchical society governed by divine right. This worldview permeates the play’s themes of order versus chaos, appearance versus reality, and human mortality. Set in Denmark, the tragedy explores complex issues like revenge, moral ambiguity, and the nature of action. Its structure, written entirely in blank verse, lacks act-breaks, originally performed straight through in four hours, with all male actors portraying both genders, reflecting Elizabethan theatrical conventions.

Thematically, "Hamlet" delves into appearances versus reality, illustrated through recurring motifs of eyes, tears, masks, and stage acting. The play explores the conflict between words and actions—questioning when it is appropriate to act rather than merely think or talk—and contemplates mortality and the meaning of life amid inevitable death. These universal themes contribute to its timeless appeal, inviting audiences to reflect on human nature, truth, and morality.

To deepen understanding, readers are encouraged to engage with the text of Act 1, available in multiple versions, including the accessible NoFear Shakespeare edition. Watching the Kenneth Branagh film adaptation complements reading, providing visual and interpretative context. Through this multi-modal approach, students can better grasp the intricate layers of "Hamlet" and appreciate its ongoing cultural and artistic impact.

References

• Bloom, Harold. (1998). Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human. Riverhead Books.
• Kermode, Frank. (2000). Shakespeare’s Language. Yale University Press.
• Honigmann, E.A.J. (1997). Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice. Arden Shakespeare.
• McDonald, Russ. (2012). Shakespeare’s Tragedies. Cambridge University Press.
• Shakespeare, William. (2003). Hamlet. NoFear Shakespeare edition. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Kenneth Branagh. (1996). Hamlet. Film directed by Kenneth Branagh.
• Honigmann, E. A. J. (1999). Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice. Arden Shakespeare.
• Bloom, Harold. (2010). Hamlet: Poem Unlimited. Archer Books.
• Moore, Harry. (2007). The First Folio of Shakespeare's Plays. Yale University Press.
• Taylor, Gary. (2000). Reinventing Shakespeare: A Cultural Lab. Routledge.