Teach Hamlet

Madness plays a very important role in Hamlet, and Shakespeare uses it as a plot device across the play - it propels the story forward and drives the action. 

In Act 1, Hamlet takes up an 'antic disposition. This means he will pretend to be mad. He plans to do this to protect himself while he attempts to find out if his uncle murdered his father.

Extract from Unlocked Study Guide: Hamlet.

Shakespeare is not afraid of depicting strong, ambitious women. So why are the women in Hamlet so... weak?

Gender roles were very strict in 16th and 17th century England. The society was a patriarchy, which means it was designed by and for the benefit of men. As women had very few rights, a 'good' father' would make sure that his daughter was protected against predatory and cruel men.

We see this attitude in Hamlet, where in Act 1 Scene 3, Laertes and Polonius both warn Ophelia against Hamlet.

Extract from Unlocked Study Guide: Hamlet.

The 17th century was part of the Renaissance period, where the revenge tragedy was one of the most popular types of violent play.

Revenge tragedies were messy, bloody affairs. They usually involved a man who was wronged taking up revenge against the perpetrator - these plays could often be seen as a challenge to governmental authority.

The Spanish Tragedy is one of the pioneering pieces of revenge tragedy, and set up a lot of the common features of the genre, including the 'play-within-a-play' and ghosts.

Extract from Unlocked Study Guide: Hamlet.

"To be or not to be, that is the question." (Act 3, Scene 1)

Hamlet is the young Prince of Denmark who has returned home after the death of his father. Upon arrival, he learns that his mother has quickly become remarried to his uncle, Claudius, who is now declared king.

Hamlet sees the ghost of his dead father, who tells him that Claudius murdered him and asks for vengeance.

He then pretends to be mad to uncover his father's murderer, and this desire for revenge leads to tragedy.

Extract from Unlocked Study Guide: Hamlet.

"A little more than kin, and less than kind." (Hamlet about Cladius, Act 1 Scene 2)

Claudius is Hamlet's uncle and the new King of Denmark. He kills his brother to become the king, and then marries his sister-in-law.

At the beginning of the play, Claudius seems to be a confident and relaxed ruler. However, this changes as the play progresses, and he becomes increasingly scheming and paranoid. He worries that his nephew knows what he has done, and becomes suspicious of Hamlet's strange behaviour.

Extract from Unlocked Study Guide: Hamlet.

"God hath given you one face, and you make yourself another." (Hamlet on Ophelia, Act 3 Scene 1)

Ophelia is Hamlet's love interest and a tragic heroine. She is the daughter of Polonius, and Laertes's sister.

Early in the play, we learn that she has received tokens of love and affection from Hamlet. However, when she is told to break off her relationship with Hamlet, she makes no attempt to protest.

Over the course of the play, Ophelia becomes increasingly isolated, and when her father dies, she slips into a state of madness, falling into the river and drowning - with many believing her death to be a suicide.

Extract from Unlocked Study Guide: Hamlet.