Hamlet

Hamlet.

      Part A.

      William Shakespeare was born into the middle class English society of Standford-upon-Avon. Shortly after his marriage he left his new family to travel to London, creating plays and acting. This time in Elizabethan England was most commonly known as the Renaissance. The Renaissance was a time of great change, a time where a huge growth was seen in the areas of all arts. ‘Modern’ times were changing people’s views on certain approaches to life as well- the primitive approach of ‘an eye for an eye’ was coming to be viewed as immoral as well as possibly illegal. Shakespeare saw this current change as an opportunity to entertain Elizabethan audiences while also performing something that was rarely seen in the modern context of the society. He set about this by highlighting the feelings and emotions we all feel in being human. Hamlet’s character was sensitive and thoughtful, very unlike many of the other main characters in ‘the revenge tragedy’ of the Elizabethan era, which intrigued his audience further. One obstacle for Shakespeare was to end his plays by upholding the Elizabethan values of the day like Christianity. Hamlet expresses this time of moral and social change and uncertainty.
      Hamlet is a play of uncertainty; there are many unanswered questions continually creating confusion and curiosity in the minds of all involved in the play, as well as those reading or watching it. These ponderings include: Is Hamlets love for Ophelia still true even when he verbally abuses her? Does Gertrude share some guilt along side Claudius? Is Hamlets nature too kind to act simply on revenge and does his madness takes over, or was it hiding inside Hamlet all along?
      Hamlet’s charter, as well as the direction of the entire play, is created in the first scene. Imagine if, instead of mourning and scheming revenge, he had confronted Claudius about the death or murder of his father, continuing on the idea of revenge just like Claudius had....