Main Points / Hamlet
• Literally Devices
o Tragedy: a play that turns sad at the end
o Soliloquy: a speech a character makes while alone to reveal thoughts to the audience.
o Aside: a remark a character quietly makes to the audience or to another character but that
others on stage are not supposed to hear.
o Plot: a series of related events that make up a story
o Conflict: the main problem of the story that the main character – the protagonist –
undergoes to solve at the end.
• Main Characters / Characterization
o Hamlet
• The main character of the play; Prince of Denmark.
• Son of the late King Hamlet and Queen Gertrude.
• Grieving his father’s death and disturbed by his mother’s marriage to his uncle, Claudius.
• Struggles with inaction, moral dilemmas, and the pressure of avenging his father.
• Often pretends to be mad as a strategy to uncover the truth he receives from the ghost.
• Symbolizes the conflict between appearance and reality.
o King Claudius
• Current King of Denmark; brother of the former King Hamlet.
• Charismatic and politically diplomatic, but also deceitful.
• The play’s antagonist—responsible for the murder of his brother.
• Fears Hamlet’s potential threat and tries to manipulate and control him.
• Expresses corruption, betrayal, and the abuse of power.
o Polonius
• Lord Chamberlain of Denmark and trusted advisor to Claudius.
• Father of Laertes and Ophelia.
• Talkative, self-important, and manipulative.
• Uses deceitful tactics—spying, manipulation, and control over his children.
• Believes Hamlet's madness is due to love for Ophelia, which leads to his misguided actions.
• Represents blind loyalty to authority and the consequences of meddling.
o The Ghost
• The spirit of King Hamlet, appearing in armor, demanding revenge.
• Sets the main conflict of the play by revealing that Claudius murdered him.
• Affects Hamlet’s behaviors and thoughts.
• Acts as a major device of foreshadowing.
• Common Morals and Themes
• Spying
Spying reflects the atmosphere of suspicion and mistrust in the Danish court. Nearly every character
is involved in some form of investigation—whether it's Polonius spying on Laertes and Hamlet, or
Claudius using others to watch Hamlet, or even Hamlet keeping his attention on Claudius.
✓ Polonius sends Reynaldo to spy on his son Laertes in Paris (Act 2, Scene 1). He instructs
him to use trickery to learn about Laertes's behavior.
✓ Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are summoned by King Claudius and Queen Gertrude to
spy on Hamlet and report back on his strange behavior (Act 2, Scene 2).
✓ Hamlet is planning to add a scene and watch King Claudius’ reaction. He also plans to
pretend being crazy.
• Love
Love in Hamlet is often tested by loyalty, politics, and personal agendas. Hamlet and Ophelia’s
relationship is strained by external pressures, and Gertrude’s marriage to Claudius complicates
Hamlet’s feelings.
✓ Ophelia tells Polonius that Hamlet has shown affection toward her, but Polonius suspects
Hamlet’s intentions and orders her to reject him (Act 1, Scene 3).
✓ Hamlet's behavior toward Ophelia changes drastically, especially in his disturbing visit to her
in Act 2, Scene 1. His love becomes entangled with madness and mistrust.
• Betrayal
Betrayal drives much of the plot—Claudius betrays his brother, Hamlet feels betrayed by his
mother and friends, and even Ophelia becomes a pawn in her father’s schemes. Betrayal
shakes Hamlet’s world, turning his grief into anger and driving his need for revenge.
✓ Claudius's betrayal of King Hamlet is the foundation of the play. The Ghost reveals that
Claudius murdered him by pouring poison in his ear
✓ Gertrude’s quick marriage to Claudius after the king’s death feels like a betrayal to Hamlet
• Deception
Deception is a key tool used by nearly every character—Hamlet pretends to be mad, Claudius
hides his crime, and Polonius deceives even his own children. The line between reality and
appearance is constantly blurred. Deception dominates the early acts. Characters use
appearances to mask the truth, creating confusion, mistrust, and foreshadowing future tragedy.
✓ Hamlet decides to feign madness to confuse his enemies and conceal his intentions
✓ Claudius presents himself as a concerned uncle and king, hiding his role in King Hamlet’s murder
✓ Polonius believes Hamlet’s madness is caused by love, not suspecting any deeper motive .
