Hamlet

Materie:	Appunti
Categoria:	Lingue
Download:	133
Data:	16.02.2001
Numero di pagine:	4
Formato di file:	.doc (Microsoft Word)

Act 1, Scene 5: The ghost declares itself to be the spirit of Hamlet’s father, returned to earth to spur him to wreak vengeance. He tells Hamlet he was murdered by his uncle Claudius who, taking advantage of his being asleep, poured poison into his ears. Having achieved his dark mission Claudius persuaded everybody that the king had been bitten by a snake. Hamlet’s father was killed before he had an opportunity to confess his sins, and is thus condemned to wander in Purgatory. He orders Hamlet to kill the murderous and incestuous brother but not to harm his mother who will, in any case, be subjected to remorse by her conscience. The ghost disappears. Horatio and Marcellus arrive. Hamlet feigns a light-hearted mood and makes them swear three times to say nothing concerning the ghost. Each time the ghost, from now on invisible, cries ‘Swear!’ They finally swear to reveal nothing, even though Hamlet warns them that his subsequent behaviour may seem unusual or eccentric at times.
Act 2, Scene 2: Claudius asks Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, childhood friends of Hamlet, to sound him out as to the reasons for the strange changes in his behaviour. Polonius enters and announces the return from Norway of the ambassadors, with the news that the King of Norway has persuaded Fortinbras to invade Poland instead of Denmark. He also states his belief that the cause of Hamlet’s madness is unrequited love, Ophelia having spurned his advances. This reason scarcely persuades the king and queen. The queen thinks it is her hasty marriage which has caused her son to lose his mind. Hamlet enters feigning madness, which allows him to mock and deride the remarks made by Polonius, who leaves. Hamlet soon discovers that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have been sent by the king to spy on him and the conversation turns instead to the arrival of a troupe of actor comedians, to theatre and to the fact that principal roles are more and more often played by children and adolescents. Hamlet welcomes the comedians and they recite lines concerning the death of King Priam of Troy and the grief borne by his wife, Hecuba. Polonius leads the actors away. The principal actor remains with Hamlet, who asks him to perform The Murder of Gonzago before the court and to add a few lines Hamlet himself is to write. Left alone Hamlet marvels at the suggestive power of the theatre and agonises over his inactivity. He decides to stage the murder of his father by his uncle, and to observe the latter’s reactions to the play, before unmasking him and avenging his father. (Second soliloquy: "O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I."
Act 3, Scene 1: In the hope of discovering the reasons for Hamlet’s distress, the king and queen decide to engineer a meeting between him and Ophelia. Polonius asks her to pretend to be alone whilst he and the king hide behind a tapestry. Hamlet enters and declaims his famous monologue, ‘To be or not to be’, up until the moment he notices Ophelia. He denies any love for her and advises her not to marry and to enter a convent instead. Claudius now starts to believe that Hamlet’s madness is not due to unrequited love and suspects that he might pose a threat to his crown. He decides to get him out of the way by sending him to England. Polonius suggests one final attempt at discovering the reasons for Hamlet’s behaviour by arranging a meeting with his mother, Gertrude.
Act 3, Scene 3: Claudius charges Rosencrantz and Guildenstern with escorting Hamlet to England. Polonius goes to spy on Hamlet’s meeting with the queen. Left alone, the king experiences remorse for his actions, and gets down on his knees to pray and ask for forgiveness for his sins. Hamlet enters and could easily kill the king, but refuses the opportunity as the king would go to heaven if killed whilst praying.
Act 3, Scene 4: Polonius, hidden behind a hanging curtain, overhears the conversation between Gertrude and Hamlet. Hamlet’s wild behaviour and manner so frighten the queen that she cries out for assistance. When Polonius makes a move, betraying his presence, Hamlet kills him, believing him to be the king. He then admonishes the queen for her unworthy behaviour and loss of virtue. The ghost of the dead king arrives and urges Hamlet to seek vengeance against the king but not to add to the suffering of his mother. Hamlet asks his mother to stop sharing Claudius’ bed, then shifts slightly and suggests she meet and inform him of what has happened. He leaves the room, dragging behind him the dead body of Polonius.
Act 4, Scene 7: Claudius holds Hamlet responsible for the death of Polonius and Ophelia’s madness, and tells Laertes the reasons which pushed him to spare Hamlet; apart from the affection of his mother, Hamlet has the support of the people. A messenger arrives and announces Hamlet’s return. The king considers stratagems and suggests that Laertes provoke his nephew into a duel. Laertes accepts the king’s proposition and announces his intention to coat the end of his sword with a deadly poison. In addition the king will offer Hamlet a poisoned goblet during the duel. The queen enters and announces the death of Ophelia, who has drowned.
Act 5, Scene 2: Hamlet tells Horatio how he was able to substitute for a letter from the king asking the English authorities to execute him another demanding the execution of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, the bearers of the message. Next he tries to effect a reconciliation with Laertes and offers him apologies for having wronged him. Osric, a courtier, enters to ensure that Hamlet takes part in the duel. Laertes had seemed ready to accept Hamlet’s friendship but now insists that they fight each other; Hamlet accepts the challenge and the duel begins. After the first exchanges and parries the king offers the poisoned goblet to Hamlet, who puts it aside. Hamlet carries the opening exchanges and the queen drinks to his health from the poisoned goblet. In the following chaos both duellists are wounded by the poisoned sword, the queen dies and Laertes reveals the plot concocted by himself and the king. Hamlet throws himself on the king and stabs him with the poisoned sword before finishing him by forcing him to drink from the deadly goblet. Laertes dies after a reconciliation with Hamlet. Horatio also wants to drink from the goblet but Hamlet dissuades him, charging him with telling the story of the tragedy. At that moment Fortinbras arrives from Poland and Hamlet expresses his wish that the prince of Norway should rule Denmark. He dies in his turn. The ambassadors arrive and announce the execution of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Fortinbras orders that Hamlet be given funeral honours