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Hamlet, wondering who has died, notices that the funeral rites seem “maimed,” indicating that the dead man or woman took his or her own life (V.i.242). He and Horatio hide as the procession approaches the grave. As Ophelia is laid in the earth, Hamlet realizes it is she who has died.
- Themes
Hamlet further explores the idea of performance by regularly...
- Symbols
Hamlet refuses, saying that his clothes only represent a...
- Act Iv: Scene Vii
A summary of Act IV: Scene vii in William Shakespeare's...
- Hamlet Quotes
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- Themes
A summary of Act I: Scene i in William Shakespeare's Hamlet. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of Hamlet and what it means. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans.
Hamlet is a reflection of the anxieties and complexities of the Elizabethan era, mirroring the political intrigue and power struggles of the royal court. The play is part of Shakespeare’s tragic canon, alongside other notable tragedies like Macbeth, Othello , and King Lear .
Expert Answers. Julianne Hansen, M.A. | Certified Educator. Share Cite. A Shakespearean tragedy begins with a tragic hero. In Hamlet, the title character himself is this hero of sorts. His...
Shakespeare changed the emphasis of this story entirely, making his Hamlet a philosophically minded prince who delays taking action because his knowledge of his uncle’s crime is so uncertain.
Prince Hamlet devotes himself to avenging his father’s death, but, because he is contemplative and thoughtful by nature, he delays, entering into a deep melancholy and even apparent madness. Claudius and Gertrude worry about the prince’s erratic behavior and attempt to discover its cause.
Performance history. Derivative works. Notes and references. Sources. Further reading. External links. Hamlet. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, usually shortened to Hamlet ( / ˈhæmlɪt / ), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play.
