Hamlet

Interpretations of Hamlet s hesitance to take revenge (AO5):

A.C.Bradley stated that Hamlet is afflicted by a form of depression - melancholy - that is preventing him from taking action. Freudian interpretation - Ernest Jones claims that Hamlet has an unresolved Oedipal complex - the subconscious desire to destroy one s father and take sexual ownership of one s mother. Jones argues that Hamlet cannot kill Claudius because he mirrors his own subconscious desires.

Interpretations of Hamlet (AO5):

The single characteristic of Hamlet s innermost nature is by no means irresolution or hesitation or any form of weakness, but rather the strong conflux of contending forces. (Swinburne)

Hamlet is a figure of nihilism (the rejection of all religious and moral principles, often in the belief that life is meaningless) and death. (Wilson Knight)

Hamlet has no firm belief in himself or anything. (Coleridge)

Peter Hall s 1965 RSC production costumed Hamlet as a modern university student with long hair and a longer scarf - very different to the hero/avenger.

Hamlets character and state of mind before he hears the hosts words AO5:

In Freudian terms Hamlet is suffering from melancholy due to his father s death.

According to Ernest Jones this is because of an unresolved Oedipal complex.

This theory is supported in the 1947 film version of Hamlet with Lawrence Olivier as Hamlet where he kisses mother on the lips in the closet scene.

Professor Emma Smith argues that Hamlet is constantly looking back

Hamlet s response to the call to revenge why does he delay? AO5:

According to Goethe (1774), Hamlet has a beautiful, pure, noble, and most moral nature, without the strength of nerve which makes the hero so sinks beneath the burden which it cannot throw off every duty is holy to him

The poet, Coleridge, saw Hamlet as characterised by enormous intellectual activity, and a consequent aversion to real action . This was a view supported in the Peter Hall production of 1965, where Hamlet wore a long scarf typical of the 1960s student.

However, 18th century critics saw Hamlet s immoral tendencies. Dr Johnson commented on his wanton cruelty to Ophelia. Is he really pure and noble ?

Does he delay because he actually goes mad? AO5

The performance by Michael Sheen showed Hamlet in a psychiatric institution (2011)

Does Hamlet change? If so where? AO5

Michael Gearin Tosh praises Hamlet s rare distinction in accepting providence

In the duel scene Diana Devlin sees Hamlet acting decisively even though as she says the action seems chaotic