Hamlet Critics

S Johnson

Hamlet's treatment of Ophelia is the hardest thing to forgive

Branagh

Hamlet is violent towards Ophelia in nunnery scene

Branagh

In opening soliloquy Hamlet frequently turns to someone who's not there- Lonely

Branagh

Hamlet plans to stab Claudius in ear- Takes on role of Claudius- Kills for love of his mother- Like Claudius

Zeffirelli

Hamlet kisses Gertrude in bedroom scene- Freudian

Zeffirelli

Gertrude loves Claudius

Zeffirelli

In opening soliloquy Hamlet only becomes emotional when talking about Gertrude

RSC

Hamlet pushes Ophelia away from him in nunnery scene- trying to protect her from him

RSC

Ghost played by same actor as Claudius- Differences between the two are due to Hamlet's love for his father- Despite descriptions they are actually similar

RSC

Claudius remorseful and sad- For the death of his brother or because he believes that he'll be going to Hell?

RSC

In ghost scene, Ghost stands over kneeling Hamlet- Clear power dynamic- Circles him- entrapment

RSC

During nunnery scene performs his madness for CCTV cameras

RSC

When Claudius is praying, Hamlet stands over him with knife- Very visual power dynamic Hamlet wears crown- fight for crown?

M. Egan

The ghost is an illusion representative of Hamlet's inner turmoil and grief

Branagh

Looks in mirror during 'to be or not to be'- Unknowingly looks at Claudius and Polonius- Points knife at his reflection/unknowingly them

Branagh

Hamlet wears all black in contrast to white snow background- Tragic downfall, morally lowest point- Last soliloquy

S. T. Coleridge

Hamlet's fantasies are more vivid than his realities

S. Johnson

Hamlet is an instrument rather than an agent

D. J. Snider

Claudius wants to rule honestly but cannot due to his inability to repent for his past sins

RSC

In Hamlet's last soliloquy he records himself- Product of Elsinore

RSC

Watched by CCTV cameras even when seemingly alone- Performs for cameras during 'to be or not to be' scene

RSC

Hamlet breaks CCTV camera before 'now I am alone'- Achieves privacy- Still talks to audience- not completely private

Branagh

Hears Claudius and Polonies behind mirror- Betrayal from Ophelia- Cries

Branagh

Claudius prays in confessional box, Hamlet in the place for the priest- Takes religious role but doesn't want him to go to Heaven- Hubris

RSC

Hamlet curls up on floor and rocks when contemplating suicide in first soliloquy- Childlike

Jacqueline Rose

'The blame… Is placed squarely at the feet of feminity' unjustly- T S Eliot doesnt question why eveything is blamed on the women

Catherine Belsey

'The play reduplicates fathers who seem to risk their sons immoral souls by demanding acts of violence as proof of love'

G. Wilson Knight

'Hamlet is the ambassador of death walking amid life'

G. Wilson Knight

'Hamlet's death is mental and spirital death'

A. C. Bradley

'She is a woman and his mother is a woman'

Aristotle (neo-classicist)

Tragedies should be 'an imitation of events that evoke fear and pity'

S. Johnson (neo-classicist)

'Of the feigned madness of Hamlet there appears no adequate cause, for he does nothing which he might not have done with the reputation of sanity'

S. Johnson (neo-classicist)

Hamlet's treatment of Ophelia is 'a useless and wanton cruelty'

S. Johnson (neo-classicist)

Hamlet's madness causes 'much mirth'

Early 20th century critics

bring together neoclassical concern with plot with the romantic concern with character

AC Bradley

Agrees with Aristotle that 'the tragic experience of life is based on irreconcilable conflict'- locates this conflict in an "internal struggle"

A. C. Bradley (early 20th century)

"Action is essentially the expression of character" So inner conflicts not relevant

A. C. Bradley (early 20th century)

Disagrees with Coleridge- sees Hamlet as "a man who at any other time and in any other circumstances than those presented would have been perfectly equal to his task"

A. C. Bradley (early 20th century)

"Nothing stands between Hamlet and suicide except religious awe"

A. C. Bradley (early 20th century)

"It was the moral shock of the sudden ghastly disclosure of his mother's true nature" which caused his inner conflict

Bradley

sees Gertrude as root of Hamlet's problems, Eliot sees Gertrude as the root of the play's problem

W. W. Greg

Shakespeare can never have intended us to believe that the ghost was in any way 'real' as it's a figment of Hamlet's imagination- Dover Wilson- Shakespearian audiences would've believed in ghosts

Lacan

'In all the instances of mourning… the rites have been cut short and performed in secret'