Hamlet- CRITICS

David Leverenz on Hamlet.

Hamlet sees Gertrude give way to Claudius and Ophelia give way to Polonius.

David Leverenz on Gertrude

Gertrudes inconsistancy brings on feelings of disgust.Diseased doubleness of thosewho accommodate to their social role.

Laing on Ophelia

She is not a person. She has already died. In her madness there is no one there.

David Leverenz on Ophelia

Many voices in her madness but none of them are hers. She becomes the mirror of a mad- inducing world. She goes mad rather than gets mad.

David Levernz on Ophelia

Driven mad by having her feelings misrepresented, not responded to or acknowledged. Ophelia has no choice. She is valued for her roles that further others plots.

Showalter on Ophelia

Ophelia is deprived of thought, sexuality and language

Smith on Gertrude

Gertrude's speeches include references to honour, and virtue, neither structure nor content suggests wantonness. Pleasing men is her main interest.

Goethe on Hamlet

All duties seem holy to Hamlet.

Mackenzie on Hamlet

Hamlet is irresolute and inactive.

Walter on Polonius

Cold-hearted devil

Tree on the play

The key comic element of this play is madness.

Josipovici on Hamlet

He is being asked as a son who surely loves his father to avenge his fathers foul and unnatural murder.

Lewis on Hamlet

Hamlet is haunted not by a physical fear of dying, but of being dead.

Levin on the play

Madness, as the abandonment of reason, is a constant danger throughout the play.