Hamlet and Paradise Lost Lecture Notes

Hamlet Study Notes

Act 1 Overview

  • Setting: Opens at Elsinore Castle in Denmark, at night.

  • Characters: Bernardo, Francisco, Marcellus (guards); Horatio (Hamlet's friend).

  • Scene 1:

    • The guards see a ghost resembling the dead King Hamlet and bring Horatio to witness it.

    • The ghost appears again but remains silent.

    • Horatio suggests informing Prince Hamlet about the ghost.

Act 1, Scene 2

  • Characters Introduced: Claudius (Hamlet's uncle), Gertrude (Hamlet's mother).

  • Plot Developments:

    • Claudius marries Gertrude shortly after King Hamlet's death.

    • Laertes (son of Polonius) is sent back to France.

    • Hamlet is mourning his father and is disturbed by his mother's marriage.

    • Horatio and the guards inform Hamlet about the ghost, prompting him to join them that night to see it.

Act 1, Scene 3

  • Laertes advises Ophelia not to get too close to Hamlet, warning her that his love may not be sincere.

  • Polonius, their father, gives Laertes advice before his departure to France. He advises him, "To thine own self be true."

  • Polonius tells Ophelia to stay away from Hamlet, and she agrees to his wishes.

Act 1, Scene 4

  • Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus wait for the ghost to appear.

  • The ghost appears and beckons Hamlet to follow it.

  • Horatio and Marcellus try to stop Hamlet, but he follows the ghost alone.

Act 1, Scene 5

  • The Ghost Speaks: Reveals that he was murdered by Claudius, who poured poison in his ear while he slept.

    • The ghost instructs Hamlet to seek revenge but not to harm Gertrude.

  • Hamlet's Oath: Hamlet vows to remember and obey the ghost's command.

  • Hamlet insists that Horatio and Marcellus swear not to disclose what they have seen.

Summary of Act 1

  • Hamlet learns of his father's murder by Claudius and vows to seek revenge, setting the tragedy in motion.

Act 2 Overview

Act 2, Scene 1

  • Setting: Polonius's house.

  • Polonius sends his servant Reynaldo to spy on Laertes in Paris to ensure he behaves properly.

  • Ophelia's Encounter: Ophelia enters, frightened, describing Hamlet's bizarre behavior, appearing wild and disheveled, and not speaking.

  • Polonius's Interpretation: Believes Hamlet's madness stems from Ophelia rejecting his love.

  • He decides to inform King Claudius about Hamlet's supposed "love madness."

Act 2, Scene 2

  • Setting: Elsinore Castle.

  • Arrival of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern: Claudius and Gertrude welcome Hamlet's childhood friends, asking them to uncover the reason for Hamlet’s distress.

  • Polonius's Findings: Claims Hamlet's madness is due to unrequited love for Ophelia, presenting love letters from Hamlet as proof.

  • Claudius’s Plan: Agrees to spy on Hamlet’s interaction with Ophelia to confirm Polonius's theory.

  • Hamlet's Interaction: Shows cleverness and mockery towards Polonius with puns.

  • Recognition of the Friends: Hamlet recognizes Rosencrantz and Guildenstern quickly realizes they are spies.

  • Arrival of Performance Troupe: Hamlet requests they perform a play (The Murder of Gonzago) with an added scene reflecting his father's murder.

  • Hamlet’s Soliloquy: Alone, he delivers the famous soliloquy, expressing self-criticism for his inaction and devising his plan to reveal Claudius’s guilt.

Summary of Act 2

  • Act 2 depicts Hamlet's feigned madness spreading concern throughout the court, highlighting his plan to expose Claudius through art.

Act 3 Overview

Act 3, Scene 1

  • Spying: Claudius and Polonius spy on Hamlet to determine if his madness stems from love for Ophelia.

  • Famous Soliloquy: Hamlet poses the existential question, "To be or not to be?", pondering the value of life.

  • Ophelia's Encounter: When Ophelia returns Hamlet's gifts, he lashes out, denies ever loving her, and urges her to enter a convent.

  • Claudius's Realization: After Hamlet leaves, Claudius concludes that Hamlet's madness isn’t from love and decides to send him to England.

Act 3, Scene 2

  • The Play's Performance: Hamlet prepares for the play that mirrors his father's murder, hoping to watch Claudius's reaction.

  • Claudius's Guilt: During the performance, Claudius storms out, affirming his guilt in Hamlet’s eyes.

  • Summoning to Gertrude’s Chamber: Hamlet is called to speak with his mother by Polonius.

Act 3, Scene 3

  • Claudius's Prayer: Claudius attempts to pray, confessing his crime but acknowledges he still craves the crown, rendering his prayer insincere.

  • Hamlet’s Choice: Hamlet sees him praying and contemplates killing him but refrains, wanting Claudius to die in sin.

Act 3, Scene 4

  • Confrontation with Gertrude: Hamlet confronts Gertrude in her chamber regarding her marriage to Claudius.

  • Murder of Polonius: Hearing a noise, Hamlet stabs through the curtain, thinking it was Claudius, and kills Polonius instead.

  • Appearance of the Ghost: The ghost appears again, reminding Hamlet to focus on revenge and avoid harming Gertrude.

  • Hamlet's Advice: Urges Gertrude to avoid Claudius and drags Polonius's body away.

Main Themes in Act 3

  • Appearance vs. Reality: The theme of deception prevails throughout the play and the performance.

  • Conscience and Guilt: Examined in Claudius's fake prayer.

  • Madness: Explored through Hamlet's behavior toward Ophelia.

  • Revenge and Hesitation: The complexities surrounding the motivation for revenge.

Act 4 Overview

Act 4, Scene 1 to 7

  • Claudius’s Response to Polonius's Death: Realizes Hamlet is dangerous and intends to send him to England for execution.

  • Ophelia's Downward Spiral: After Polonius's murder, Ophelia descends into madness, singing strange songs about death.

  • Laertes' Return: Furious over Polonius's death, Laertes seeks revenge, driven by Claudius's manipulations against Hamlet.

  • Hamlet's Discovery: On the journey to England, Hamlet uncovers Claudius's plot and switches the letter so Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are executed instead.

  • Ophelia's Death: Gertrude announces her drowning, likely a suicide, increasing Laertes's desire for revenge against Hamlet.

Act 5 Overview

Act 5, Scene 1 - 2

  • Gravedigger Scene: Hamlet encounters two gravediggers, leading him to reflect on death as he finds Yorick's skull.

  • Ophelia's Funeral: Hamlet discovers Ophelia has died, leading to a confrontation with Laertes in her grave as both claim their love.

The Duel**: Claudius and Laertes plot against Hamlet, preparing for a duel.

  • Poisoning Plan: Claudius intends to poison a cup of wine meant for Hamlet.

Tragic Conclusions in Act 5

  • Gertrude's Death: Accidental ingestion of poisoned wine leads to Gertrude's demise.

  • Laertes vs. Hamlet: They duel; Laertes wounds Hamlet with the poisoned sword, but Hamlet fatally wounds Laertes, who reveals Claudius's treachery before dying.

  • Hamlet’s Revenge: Hamlet kills Claudius and succumbs to poison soon after, concluding the tragic narrative.

Paradise Lost Study Notes

Book 1 Overview

  • Invocation: The narrator seeks inspiration from the Heavenly Muse to recount the story of humanity's fall and God's ability to bring good from evil.

  • Setting: Begins post-war in heaven, with Satan and the rebel angels defeated and cast into Hell.

  • Satan's Resolve: Despite defeat, Satan refuses to succumb, stating it's better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.

Satan's Call to Arms

  • Gathering Allies: Satan and Beelzebub summon the fallen angels, who initially shrink but then expand to full size, resembling ancient warriors.

  • Rallying Speech: Satan inspires his troops, emphasizing that their spirits are indomitable despite their fallen status.

  • Construction of Pandemonium: The demons build an immense palace quickly, which becomes the hub of their operations in Hell.

Book 2 Overview

  • Council of Demons: The fallen angels hold a council in Pandemonium to devise their next steps.

  • Debate of Approaches: Moloch advocates for open warfare against God, while Belial prefers inaction with hopes of being left alone.

  • Plan to Corrupt Humanity: Beelzebub suggests the idea of corrupting God's newest creation, man. Satan volunteers to go to Earth to execute this plan.

Book 3 Overview

  • Heaven's Perspective: God observes Satan's approach towards Earth and foresees the fall of humanity, acknowledging free will is integral to their design.

  • Redemptive Offer: The Son volunteers to sacrifice himself for humanity's salvation, receiving praise from God for his willingness.

Book 4 Overview

  • Satan's Deceit: Disguised as a lesser angel, Satan deceives Uriel, the guardian of the sun, gaining directions to Earth.

  • Eden's Serene Setting: Satan observes Adam and Eve in paradise and becomes bitterly envious.

  • Sin and Death: Sin and Death build a bridge to Earth from Hell, continuing their plans.

Book 9 Overview

  • Satan's Entrance: Returning at night, Satan conceives a new plan to corrupt Adam and Eve via deception.

  • Eve's Independence: Eve suggests dividing their gardening tasks, creating an opportunity for Satan to tempt her.

  • Temptation and Fall: Disguised as a serpent, Satan convinces Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, leading Adam to follow suit, resulting in their immediate corruption.

  • Consequences of Sin: Adam and Eve feel shame and guilt, eventually blaming each other but reconciling and praying together for forgiveness.

Book 12 Overview

  • Future and Prophecy: Michael foretells the struggles of humanity after the Fall and the promise of redemption through the Messiah.

  • God's Judgment and Mercy: Though Adam realizes the weight of his sin, he gains hope from God's mercy and the promise of salvation.

  • Exit from Eden: Adam and Eve accept their mortal life, bolstered by new knowledge and faith and walk into the world hand-in-hand, ready to face the future.