Discussion Questions

1. Comment on Hamlet as an Aristotelian tragedy. How does Shakespeare craft the play to highlight this?

Aristotle, in his work Poetics, sets down six rules that make a tragic hero. Hamlet exhibits these six qualities throughout the play. Aristotle asserts that the hero must belong to the nobility and must be liked by his subjects. During the course of the narrative, the audience is told that Hamlet is loved by the Danish people, which is why Claudius attempts to have him executed in England.

Aristotle also notes that the reason for the tragic downfall of the protagonist must partly be their own fault. In Hamlet’s case, it is his indecision regarding revenge that leads to the death of all important characters. Aristotle also mentions that the punishment should be bigger than the fault and that the final downfall should lead to better tidings. This holds true for the play since it ends in multiple deaths; further, Denmark is handed over to Fortinbras, who is expected to restore peace and prosperity. These are some of the aspects that make Hamlet an Aristotelian tragedy.

2. What role does the ghost play in Hamlet? Is it a real apparition or a figment of imagination?

The ghost appears early in the play as a messenger for Hamlet as well as a symbol for the rot in the kingdom. The sentries are afraid of the ghost, which haunts the peripheries of Elsinore, and they mull on the appearance of the ghost as a bad omen for the kingdom. They believe that the ghost is foretelling the fall of the dynasty.

The reactions of the sentries and Horatio to the ghost’s appearance is an indication that it is a device to allude to Hamlet’s dead father. The message from the ghost is the first proof of the crime that was committed by Claudius. It is only Gertrude who is unable to see the ghost when it appears in her bedroom. There have been multiple theories about the reason behind this, including one that suggest that she is unable to see the ghost because she is sure that Hamlet has lost his sanity.

3. How is Fortinbras’ character different from Hamlet’s character?

Fortinbras is often referred to in the play as the man of action. The young Fortinbras is a leading soldier and is preparing for a war with Denmark when Claudius sends an ambassador to his uncle to convince him to not proceed with the plan. Fortinbras is convinced only when he is promised that he can use the battalion to capture Poland instead. Further, he will receive no challenge from anyone at Denmark and they will allow for a hospitable pass. This instance captures Fortinbras’ eagerness to act.

On the other hand, Hamlet, despite being the protagonist of this revenge tragedy, is given many monologues and spends most of his time contemplating life and death. Indecision is the fatal flaw that plagues Hamlet.

4. Does Claudius repent his crimes? Does this align with his actions in the last few scenes?

In the third act, Claudius, in a monologue, accepts his crimes and worries that the worst consequences might be reserved for his sin of killing his own brother and marrying his sister-in-law. Worried and scared, he chooses to pray for absolution. However, in the following acts, instead of fixing his faults, Claudius is seen planning to dispose of Hamlet and have him killed. While the repentance and confession seemed genuine, he only ends up committing more crimes.

5. Analyse Ophelia’s character and her agency in the play.

When we first meet Ophelia in the play, she is being told by her brother, Laertes, and father, Polonius, to not spend time with Hamlet. While she asks her brother to limit his own sexual pursuits, she finally relents to her father’s advice. Her sexuality is linked to her and her family’s honor and she is defined by them not having her own autonomy

Her frequent dismay, conveyed by her disheveled hair and public singing, toward the end of the book is a result of her failed relationship with Hamlet as well as her father’s death. Her character is heavily dependent on her male counterparts for narrative advancement.

It is interesting to note that her decision to end her own life stands in contrast to Hamlet’s contemplations on suicide: Unlike Ophelia, Hamlet never acts on these thoughts.