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We know that Hamlet is a tragedy—Shakespeare said so in the title. And we know that it’s a play about revenge—Hamlet revolves around the Prince’s desire to get back at Claudius for what Claudius did to his father. But there’s another word that describes Shakespeare’s play, too. It’s the word mystery. Intrigued? Check out the video for more clues.
Video Transcription:
Be prepared. Shakespeare’s Hamlet actually asks more questions than it answers. We’ll take a look at this play full of mystery in just a moment.
First, a few words to describe Hamlet
You could call it a tragedy (which it is).
You could call it a play about revenge (which it also is).
You could also call it a hodgepodge. It’s like Shakespeare took all his best tricks—ghosts, spurned lovers, land disputes, pirates, poison, a duel, a dead royal family—and tossed them into a big stew pot. Stir and serve!
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But bells and whistles aside, there’s one more word that describes this play, too. It’s the word mystery. Because not only is Hamlet’s plot a little less than straightforward, its message is, too.
For example, our hero—Prince Hamlet. Is he really mad? Or is his madness an act? What is madness anyway? And who is more mad—Claudius, who commits the sin of killing Hamlet’s father, or Hamlet, who goes crazy with revenge?
Here’s another question: Can we trust Hamlet? Is he a reliable narrator? Or is he, like all the other characters in this play, “playing” at something? Is he being honest with his audience?
Stick with me as I try to untangle this knot.
Continue the discussion in Club Recap!
