critics Flashcards
What is Janet Adelman’s view on Hamlet’s main psychological task in the play?
“Despite his ostensible agenda of revenge, the main psychological task that Hamlet seems to set himself is not to avenge his father’s death but to re-make his mother.”
According to Stephen Kastan, what are the causes of the catastrophes in Hamlet?
“Are the catastrophes that take place in the play ‘just, an appalling retribution’, or is it the ‘malignity of the heavens’?”
What does A.C. Bradley believe is the main reason Hamlet doesn’t kill Claudius sooner?
“Hamlet’s conscience is the main reason why he doesn’t kill Claudius sooner (‘moral repulsion to the deed’).”
How does Catherine Belsey describe the nature of revenge in Hamlet?
“Revenge is not justice. It is rather an act of injustice on behalf of justice.”
According to Katy Limmer, what does the relationship between Hamlet and Horatio expose?
‘Their friendship and their virtue have been corrupted, like so much else at the Danish court, by the malign influence of Claudius.”
What does Richard Vardy say about power and family values in Denmark?
“Power and politics evidently trump family values in Claudius’ Denmark.”
What does Richard Vardy say about the prevalence of spying in Denmark?
“In Denmark’s corrupt world, spying is endemic.”
What does David Kerrigan suggest Hamlet thinks about women’s love?
“They both confirm Hamlet’s ‘suspicion’ that ‘woman’s love is brief and unworthy’ – that women are fickle and their love is of little value.”
According to Katy Limmer, why does Hamlet distrust Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
.
What does Janet Adelman say about Gertrude’s role in her husband’s death?
“Gertrude has chosen to marry Claudius, thus making her almost complicit in her first husband’s death.”
How does Alfred Mack describe the role of madness in Hamlet?
“Madness was ‘dramatically useful’ as it allowed the ‘combination in a single figure of tragic hero and buffoon, to whom could be accorded the license or the allowed fool in speech and action.’”
What does Tosh argue Shakespeare believed about excessive or unrequited love?
“Shakespeare took seriously the view that excessive or unrequited love could lead to mental distraction.”
What does Elaine Showalter say about female melancholy in Hamlet?
“Female melancholy was considered to fall into a whole different category, connected not with genius but with sexuality and sexual frustration.”
According to Marian Cox, how does Hamlet shift between different roles in the play?
“Hamlet wears alternately the twin theatrical masks of tragedy and comedy, sane prince and mad fool, from the moment he decided to put on an ‘antic disposition.’”
How does Harold Bloom characterize Horatio’s role in the play?
“His friendship with Horatio provides a rare stable foundation amidst the chaos surrounding him.”
What does Rebecca Smith say about Hamlet’s relationship with Horatio?
“Hamlet is Horatio’s chosen friend.”
How does A.C. Bradley describe Hamlet’s feelings towards Ophelia?
“Hamlet’s love was not only mingled with bitterness, it was also weakened and deadened by his melancholy.”
What does Dieter Mehl say about the play-within-a-play device in Hamlet?
“The device of the play within a play enjoyed particular ‘favour with English dramatists throughout the Renaissance period.’ This of course gives Shakespeare a ‘particularly good opportunity to comment on contemporary stage practices and to define his own views about the proper function of drama.’”
How does T.S. Eliot characterize Hamlet as a tragic figure?
“The greatest of all tragic protagonists, Hamlet is caught in the tension between thought and action, leading to a tragic indecision.”
What is A.C. Bradley’s view on Hamlet’s psychological complexity?
“The character of Hamlet is, in fact, the most complex and psychologically rich of any character in the Shakespearean canon.”
How does Harold Bloom describe Hamlet’s character in relation to other Shakespearean figures?
“Hamlet is Shakespeare’s most profound and enduring creation. His dilemma is timeless, and his inner conflict continues to resonate with audiences today.”
According to Wilson Knight, what is the central focus of Hamlet?
“Hamlet is, above all, a play about the mind. The action that takes place is secondary to the psychological and intellectual turmoil that defines its hero.”
What does Friedrich Nietzsche say about Hamlet’s paralysis due to overthinking?
“In Hamlet, we see a tragic hero who, by being overwhelmed with thought, is paralyzed in action, a model of the philosophical detachment that ultimately leads to ruin.”
What is Stephen Greenblatt’s view on Hamlet’s personal quest?
“Hamlet’s quest is one of self-understanding. The tragedy is not just the death of the protagonist, but the loss of the opportunity to reconcile his inner self with his outer world.”
How does E.M.W. Tillyard describe the central problem in Hamlet?
“The central problem of Hamlet is not simply revenge, but the moral and existential questions that plague Hamlet, turning the play into a profound meditation on life and death.”
What does Colin McGinn say about Hamlet’s greatest torment?
“Hamlet’s greatest torment is his deep awareness of the futility of human endeavor, trapped between moral scruples and the inevitable decay of all things.”
How does Jan Kott describe Hamlet as a character in a modern context?
“Hamlet is a man of action who cannot act. He is the modern man, caught in a world that seems irrational, meaningless, and irredeemably corrupt.”
How does Catherine Belsey explain Hamlet’s hesitation?
“Hamlet’s hesitation is not just a plot device but an expression of Shakespeare’s exploration of the limits of human understanding, questioning whether action can ever lead to certainty or redemption.”
How does Avi Ehrlich characterise Gertrude in Hamlet?
“Gertrude is sexually treacherous.”
How does Pragati explain Hamlets views on women?
“Hamlet develops a deep-seated hatred for women from seeing his mother’s hasty marriage.”
What does Bradley say Hamlets desire is?
“Hamlet’s chief desire… is to save Gertrude’s soul.”
What does smith say Gertrudes interest is?
“Pleasing men is Gertrude’s main interest.”
How does Laing describe Gertrude?
“She is not a person. There is no integral selfhood expressed through her actions or utterances.”
What does Heilburn argue about Gertrudes character?
“They fail to see Gertrude for the strong-minded, intelligent, succinct, and sensible woman that she is.”
What does Miller suggest Gertrude does to Denmark?
“For Gertrude, passionate love is a binding, reckless emotion that leads her to do foolish things. This drags down her whole family and kingdom.”
What does Rogers believe Ophelia is?
“Ophelia is Polonius’ pawn, which Hamlet seems to recognise and attempts to rescue her from.”
What does Edwards say about Ophelias story?
“We can imagine Hamlet’s story without Ophelia, but Ophelia literally has no story without Hamlet.”
What does Showalter say about female melancholy?
“Women’s melancholy was seen as biological and emotional in its origins.”
How does Reinhardt say Opehlia is?
“Ophelia is only a weak sacrificial victim.”
What does Maki say about the control of Ophelias life?
“What happens in her life is determined by the whims of the men who control her.”
What does Meakin say about Ophelia is a patriarchal society?
“Her limited options in a patriarchal society and her realisation of those limitations are what make Ophelia’s death the true tragedy of Hamlet.”
What does Showalter say about the electra complex?
“Critics of the Freudian era read her madness as an Electra complex driven by love of her father, and the Post-Freudian feminists have read Ophelia’s madness as a revolt against patriarchal repression.”
What does Showalter say about the feminist theories?
“For many feminist theorists, the madwoman is a heroine, a powerful figure who rebels against the family and social order.”
What does Atlick about Claudius’ actions?
The cunning and lecherousness of Claudius’ evil has corrupted the whole kingdom of Denmark.”
What does Stockton say about Claudius?
“Clearly the antagonist.”
What does Denton say about Polonius’ death?
“Polonius deserved to die for his offences but Hamlet had no right to slay him.”
What does Smith say about Polonius’ training Ophelia?
“Trained his daughter to be obedient and chaste and is able to use her as a piece of bait for spying.”
What does Smith say about Polonius actions?
“Polonius seems to love his children; he seems to have the welfare of the kingdom in mind. His means of actions, however, are totally corrupt.”
What does Miles say about Laertes desire?
“Laertes has an intense desire to avenge his father’s murder and sister’s death”
What does Hutton say about Laertes resentment?
“He has a burning resentment for rights and wrongs yet no proper sense of justice.”
What does Mull note about the relationship between Laertes and Ophelia
“On the entrance of Ophelia Laertes is filled with anguish at the strange manner and grotesque appearance of his sister.”
What does Kittredge think Laertes is?
“Laertes is a typical avenger and the complete foil to Hamlet in that regard. He assumes the King’s guilt without thought and violates his code of honour.”
What does G.W. Knight say Laertes is becoming?
“Laertes becomes a revolutionary, a disorder force, against Claudius, the King, symbol of order.”
What does Browne say about the Ghost?
“Ghosts of departed persons are not wandering souls of men but the unquiet walks of the devil.”
