Hamlet Topic Sentences for Themes

Question 1

Revenge

Answer 1

.Revenge that fails indecision (Hamlet)

Consequences of revenge.

Successful avenger (Fortinbras)

Question 2

Uncertainty / Doubt

Answer 2

Uncertainty of Denmarks political situation through the symbol of the ghost.

Hamlets changing behaviour and thought processes.

Characters confusion about cause of Hamlets madness.

Question 3

Love

Answer 3

Uncertainty about whether romantic love is genuine.

Fraternal love “revenge this most unnatural murder” “prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell” nunnery and play within play.

Platonic love (Horatio and Hamlet.)

Question 4

Women

Answer 4

Ambiguity surrounding womens affections.

Women are weak.

Female fragility explored through death.

Question 5

Appearance and reality

Answer 5

Hamlets changing behaviour and thought processes - is he actually mad, or just appears it?

Appearance and reality interwine (R+G 2.2) (Ghost)

Through exploration of death (Ophelia) (Polonius)

Question 6

Loyalty and betrayal

Answer 6

Females betray (Ophelia and Gertrude protecting Hamlet)

Horatio and Hamlet (Risky plans and nearly kills himself at the end)

Fraternal loyalty for Old King Hamlet

Question 7

Suffering

Answer 7

Internal suffering- is Hamlet actually mad?

Female suffering

Suffering caused my revenge

Question 8

Death

Answer 8

Ambiguity of death (old King Hamlet)

Female fragility explored through death

Death as caused my revenge

Question 9

Power

Answer 9

Claudius tries to keep control (R+G 2.2) (G 5.1)

Women are powerless

Consequences of power struggle

Question 10

Deception

Answer 10

Is Hamlet actually mad?

Ambiguity of the ghost.

Through the exploration of death.