Hamlet and the Revenge Motif

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Hamlet and the Revenge Motif

• By
• Gary Latman
• English Teacher / Tech Coordinator
• Harper High School

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The ghost of Hamlet's father reveals

• His death was no accident it was murder
• Committed by his own brother Claudius as he slept
  in his garden

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The ghost commands Hamlet

• To avenge his murder
• But do not harm the queen, Hamlets mother

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What the Ghost Requests

• The ghost tells Hamlet to avenge his death.
• This means that Hamlet will have to kill his
  uncle.

• The ghost tells Hamlet not to harm his mother,
  but let God determine what will become of her.

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What Hamlet Does

• Gets angry
• Swears to get revenge
• Starts to think about the ghost
• Is it a good spirit, telling me the truth?
• Is it an evil spirit, misleading me?
• He begins to think, hesitate, and feels he needs
  more proof before he can act.

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Hamlets Plan
Plan A
Plan B

• To put on an antic disposition
• This means hes going to act crazy.
• Why? What advantage will this offer to Hamlet?

• Insert a scene in a play called The Mousetrap
  that the court will be seeing.
• The scene acts out the events of Hamlets
  fathers death.
• If the King acts nervous or upset, Hamlet will
  KNOW he is guilty.

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The plays the thing
by which Ill catch the conscience of the king
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References

• The play-within-the-play scene, portraying the
  guilt of Claudius. http//upload.wikimedia.org/wik
  ipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Hamlet_play_scene_croppe
  d.png/450px-Hamlet_play_scene_cropped.png
• Shakespeare, W., Hamlet. II, ii, 633