CORRUPTION & REVENGE

Polonius, Laertes, Ophelia

What is Polonius afraid of regarding Laertes?

What is Polonius afraid of regarding Ophelia?

Who or what might corrupt Polonius’s children?

Corruption in Denmark Where do we see elements of corruption

on a private and public level in Denmark? Hamlet’s first soliloquy Fie on’t, ah fie, ‘tis an unweeded garden

That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature Possess it merely. (1.2.135-138)

The Ghost (1.4-5)Where do we see elements of corruption

in these two scenes?Ghost: “I am . . . Doom’d for a certain

time to walk the night . . . Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature / Are burnt and purg’d away” (1.5.9-13)

Rotten/Corrupt/Garden Imagery

Marcellus: “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” (1.4.90)

The Murder POISON used by Claudius The murder is both a REGICIDE and a

FRATRICIDE.

Close Reading The Ghost’s use of vivid, angry diction

and repetition underscores the urgent need to “clean up” the mess in Denmark, to remove the corruption (a PUBLIC revenge?)

Ghost: “foul” used 3x, “unnatural” used 2x, “strange” used once (p. 30)

Revenge Tragedy Three roles: VICTIM, VILLAIN, AVENGER Crime has already been committed prior to the

start of the play No recourse to a higher authority Avenger must overcome obstacles Avenger must seek an appropriate revenge Concludes with a successful carrying out of

mission Most popular genre of Shakespeare’s time (and

perhaps, today?) Derives from Greeks/Romans (Aeschylus, Seneca) The Spanish Tragedy, The Revenger’s Tragedy…

WRAP UP Would Hamlet’s revenge be a PUBLIC or a

PRIVATE one?

What motivates his father’s demand—or

Hamlet’s desire— for revenge?

EXIT PASS What, in your opinion, is the exact cause

of the “rotten-ness” in Denmark? Cite one or two words as textual support.