HamletAct IV

HamletAct IV

Hamlet’s Foils Hamlet’s Foils

Fortinbras = raises an army to fight a senseless battle for the principle of honor

Laertes = gives no thought for his immortal soul to avenge a father’s senseless death

Fortinbras = raises an army to fight a senseless battle for the principle of honor

Laertes = gives no thought for his immortal soul to avenge a father’s senseless death

Claudius’ Politic GeniusClaudius’ Politic Genius

Pressures Fortinbras’ uncle to thwart Fortinbras’ advances

Sends off Hamlet to avoid upheaval from Danes devoted to him

Forges an alliance with Laertes to avoid overthrow

Pressures Fortinbras’ uncle to thwart Fortinbras’ advances

Sends off Hamlet to avoid upheaval from Danes devoted to him

Forges an alliance with Laertes to avoid overthrow

Claudius’ Politic GeniusClaudius’ Politic Genius

Feeding imagery = dog-eat-dog court machinations

Disease imagery = underscores the corruption of the garden

Feeding imagery = dog-eat-dog court machinations

Disease imagery = underscores the corruption of the garden

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

Increasingly in Claudius’ inner circle (sponge metaphor)

Sent to find Polonius’ body Sent to dispatch Hamlet to

England (petard metaphor)

Increasingly in Claudius’ inner circle (sponge metaphor)

Sent to find Polonius’ body Sent to dispatch Hamlet to

England (petard metaphor)

Hamlet’s Character Hamlet’s Character

Hamlet now in league with darker elements (pirates?)

Accidental or intentional plan? Follows Hamlet’s “thoughts be

bloody or be nothing worth” soliloquy

Hamlet now in league with darker elements (pirates?)

Accidental or intentional plan? Follows Hamlet’s “thoughts be

bloody or be nothing worth” soliloquy

Hamlet’s Character Hamlet’s Character

Weak = does not kills Claudius, foolishly kills Polonius

Over-intellectualizes actions Torn between honor and taboo

Weak = does not kills Claudius, foolishly kills Polonius

Over-intellectualizes actions Torn between honor and taboo

Hamlet’s Character Hamlet’s Character

Strong = similar circumstances drive Ophelia truly mad and coax Laertes into criminal deceit

Strong = Hamlet’s polarized virtue leave him to struggle with the most complex of spiritual issues

Strong = similar circumstances drive Ophelia truly mad and coax Laertes into criminal deceit

Strong = Hamlet’s polarized virtue leave him to struggle with the most complex of spiritual issues

Ophelia’s MadnessOphelia’s Madness

Parallels Hamlet’s decline Parent’s death Loss of a confidant, discarded by

Hamlet Yet Ophelia is truly mad

Parallels Hamlet’s decline Parent’s death Loss of a confidant, discarded by

Hamlet Yet Ophelia is truly mad

Ophelia’s Madness Ophelia’s Madness

Associated with the perfect rose in the garden

Gives rue (regret) to Gertude = sorrow

Violets withered = no faithfulness/ garden gone to weeds

Associated with the perfect rose in the garden

Gives rue (regret) to Gertude = sorrow

Violets withered = no faithfulness/ garden gone to weeds

Ophelia’s Madness Ophelia’s Madness

Distributes the other flowers = to whom?

Fennel = deceit Daisy = dissembling Rosemary = remembrance

Distributes the other flowers = to whom?

Fennel = deceit Daisy = dissembling Rosemary = remembrance

Ophelia’s Madness Ophelia’s Madness

Favorite image of the Pre-Raphaelite artists

Image of abused womanhood Innocence corrupted Dutiful daughter Virgin/whore archetypes (nunnery)

Favorite image of the Pre-Raphaelite artists

Image of abused womanhood Innocence corrupted Dutiful daughter Virgin/whore archetypes (nunnery)

MillaisMillais

WaterhouseWaterhouse

WaterhouseWaterhouse

WaterhouseWaterhouse

HughesHughes

HughesHughes