Shakespeare's Hamlet

AEaglePrncs · 11-18-2003, 11:10 PM

Hey! I am doing a research paper on who Prince Hamlet killed in Shakespeare's paly, and was wondering if anyone knew who and how he killed the characters??!!?!? Thanks

I need legal sites to turn into my professor!!

SccHarpGirl · 11-18-2003, 11:12 PM

www.sparknotes.com

PontiusPirate · 11-18-2003, 11:27 PM

Shakespeare · 11-19-2003, 05:56 PM

THAT'S MY BEST WORK

Alright: Ophelia killed herself after Hamlet accidently killed her father. Claudius killed Hamlet's mom by poision ment for hamlet, Hamlet killed Ophelias brother in a duel, Hamlet Killed claudius afterwards he was stabbed with a poisioned sward.

Need any other insights? I studied this play in depth.

~Wiily Shakes *aka Kate*

Yojimbo · 11-19-2003, 06:17 PM

You know what would be the best source of answers to those questions? The play itself.

Chris · 11-20-2003, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ¿Goodness

You know what would be the best source of answers to those questions? The play itself.

I always thought so too.

As for Hamlet's killings,

he was responsible for the deaths of Rosencrantz and Gildenstern (is that even their names or did i get that from another play?) because he switched the note that said to kill Hamlet for a note that said to kill them.

he drove Ophelia mad because of his stupid macho actions and feigned (sp?) madness and it essentially drove Ophelia to suicide.

he killed Polonius by stabbing him through the tapestry after the confrontation with Gertrude.

he killed the other one in that family (I forget the guy's name I think it started with an L) in the duel at the end.

he killed Claudius by stabbing him with the poisoned sword and by forcing him to drink the poisoned wine.

I think that's about it as far as the deaths he was responsible (in whole or in part) for.

I wish I could remember that guy's name. Do you have any idea how frustrating that is?

AEaglePrncs · 11-20-2003, 12:46 PM

Hey thanks for the sugestions guys! Obviously I am going to use the play itself

I am not quite that dumb, but ya' know in a research paper you have to have other sources besides the things iteslf you are researching aboutt!! But thanks for the information I was given so far!!

Robin

JerryLove · 11-20-2003, 12:59 PM

But other sources are silly. Why cite someone neccessiarily citing someone else you are already citing.

Chris · 11-21-2003, 08:56 AM

perhaps the instructor placed extra sources as one of the criteria for the paper.

ro234 · 11-21-2003, 09:34 AM

I believe 'that guy' who you are trying to remember is called Laertes.

Chris · 11-21-2003, 09:42 AM

Laertes thank you! That was really bugging me.

ro234 · 11-21-2003, 09:50 AM

That's OK and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are indeed originally in 'Hamlet', but you may think you have heard of them elsewhere because there is a Tom Stoppard play about them called 'Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead'. That may well be the source of your confusion.

ro234 · 11-21-2003, 09:54 AM

Sorry to post again but I thought I should attempt to answer the original question. Clearly, you should primarily read the text itself, it will tell you things like who kills who. However, critical sources are clearly essential in English, and you are lucky that you are doing Shakespeare because there is tons of criticism about him. In my experience, the internet is pretty lame for criticism. In my experience, one of the best books on Shakespeare in general is 'Shakespearean Tragedy' by A.C. Bradley. Try to find the book, its sure to have at least some essays on Hamlet, since it is one of the big four tragedies. If you can't do that, it may be on the internet somewhere. Any library will have loads of Shakespeare criticism, so it shouldn't take long at all to find something relevant.

Chris · 11-21-2003, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ro234

That's OK and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are indeed originally in 'Hamlet', but you may think you have heard of them elsewhere because there is a Tom Stoppard play about them called 'Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead'. That may well be the source of your confusion.

No I was thinking I pulled the names from another Shakespeare play like The Merchant of Venice or something like that.

Shakespeare · 11-22-2003, 08:49 AM

Quote:

he drove Ophelia mad because of his stupid macho actions and feigned (sp?) madness and it essentially drove Ophelia to suicide.

Esentially, she went mad because of her fathers death, the last straw. I guese we could blame Hamlet, but she had an idea he was faking madness "believe none of us" Hamlet tells her. So her madness and suicide was her own ordeal. I think when Hamlet killed her father she lost her trust in him, and the grief from both lost drove her mad.