1) Hamlet is a portrait of the human condition. Discuss this statement using both ‘liberal-humanist’ and ‘psychoanalytical’ lenses.

Sample into

Shakespeare’s Hamlet has often been regarded as perhaps the best of his plays, acclaimed for the complexity of the tragic hero protagonist and how universal his issues are. Like many of us, his great inability to act or decide what course of action he should take in life, cause him great angst. His conscience and his continual struggle between good and evil, torment him continuously and the pain of living inevitably leads to an untimely death. Through close examination of Hamlet, the reader can see how Shakespeare has created an ambiguous portrait of human condition.

Sample reference to article…

McClinton (2006) claims that Shakespeare ‘achieves a higher realism, transcending the mere imitation of experience and creating, in all its conflict and fertility, a mirror of mind itself’ and this is perhaps a clearer reflection of what it means to be human. The contradictory, self-doubting, self-deprecation nature of the character represents what we all internally struggle with…

2) There is no room for the heroic or strong woman in ‘Hamlet’, this play is antifeminist. Discuss this statement using the ‘feminist’ and ‘psychoanalytical’ lenses.

Sample topic sentences

The character of Gertrude has been constructed as a temptress, who is driven by immorality and her own weaknesses; her actions throughout the play are not perceived as heroic or strong.

When the male protagonist we most sympathise with claims ‘frailty, thy name is woman’, one can be certain that we are being positioned to accept these antifeminist views, reflective of an oppressive society that provided a narrow scope of choice for females.

Ophelia’s weaknesses in this play and the disintegration of her mind are attributed to the very qualities of being obedient and passive, that the men in her life desire from her.

3) Does Hamlet reflect a tragic patriarchy, one that endorses misogynistic messages? Analyse this question using the ‘feminist’ and ‘liberal-humanist’ or ‘psychoanalytical’ lenses.

Sample conclusion

Hamlet is a tragedy but not for the widely accepted view of the play reflecting the story of a tragic hero who had no control over his situation. It is a tragedy because the character of Hamlet actually had many choices available to him and was in a much more advantaged position than his female counterparts. This play reflects the patriarchal world in which Hamlet had great power but when he lost a little of it, his response was obvious – behave in a completely misogynistic manner to those women around him. The women in Hamlet are more tragic because they have little control over their situation and when they use the only resources available to them, they are scorned and labelled by misogynistic, God fearing men attempting to maintain power and control.

“Get thee to a nunnery, go: farewell. Or, if thou wilt needs marry, marry a fool; for wise men know well enough what monsters you make of them. To a nunnery, go, and quickly too."

4) There are very few characters in ‘Hamlet’ who could be considered revolutionaries (having views that correlate to Marxism) and challenge the monarchy. Develop an analytical essay that uses ‘Marxist’ and ‘liberal-humanist’ lenses.

Sample topic sentences

On close reading, Hamlet interacts with other characters throughout the play in a fashion that does correlate to Marxism, providing some evidence that Shakespeare challenged the power of the monarchy. The deviation from the status quo is subtle, such as can be seen in his interactions with his mentor Horatio who firmly believes that he represents a slave to Hamlet, identified in the line “The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever,” with Hamlet responding “Sir, my good friend- I'll change that name with you,” (Act I, Scene II), indicating that Hamlet wishes and wants to view Horatio as a friend and is questioning the social hierarchy.

5) “So, oft it chances in particular men,
That for some vicious mole of nature in them,
As, in their birth--wherein they are not guilty,
Since nature cannot choose his origin”

Is there evidence in ‘Hamlet’ that clearly shows that he is a homosexual? Develop an analytical essay using the ‘LGBTI’ and ‘psychoanalytical’ lenses.

Sample references to articles

It is absurd to consider the character of Hamlet in purely heterosexual terms, as ‘homosexuality existed in Renaissance society and Shakespeare knew it. Furthermore, Shakespeare wrote with a homosexually aware audience in mind. Otherwise, lines such as Hamlet’s “Man delights not me – nor woman neither” would not play.’ (Watson, 1992)