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TSR Wiki > Study Help > Subjects and Revision > Revision Notes > English > Hamlet - Characterisations
Characterisation
- Ambiguity is central
- No clear division between good and bad
- Enigmatic, mysterious, elusive
- What is the extent of Gertrude’s complicity?
- Does she love Claudius?
- Interrogative
Critical quotations
“Before Shakespeare, there was characterisation: after Shakespeare there were characters.” Harold Bloom
Characters
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
- Minor characters sent to spy on Hamlet – deception
- Sinister mercenaries or comic stooges?
- They lie about what Hamlet does – says he was acting normal “he was most free in his reply” But they are betraying their friend.
- Reflects theme of doubles – always together/
- Flatters Claudius
- Forgotten easily “they are not near my conscience”
Horatio
- Loyalty and friendship
- Ends as a surrogate narrator and also tells us most of background info at start, and letter in the middle.
- Works as the audience in the text – stays sceptical. We trust his opinions.
- Uncontaminated by corruption
- “now cracks and noble heart” – on Hamlet
Laertes
- Sweet brother – asks Ophelia to contact him.
- Understands Hamlet’s position as prince
- Respects his father
- Asks for forgiveness at end
- Revenger – imperatives with Ophelia
- Rash decisions for revenger – foil to Hamlet
- Confident of own plan
- Concerned with present actions – Hamlet looks to the afterlife
- Hot headed or fundamentally decent?
- Seems to genuinely love Ophelia
Fortinbras
- Do not see him until final scene – we judge him by the words of others
- Another foil to Hamlet
- Hamlet admires his skills?
- Potential to be a good king
- Nobility about his revenge – same reasons as Hamlet?
- Do productions need him? Zeffirelli production cuts the Fortinbras subplot
- Ambiguity and unanswered questions about his kingship at end.
Comments
Originally posted by BeckySparrow on TSR Forums.
