Scene Analysis: Hamlet Essay

Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, was written during the seventeenth century, around 1600 or 1601. William Shakespeare was born in 1564. He was the eldest son of John and Mary Shakespeare. Although there are no records, it is known Shakespeare attended Edward VI grammar school, which was established in 1543 for the sons of the landed gentry of the community. It is believed Hamlet was first performed in July 1602. Hamlet first appeared in printed from in 1603 and was published once again as an enlarged edition in 1604. It is possible Shakespeare borrowed the idea of Hamlet from earlier literary works. One of the sources could possibly include a twelfth-century Latin history of Denmark. Saxo Grammaticus compiled the twelfth-century Latin history of Denmark. Another probable source is a prose work by the French writer Francois de Belleforest, entitled Histoires Tragiques. The first reference of the play that we know as Shakespeares Hamlet is in the stationers Register, 26 July 1602, as the play called The Revenge of Hamlet Prince of Denmark. Most scholars agree that Shakespeare published Hamlet after 1601, but before 1603. Hamlet is Shakespeares longest play and the play responsible for the line To be or not to be: that is the question.

This excerpt is from Act I, Scene II of the play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare. Shakespeare illustrates the themes of Dysfunctional Family, Naturalism, and betrayal throughout the extract. He exposes the themes through the usage of symbolism anaphora, leitmotif, a tone shift, sarcasm, mockery, and a facade. William Shakespeare utilizes the stylistic language device of bantering repartee in the excerpt from Hamlet.

Denmark is in a state of high alert and preparing for possible war with Fortinbras of Norway. The ghost of King Hamlet is spotted on a platform before Elsinore Castle in Denmark. King Claudius is now the king of Denmark and married King Hamlets wife, Queen Gertrude. King Claudius is afraid Prince Fortinbras is going to invade and sent ambassadors to Norway to persuade the King of Norway to restrain Prince Fortinbras. Prince Hamlet does not trust King Claudius. All this leads up to extract where King Claudius and Queen Gertrude do not understand why Hamlet is still mourning his fathers death. Then, Hamlet explains in his first soliloquy that he does not like his mother to be married to King Claudius, as well as, that it all happened so quickly after his fathers death.