Our Challenge Begins now!

A Dark Play?

Why should I care about Hamlet?

Playing Hamlet is like going to the Olympics for an actor.

The play tells the story of Prince Hamlet. But Hamlet's no party-boy prince:

When the action begins, we discover that:

His dad has been murdered by his own brother!

And it gets worse:

                             Claudius, the murderer has married Hamlet's mom, Gertrude

So, what's a prince to do ...?
 1. Hang out with Dad's ghost?
2. Feign madness?
 3. Dump girlfriend because he doesn’t trust her?,
4. Accuse Mom of treachery and kill her?
5. Kill Uncle/Stepdad/King Claudius?

Whew!  No wonder he drags his feet!

… For us it is like talking to someone we know:

How is Hamlet like us? Give three examples

 Atmosphere/Mood

Right from the beginning of Hamlet, 

Shakespeare creates a dark atmosphere.

Choose the facts that make us a feel sad, melancholy ... dark 

1.The first scene takes place in the dark, at midnight

2. Elsinore Castle is a dark , gloomy place

3. There are men on watch, “What are they watching for?

4. A ghost appears at the very beginning

5. There is suspense because we do not know what he wants

6. Hamlet feels a lot of pressure not to fail his father

7. Hamlet doesn’t like the guy his mum has remarried

8. Hamlet talks to himself a lot

9. Hamlet is dressed in mourning

10. Hamlet is having a teenage crisis

11. Hamlet believes that he is living in a world of corruption

12. Hamlet doesn’t know what to do with his life

13. Hamlet has got a crush on a girl and he believes she’s cheating on him

14. Hamlet thinks he is being deceived by everyone around him

15. The scene in the gravedigger’s is morbid.