Possible interpretations about Hamlet (one of the most performed plays in history)

During Shakespeare's time, Hamlet was interpreted as a revenge play.

Good (Hamlet's father-the natural king) VS Evil (Claudius- who has usurped Hamlet's father)

According to the mentality of the time, Hamlet was asked to revenge his father.

Hamlet was always sad, he always thought of death and his mind was in pain and in distress.

FATHER-SON RELATIONSHIP

Why is the father's figure so important for a young man ? The father is the reference point in the family, he has to take care of the family. If the father, as in the case with Hamlet, is also the king he becomes a reference point for the country.

In Hamlet's mind Claudius becomes the icon of all the evil.

Hamlet is a perfect embodiment of the renaissance: a human being with his weaknesses, fear, doubts, and uncertainties becomes the core of the text.

In Shakespeare's plays, tragedy was always the consequence of the flaw in the character; Hamlet's flaw was the inability to make a decision.

We feel empathy with Hamlet because we recognize ourselves in him: partial identification.

Hamlet's mind becomes the setting.

How could Shakespeare recreate Hamlet's mind on stage ? With the soliloquy.

MONOLOGUE VS SOLILOQUY

MONOLOGUE: long speech delivered by one person who forgets or neglects the others who are there.

SOLILOQUY: is spoken by one person who is ALONE.