Transcript Where is Denmark?

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
so, Where is Denmark?
http://www.britannica.com/shakespeare/art-75817
Another “exotic” setting!
Kronborg
Castle
The Elizabethan World View
Notes #1
To fully understand
Shakespeare’s work,
we must put Hamlet in the
context of the…
(1) Elizabethan era,
(2) his audience,
(3) his theatre, The Globe
The Reality of viewing Hamlet
"the two hours' traffic of our stage"
Question for deep
thinking…
• Can a person remain authentic and genuine in a
world that is dishonest, corrupt, and in serious
FLUX? Yes or no? Can you think of any historical,
political, or literary examples? Explain your
answer. (10 min write)
• Stand up and exchange ideas with someone you
are not sitting next to. (5 min talk)
• Share one good idea/example with the class.
The masses are not amenable
to change…
3 BIG Areas of Flux
• Medieval thought:
Macrocosm v. Microcosm
The Chain of Being
• Religious Upheaval:
Catholics v. Protestants (Martin Luther)
• Scientific Revolution:
Ptolemaic world v. Copernican theory
“A place for everything
& everything in its place”
• Belief in the “Chain of Being” = everything connected
to God and every aspect of heaven & Earth
connected and ORDERED!
God  Angels  Man  beast  plant  stone
Elsinore AGOG!
• These principles would have been an integral part
of Hamlet & Hortio’s philosophy.
• While H & H begin to question the world with a
Renaissance mind, they are essentially medieval
men.
• Any violation of any part of the chain of being
was a destructive act that could impair the
whole—or set the universe AGOG!
Macrocosm v. Microcosm
• Related to the hierarchical structure in the
chain of being
• The idea that the macrocosm (the universe or
heavens) is reflected in the microcosm
(human life)
• Infinite divisions in the universe AND among
humans
The Globe itself was a
microcosm
Heaven: stage roof, music came from musician’s
gallery above stage
Earth: the stage
upon which the
actors stood
Hell: ghosts appeared from trapdoors
(under the stage)
Even The Seating
represented a microcosm
• Gallery for upper classes
(“box seats”)
• Rich gentlemen might sit
on folding stools off to
the side of stage
(“courtside seats”)
THE AUDIENCE
organized by social hierarchy
Courtyard, “The Pit,”
comprised of peasants
standing among the
muck…
Explain to your Partner
• Partner 1: explain the chain of being &
why it’s important
• Partner 2: explain the microcosm and
macrocosm philosophy & why it’s
important
Religious change… 1517
Leading to…
Scientific Revolution:
No wonder Hamlet is so cynical,
depressed, suspicious, & angry!
• A sense of uncertainty & disorder influences
many of Shakespeare’s plays, especially Hamlet
Consider all of the uncertainty &
Disorder in Hamlet’s world!
• References to the stars/universe
• Hamlet’s questioning mind—“Detective work”
• Changing motives of Hamlet’s
friends and family
• The idea of Hamlet’s madness
• Disease, illness, rotting
• Politics of the play
• Justice, Revenge, &
Breaking Family Ties
And herein lies the
problem of Hamlet!