The opening scene of Hamlet is dramatic; this influences the key themes, represented within the act. The drama in the first act introduces the themes effectively as the rest of the act continues with this pattern, and this is obviously one of the most prominent key themes throughout the play.
The opening line of the play also sets another tone, which continues throughout the centre of the Hamlet, ‘Who’s there?’ sets a tone of uncertainty and anxiousness. This anxiously questioning theme represents the search for personal identity that is concealed by outward appearance.
In the first scene the main characters are established, the whole story is based around these characters. Old Hamlet is a ghost who was once King of Denmark but was murdered by his brother Claudius making him vengeful and unable to rest. Claudius becomes King after the death and marries Old King Hamlet’s widowed wife Gertrude, this shows he is ruthless and un-loyal. Gertrude although doesn’t herself play much of a part in the play makes a huge impact throughout as she affects other characters, she too is un-loyal and through her marriage to Claudius
shows that she has few or no morals, as she still has a son, Hamlet. Hamlet the son of Old King Hamlet has the lead role and is the main focus, he shows throughout the play to be vulnerable and unstable after the death of his father and re marriage of his mother. Hamlet also shows resentment to his uncle Claudius as he sees him as trying to take his fathers place, but he is unknowing that he is the perpetrator of his fathers death. Hamlet begins to see his mother as a traitor for re marring so quickly after the death of his father and distances himself. Polonius was counsellor to the old King Hamlet and is an ordinary man with conformist values, he has two children, Ophelia his daughter, and Laertes his son. Ophelia is in love with Prince Hamlet and is quite a strong character but is controlled by the male members of her family. Laertes however, has strong aspirations of being well educated and going to university in France. It’s the officers to the watch who discover the ghost of old Hamlet; they are Marcellus, Barnardo, and Francisco. Horatio hamlet’s friend is a scholar and arrives on the scene to see the ghost.
The theme throughout the play is most certainly revenge tragedy; within this theme there are certain traits which are evident and prominent. In revenge tragedies the avenger always dies and there is always a major event which is in this case the death of a father, husband, brother and King. The main characters in a revenge tragedy almost always end up dying, and death is a prominent theme as it is linked with tragedy in the theme. This becomes evident strait away with Prince Hamlet as he contemplates suicide. ‘Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother’s death the memory be green, and that it us befitted to bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom’ however he goes on to become the avenger. In the play the ghost of Hamlet represents the unrest and unresolved problems. It is very clear that the play is based mainly around the male role and within is many strong dominant male’s who dictate the women in the play. Gertrude, as Queen is second to the King, the is supposed to support him and her family, however there is much disappointment from Prince Hamlet when she re-marries, ‘ unweeding garden that grows to seed , things rank and gross in nature is merely’ this shows the disappointment his mother was having an affair as he is relating it to rotting. Ophelia, daughter of Polonius also plays a weak role within the play as she is dictated by men when she is told she must not pursue her feelings for Prince Hamlet, ‘from this time forth have you so slander any moment, leisure as to give words or talk with the lord Hamlet.’ Gertrude die’s because she disobeyed Claudius which is very symbolic and it is clear that this is how it was during this period and the role women played in a very male dominated society. Ophelia commits suicide through madness; this shows her character as weak.
There are some key themes throughout the play such as kingship, war, revenge, and relationships. The most prominent theme remains throughout to be revenge. The kingship theme is based on King Hamlet dyeing for this crown having been in battle with the King of Norway, Fortinbras. Further more Hamlet not becoming King after the death of his father. The revenge theme is set by the ghost of King Hamlet and makes Prince Hamlet the avenger, he puts on an antic disposition during a conversation with the ghost of his father ‘As I perchance hereafter shall think meet to put an antic disposition on’. Prince Hamlet makes a comparison between his uncle and his father ‘So excellent a king, that was to this Hyperion to a satyr, so loving to my mother’ he also is talking about his mother’s disloyalty and how his father was always loving to his mother.
These key themes have helped to develop the plot and it’s the combination of these themes which make it a revenge tragedy. With these themes emotions and patterns evolve, tension, upset, intrigue, falsehood and uncertainty, these all create a gripping storyline of which an audience can commit or relate emotionally with characters. In the play the revenge that takes place completes the story and in the style of revenge tragedy the avenger dies who is Prince Hamlet, and many of the main characters, nearly all. The true villain of the play Claudius dies in vain after his wife Gertrude this is justice within the play with him having killed the father of Prince Hamlet and potentially robbed him of his fathers crown, and for marrying his mother during the stages of grieving then to discover they were having an affair behind his fathers back. Hamlet the play is a perfect example of a revenge tragedy with dramatic twists, deaths – murders, love, betrayal and disloyalty.
