6.1.4

Regicide

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Regicide in Elizabethan England

As part of the belief in a cosmic hierarchy which placed the monarch just below God and his angels, regicide (the killing of a king or queen) was considered a terrible crime.

Removing corrupt rulers

Removing corrupt rulers

A monarch had been appointed by God to do His work, and only God could remove him or her.
However, there was still some sympathy for the republican tradition of ancient Rome which argued that a corrupt ruler should be removed.
Shakespeare had explored the tension between these opposing beliefs in the tragedy which came immediately before Hamlet – Julius Caesar (1599).

Challenge to authority

Challenge to authority

As Jonathan Bate has argued, "drama thrives on disorder" and part of the thrill of Shakespeare’s plays lies in the challenge to authority in plays such as Julius Caesar.
However, we should remember that Shakespeare’s plays always end with the restoration of order.

1

Introduction

1.1

Introduction & Background to Hamlet

1.1.1Introduction to Hamlet 1.1.2The Literary Tradition of the Hamlet Story 1.1.3Introduction to the Settings in Hamlet 1.1.4Introduction to Social Issues Raised

2

Plot Summary

2.1

Act 1: Key Events & Ideas

2.1.1Act 1, Scene 1 2.1.2Act 1, Scene 2 2.1.3Act 1, Scene 3 2.1.4Act 1, Scenes 4-5

2.2

Act 2: Key Events & Ideas

2.2.1Act 2, Scene 1 2.2.2Act 2, Scene 2

2.3

Act 3: Key Events & Ideas

2.3.1Act 3, Scene 1: Key Events 2.3.2Act 3, Scene 1: Key Ideas 2.3.3Act 3, Scene 2 2.3.4Act 3, Scene 3 2.3.5Act 3, Scene 4

2.4

Act 4: Key Events & Ideas

2.4.1Act 4, Scene 1 2.4.2Act 4, Scenes 2-3 2.4.3Act 4, Scene 4 2.4.4Act 4, Scene 5: Key Events 2.4.5Act 4, Scene 5: Key Ideas 2.4.6Act 4, Scene 6 2.4.7Act 4, Scene 7

2.5

Act 5: Key Events & Ideas

2.5.1Act 5, Scene 1: Key Events 2.5.2Act 5, Scene 2: Key Events 2.5.3Act 5, Scene 2: Key Ideas

3

Character Profiles

3.1

Hamlet

3.1.1Hamlet's Speech & Mind 3.1.2Hamlet's Heroic Status 3.1.3Hamlet's State of Mind 3.1.4Hamlet's Indecision/Action Taking

3.2

Claudius

3.2.1Claudius' Crime 3.2.2Changing Impressions of Claudius

3.3

Gertrude

3.3.1Mystery & Hamlet's View of Gertrude 3.3.2Gertrude's Character 3.3.3Gertrude's Relationship with Hamlet

3.4

Ophelia

3.5

Polonius

3.5.1Portrayal of Polonius & Treatment of Ophelia 3.5.2Polonius' Spying & Death

3.6

Laertes

3.6.1Laertes' Popularity & Relationship with Ophelia 3.6.2Laertes' Character Traits

4

Key Themes

4.1

Regicide in Hamlet

4.1.1Regicide in Hamlet

4.2

Madness in Hamlet

4.2.1Madness in Hamlet

4.3

Guilt & Punishment in Hamlet

4.3.1Guilt in Hamlet 4.3.2Punishment in Hamlet

4.4

Settings in Hamlet

4.4.1Physical Settings & Historical Setting of Hamlet

5

Writing Techniques

5.1

Structure

5.1.1Structure of Hamlet 5.1.2'Play Within a Play' Structure 5.1.3Play-Acting Motif

5.2

Form

5.2.1Soliloquy 5.2.2Comedy

5.3

Imagery

5.3.1Imagery of Corruption & Decay 5.3.2Imagery: Healing, Performance & Costume

5.4

Language

5.4.1Word Usage & Hendiadys 5.4.2Questions & Classical Allusions

6

Context

6.1

Social & Historical Context

6.1.1Elizabeth I & Succession 6.1.2Cosmic & Social Hierarchy 6.1.3Renaissance & Emergence of Humanism 6.1.4Regicide 6.1.5The Reformation

6.2

Literary Context

6.2.1Seneca Tragedy 6.2.2The Revenge Tragedy

6.3

Performance & Textual History

6.3.1Performance History of Hamlet 6.3.2Textual History of Hamlet

7

Critical Debates

7.1

18-19th Century Responses to Hamlet

7.1.1Introduction to Critical Debates 7.1.218th Century Commentary on Hamlet 7.1.3Romantic Commentary on Hamlet

7.2

20th Century Responses to Hamlet

7.2.1Freudian Response to Hamlet 7.2.2Other Early 20th Century Responses to Hamlet

7.3

Feminist Readings of Hamlet

7.3.1Introduction to Feminist Criticism 7.3.2Feminist Readings of Hamlet 7.3.3Presentation of Ophelia

7.4

Marxist/Political Readings of Hamlet

7.4.1Introduction to Marxist Criticisms 7.4.2Marxist Readings of Hamlet

Jump to other topics

1

Introduction

1.1

Introduction & Background to Hamlet

1.1.1Introduction to Hamlet 1.1.2The Literary Tradition of the Hamlet Story 1.1.3Introduction to the Settings in Hamlet 1.1.4Introduction to Social Issues Raised

2

Plot Summary

2.1

Act 1: Key Events & Ideas

2.1.1Act 1, Scene 1 2.1.2Act 1, Scene 2 2.1.3Act 1, Scene 3 2.1.4Act 1, Scenes 4-5

2.2

Act 2: Key Events & Ideas

2.2.1Act 2, Scene 1 2.2.2Act 2, Scene 2

2.3

Act 3: Key Events & Ideas

2.3.1Act 3, Scene 1: Key Events 2.3.2Act 3, Scene 1: Key Ideas 2.3.3Act 3, Scene 2 2.3.4Act 3, Scene 3 2.3.5Act 3, Scene 4

2.4

Act 4: Key Events & Ideas

2.4.1Act 4, Scene 1 2.4.2Act 4, Scenes 2-3 2.4.3Act 4, Scene 4 2.4.4Act 4, Scene 5: Key Events 2.4.5Act 4, Scene 5: Key Ideas 2.4.6Act 4, Scene 6 2.4.7Act 4, Scene 7

2.5

Act 5: Key Events & Ideas

2.5.1Act 5, Scene 1: Key Events 2.5.2Act 5, Scene 2: Key Events 2.5.3Act 5, Scene 2: Key Ideas

3

Character Profiles

3.1

Hamlet

3.1.1Hamlet's Speech & Mind 3.1.2Hamlet's Heroic Status 3.1.3Hamlet's State of Mind 3.1.4Hamlet's Indecision/Action Taking

3.2

Claudius

3.2.1Claudius' Crime 3.2.2Changing Impressions of Claudius

3.3

Gertrude

3.3.1Mystery & Hamlet's View of Gertrude 3.3.2Gertrude's Character 3.3.3Gertrude's Relationship with Hamlet

3.4

Ophelia

3.5

Polonius

3.5.1Portrayal of Polonius & Treatment of Ophelia 3.5.2Polonius' Spying & Death

3.6

Laertes

3.6.1Laertes' Popularity & Relationship with Ophelia 3.6.2Laertes' Character Traits

4

Key Themes

4.1

Regicide in Hamlet

4.1.1Regicide in Hamlet

4.2

Madness in Hamlet

4.2.1Madness in Hamlet

4.3

Guilt & Punishment in Hamlet

4.3.1Guilt in Hamlet 4.3.2Punishment in Hamlet

4.4

Settings in Hamlet

4.4.1Physical Settings & Historical Setting of Hamlet

5

Writing Techniques

5.1

Structure

5.1.1Structure of Hamlet 5.1.2'Play Within a Play' Structure 5.1.3Play-Acting Motif

5.2

Form

5.2.1Soliloquy 5.2.2Comedy

5.3

Imagery

5.3.1Imagery of Corruption & Decay 5.3.2Imagery: Healing, Performance & Costume

5.4

Language

5.4.1Word Usage & Hendiadys 5.4.2Questions & Classical Allusions

6

Context

6.1

Social & Historical Context

6.1.1Elizabeth I & Succession 6.1.2Cosmic & Social Hierarchy 6.1.3Renaissance & Emergence of Humanism 6.1.4Regicide 6.1.5The Reformation

6.2

Literary Context

6.2.1Seneca Tragedy 6.2.2The Revenge Tragedy

6.3

Performance & Textual History

6.3.1Performance History of Hamlet 6.3.2Textual History of Hamlet

7

Critical Debates

7.1

18-19th Century Responses to Hamlet

7.1.1Introduction to Critical Debates 7.1.218th Century Commentary on Hamlet 7.1.3Romantic Commentary on Hamlet

7.2

20th Century Responses to Hamlet

7.2.1Freudian Response to Hamlet 7.2.2Other Early 20th Century Responses to Hamlet

7.3

Feminist Readings of Hamlet

7.3.1Introduction to Feminist Criticism 7.3.2Feminist Readings of Hamlet 7.3.3Presentation of Ophelia

7.4

Marxist/Political Readings of Hamlet

7.4.1Introduction to Marxist Criticisms 7.4.2Marxist Readings of Hamlet

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1
In which play does Shakespeare explore the tension between the Divine Right of rulers and Roman republican tradition of removing corrupt rulers?Multiple choice

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Renaissance & Emergence of Humanism

The Reformation