Title: Hamlet

Subject: Act 1 Scene 5- Act 2 Scene 1,2

Date: 19,03,24

<aside> 💡 Key Points:

• Main Ideas
• Key words
• Questions that connect points
• Important points

Write it after the class

</aside>

<aside> ✏️ Notes:

Main lecture notes

• Swear by my sword
• The time is out of joint: O cursed spite,
• Polonius is a villanous character
• Something is rotten in the state of Denmark—> most famous sentence, it conclude and foreshadows
• Political corruption
• excessive drinkin
• frailty thy name is woman”
• Her apetite symbolize lust lechery
• Regicide, incest , revenge mahor themes
• Ecstasy of love
• Feigning madness
• Madness is a shield for him
• Human madness
• Polonius acts like he discovered America. He never comes to the point.
• Tediousness shows his personality
• Hiding behind an arras
• Hamlet is a punster
• tragic flaw of Hamlet? He knows too much. it condems him.
• The beginning of the tragedy that chose of staying of Hamlet
• Renaissance idea of man is godlike
• Paragon of animals
• Hecuba is the suffering mother. Resembles to Queen
• Mouse Trap to expose the real face of Claudius
• play within a play
• triple pun globe, distracted globe
• Globe: His mind, the world, Globe Theatre
• Realm of the uncanny
• Jouissance*
• Ophelia desire
• Lacan’s Essay about Hamlet*
• Hamlet’s Monologues
• Devil as an outsider not an insider.
• King is a thing. a thing? nothing?
• Calling Claudius mother? Mother and father is one body?
• I am but mad north north west when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw.

Write it during the class

</aside>

<aside> 📎 Summary:

A brief summary and conclusion about the notes/lecture

• Calling Claudius mother? Mother and father is one body? Yes, in Act 4, Scene 3 of “Hamlet”, Hamlet refers to Claudius as “mother”. This is a part of Hamlet’s wordplay and his way of mocking Claudius When Claudius corrects him by saying he is Hamlet’s father, Hamlet retorts with a biblical reference from Genesis 2:24, "Father and mother is man and wife; man and wife is one flesh" In this context, Hamlet is not only mocking Claudius but also expressing his disgust at the incestuous relationship between Claudius and Gertrud
• tragic flaw of Hamlet? He knows too much. it condems him? Hamlet’s tragic flaw is often identified as his hesitation or procrastination Despite knowing the truth about his father’s murder, Hamlet struggles with the decision to take revenge against Claudius. His inability to act upon important situations ultimately leads to his downfall However, your statement suggests another perspective: that Hamlet’s tragic flaw could be his extensive knowledge or his tendency to overthink. This interpretation posits that Hamlet’s intellectual nature and his tendency to contemplate on matters deeply could be his downfall. He is a thinker, and his introspective nature, while a strength in some respects, also leads him to delay taking action, which ultimately leads to tragic consequences In this sense, knowing “too much” does not refer to factual knowledge, but rather to Hamlet’s propensity for deep thought and introspection, which causes him to delay his revenge and contributes to his tragic end This is a more nuanced interpretation of Hamlet’s tragic flaw and adds depth to his character. It’s what makes Hamlet such a fascinating character study in indecision and delay
• “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark”
  • The drunkennes
  • the extravagant
  • luxury in Denmark
  • Damned incest
• Hamlet’s reaction to ghost’s appearence is still a rational mindset to irrational situation
• Swear by my sword: This is a phrase Hamlet uses when he asks his friends to swear they will not reveal what they have seen and heard about the Ghost.
• The time is out of joint: This is a famous quote from Hamlet indicating that something is wrong with the world, specifically the state of Denmark.
• Polonius is a villainous character: Polonius, while not a traditional villain, is often seen as a manipulative and deceitful character.
• Something is rotten in the state of Denmark: This famous quote is said by Marcellus, reflecting the corruption and moral decay in Denmark.
• Political corruption: The play explores the theme of political corruption, especially through the character of Claudius.
• Excessive drinking: The play criticizes the Danish people’s fondness for drinking, which is seen as a moral weakness.
• Frailty thy name is woman: This is a quote from Hamlet criticizing his mother’s hasty remarriage.
• Her appetite symbolize lust, lechery: Gertrude’s hasty remarriage could be seen as symbolizing lust and lechery.
• Regicide, incest, revenge major themes: These are indeed major themes in Hamlet.
• Ecstasy of love: Ophelia’s madness could be seen as an “ecstasy of love” as she was driven mad by Hamlet’s rejection.
• Feigning madness: Hamlet pretends to be mad as part of his plan to avenge his father’s death.
• Madness is a shield for him: Hamlet uses madness as a shield to protect himself and to confuse others.
• Human madness: The play explores the theme of human madness through several characters, including Hamlet and Ophelia.
• Polonius acts like he discovered America: This could refer to Polonius’s self-important and pompous nature.
• Tediousness shows his personality: Polonius’s long-winded and tedious speeches reflect his pompous and verbose personality.
• Hiding behind an arras: Polonius hides behind an arras (a tapestry) to spy on Hamlet, which leads to his death.
• Hamlet is a punster: Hamlet often uses puns and wordplay, reflecting his intelligence and wit.
• Tragic Flaw of Hamlet: Hamlet’s tragic flaw is his indecisiveness and obsession with deathHe knows too much and this knowledge leads him into a world of chaotic surroundings and madness
• Beginning of the Tragedy: The tragedy begins when Hamlet learns about his father’s murder by his uncle Claudius and is tasked with avenging his father’s death
• Renaissance Idea of Man: During the Renaissance, the idea of the Universal Man or Renaissance Man emerged, celebrating the boundless potential of humankind
• Paragon of Animals: In Hamlet, the phrase “paragon of animals” is used to describe humans as the most perfect of animals
• Hecuba and the Queen: Hecuba, the queen of Troy in Greek mythology, is often compared to Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother. Both are seen as figures of suffering
• Mouse Trap and Claudius: In the play, Hamlet stages a play called “The Murder of Gonzago” or “The Mousetrap” to expose Claudius’s guilt
• Play within a Play: This is a dramatic technique where a play is performed within the narrative of the play. Hamlet uses this technique in "The Mousetrap
• Triple Pun Globe: This seems to be a reference to the multiple meanings of the word “globe” in the context of Hamlet’s world, his mind, and the Globe Theatre
• Realm of the Uncanny: The uncanny, as defined by Freud, is anything that reminds us of earlier moments in our psychic development
• Jouissance, Ophelia’s Desire, Lacan’s Essay: These points seem to refer to psychoanalytic interpretations of Hamlet, possibly drawing on the work of Jacques Lacan. After the death of Ophelia, she became an object of desire by Hamlet and Ophelia’s brother. Hamlet and Laertes fight as who loved her the most.
• Hamlet’s Monologues: Hamlet’s monologues, such as “To be or not to be,” are some of the most famous passages in all of literature, offering profound reflections on life, death, and the human condition.
• Devil as an Outsider: This could refer to the idea of evil or corruption coming from outside, such as Claudius’s influence in the kingdom.
• King is a Thing: This might refer to Hamlet’s existential musings on the nature of kingship and power.
• Calling Claudius Mother: a reference to the complex family dynamics in the play, particularly Hamlet’s distress over his mother’s marriage to Claudius.
• Mad North North West Quote: This is a quote from Hamlet indicating that he is only pretending to be mad

Write it after the class

</aside>