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Reading Log 08/06/24 - Introduction to Hamlet by Amanda Mabillard What: Amanada and Kenneth give the audience a overall summary of what Hamlet is by Shakespear in their perspective. Kenneth includes how Hamlet is overcoming his challenges while Amanda...

Reading Log 08/06/24 - Introduction to Hamlet by Amanda Mabillard What: Amanada and Kenneth give the audience a overall summary of what Hamlet is by Shakespear in their perspective. Kenneth includes how Hamlet is overcoming his challenges while Amanda give us more info about what the plot is and how he perceives everything from his point of view. When: The 19th Century , Elizabethan and Jacobean periods Who: Hamlet, his father, Amanda, and Kenneth Summarizing: The article “Introduction to Hamlet” by Amanda Mabillard gives the audience an overall understanding as to what Hamlet was about by Shakespeare. We are also given the estimated time periods in which the genre was popularized which was during the Elizabethean and Jacobean periods in the nineteenth century. The play consists of revenge, insanity, love, death, betrayal, and etc. Amanda gives us a synopsis of the plot from the revenge tragedy such as Hamlet the main character being haunted by what he thinks is his father’s vengeful spirit. This can be perceived as Hamlet trying to determine his delusions from reality and this is where Kenneth comes in because he goes more into depth about how he analyzed Hamlet’s state of being. Summary sentence: In the article “Introduction to Hamlet” by Amanda Mabillard we are given a synopsis of information as to what Hamlet’s plot contains and the effect it has on the character facing mental obstacles as to which he is trying to differentiate delusions from reality. Exit Ticket Ambiguity is openness to more than one interpretation of something being analyzed. Uncertainty is when someone is not sure of something being accurate or exact. Ambiguity and uncertainty can lead to multiple ideas of what something is about like the readers for example reading “Introduction to Hamlet” when they actually haven’t read it and are just trying to understand what it is really about along with how it can relate to real challenges by others. 08/07/24 Act I Scene I The setting is the old castle grounds in Denmark Barnardo and Fransisco met each other while they were standing guard of the castle then they bid farewell to each other We then are introduced to Horatio and Marcellus who quickly exchange greetings and then know that Barnardo is covering for Francisco while it is early in the morning Horatio doesn’t believe the ghost exist and is nothing but a delusion until they all encounter the ghost and Horatio gets frightened while Barnardo and Marcellus are left shocked and petrified but they leave it up to Horatio to speak to the ghost copying the kings image Shakespeare creates the tone or mood by shaking up the events that take place while standing guard in the castle in the morning. The knights are terrified when they encounter the ghost especially Horatio. The tone can be described as steady and tiresome in the beginning until they encounter the ghost making everybody terrified by the ghost’s presence. Part 2 of Scene I Horatio focuses on why the ghost is appearing and tries to interrogate it. He brings up the battle between Denmark and Norway and how the King vs. Fortinbras battled against each other. We are notified that the battle ends with Norway forfeiting and surrendering their lands. Horatio is determined and aggressive to get an answer from the ghost. Fortinbras’s son and his thugs are rebelling against Denmark for rations of food. The ending of the scene ends with the ghost disappearing due to the crowing of the rooster suggesting it is the break of dawn. Also Horatio then decides to report everything he has experiences to Hamlet to inform him of the events that have taken place so the ghost can speak to him since it disappeared. Act I Scene 2 There is a coronation happening for Claudius marrying his dead brother’s wife ak.a his sister in-law making baby Hamlet his step-son. Voltemand and Cornelius are being appointed to Norway to deliver papers for the new king Claudius. The main character of this scene is mostly Claudius the current king, dead King Hamlet, Gertrude the newly married widow, Horatio, and Hamlet Claudius a.k.a Hamlet’s uncle tried to persuade him to forget the fact that his father died and stop mourning over him. Claudius is trying to force him to get over his mourning and start becoming a family with his mother and uncle that just went through maritial contract. His mother doesn’t want him leaving to Wittenberg to worsen the situation at bay that Hamlet II is going through.  Hamlet leaves and gets upset at the fact that his mother would hastily marry someone else not long after the fact his father died. He despises this and gets angry for the whole situation. Hamlet becomes disgusted and dark about his whole existense because of the incestual change that just occurred saying he despises his whole existense because he just became a step-son and nephew to his Step-father Claudius and Uncle. Hamlet would really love to see his father after hearing from Horatio, Barnardo, and Marcellus. Q&A 1. The central conflicts in the play so far is King Hamlet just died and Hamlet’s Uncle Claudius just married his mother Gertrude also the fact that there is a ghost resembling the dead King roaming the terrance petrifying the guarding knights. 2. The conflict with Fortinbras that is mentioned is that King Fortinbras of Norway went to war with Denmark and then surrendered their land to Denmark after losing. Therefore, making Fortinbras’s son come up with a plan to rebel due to the fact his people are running out of supplies and resources leading them to starve, so the reason they will eventually come to Denmark is to get food rations. 3. The author introduces the conflict between Hamlet, Claudius, and Gertrude as a personal situation because Claudius is aggressively trying to persuade Hamlet to forget about his father and stop mourning over him. Hamlet isn’t happy about this and starts to become mentally unstable about his existence.  4. The appearance of the ghost might cause a conflict between the main characters due to the fact Hamlet might discover who killed his father stirring up conflict within the kingdom and its hierarchy. Q&A Hamlet’s attitude can be described as agitated and ashamed because he couldn’t really wrap his mind around the situation of his mother marrying his uncle, this triggered him to feel disgusted about himself due to the incestual relations developing in his family. The soliloquy opens the reader thoughts into how Hamlet feels about himself and his family but it seems the only person he currently has respect for is his dead father due to his mother losing his trust but he isn’t certain about how these things are connected to each other. 08/08/2024 Exit Ticket Shakespeare develops the mood in the beginning of the play by creating a mysterious and dramatic atmosphere with the guards in the beginning because the setting takes place with them standing watch early in the morning to keep tabs if anything out of the ordinary takes place such as the ghost appearing. According to Hamlet, Marcellus states, “Horatio says ‘tis our fantasy, And will not let belief take hold of him Touching this dreaded sight twice seen of us…” This proves to the readers Horatio is rejecting the existence of the ghost until Horatio states, “Most like: it harrows me with fear and wonder… What art thou that usurp’st this time of night, Together with that fair and warlike form…” So altogether the guards are wondering why this ghost is appearing and to what purpose it has for showing up just to disappear later on leading them to wonder. 08/09/2024 Exit Ticket Hamlet’s soliloquy reveals his disgust and shamed behaviour towards his mother and himself. It gives us an insight into how ihis mindset is and its current condition because he is being pressured by his uncle who is now his step-father, to accept the official marriage of his mother who just lost her late husband. He is disgusted and angry at his mother for up and marrying someone else when she hasn’t even grieved long forcing him to become embarrassed because there were alot of people that had shown up for Claudis’s coronation. According to the play, Hamlet states “A beast that wants to discourse of reason Would have mourned longer – married with mine uncle, My father’s brother but no more like my father Than I to Hercules. Within a month?... She married. O, most wicked speed, to post With such dexterity to incestuous sheets”(page 16)! From these lines, he is expressing his frustration towards his mother’s actions especially when she made her shameful marriage public, causing him to have to deal with this unfaithful movement displeasing to a loyal wife dedicated to taking time off of relationships due to her being widowed. 08/12/2024 Act I Scene 3 Laertes is leaving and warns his sister Ophelia to keep her eyes open for Hamlet might try to use her due to his family’s judgement over his decisions. He tells her that she needs to be cautious because he can always throw her away when he is done with her. Polonius sees Laertes off and make wise decisions when he is away and asks Ophelia what her and her brother spoke about. He gives his perspective of her and Hamlet’s  relationship meaning to tell her keep her options open with her relationship with Hamlet because he might just be selling dreams to her and that she should be with someone who values her and that’s not going to use her as he pleases to throw her away. Polonius highlights that she should not sleep with him because he can always try to control her and have other women, with him being a prince next to the throne. He wants his daughter to not be foolish and value herself as a person with high self-esteem knowing to keep her guards up. (Pages 19-24) The interactions in this scene advance the plot by what we are given, which is an overview of why Hamlet might kill Polonius and that is because his perception is he doesn’t approve on him being with his daughter due to him having ill tendenncies to use her how he wants and move on. 08/13/2024 Act I Scene 4 It struck 12 and Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus are standing on guard to catch a glimpse of the ghost. Hamlet talks about ruined reputations and the things people will do to get where they need to be at. Hamlet sees the ghost of his dead father and questions why it has appeared. They think that the ghost has gotten up and moved it’s marble burial case by itself. Hamlet is desperate to follow the ghost of his dead father because he is desperate to attempt suicide due to him not thinking he has a purpose. Horatio and Marcellus try to stop him from following the ghost because there is a cliff and a flood happening in the direction he is going towards.  They decide to follow him to discover what the ghost wants to show Hamlet and try to make sure he deoesn’t kill himself The conflict that Hamlet encounters is how to face his dead father’s spirit and if should follow him or not but overall he decides he has nothing to lose if he doesn’t have a purpose in life (pages 24-27) Act I Scene 5 Hamlet’s father becomes serious to talk to Hamlet. He informs Hamlet he is being punished in purgatory for the lives he has taken, he is atoning for his sins and accepts the punishment for the lives he has taken. The ghost of Hamlet’s father informs him of who killed him which was Claudius Hamlet’s father highlights that he can’t believe that there is an incestual relationship in the royal family making it horribly shameful to even exist. Claudius was the one that made Gertrude cheat with him, making her naive and unfaithful. Hamlet’s father said that she has become rotten goods because she became unfaithful and loyal despite being married to him she let herself be used by someone else such as Claudius. Claudius killed Hamlet’s father by pouring a vile of poison into his ear that caused his blood to curdle making him die within a short span. Hamlet’s father wants Hamlet to avenge him and unfold the crime/murder that took place to put him at ease. Prince Hamlet is in disbelief hearing this from the ghost because his father’s death is what made him want to kill himself due to the fact now that his father is dead, he doesn’t have a purpose to live. He looked up to his father with a passion and regrets not being able to prevent his death, increasing Hamlet’s hatred towards Claudius and his devious ways.  Prince Hamlet makes Horatio, Marcellus, and his dead father swear that what they have said to each other that they won’t speak of to anyone else besides each other. He makes his dead father swear to him to build trust with each other. With Hamlet’s attempts of suicide, it revolves around his father’s death making him feel like he doesn’t have a purpose to live. The conflict resolves itself by Hamlet Sr. telling his son to help avenge him and make things right but the role his mother played in it all, his father wants him to leave it up to God’s judgment of her disloyalty because karma will come back to her. Their main target is Claudius due to him killing Prince Hamlet's father when he had his guards down just to take over the position of the king (pages 24-34). Summary: Prince Hamlet and his two associates are scouting the grounds of the castle when they encounter the ghost of Hamlet’s deceased father. Hamlet’s consciousness ultimately couldn’t process the situation but he winds up wanting to follow the ghost because he believes the ghost will tell him what he wants to hear. The ghost reveals to be the doomed spirit of his deceased father who committed multiple atrocities and accepts his punishment but he still has regrets. The regrets were that he let his guard down and his brother Claudius killed him after he discovered that his unfaithful wife got deceived and gave into lust. Hamlet Sr. tells his son to leave her punishment to God and let nature take its course but he wants his son to help him get revenge so his lineage will not be shamed. Hamlet’s inability to control situations contribute to his current mental state because of the conspiring events leading to his father’s death. He wants a regular family and to be ordinary but this disrupts his thought process because he has his uncle Claudius trying to take over as the new king along with him having marital relations with his mother Gertrude, an adulterous widow. This causes him to have a mental  breakdown having feelings such as anger, depression, excitement, suicide, and anxious. He belittles his value as a person and sees himself as an inanimate object who is being used by others such as Claudius. According to the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Hamlet states, “ Tis an unweeded garden That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature Possess it merely. That it should come to this” (page 14)! This is evidence that Prince Hamlet sees himself with no value and would rather die than be trapped under his circumstances. 08/15/2024 Act 2 Scene 1 Different meaning of the word “madness” can depend on one’s perception of what they have learned for example; someone being overly obsessed with a certain someone or subject, feigning ignorance, or even relating to the stage of one’s sanity. Polonius is sending his servant Ronaldo to spy and also send money to his son Laeres because he is away for school. He wants him to ask around about how his son is doing so he wants Ronaldo to act like he knows Laertes and act like he knows him to get info about what he is doing. We also are given an insight that Ronaldo talks to multiple Danes about Laertes and making a bad imae of him engaging in foul hobbies such as gambling or going to brothels. Polonius talks ill about his son to Ronaldo even though Ronaldo doesn’t know Laertes personally. Ophelia comes in informing her father that Hamlet came to her room looking strangely like he was in shock and startled about something that just recently happened but we are informed in the act before this that he told his Horatio and Marcellus that if they see him acting strange brush it off due to it being an act for him to get information ( pages 34-38).  Ophelia’s story impacts the reader’s view on Hamlet because she reacts in a way of someone that was anxious, worried, cautious, and weirdly suspicious of him just suddenly barging in her room looking like a total disaster. Most likely thought is she doesn’t know what is happening or what he is dealing with because she was just sewing and he came in making her nerves bad like someone wastrying to attack him or something. According to the written play by William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Ophelia states, “And with a look so piteous in purport As if he had been loosed ut of hell To speak of horrors – he comes before me… At last, a little shaking of mine arm And thrice his head thus waving up and down, He raised a sigh so piteous and profound That it did seem to shatter al his bulk And end his being…” This is the evidence that proves what Ophelia is feeling for Hamlet seeing him at his worse. 08/16/2024 Act 2 Scene 2 Claudius and Gertrude has invited Rosencrantz and Guildenstern who were two childhood friends of Hamlet so that they can find out what is making Hamlet mentally unstable and distract him by spending time with him. Thus Guildenstern and Rosencrantz agree because they care about Hamlet and agree that they are at King Claudius’ and the queen’s services. We are informed that Voltemand returns from Norway with news of the rumoured rebellion Fortinbras’ as planning. It’s stated that the king of Norway didn’t know about the rebellion being against Denmark but thought it was held against Poland and the relations between him and Fortinbras is that they are uncle and nephew. Young Fortinbras was favored by the old king and awarded 3,000 crowns which was likely a high amount of income and the rite to lead soldiers.  Polonius then states to Madame Gertrude and Claudius that her son is mental and crazy because of the obsurd letter that he wrote to Ophelia especially wen he called her beautified as in she had a makeover or was ugly. Polonius wants to sure his loyalty and that he swears the truth to Claudius and Gertrude by using his daughter to go see Hamlet. They plan on hiding behind the curtains to see if Hamlet really loves Ophelia and if not Polonius says Claudius can fire him from his position in court. Hamlet and Polonius confront each other so this scene can foreshadow something because Hamlet talks about how maggots breed on a dead dog then he asks Polonius if he haves a daughter and why she can’t come out publicly thereafter, he tells him that it is her destiny to procreate and to watch out>>> sounds like a warning or Hamlet teasing Polonius After this moment Polonius is told off by Hamlet because he thinks he doesn’t know him and starts to ask him about his book but Hamlet replies a weird comment making Polonius thinks he really is mental but Hamlet doesn’t care and replies by saying he can’t take anything away from him. We can kind of see that there is tension between the two characters when they met. Hamlet then confronts his childhood friends for lying to his face. He knows that they were sent to him by Claudius and his Mother Gertrude due to the look of dishonesty and guilt on their faces. We are then introduced to a theatrical set of “players” who are entertainers performing for the king and his guests, they do a speech from the play “Hecuba and Priam” which mainly is about the fall of Troy, where the Greeks ransack the city and kill Priam ( Troy is a kingdom and Priam is the wife of the king of Troy). The play “Murder of Gonzago” was performed by the players that came as entertainers for the guests but the idea came from Hamlet who wanted to unveil the truth about if his uncle Claudius killed his father.  Later Hamlet meets his childhood friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, they exchange greetings and ask how each other have been and they both describe that they have been okay because they are also going through things in life which Hamlet can kind of relate to but its all an act. At the outset, in Act 1, Scene 1, Hamlet is depicted as deeply sorrowful and grieving the recent death of his father, compounded by his mother's hasty remarriage to Claudius. He feels isolated in his grief and is consumed by a sense of despair and disillusionment with the world around him. This sorrow intensifies when he learns from the Ghost that his father was murdered by Claudius, igniting a mix of anger, obsession with revenge, and a desire for justice. By Act 2, Scene 2, Hamlet's attitude becomes more complex. While he still wrestles with the weight of his father's death and the burdens of revenge, his interactions indicate a growing awareness of the politics and betrayals occurring around him. He oscillates between intellect and emotion, showcasing a more cynical view of the people in his life, particularly as he confronts Rosencrantz and Guildenstern about their motives. He becomes increasingly strategic, contemplating the morality of revenge and the nature of action, which adds layers to his character. Overall, by this point in the play, Hamlet has shifted from a state of raw grief to one that combines contemplation, suspicion, and the beginnings of a strategic mindset, as he grapples with the implications of his quest for vengeance in a corrupt world. The introduction of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in Act 2, Scene 2 of *Hamlet* serves to highlight key themes such as betrayal and manipulation. Once childhood friends of Hamlet, they are summoned by Claudius and Gertrude to spy on him, which underscores how personal relationships can be exploited for political gain. Their arrival emphasizes Hamlet’s growing sense of isolation and distrust, as he realizes  that those close to him are not genuinely concerned for his well-being. Additionally, their lighthearted banter offers comic relief but also foreshadows the tragic consequences of their involvement in court intrigue. Ultimately, their naive perspective contrasts sharply with Hamlet’s complex inner turmoil, illustrating the precarious nature of loyalty and the moral ambiguity present in the Danish court. In *Hamlet*, various types of conflicts emerge from the beginning of the play through Act 2, Scene 2, each contributing to the thematic depth and character development. ○ 1. **Internal Conflict**: Hamlet's primary internal struggle revolves around his grief over his father's death and his moral dilemmas about avenging that death. He feels indecisive and tortured by the obligation to kill Claudius, the murderer, leading to profound existential questions about morality, life, and death. ○ 2. **Familial Conflict**: The dynamics within Hamlet’s family create tension, particularly between Hamlet and his mother, Gertrude. He feels betrayed by her swift remarriage to Claudius, which complicates his emotions and intensifies his feelings of alienation. ○ 3. **Political Conflict**: The power struggle within the Danish court highlights the political machinations at play. Claudius’s ascension to the throne creates an undercurrent of conflict, as various characters vie for power and influence, showing corruption in leadership.  ○ 4. **Friendship and Loyalty Conflict**: Hamlet’s relationships with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern illustrate conflicts surrounding trust and loyalty. Their betrayal, as they attempt to spy on him for Claudius, deepens Hamlet’s sense of isolation and distrust toward those he once considered friends. ○ 5. **Conflict with the Supernatural**: The appearance of the Ghost sets off a supernatural conflict, challenging Hamlet's understanding of reality and morality, as he grapples with the Ghost's demands and the implications of his father's murder. These conflicts intertwine, creating a tapestry of emotional and situational complexity that drives the narrative forward and deepens Hamlet's character and the play's themes. 08/21/24 - Section 2 Diagnostic Revision In Shakespeare's play Hamlet, the plot centers around Hamlet, whose quest for revenge following his father’s death plunges him into a profound state of depression and self-loathing. His mental instability is vividly depicted through his soliloquies and interactions. For instance, he laments his despair in the famous soliloquy, “Oh, that this too, too sullied flesh would melt, / Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew, / Or that the Everlasting had not fixed / His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God, God!” (Act 1, Scene 2). This reflects his wish for escape from his tormented life and highlights his deep internal conflict. Hamlet’s mental state further deteriorates after encountering his father’s ghost, who reveals that Hamlet’s uncle is responsible for his murder. This revelation exacerbates Hamlet’s psychological distress and fuels his plan for revenge. He instructs the guards to keep his meeting with the ghost secret and to ignore any strange behavior he might exhibit, saying, “Here, as before, never, so help you mercy, / How strange or odd soe'er I bear myself / (As I perchance hereafter shall think meet / To put an antic disposition on), / That you, at such times seeing me, never shall—” (Act 1, Scene 5). This shows Hamlet's strategy to feign madness as a means to achieve his goals. Hamlet’s unstable mental state is also evident in his interactions with Polonius. In Act 2, Scene 2, he mocks Polonius with nonsensical remarks and insults, such as calling him a fishmonger and comparing him to a dog. He says, “Excellent well; you are a fishmonger,” and later, “Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth” (Act 2, Scene 2). These interactions highlight Hamlet’s erratic behavior and his use of seemingly irrational dialogue to express his inner turmoil and suspicion. His harsh treatment of Polonius and his indecision about avenging his father’s murder further underscore the impact of his internal conflicts on his outward actions. Overall, Hamlet’s erratic behavior, including his treatment of Polonius and his feigned madness, reflects his unstable mental state and deep-seated conflict, demonstrating how his psychological distress influences both his thoughts and actions throughout the play. 08/22/2024 - Day 1 of Act One reading The Play The story is written in a descriptive dialogue between each other. Guildenstern mostly explains the logic behind everything each time he wins the coin-tossing game he is playing with Rosencrantz. Rosencrantz is more like a go-with-flow type of person and then we are told about the messenger that came to fetch both Guildenstern and Rosencrantz by the current  King Claudius to help report the behaviors of Prince Hamlet due to him acting strange. We are introduced to the Players who approach Guildenstern and Rosencrantz and ask them if they can play for them but want to get paid. Guildenstern won the coin toss against the Player. Guildenstern is frustrated because the Player tells Alfred to put on a skirt and punches the Player, he also accuses the tragedians of being prostitutes. Rosencrantz becomes disgusted and throws a coin in the air that the tragedians tussle against each other for, making Rosencrantz snobby and selfish. The Player stops them from punching Alfred and Rosencrantz becomes disgusted threatening to report them to the authorities. Guildenstern and the Player start playing a rematch. 08/23/2024- Day 2 Act One reading The Play Claudius tells Polonius to keep his eyes on Hamlet and he obeys Guildenstern tells Rosencrantz to not let them confuse him but Guildenstern tells him he will leave him in a difficult situation and with nothing because he can’t really remember things Guildenstern is making fun of Rosencrantz Guildenstern uses figurative language (idioms) Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s relationship is questionable in nature Claudius offers Rosencrantz and Guildenstern money to spy on Hamlet Rosencrantz doesn’t connect things like adults do - Guildenstern mocks him Guildenstern is pretending to be Hamlet but Rosencrantz doesn’t catch on  References to Christian prayer by Rosencrantz who mocks it by stating, “Give us our daily mask” instead of our “Daily bread” and Guildenstern mocks him for saying it. Act Two Hamlet is talking to his dead father - Rosencrantz and Guildenstern does not see the ghost. Appearances vs. Reality- Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are trying to understand what is going on with Hamlet’s seeming madness. Guildenstern is a hothead angry at the player. Rosencrantz is a little slow. This play is a characterization of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern - which explains Shakespeare’s character Hamlet in comparison with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern perspectives or point of view 08/27/24 How are the characters portrayed in the scene? ○ Clip 1: Rosencrantz was portrayed as obnoxious and Guildenstern was portrayed as logical and sarcastic. ○ Clip 2: Hamlet is portrayed as hysterical, bipolar, and sarcastic because of him talking to a chicken and how he responds to Polonius and change his tone when he sees his childhood friends. He is also seen as aggressive when he holds Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s hands while they are trying to pull back from him. ○ Clip 3: ○ Clip 4: Hamlet is portrayed as being psychotic and mischievous due to his position in the whole situation going on with his family. He is seeking to expose the underlying truth at bay of his father’s death with the tragedians  helping visually portray what happened to his naive and adulturous mother along with the guests. How does the author use absurdity in the scene? ○ Clip 1: The player and the tragedians are seen as ridiculous because of how they demonstrate their skills through expressing the genres they can perform while trying to persuade Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. ○ Clip 2: Hamlet is seen as acting not like himself, he goes to act like he is a priest while talking to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern asking them have they not sinned before and knocks the chandelier off of the table running the chicken away too and frightening his friends. ○ Clip 3: ○ Clip 4: Hamlet is seen as having a mental breakdown because he slams and bangs on things due to his anger but he also switches his personality fast while contemplating a plan to expose Claudius and his deceptive deeds ruining Hamlet’s normality leading him on edge. What does the use of absurdity highlight in the play? ○ Clip 1: The use of absurdity highlights how the characters portray themselves through their actions. ○ Clip 2: The use of absurdity highlights the misconceptions of how Hamlet is being hysterical to push people away from him and shifts the favor of how Rosencrantz and Guildenstern will take King Claudius side due to Hamlet being portrayed as insane leading him to aggression. ○ Clip 3: The absurdity highlights how Hamlet’s childhood friends observe his actions that influence how Rosencrantz acts childish and tries to act like the dead King Hamlet trapped in a coffin thinking of the possibility of him being alive but not physically seeing it. ○ Clip 4:  Absurdity - the quality of being stupid and unreasonable, or silly in a humorous way How can Hamlet be characterized in this scene?