Blog 13

Noah: How much is the play Hamlet determined by the revenge plot versus the
character Hamlet's actual traits—is Hamlet trapped in the play or is the play
trapped by Hamlet? How do you know?

Narrator: In Hamlet, the storyline is driven by the revenge of almost all of the
characters including, Hamlet, Leartes, Claudius, and Fortinbras. The plot is truly
driven by revenge as a whole.

(Looking interested, hamlet and the ghost discuss his father’s murder)

GHOST
Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.
HAMLET
Murder!
GHOST
Murder most foul, as in the best it is;
But this most foul, strange and unnatural.
HAMLET
Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift
As meditation or the thoughts of love,
May sweep to my revenge.
(1.5.7)

Hamlet’s traits do provoke revenge, but the play Hamlet is determined by the
revenge plot more so. On the other hand Hamlet’s traits and his yearning for
revenge did cause polonius’ death. In doing this, he provoked Leartes to cease
revenge on Hamlet. There are other characters searching for revenge as well.
Leartes wants revenge to avenge his father’s death. Claudius wants to help Leartes
in this. Also Fortinbras wants revenge for his father’s death as well, by claiming war
on Denmark.

This is what I have been working on so far. each member of our group will have created something like this by Thursday. What I have basically done is create dialog for the narrator, the actors (hamlet/ghost), and a brief answer to the question above. Some issues that have risen already is people being sick. Fred and I have done as much as we could without one of the main actors in our group, Luna. Hopefully we will see her Thursday.