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* HoYay: With Horatio.
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* HoYay: With Hamlet with Horatio.
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* HoYay: With Horatio.
** In the 2008 RSC version, with basically everybody to some degree.
** In the 2008 RSC version, with basically everybody to some degree.
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Example Indentation. Undetailed entry to discussion
Changed line(s) 11 (click to see context) from:
** '''Claudius''': While there's no doubt whatsoever that he's a villain (he ''admits'' in prayer to murdering his own brother), some think that he still was a pretty good ruler, and that Hamelt's revenge on him just made things worse for Denmark.
to:
** '''Claudius''': '''Claudius''':
*** While there's no doubt whatsoever that he's a villain (he ''admits'' in prayer to murdering his own brother), some think that he still was a pretty good ruler, and that Hamelt's revenge on him just made things worse for Denmark.
*** While there's no doubt whatsoever that he's a villain (he ''admits'' in prayer to murdering his own brother), some think that he still was a pretty good ruler, and that Hamelt's revenge on him just made things worse for Denmark.
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**** Or it could just be an OhCrap moment- as soon as he tells her not to drink it, he realises he's basically admitted that the drink is poisoned and he's just tried to murder her son.
to:
Changed line(s) 17 (click to see context) from:
** '''Gertrude''': Loving mother forced to marry her brother-in-law to save her son's life or deceitful accomplice in a palace coup? (Some believe that Hamlet's emphasis on revenge over capturing the throne for himself implies that Gertrude was the queen regnant, and both Hamlet's father and Claudius were only kings consort -- which at the time would have made them the rulers, not her. If this is the case, the play may also have been in part Shakespeare's approval of Elizabeth I's unmarried status. RogerEbert and others note that Gertrude may being practical to avoid a power vacuum that would invite usurpation of the throne.)
to:
** '''Gertrude''': '''Gertrude''':
*** Loving mother forced to marry her brother-in-law to save her son's life or deceitful accomplice in a palace coup? (Some believe that Hamlet's emphasis on revenge over capturing the throne for himself implies that Gertrude was the queen regnant, and both Hamlet's father and Claudius were only kings consort -- which at the time would have made them the rulers, not her. If this is the case, the play may also have been in part Shakespeare's approval of Elizabeth I's unmarried status. RogerEbert and others note that Gertrude may being practical to avoid a power vacuum that would invite usurpation of the throne.)
*** Loving mother forced to marry her brother-in-law to save her son's life or deceitful accomplice in a palace coup? (Some believe that Hamlet's emphasis on revenge over capturing the throne for himself implies that Gertrude was the queen regnant, and both Hamlet's father and Claudius were only kings consort -- which at the time would have made them the rulers, not her. If this is the case, the play may also have been in part Shakespeare's approval of Elizabeth I's unmarried status. RogerEbert and others note that Gertrude may being practical to avoid a power vacuum that would invite usurpation of the throne.)
Changed line(s) 19,20 (click to see context) from:
**** And speaking of DrivenToSuicide, Gertrude's report of how Ophelia died is realistically rather suspect since it implies someone saw her fall into the water, and watched her slowly sink to her death. Did she actually kill her as a MercyKill, or did something else happen entirely?
** '''King Hamlet''': Ever read ''[[strike:{{Macbeth}}]]'' ''TheScottishPlay''? There's this great line: "and oftentime, to win us to or harms, the instruments of darkness tell us truths." Consider if the above quote applies to him, if he's actually an evil spirit. Mind you, some scholars would say that any good Elizabethan would consider ''any'' spirit as an evil one.
** '''King Hamlet''': Ever read ''[[strike:{{Macbeth}}]]'' ''TheScottishPlay''? There's this great line: "and oftentime, to win us to or harms, the instruments of darkness tell us truths." Consider if the above quote applies to him, if he's actually an evil spirit. Mind you, some scholars would say that any good Elizabethan would consider ''any'' spirit as an evil one.
to:
** '''King
*** Ever read
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* CrowningMomentOfFunny: Yes, really. Polonius's LastWords.
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* CrowningMomentOfFunny: CrowningMomentOfFunny:
** Yes, really. Polonius's LastWords.
** Yes, really. Polonius's LastWords.
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* EnsembleDarkhorse: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern due to their [[RosencrantzAndGuildenSternAreDead spin-off]].
to:
* EnsembleDarkhorse: EnsembleDarkhorse:
** Rosencrantz and Guildenstern due to their [[RosencrantzAndGuildenSternAreDead spin-off]].
** Rosencrantz and Guildenstern due to their [[RosencrantzAndGuildenSternAreDead spin-off]].
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* EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory
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* MemeticMutation: "To be or not to be, that is the question..."
to:
* MemeticMutation: MemeticMutation:
** "To be or not to be, that is the question..."
** "To be or not to be, that is the question..."
Changed line(s) 34 (click to see context) from:
* MoralEventHorizon: Arguably, Claudius letting the Queen drink from the poisoned cup. He earlier claimed to truly love her, but only tells her to not drink from the cup once rather than risk giving up his scheme to stop her from drinking from it to save her life.
to:
* MoralEventHorizon: MoralEventHorizon:
** Arguably, Claudius letting the Queen drink from the poisoned cup. He earlier claimed to truly love her, but only tells her to not drink from the cup once rather than risk giving up his scheme to stop her from drinking from it to save her life.
** Arguably, Claudius letting the Queen drink from the poisoned cup. He earlier claimed to truly love her, but only tells her to not drink from the cup once rather than risk giving up his scheme to stop her from drinking from it to save her life.
Changed line(s) 37 (click to see context) from:
*** Frankly murdering his own brother to steal his kingdom and his wife probably crosses this before the play even starts.
to:
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* {{Shipping}}: Hamlet & Ophelia
to:
* {{Shipping}}: {{Shipping}}:
** Hamlet & Ophelia
** Hamlet & Ophelia
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* TheWoobie: Ophelia. See also BreakTheCutie, KillTheCutie, and ButtMonkey.
to:
* TheWoobie: TheWoobie:
** Ophelia. See also BreakTheCutie, KillTheCutie, and ButtMonkey.
** Ophelia. See also BreakTheCutie, KillTheCutie, and ButtMonkey.
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A personal comment without any useful content is not a good entry for that trope.
Deleted line(s) 31 (click to see context) :
* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: The Zefirelli version murdered Hamlet more thoroughly than any sword or poison ever could. It sucked, it sucked, it sucked. Destroy any copies you have, for the sake of all that is decent and whatever you do, don't under any circumstances tell ThisTroper Franco Zefirelli's address because he has no desire to be wanted for assault and grievous bodily harm but really [[UnstoppableRage doesn't think he'll be able to control himself]].
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*** From the play one could walk away with the impression that the King was a cold, stern, warmongering bastard in life and Denmark is better off with him dead, even if he was killed for selfish motives. One notes how Hamlet seems to care more about him than his mother, partly because she married Claudius and did so shortly after her husbands death: was he a crap husband and is she relieved he's gone? And was he a cold and distant WellDoneSonGuy Hamlet has a higher opinion of than he should? Does he want justice for his death or revenge? Or does he see no difference? Maybe he died because he was a crap brother too?
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**** Or it could just be an OhCrap moment- as soon as he tells her not to drink it, he realises he's basically admitted that the drink is poisoned and he's just tried to murder her son.
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Changed line(s) 37 (click to see context) from:
* {{Narm}}: At the end of the "Play Within a Play" scene, Claudius has the line, "Bring me some light! Away!" It is '''very''' difficult to protray this seriously.
to:
* {{Narm}}: At the end of the "Play Within a Play" scene, Claudius has the line, "Bring me some light! Away!" It is '''very''' difficult to protray portray this seriously.
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* {{Narm}}: At the end of the "Play Within a Play" scene, Claudius has the line, "Bring me some light! Away!" It is '''very''' difficult to protray this seriously.
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** After a ''really'' bad film version was shown on MysteryScienceTheater3000 "Cut his throat in a church!" started to gain popularity
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* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: The Zefirelli version completely removes the Hecuba monologue, thereby rendering Hamlet's "Oh what an ass am I" sequence afterwards one of these.
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* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: The Zefirelli version murdered Hamlet more thoroughly than any sword or poison ever could. It sucked, it sucked, it sucked. Destroy any copies you have, for the sake of all that is decent and whatever you do, don't under any circumstances tell ThisTroper Franco Zefirelli's address because he has no desire to be wanted for assault and grievous bodily harm but really [[UnstoppableRage doesn't think he'll be able to control himself]].
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Changed line(s) 1 (click to see context) from:
* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: The debates have been raging unabated for 400 years.
to:
----
*AlternateCharacterInterpretation: AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: The debates have been raging unabated for 400 years.
*
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----
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Changed line(s) 20 (click to see context) from:
** Also, there's a certian dark humor in Fortinbras finally invading only to find Claudius, Getrude, Hamlet, and Laertes all dead. His "WTF?" reaction is priceless.
to:
** Also, there's a certian certain dark humor in Fortinbras finally invading only to find Claudius, Getrude, Hamlet, and Laertes all dead. His "WTF?" reaction is priceless.
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** Also, using Laertes' grief at his sister's death to manipulate him into being his pawn.
Changed line(s) 30 (click to see context) from:
** Also, using Laertes' grief at his sister's death to manipulate him into being his pawn.
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*** Frankly murdering his own brother to steal his kingdom and his wife probably crosses this before the play even starts.
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Changed line(s) 14 (click to see context) from:
** '''Gertrude''': Loving mother forced to marry her brother-in-law to save her son's life or deceitful accomplice in a palace coup? (Some believe that Hamlet's emphasis on revenge over capturing the throne for himself implies that Gertrude was the queen regnant, and both Hamlet's father and Claudius were only kings consort -- which at the time would have made them the rulers, not her. If this is the case, the play may also have been in part Shakespeare's approval of Elizabeth I's unmarried status. RogerEbert and others note that Gertrude may being practical to avoid a power vacuum that would invite usurpation of the throne.
to:
** '''Gertrude''': Loving mother forced to marry her brother-in-law to save her son's life or deceitful accomplice in a palace coup? (Some believe that Hamlet's emphasis on revenge over capturing the throne for himself implies that Gertrude was the queen regnant, and both Hamlet's father and Claudius were only kings consort -- which at the time would have made them the rulers, not her. If this is the case, the play may also have been in part Shakespeare's approval of Elizabeth I's unmarried status. RogerEbert and others note that Gertrude may being practical to avoid a power vacuum that would invite usurpation of the throne.)
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* MemeticMutation: "To be or not to be, that is the question..."
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** That depends on the production. He could be on the other side of the stage from her, and unable to do anything without betraying that the cup is poisoned.
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That\'s what this was referring to, right? So the clarification works?
*** It's debateable whether he did love Gertrude at all - he tells Laertes he really does love her and wanted to avoid Hamlet's death in a manner that would be more direct then looking like an accident. However, he fails to do more to stop Gertrude from drinking poison than just telling her not to drink from the cup. He could be seen as being letting logic rule over him for that moment, simply being too late to stop her by the time she drinks (where he is standing at the time depends on the adaptation) or it can be seen as clear proof he really doesn't care.
Changed line(s) 15 (click to see context) from:
**** And speaking of DrivenToSuicide, did Gertrude lie about how Ophelia died? Did she actually kill her as a MercyKill?
to:
**** And speaking of DrivenToSuicide, did Gertrude lie about Gertrude's report of how Ophelia died? died is realistically rather suspect since it implies someone saw her fall into the water, and watched her slowly sink to her death. Did she actually kill her as a MercyKill?MercyKill, or did something else happen entirely?
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Changed line(s) 35 (click to see context) from:
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The [[ShowWithinAShow Play Within A Play]] contains examples of the following tropes:
* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: Depending on the adaptation, the midgets and/or clowns in the prelude.
* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: Depending on the adaptation, the midgets and/or clowns in the prelude.
Changed line(s) 38,39 (click to see context) from:
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Deleted line(s) 1,5 (click to see context) :
* MoralEventHorizon: Arguably, Claudius letting the Queen drink from the poisoned cup. He earlier claimed to truly love her, but only tells her to not drink from the cup once rather than risk giving up his scheme to stop her from drinking from it to save her life.
** Also, using Laertes' grief at his sister's death to manipulate him into being his pawn.
* BlackComedy: Can be played this way, and it's hilarious.
* CrowningMomentOfFunny: Yes, really. Polonius's LastWords.
** Also, there's a certian dark humor in Fortinbras finally invading only to find Claudius, Getrude, Hamlet, and Laertes all dead. His "WTF?" reaction is priceless.
** Also, using Laertes' grief at his sister's death to manipulate him into being his pawn.
* BlackComedy: Can be played this way, and it's hilarious.
* CrowningMomentOfFunny: Yes, really. Polonius's LastWords.
** Also, there's a certian dark humor in Fortinbras finally invading only to find Claudius, Getrude, Hamlet, and Laertes all dead. His "WTF?" reaction is priceless.
Changed line(s) 22 (click to see context) from:
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* BlackComedy: Can be played this way, and it's hilarious.
* CrowningMomentOfFunny: Yes, really. Polonius's LastWords.
** Also, there's a certian dark humor in Fortinbras finally invading only to find Claudius, Getrude, Hamlet, and Laertes all dead. His "WTF?" reaction is priceless.
* DracoInLeatherPants: Hamlet is often idealized by many fans and even scholars because they project themselves onto him. And so his negative qualities are often downplayed or just ignored altogether.
* EnsembleDarkhorse: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern due to their [[RosencrantzAndGuildenSternAreDead spin-off]].
** In the David Tennant version Polonius is the standout (the character is difficult to play due the need to be simultaneously hilarious and boring, but Oliver Ford Davies nails it. He's also the only character other than Hamlet to blatantly break the fourth wall)
* EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory
* TheMasochismTango: Hamlet's terrible treatment of Ophelia.
* MoralEventHorizon: Arguably, Claudius letting the Queen drink from the poisoned cup. He earlier claimed to truly love her, but only tells her to not drink from the cup once rather than risk giving up his scheme to stop her from drinking from it to save her life.
** Also, using Laertes' grief at his sister's death to manipulate him into being his pawn.
* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: The sheer number of lines in the play that have become established expressions in English can make it seem like all Shakespeare has done is just string a bunch of clichés together.
* {{Shipping}}: Hamlet & Ophelia
** Alternatively, Hamlet & Horatio
* UnfortunateImplications: There are ''so many'' about women it isn't even funny.
* TheWoobie: Ophelia. See also BreakTheCutie, KillTheCutie, and ButtMonkey.
** Almost everybody, [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation depending on your point of view]].
* CrowningMomentOfFunny: Yes, really. Polonius's LastWords.
** Also, there's a certian dark humor in Fortinbras finally invading only to find Claudius, Getrude, Hamlet, and Laertes all dead. His "WTF?" reaction is priceless.
* DracoInLeatherPants: Hamlet is often idealized by many fans and even scholars because they project themselves onto him. And so his negative qualities are often downplayed or just ignored altogether.
* EnsembleDarkhorse: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern due to their [[RosencrantzAndGuildenSternAreDead spin-off]].
** In the David Tennant version Polonius is the standout (the character is difficult to play due the need to be simultaneously hilarious and boring, but Oliver Ford Davies nails it. He's also the only character other than Hamlet to blatantly break the fourth wall)
* EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory
* TheMasochismTango: Hamlet's terrible treatment of Ophelia.
* MoralEventHorizon: Arguably, Claudius letting the Queen drink from the poisoned cup. He earlier claimed to truly love her, but only tells her to not drink from the cup once rather than risk giving up his scheme to stop her from drinking from it to save her life.
** Also, using Laertes' grief at his sister's death to manipulate him into being his pawn.
* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: The sheer number of lines in the play that have become established expressions in English can make it seem like all Shakespeare has done is just string a bunch of clichés together.
* {{Shipping}}: Hamlet & Ophelia
** Alternatively, Hamlet & Horatio
* UnfortunateImplications: There are ''so many'' about women it isn't even funny.
* TheWoobie: Ophelia. See also BreakTheCutie, KillTheCutie, and ButtMonkey.
** Almost everybody, [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation depending on your point of view]].
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*BlackComedy: Can be played this way, and it's hilarious.
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Changed line(s) 9 (click to see context) from:
*** Pathetic and stupid doormat who got what was coming to her?
to:
*** Pathetic and stupid doormat who got what was coming to her?TooDumbToLive?
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**** And speaking of DrivenToSuicide, did Gertrude lie about how Ophelia died? Did she actually kill her as a MercyKill?
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** '''Claudius''': While there's no doubt whatsoever that he's a villain (he ''admits'' in prayer to murdering his own brother), some think that he still was a pretty good ruler, and that Hamelt's revenge on him just made things worse for Denmark.
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Changed line(s) 2 (click to see context) from:
* CrowningMomentOfFunny: Yes, really.Polonius's LastWords.
to:
** Also, using Laertes' grief at his sister's death to manipulate him into being his pawn.
* CrowningMomentOfFunny: Yes, really. Polonius'sLastWords.LastWords.
** Also, there's a certian dark humor in Fortinbras finally invading only to find Claudius, Getrude, Hamlet, and Laertes all dead. His "WTF?" reaction is priceless.
* CrowningMomentOfFunny: Yes, really. Polonius's
** Also, there's a certian dark humor in Fortinbras finally invading only to find Claudius, Getrude, Hamlet, and Laertes all dead. His "WTF?" reaction is priceless.
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Moved from main page.
Changed line(s) 2,3 (click to see context) from:
* CrowningMomentOfFunny: Yes, really. This troper was deeply amused by Polonius's LastWords.
to:
* CrowningMomentOfFunny: Yes, really. This troper was deeply amused by Polonius's LastWords.
* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: The debates have been raging unabated for 400 years.
** '''Hamlet''': Insane, or faking it? TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth prince manipulated into evil[[hottip:*:No, seriously; this was in vogue in the 19th century.]]? Deeply troubled youth wrestling with moral and honor codes? Spineless whiny git who killed in cold blood many times before hitting his actual mark? Misogynistic, Oedipal, whiny jerk? Suffering from multiple personality disorder[[hottip:*:Hamlet's has been played by two different people in some versions of the play, with each one having a different personality and lines.]])? All of the above?
** '''Ophelia''': Is she a:
*** Sweet but fragile girl who got caught in the political crossfire between her father and boyfriend?
*** Pathetic and stupid doormat who got what was coming to her?
*** Cassandra-like oracle who can see the future but only speaks in riddles, rhymes and metaphors due to her insane state of mind?
*** Or, as was the trend in the psychoanalytic interpretations of the 1960s and 1970s, a sexually-frustrated young woman torn between her lust for her Hamlet and her lust for--wait for it--[[BrotherSisterIncest Laertes]]. Hey, we said 'overanalyzed', didn't we?
*** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoM8bHQtSEU "Cut the crap, Hamlet! My biological clock is ticking and I want babies NOW!"]]
** '''Horatio''': Motivated by friendship and loyalty? [[HoYay Something else entirely?]] Is he even Danish? Did he even know Hamlet very well beforehand? If not, what the hell is he doing in Denmark?
** '''Fortinbras''': Noble war hero who acted the most logically and justly of the cast? Bloodthirsty barbarian prince who's willing to send hundreds to their deaths for a scrap of land? DeusExMachina on legs? {{Expy}} for [[TheHouseOfStuart King James]]?
** '''Polonius''': MagnificentBastard or [[IdiotBall stupid, stupid,]] ''[[IdiotBall stupid]]'' [[IdiotBall bastard]]?
** '''Gertrude''': Loving mother forced to marry her brother-in-law to save her son's life or deceitful accomplice in a palace coup? (Some believe that Hamlet's emphasis on revenge over capturing the throne for himself implies that Gertrude was the queen regnant, and both Hamlet's father and Claudius were only kings consort -- which at the time would have made them the rulers, not her. If this is the case, the play may also have been in part Shakespeare's approval of Elizabeth I's unmarried status. RogerEbert and others note that Gertrude may being practical to avoid a power vacuum that would invite usurpation of the throne.
*** The scene in which Gertrude drinks the poisoned wine is also open to interpretation; in some adaptations, she is unaware that there is poison in the wine and her line "I will, My Lord, I pray you pardon me" is said as if she's just having a good time. In others, "I will..." is delivered to imply that she knows exactly what's in there and has been DrivenToSuicide.
** '''King Hamlet''': Ever read ''[[strike:{{Macbeth}}]]'' ''TheScottishPlay''? There's this great line: "and oftentime, to win us to or harms, the instruments of darkness tell us truths." Consider if the above quote applies to him, if he's actually an evil spirit. Mind you, some scholars would say that any good Elizabethan would consider ''any'' spirit as an evil one.
* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: The debates have been raging unabated for 400 years.
** '''Hamlet''': Insane, or faking it? TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth prince manipulated into evil[[hottip:*:No, seriously; this was in vogue in the 19th century.]]? Deeply troubled youth wrestling with moral and honor codes? Spineless whiny git who killed in cold blood many times before hitting his actual mark? Misogynistic, Oedipal, whiny jerk? Suffering from multiple personality disorder[[hottip:*:Hamlet's has been played by two different people in some versions of the play, with each one having a different personality and lines.]])? All of the above?
** '''Ophelia''': Is she a:
*** Sweet but fragile girl who got caught in the political crossfire between her father and boyfriend?
*** Pathetic and stupid doormat who got what was coming to her?
*** Cassandra-like oracle who can see the future but only speaks in riddles, rhymes and metaphors due to her insane state of mind?
*** Or, as was the trend in the psychoanalytic interpretations of the 1960s and 1970s, a sexually-frustrated young woman torn between her lust for her Hamlet and her lust for--wait for it--[[BrotherSisterIncest Laertes]]. Hey, we said 'overanalyzed', didn't we?
*** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoM8bHQtSEU "Cut the crap, Hamlet! My biological clock is ticking and I want babies NOW!"]]
** '''Horatio''': Motivated by friendship and loyalty? [[HoYay Something else entirely?]] Is he even Danish? Did he even know Hamlet very well beforehand? If not, what the hell is he doing in Denmark?
** '''Fortinbras''': Noble war hero who acted the most logically and justly of the cast? Bloodthirsty barbarian prince who's willing to send hundreds to their deaths for a scrap of land? DeusExMachina on legs? {{Expy}} for [[TheHouseOfStuart King James]]?
** '''Polonius''': MagnificentBastard or [[IdiotBall stupid, stupid,]] ''[[IdiotBall stupid]]'' [[IdiotBall bastard]]?
** '''Gertrude''': Loving mother forced to marry her brother-in-law to save her son's life or deceitful accomplice in a palace coup? (Some believe that Hamlet's emphasis on revenge over capturing the throne for himself implies that Gertrude was the queen regnant, and both Hamlet's father and Claudius were only kings consort -- which at the time would have made them the rulers, not her. If this is the case, the play may also have been in part Shakespeare's approval of Elizabeth I's unmarried status. RogerEbert and others note that Gertrude may being practical to avoid a power vacuum that would invite usurpation of the throne.
*** The scene in which Gertrude drinks the poisoned wine is also open to interpretation; in some adaptations, she is unaware that there is poison in the wine and her line "I will, My Lord, I pray you pardon me" is said as if she's just having a good time. In others, "I will..." is delivered to imply that she knows exactly what's in there and has been DrivenToSuicide.
** '''King Hamlet''': Ever read ''[[strike:{{Macbeth}}]]'' ''TheScottishPlay''? There's this great line: "and oftentime, to win us to or harms, the instruments of darkness tell us truths." Consider if the above quote applies to him, if he's actually an evil spirit. Mind you, some scholars would say that any good Elizabethan would consider ''any'' spirit as an evil one.
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* CrowningMomentOfFunny: Yes, really. This troper was deeply amused by Polonius's LastWords.
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Changed line(s) 1,3 (click to see context) from:
* MoralEventHorizon: Arguably, Claudius letting the Queen drink from the poisoned cup. He earlier claimed to truly love her, but only tells her to not drink from the cup once rather
than risk giving up his scheme to stop her from drinking from it to save her life.
than risk giving up his scheme to stop her from drinking from it to save her life.
to:
* MoralEventHorizon: Arguably, Claudius letting the Queen drink from the poisoned cup. He earlier claimed to truly love her, but only tells her to not drink from the cup once rather
rather than risk giving up his scheme to stop her from drinking from it to save her life.
