Hamlet and What Not

...

not just focusing on the protagonist but also analyzing

secondary characters. I think the actual richness of the play lies in the interaction of these

characters, so learning more about their motivations brings a new light into Hamlet the story

as a whole and to Hamlet the character as well. Also analyzing the subplots and references

to events that are not part of the main plot gave me a more profound understanding. The

materials and questionnaires to prepare for the seminar also were very useful. They help me

organize my thoughts and focus on characters, themes, etc. that I wanted to learn more

about.

The only criticism I have about the Socratic Seminar and that could be changed in

the future is not about content but about form. I think it lacked a bit of order. There should be

a more organized agenda to go through and someone should be a coordinator to avoid

people interrupting each other. I felt that sometimes the conversation was all over the place

and went astray from our main purpose. So I would use a debate style format with a

coordinator to keep track of the exchange of ideas and control the speaking times

4. After everything we have discussed as a class and in seminar today, what do you

think is the meaning of the work as a whole” of Hamlet?

The most fascinating thing about Hamlet is that it can be interpreted in so many

different ways. Because there are many layers of meaning in the story, each time we read it

we can find new angles. That is why it has such a universal appeal and it became so

popular. At first sight it is a tale of revenge, but the rich plot incorporates many other themes

as well. So, considering a psychoanalytical interpretation we can focus on Hamlet’s

relationship with his mother, from a feminist point of view, we can condemn that women had

no power, while form a political perspective we can see how corruption and deceit can

destroy a country. Finally, a more philosophical approach leads us to an existential

questioning about death and the meaning of life.

However, in my opinion the main message of the story is of a moral nature, about our

behaviors and choices. As humans we are defined by our actions and the actions of others

around us. In this context, Hamlet’s lack of action is a form of action too (the action of not

taking action.) Like Hamlet, we are both victims of the circumstances (other people’s

actions) and creators of our fate (our own actions.) So, the richness of the plot comes from

the chain of events to which the characters contribute in different ways and by which they

are affected as well. The whole play feels like a sort of butterfly effect story, in which an

initial incident triggers many others.