Writing assignment:
Consider the many themes that are presented in the drama, The Tragedy of Hamlet, thus far. Which theme is most prevalent in your reading? Cite evidence that can strongly support your opinion.
Your writing needs to be thorough and include textually pertinent citations to fully explain your choice. The response must be comprised of at least a minimum of an introductory paragraph, two body paragraphs and a conclusion (that’s a total of 4 paragraphs MINIMUM). Staple your work with this as a cover sheet and turn in, or upload your final draft to Focus. Assignment is due Friday 02/26 by 2pm.
Some potential themes to ponder –
The Impossibility of Certainty
Can we have certain knowledge about ghosts? Is the ghost what it appears to be, or is it really a misleading fiend? Does the ghost have reliable knowledge about its own death, or is the ghost itself deluded? How can we know for certain the facts about a crime that has no witnesses? Can Hamlet know the state of Claudius’s soul by watching his behavior? If so, can he know the facts of what Claudius did by observing the state of his soul? Can Claudius know the state of Hamlet’s mind by observing his behavior and listening to his speech? Can we know whether our actions will have the consequences we want them to have? Can we know anything about the afterlife?
The Complexity of Action
How is it possible to take reasonable, effective, purposeful action? In Hamlet, the question of how to act is affected not only by rational considerations, such as the need for certainty, but also by emotional, ethical, and psychological factors.
