Good morning HSC students, Today we will be discussing how the themes of Hamlet contribute to its textual integrity.

The critical study of literature often reveals a unity and universality of text, derived from its forms and features of language. Shakespeares Hamlet exemplifies this notion of textual integrity through the use of contextually relevant themes and ideas. The themes ambition and morality are utilised in order to comment upon human nature and operate to achieve unification of Hamlets literary elements. Ambition throughout Hamlet is portrayed as a derivative of evil, which was a common belief of the Elizabethan era. As a vice, ambition was criticised by society and similarly critiqued by Shakespeare, as he comments upon the negative consequences of pursuing ones selfish goals. Claudius realisation that his secret had been exposed highlights the lengths he would go to to maintain his position. Claudius still possesses those effects for which I did the murder emphasising My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen. The syntax of my crown before my queen is indicative of his ambition for political power before romance. The crown is both object and symbol of his ambition; he wanted to be king and was willing to kill to expedite his ascension to the throne. The possessive tone and repetition of my reinforces Claudius self-obsession which compels the audience to empathise with Hamlet. Shakespeare extends Claudius characterisation by asking Laertes, was your father dear to you? to convey his readiness to manipulate others and distort the bond between Laertes and his father. The ensuing incrimination Or are you like the painting of a sorrow, A face without a heart?, in particular, the simile of like the painting of a sorrow, demonstrates the lengths to which Claudius will go to to entice Laertes into thoughts of revenge. The theme of ambition contributes to the underlying construct of a revenge tragedy, allowing the character, plot and ideas to culminate in a coherent text. Disregarding Claudius, several minor characters, such as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, also embody elements of ambition and its detriments. Their interaction with Claudius highlights their submissive willingness to panders to those with power. So willing to lay our service freely at your feet, presents the audience with a clear depiction of their ambition. However, this is contrasted with their interaction with Hamlet, whereby Rosencrantz exclaims, Truly, and I hold ambition of so airy and light a quality that it is but a shadow's shadow. The metaphor and hyperbole of a shadows shadow reveals the extent of his deceit. Ambition in Hamlet, permeates and pervades the entire cast, and serves to unify the characters and central elements of the play.

Morality in the court of Denmark serves as both pretext and catalyst for the tragic events of Hamlets downfall. Shakespeare uses the character of Hamlet in order to convey key ideas relating to the importance of morality in society and how easily these fundamental values are distorted by emotion or ambition. Initially, Hamlet appears to be morally upright and upholds the values of the Elizabethan era. Due to his sense of morality, Hamlet is unsettled by the task that he has been burdened with, and decries The time is out of joint: Oh cursed spite, that ever I was born to set it right! The rhyme of spite and right emphasises Hamlets reluctance to pursue such an undertaking, and demonstrates his initial moral integrity. Hamlet curses fate for selecting him to carry out the revenge of his father. Hamlets moral integrity, however, begins to degrade as the play progresses. Shakespeare utilises purposeful diction and deliberately injects supernatural imagery in order to highlight and contrast the shift in Hamlets character, most evident as he utters, Tis now the very witching time of night, When churchyards yawn, and hell itself breathes out Contagion to this world, The use of a grim tone and religious allusion in churchyards yawn, hell and Contagion, enables the responder to witness Hamlets tragic downfall. This is reinforced by, now could I drink hot blood, And do such bitter business, wherein Hamlet embraces the night and convinces himself that although taking revenge against Claudius is such bitter business, it is his task to undertake. The symbolism of drink[ing] hot blood enhances the grotesque nature of revenge. Hamlet acknowledges that the act is wrong but he has convinced himself to action, foregoing his moral integrity. The death-knell of his morality occurs during the climax of the play, wherein Hamlet decides that action must be taken against the incestuous, murderous, damned Dane. The culmination of his downfall becomes explicit through the proclamation, O, from this time forth, My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth! The syntax of brief, consecutive phrases is indicative of his emotional state, punctuated by the final exclamation. Hamlet seeks what he once condemned, the bloody revenge against Claudius. The contrast between the beginning and the end of the play is clear, and allows Shakespeare to compel the audience to lament Hamlets loss of morality. There is a very clear progression from a once morally upright Hamlet to a morally complacent Hamlet. The theme of Morality contributes to the underlying message of the play and thus the revenge tragedy itself. Similarly, it is the theme which provides the backdrop for a coalescence of the literary elements such as those of character and plot, enabling the creation of a unified and universal text. Without the central themes of ambition and morality, neither storyline nor text would be as compelling and coherent. It is through forms and features of language that literature conveys unity and

universality. The play Hamlet by William Shakespeare supports this notion of textual integrity. Through the themes of Ambition and Morality, Shakespeare comments upon human nature and a unity of elements within the text is achieved.