Hamlet 1.2 What the Critics Say

The video explores Hamlet's emotional turmoil following his father's death and his mother's remarriage to his uncle Claudius. It contrasts TS Eliot's critique of Hamlet's excessive emotions with AC Bradley's view that Hamlet's disgust reveals deeper insights into human nature. The video highlights the complexity of Hamlet's character through his soliloquies, which offer a profound psychological depth and reflect on the human condition. Critics like Harold Bloom suggest that Hamlet's introspection influences our understanding of self-complexity.

What event primarily triggers Hamlet's emotional turmoil?

• His uncle's imprisonment

• His sister's betrayal

• His exile from Denmark

• His father's death and his mother's remarriage

How does T.S. Eliot view Hamlet's emotional response?

• As a justified reaction to his mother's actions

• As an excessive and artistic failure

• As a reflection of his noble character

• As a minor aspect of the play

According to A.C. Bradley, what does Hamlet's disgust reveal?

• His mother's true nature and a broader existential crisis

• His desire for revenge

• His ambition for the throne

• His lack of understanding of human nature

What innovation does Shakespeare bring to the soliloquy in Hamlet?

• A historical perspective

• A focus on external conflicts

• A comedic element

• A new psychological depth and realism

How does Harold Bloom describe the impact of Hamlet on our understanding of self?

• As a simple character study

• As a minor influence on literature

• As irrelevant to modern thought

• As central to how we perceive our own complexities