Hamlet 3.3 What the Critics Say

The transcript explores the evolution of critical interpretations of a controversial scene in Shakespeare's Hamlet. Initially, 18th-century critics omitted the scene due to its unvirtuous depiction of Hamlet. As beliefs in hell faded, critics debated whether Hamlet's quest for vengeance was genuine or an excuse for inaction. Scholar Harold Jenkins argues that the audience of Shakespeare's time would have understood the scene's moral implications. The transcript raises questions about how interpretations change over time and whether this adaptability is a testament to the play's enduring greatness.

What does the author wish the poet had omitted from the scene described?

How did the belief in Hell influence the interpretation of Hamlet's actions?

What arguments do critics present regarding Hamlet's desire for vengeance?

According to Harold Jenkins, how would the audience of Shakespeare's day view the punishment of evil people?

What questions do the scholarly disagreements raise about the interpretation of Hamlet over time?