Essay Questions

Why does Hamlet seek revenge against his uncle?

The King, Hamlet's father, has died. And mere weeks after, Claudius, Hamlet's uncle, marry's his mother and becomes King of Denmark. Hamlet sees the ghost of his father which tells him he was murdered and must seek revenge for his soul. Hamlet now knows his course, but must weigh it carefully as these spirits are from hell and if he does wrong he may render his soul to the same fate.

Why does Hamlet reveal himself after escaping his doom upon the ship at sea?

Hamlet has returned to Denmark to find a funeral in process. He hides with Horatio out of site of the mourners until he realizes that it is Ophelia whom they are grieving. Once he knows this he comes out of the shadows and proclaims his love for her. This sets him before Laertes who begins to brawl with him, and this sends him closer to his death at the end of the film.

Why does Hamlet stage The Murder of Gonzago?

Hamlet believes that when his uncle, King Claudius sees the play, which resembles the murder of Hamlet's father, he will reveal it upon his face that he took King Hamlet's life. And with this Hamlet will have his grounds for accusation of the current King in order to strip him of his power and his life, and exact revenge for the murder of his father.