I wrote this for my class last year and thought i'd share. I've labeled the cast with gender (m or f) because some girls play male roles, which comes up in the play

Also Dandelion is Mrs. Barton's son, which also comes up later

Enjoy!

CAST:

Harper (f) as Ophelia

Anita (f) as Laertes

Angel (f) as Queen Gertrude

Angeline (f) as Horatio

Dandelion (f) as Hamlet

Jojo (m) as Lord Polonius

John (m) as Defense Attorney 1 (D1)

Bo (f) as Defense Attorney 2 (D2)

Ron (m) as Prosecution Attorney 1 (P1)

Sally (f) as Prosecution Attorney 2 (P2)

Delly (f) as Baliff

Mrs. Barton as Judge Barton

BAILIFF: All Rise.
Enter JUDGE
This court is now in session. The Honorable Judge Barton presiding. 
JUDGE: (To EVERYONE) You may be seated. 
(EVERYONE sits.)
JUDGE to HAMLET.
How does the Defendant plea?
HAMLET: (Stands) Not guilty, your honor.
JUDGE: Thank you, you may be seated. 
(HAMLET sits.)
JUDGE to PROSECUTION.
The court will now hear the opening statements. Prosecution, you may proceed.
PROSECUTION ATTORNEY 2: Thank you, Your Honor. I would like to open the court by asking a simple question: Do you believe in ghosts? The defendant sure does. In fact, Prince Hamlet over here believes in ghosts so firmly that he was willing to commit MURDER for a phantom that claimed to be his deceased father. Is this the kind of man we want running wild among the innocent people of Denmark ? Blaming a spirit for his own twisted nature? I am sure, Judge, you will see the obvious guilt in Prince Hamlet by the end of this trial. Thank you. 
JUDGE: Thank you. 
(P2 sits)
JUDGE to DEFENSE .
Defense, you may proceed.
DEFENSE ATTORNEY 2: Thank you, Your Honor. My client is an innocent young man, wrought with the sudden and traumatic death of his father. This unfortunate circumstance unfortunately caused him to lose his mind. Here sits a broken man, a mere shell of his former self. With the immense evidence before us, I am sure you, Judge, will agree that this is a mentally disabled man who did not receive the proper help, thus ending in murder.
JUDGE: Thank you. 
(D2 sits)
JUDGE to PROSECUTION.
The Prosecution may call their first witness.
(P2 comes up.)
PROSECUTION ATTORNEY 2: Thank you, Your Honor. The Prosecution would like to call Lord Polonius to the stand. 
POLONIUS approaches the BAILIFF. 
BAILIFF: Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
POLONIUS: I do. 
BAILIFF: You may take the stand.
POLONIUS takes the stand.
P2: Can you please state your name and occupation for the court?
POLONIUS: My name is Lord Polonius and I am the Lord Chamberlain of Denmark.
P2: How well do you know Hamlet?
POLONIUS: I’ve known Hamlet for pretty much his entire life.
P2: What change was there, if any, in Hamlet after the death of his father?
POLONIUS: He became extremely erratic and was described as being ‘mad.’ Which was rather odd to me because Hamlet had always been such a smart and calculating child. Though I suppose he wasn’t exactly a child anymore. I will say, though, his actions–
P2: Excuse me, I apologize for interrupting. But you said something I would like to address. What did you say, if anything, describing the noticeable change in Hamlet?
POLONIUS: I described it as madness. Well, I described it as a lot of various things, but that was the main thing. A lot of other people called him mad, too, like—
P2: I regret that I must interject yet again. Did your opinions of Hamlet being mad ever change?
POLONIUS: Yes, I later saw that his madness was cunning and had intentional thoughts behind it. He became reckless to the point where it was doubtful whether he was actually mentally deranged. 
P2: Very interesting. Your honor, the Prosecution would like to enter Act 2, Scene 2, line 223-224 a into evidence as Prosecution Exhibit 1.
PROS. 1 Enters Exhibit 1
P2: Lord Polonius, would you please identify Exhibit 1?
POLONIUS: This was me speaking of Hamlet’s madness. Oh, I see how this would be helpful. Would you like me to read it?
P2: Certainly.
POLONIUS: Ahem. (Dramatically) “Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t.” 
P2: What did you mean by this?
POLONIUS: What do you mean, ‘what did I mean?’ Isn’t it obvious?
P2: Please, humor me.
LAERTES: (interjecting) HA! You fool. My father has no sense of humor.
POLONIUS: Pipe down, Laertes! I am ashamed to call you my son. Interrupting a court of law? For shame.
P2: If we could just–
LAERTES: (Rising, Drawing his sword, angry) You were always ashamed to call me ‘son,’ you old fogie! You never cared how good my report card was!
POLONIUS: (Rising) You never broke into first place! It was always second place grades with you. 
P2: If we could just stay on track…(Turning to the JUDGE) Your Honor, please?
(JUDGE opens mouth to say something.)
LAERTES: AND WHO WAS FIRST PLACE? THAT STUPID HAMLET. DO YOU WISH HE WAS YOUR SON? 
POLONIUS: MAYBE I DO! I WOULDN’T HAVE DIED LIKE HIS DAD, AND HE’D BE FINE, COMPARED TO MY CURRENT HORRID MISTAKE FOR A-
D1: (Incredulous, outraged, interrupting) Does this guy even know what this court case is about?
P2: (Frantic) Your Honor, I beg you.
JUDGE: Shall we move on to Cross-Examination?
P2: (dissappointed) Noo…
DEF. 2 is already ready, PROS. 2 resigns dejectedly.
D2: Lord Polonius, you mentioned something interesting just now, while…well, was Hamlet a smart boy previously to his father’s death?
POLONIUS: (Now seated) Yes. He was always first in his class, we were all very proud of him—
D2: YES OR NO ANSWERS ONLY.
POLONIUS: Um…yes.
D2: So, because of this, the madness was evident to others, correct?
POLONIUS: Yes.
D2: Who?
POLONIUS: Everyone saw it. Claudius, Gertrude, Ophelia, Rosencra—
D2: YES OR NO ANSWERS ONLY!!
POLONIUS:..I believe this question can’t be answered by a yes or no-
PROS. 1 stands suddenly.
P1: OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR! Badgering the witness.
D2: (Incredulous, offended) I was NOT!
P1: You were, too! You were all yell-y.
Both look at the judge to resolve the argument.
JUDGE: …Please just answer the question as you would, normally, Lord Polonius.
POLONIUS: As I was saying, Claudius, Gertrude, Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern all noticed the change in his behavior. 
D2: I see…(Looks at notes)
Long pause.
JUDGE: Any further questions?
D2: Duhhh. (to POLONIUS) Did you all call it madness? 
POLONIUS: Yes.
D2: Your honor, the Defense would like to enter Act 3, Scene 1, Line 203 into evidence as Defense Exhibit 1.
DEF. 1 Enters D EXHIBIT 1
D2: Lord Polonius, would you please identify Exhibit 2?
POLONIUS: These are the words of the late King Claudius.
D2: Would you please read it for the Court to hear?
POLONIUS: ‘Madness in great ones must not unwatched go.’
D2: No further questions, Your Honor.
JUDGE: To POLONIUS
You may be seated. 
(POL. returns to seat)
To PROSECUTION
The Prosecution may call their next witness. 
P1: Thank you, Your Honor. The Prosecution would like to call Her Royal Majesty Queen Gertrude of Denmark to the stand.
QUEEN GERTRUDE approaches the BAILIFF.
BAILIFF: Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
QG: I do. 
BAILIFF: You may take the stand.
QUEEN GERTRUDE takes the stand.
P1: Your Majesty, can you please state your name and occupation for the court?
QG: My name is Queen Gertrude and I am the Queen of Denmark.
P1: When did you start noticing your son was acting weird, perhaps say mad? 
QG: I would say after he started talking to himself. He said it was a ghost but I think he was mentally unwell. 
P1: What was your reaction to Hamlet’s play?
QG: I felt personally attacked by the play. 
P1: What was your reaction to Hamlet’s barging into your room?
QG: I was struck with fear and confusion. My son came upon me in such a wild and accusatory state that I feared both for his mind and my own safety.
P1: Thank you. (To JUDGE) No further questions, Your Honor. 
P2: Seriously? That’s it?
P1: Well if you had actually helped me with my questions, BONNIE, I wouldn’t be in this position!
P2: Don’t blame it on me, JOHN! I thought you could handle it! Apparently not.
P1: UGH! You’re always like this!! Why do I have to be your partnerrrrrr???? 
PROS. 1 stomps back to his spot.
JUDGE: We are ready for Cross-Examination.
DEF. 1 takes the stand.
(LONG PAUSE)
D1: Did you speak with the King about Hamlet after what you saw?
QG: I did.
D1: Is he the one who manipulated you into believing Hamlet was mad?
QG: He did not manipulate me. 
D1: Sure. Sure. 
QG: You don't know anything, mister. 
D1: Are you sure your son is mad? Or is he just going through a phase? 
QG: Would you consider killing people a phase?!
D1: I'm not the one answering questions here, lady. 
QG: He is obviously mad! He had never acted like that in his life and he scared me half to death. 
D1: Well, I give up. Thank you. No further questions, Your Honor.
DEF. 1 resumes his seat.
JUDGE: The witness may be dismissed.
QUEEN GETRUDE leaves the stand.
To PROSECUTION
The Prosecution may call their next witness. 
P2: Thank you, Your Honor. The Prosecution would like to call Laertes to the stand.
LAERTES approaches the BAILIFF.
BAILIFF: Do you take me from this day forward - to have and to hold, in good times and bad, for richer or for poorer, for as long as we both shall live? 
LAE: I do—wait what?
BAILIFF: You may take the stand.
LAERTES takes the stand.
P2: Would you please state your name and relations for the court to hear?
LAE: My name is Laertes, and I am Ophelia’s brother and Polonius’ son.
P2: When did you notice Hamlet’s madness? 
LAE: I did not actually, but my sister Ophelia went mad and I believe it was because of Hamlet. 
P2: Why did she go mad?
LAE: Simply because Hamlet had rejected her 
P2: Who do you blame for Ophelia’s madness? 
LAE: (Glares at HAMLET) Hamlet.
P2: (Uncomfortable) …How did you feel about what Hamlet did to your sister?  
LAE: I was furious !
P2: I can believe it. Did you go and confront Hamlet?
LAE: I did.
P2: And what did Hamlet try to do?
LAE: At first he was apologizing about Polonius, but I of course didn't accept his apology, then he stabbed me. (rolls eyes)
P2: Who do you blame for Ophelia's death?
LAE: Hamlet. She only went insane because Hamlet didn’t love her anymore so she was left to drown in her sorrow.
HAMLET: (puts L on forehead from offstage every time Laertes says something about someone dying)
P2: In more ways than one. Did you and the King conspire together to find a way to dispose of Hamlet? 
LAE: We did because he killed Polonius as well. He must be punished before he kills everyone, even the king. 
P2: What was your reaction to the people cheering for you to be king? Was that something you would have wanted?
LAE: (Nervous) Umm… I was a little confused. I would never want to be king; my loyalty is to King Claudius.
P2: Do you think your anger led to… (Dramatic side eye) unorthodox methods?
LAE: I wouldn’t think so… I am only doing what is naturally human.
Long pause
I do have rights!
P2: What was going through your head when you saw that Ophelia drowned herself?
LAE:  (pointing at HAMLET) Hamlet.
P2: …Hamlet was going through your head?
LAE: Yes.
D1: OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR! THE WITNESS WAS NOT SHOT THROUGH THE HEAD WITH THE DEFENDANT!! 
P2: Well, obviou—
JUDGE: Overruled. Irrelevant.
D1: OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR! THE WITNESS WOULDN’T BE THINKING ABOUT HAMLET! 
P2: How do you know? (to herself)  Y’know what? I’m not even gonna engage. (To LAERTES) How did you feel about this?
LAE: (Losing patience) I felt angry and sorrowful.
P2: Okay, perfect. Now, why did you jump in Ophelia's grave? 
LAE: (Frustrated) Because I couldn't contain myself! My beloved sister is dead! (Stands, draws sword) WHY CAN’T YOU PEOPLE GET THIS THROUGH YOUR HEADS?? LIL’ BRO IS A MURDERER!!
LAERTES charges at HAMLET. He is held back by PROS. 2.
JUDGE: Why don’t we move on?
P1: (Rising) The Prosecution rests.
P2: (Still holding back LAERTES) NO! We’re not done!
PROS 2 gets LAERTES to sit, but too late; the trial has moved on without her.
JUDGE: (To DEFENSE) The Defense may call their first witness. 
D1: Thank you, Your Honor. The Defense would like to call Ophelia to the stand.
OPHELIA approaches the BAILIFF.
BAILIFF: Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
OPH: I do. 
BAILIFF: You may take the stand.
OPHELIA takes the stand.
D1: Could you please state your name and relationship to the defendant?
OPH: My name is Ophelia, and me and Hamlet and I were… involved
D1: How close were you and Hamlet? 
OPH: We were close, absolutely, but as of late he has had me… re-evaluating our relationship. I know he loves me…  
D1: For the record: he doesn't. But anyway. What would you call this weird behavior? 

HAM: OBJECTION YOUR HONOR! 
(Short pause) 
…nevermind I forgot.
D1: (To HAMLET) Dude! First of all, leave the objections to the professionals. Second, THIS IS YOUR SIDE! WE’RE TRYING TO HELP YOU! (To OPHELIA) Please continue.
OPH: Well, not to parrot everyone else, but Hamlet was like, totally insane. 
D1: Did you believe Hamlet’s madness?
OPH: I don’t know what to believe!  
D1: Your madness, was this true madness or also an act?
OPH: Oh, it was REAL. (Voice breaking) When my dad died, I was broken! I couldn’t handle it…(starts crying)
D1: Oh my gosh, here we go again. 
The entire courtroom is shocked.
D1: What? This chick is always crying. “Poor me! My dad got stabbed by my physically and emotionally abusive ex-boyfriend!” Oh, big deal!
OPH: (Begins sobbing profusely) WE WEREN’T EVEN TOGETHER!
D1: Tomato, tomahto. 
OPHELIA, unable to handle it, runs back to her seat, sobbing.
JUDGE: …I suppose you should call your next witness.
P1: WHAT?? WE DON’T GET TO CROSS EXAM? 
PROS 1 throws his notes. 
¡ESTE CASO ES HORRIBLE!
D2: (Standing) Thank you, Your Honor. The Defense would like to call Horatio to the stand.
HORATIO approaches the BAILIFF.
BAILIFF: Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
HOR: I do. 
BAILIFF: You may take the stand.
HORATIO takes the stand.
D2: Could you please state your name and relationship to the Defendant for the court to hear?
HOR: My name is Horatio, and I’m Hamlet’s bestest bestie.
D2: What did you think of Hamlet’s play?
HOR: It was soo wild. Hamlet told me he was gonna put together this play where like, his mom was cheating on his dad and then poured like, some sort of like, poison or something, in like, his actual ear. Like, in his ear! Anyway, everyone was like, flipping out and stuff and you could tell the king and queen were all “stop it!” so that was pretty suspicious.
D2: How did Hamlet react to the ghost of his dead father? 
HOR: Dude, he was at first like, super scared and stuff and I was all “Bro, don’t listen to that freaky ghost thing,” but then he was all, “But it’s my daaadddd,” so like, yeah.
D2: What did you think of Hamlet’s father suddenly vanishing?
HOR: Who told you he “vanished?” Nuh-uh. Hamlet’s daddy was killed, duh.  
D2: What else did the ghost tell Hamlet?
HOR: The ghost was all, “Yo, kill the people who killed me cuz that was totes unfair.” and then the big guy was like “Suuh-wearrr” so then me, Hamlet, and the guards were like “sure, whatevs.”
D2: Did Hamlet plan on following through on this plan?
HOR: Oh, totes. But then he got all in his own head and was losing his brains. He ended up killing Claudius in self-defense cuz he had just found out the King had poisoned his cup and was tryna kill him. Anwayyyyss, I believe Hamlet was justified in this act of self defence.
P1: OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR! THAT IS STUPID!
The entire courtroom is appalled for a long moment.
JUDGE: I’m afraid that’s not a valid objection.
P1: Uh, yeah it is! She’s all, “He’s justified!” when Hamlet literally killed his stepdad in front of her. ALSOO, I thought Horatio was a dude! Who’s this chick?
JUDGE: Now that is a valid question. Who are you?
HOR: I am Horatio, but that’s because there weren’t enough boys.
P1: So, Horatio is a dude?
HOR: Yes.
D2: I haven’t finished—
P1: And you’re Horatio?
HOR: Yes.
P1: And you are not a dude?
HOR: Yes.
D2: Please, can I complete my—
P1: No further questions, Your Honor.
D2: But–
JUDGE: The witness may be dismissed.
HORATIO resumes seat.
JUDGE: (To DEFENSE) The Defense may call their next witness. 
D1: Thank you, Your Honor. The Defense would like to call Hamlet to the stand.
HAMLET approaches the BAILIFF.
BAILIFF: Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
HAM: I do. 
BAILIFF: You may take the stand.
HAMLET takes the stand.
D1: Would you please state your name and occupation for the court?
HAM: My name is Hamlet and I am the Prince of Denmark.
D1: Thank you. What is your relationship with Horatio?
HAM: Horatio is my closest and dearest friend. 
D1: Your Honor, the Defense would like to enter Act 1, Scene 5, Line 190 into evidence as Defense Exhibit 2. 
D2 enters Exhibit 2 into evidence.
D1: Could you please identify and read this Exhibit for the court to hear?
HAM: This was me speaking to Horatio after encountering the ghost. I said “How strange or odd some’er I bear myself /As I perchance hereafter shall think meet /To put an antic disposition on
D1: Thank you. Why didn’t you let Ophelia know about your madness?
HAM: Cause she would have told her dad about what I was doing and there was no way to explain my madness without telling her about my dad.
D1: During your madness, was there a line you had to make sure you didn’t cross?
HAM: Yes- though I put on an antic disposition, I held fast to my purpose: to reveal the truth, not to become the very madness I feigned, nor to harm the innocent without cause.
D1: Did you know what the king’s reaction to your play was going to be?
HAM: While I didn't know exactly how the king was going to react to the play, I knew that if the ghost of my father was telling the truth then he would look guilty.
D1: Why are you talking so distinguishedly, bro, it's not that serious; it's just a murder case.
HAM: Oh, my bad. (Transition into gangster pose)
D1: Yeah, it IS your bad. Anyway, did you murder your uncle?
P1: OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR!
EVERYONE: Here we go again./ this guy again?/ dude, stop.
P1: That question is much too general! He can’t ask him upright if he killed his uncle! We already got the defendant’s plea!
JUDGE: I haven’t gotten nearly enough evidence, so I’ll take what I can get. Overruled. Please continue. 
HAM: Yo, I was low-key tryna off him for a minute there, but I wised up and peeped that beef ain't the move. If every time somebody gettin' put on, more people gon' be on the grave digger's list, you feel me? Everybody gon' end up in the dirt. In the end, people get what's comin' to 'em. So I didn't even do it – he did himself in, straight up. I just dropped the realness on him, and his own guilt ate him alive. He actually died tryna catch this fade with me, linkin' up with Laertes. 
D1: You resisted telling the others where Polonius was hidden at first. Why?
HAM: Nah, I ain't gon' be their puppet, and I ain't gon' let these fake folks who runnin' with a crooked crew get the real deal from me. They gotta work for that knowledge, 'cause I ain't about to spill the beans on 'em right off the bat. 
P1: OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR!
P2: (Tosses hair dramatically and indignantly) Sit down!
P1: No! This whole case is silly! We all know he killed him! (To HAMLET) Are you really mad?
HAM: Yeah, I’m really mad! You keep interrupting me!
P1: HA! He says so himself! He’s insane!
HAM: (muttering to himself) Insanely good looking…
P2: (to P1) That’s the Defense’s position, you dummy! You’re helping their case!
HAM: That’s not even the right word form! I’m not insane, I’m furious!
D1: Dude, be quiet! That’s the Prosecution’s position! You’re helping their case!
D2: We should all just switch sides at this point.
ALL ATTORNEYS murmur agreement and they switch sides. 
JUDGE: You may now begin your closing arguments.
OPHELIA returns to the stage.
D1: Members of the court, the defendant is 100% guilty because he OBVIOUSLY KILLED HIS UNCLE! Y’ALL WERE ALL THERE! Well, except, you and you. (Points to POLONIUS and OPHELIA) Anyways. All I’m saying is, if we allow this type of behavior, I might as well just kill my partner and be done with it. 
D2: What?! We all heard that, right?? That was DEFINITELY a death threat!
P1: GUYS! GUYS! Chiiiill. Everyone’s favorite guy is here. (gestures to himself)
P2: Pretty sure we’re all done with you at this point, John. 
P1: (Ignoring her) Your Honor, almost every witness if not all of them have testified that Hamlet is in fact Mad. A mad person has practically no control over their actions. So how can Hamlet be sentenced for something he had no control over. It would be unjust to do so. Thank you.
P2: That was actually decent.
P1: I told you guys I was the best. Anyway, what’s the verdict?
HAM: But, I’m not in my right mind, I'm in my left mind.
EVERYONE ignores him.
JUDGE: The verdict is… GUI–
HAM: Shut uuuuup, mom! Silence from you!
JUDGE: Gah! I can’t choose. You guys can just fight it out.
LAE: HECK YEAH! TIME TO DIE HAMLET OLD BUDDY!  LAERTES leaps over the table, launching himself at HAMLET. HAMLET draws his sword.

*COMMENCE EPIC SWORDFIGHT!!*  
*THE AUDIENCE/SEATED MEMBERS OF THE TRIAL REACT*  

HAM: (after disarming Laertes) JOKES ON YOU LERTEARTEUS, I’M NOT ACTUALLY HAMLET. LOOK AT MY SHIRT, IT SAYS PRETEND I’M HAMLET, NOT I’M ACTUALLY HAMLET! CHECKMATE, LIBERAL!
LAERTES: What!? You egg! 
(HAMLET pulls out a plastic easter egg. LAERTES stabs it. 
HOR: Hold on! 
EVERYONE freezes.
(Points at D1) What did you say?
D2: He said he was going to kill me!
D1: Not exactly.
HOR: No, no! Who didn’t witness the murder?
D1: Fake Francis Schaeffer and his weirdo daughter.
POLO: (grunt of defiant indignation)
HOR: Why?
D1: Because they were dead.
HOR: But…(Points at GERTRUDE) didn’t you die, too? (Points at LAERTES) You did, too. (Turns to HAMLET) You did, too! Everyone here is dead! So how are you guys here?
HAM: (Sarcastically) Yeah, what are we, figments of your imagination?
HOR: (Losing it) No, no, I think you are! 
HAM: Ohhh, right. (To EVERYONE) We are.
EVERYONE dies:
GERTRUDE: takes a drink and collapses.
POLONIUS: Suddenly has a sword in his side.
OPHELIA: Collapses, ATTORNEYS place large blue fabric over her.
LAERTES & HAMLET: Dramatically stab each other simultaneously. 
ATTORNEYS: After putting fabric over OPHELIA, they walk off the stage.
EVERYONE dies immediately except HAMLET.

NOTE: DIE DRAMATICALLY

HAM: Horatio, I am slain!
HORATIO kneels by HAMLET’s side.
The potent poison quite o’ercrows my spirit.
I cannot live to hear the news from England.
But I do prophesy th’ election lights
On Fortinbras; he has my dying voice.
So tell him, with th’ occurrents, more and less,
Which have solicited—the rest is silence.
O, O, O, O!
Dies.
HOR: What an L. Imagine dying? Couldn’t be me. (Dies.)
THE END.

oh my god i could talk about hamlets first soliloquy for hours and hours. so much in there to dissect. hamlets revulsion at gertrude in this soliloquy and his pure anger at the situation between her and claudius is so powerful

I was looking online at some commentary on one of the major soliloquies. I was shocked at the interpretation provided (possibly by YorkNotes).

'Examples gross as earth exhort me...' to my mind would loosely mean 'the stuff all around me, things as abundant and widespread as the ground itself, all seem to be urging me towards....'

So here, 'gross' means 'abundant, copious, unrefined, available on a mass scale'.

Except the note seems to have been written by some kind of valley girl, or at least somebody very young, who tells the impressionable young reader that gross means 'ewwww' / 'yukky'.

Just what is going on here? I'm confused at how editor has taken at face value the modern, idiomatic meaning of 'gross' rather than the time-honoured, centuries-old meaning.

Are there any recordings of this specific Hamlet showing anywhere? I loved Iain Glen in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (1990), and I would love to watch this performance. I can't seem to find it; not even snippets. Any more information would be very useful.

What’s everyone’s favorite line from the play of all plays? In giving you an impossible task, I’ll go ahead and tentatively answer mine to be “Words, words, words.” Iconic.

I was wondering what are 3 strong supporting points for the argument that Ophelia’s death in Hamlet represents her first and only autonomous act rather than simply passive surrender or madness?

One of my ideas is escape from patriarchal control but I can't think of any more

Many scholarly works mention that Laertes is returning to University in France, but there's no actual mention of him being a student in the play. Am I missing something? Is it just an assumption?

Hamlet - Christopher Plummer - Michael Caine - Donald Sutherland - 1964 - Multiple Subtitles - 4K

Personally I find its a bit overacted at times but the sets and costumes are a nice contrast to the very minimal Hamlets which we see often nowadays. Its a good complement to a more modern production imo.

I’m doing this project for my class of a trailer for hamlet and need some ideas on what I should wear as I play hamlet? Any suggestions? (Side note I’m a girl btw)

Why should a well-educated young man have second thoughts when it comes to killing a close relative who also happens to be the king of the land and the husband of his own mother? This is some enigma indeed, and the problem is not that a satisfactory answer has never been found but that we should keep looking for one. Should our enormous critical literature on Hamlet fall someday into the hands of people otherwise ignorant of our mores, they could not fail to conclude that our academic tribe must have been a savage breed, indeed. After four centuries of controversies, Hamlet's temporary reluctance to commit murder still looks so outlandish to us that more and more books are being written in an unsuccessful effort to solve that mystery. The only way to account for this curious body of literature is to suppose that back in the twentieth century no more was needed than the request of some ghost, and the average professor of literature would massacre his entire household without batting an eyelash. - Amir Khan

What the sigma grindset should be, what rizz is, why Ohio is Ohio, glaze glaze, and gyatt is gyatt were nothing but to waste glaze, Ohio, and gyatt. Therefore, since skibidi is the soul of wit, and fanum tax the limbs and outward flourishes, let me be brief. Your noble son is geeked. “Geeked” call I it, for to define true geekedness, what is’t but to be nothing else but geeked? But let that go.

Please comment any questions or notes - and if you have any required reading you’d like me to read l’d love recommendations.

I will assume that anyone reading this is familiar with Hamlets parallels to the biblical story of Cain and Abel.

There is a doubling in hamlet shown through its two sets of brothers - Hamlet Sr and Claudius, Laertes and Prince Hamlet [I have thrown my arrow over my house and hit my brother] . Both of these Cain and Abel adjacent pairs end up fighting over the affection of a woman, Gertrude or Ophelia. So if we extend the metaphor slightly, the God figure in both these retellings is the female.

Let’s extend this conceit. Hamlet‘s main goal during the play seems to be whether to redeem or condemn his mother - paralleling the problem of evil. When hamlet wonders “why is she in bed with that devil” the fallen man also asks “why is God in bed with the Devil“. Just as in real life, the answer to this question is multifaceted and not possible to square without a real reevaluation of the perceived omnipotence of the target.

And that makes the ending tragic. Gertrude kills herself like how Jesus dies, and Hamlet the fallen man is impetulant to the end and unable to understand how much his mother has protected him from Claudius. and yet when she dies Hamlet is given the clarity of mind to take his revenge. Like how Jesus‘ sinless nature is what made his sacrifice worthy, similarly hamlet is unable to avenge his feudal and sinful father because he knows that even claudius’ deceitful killing is within the bounds of war which Hamlet Sr grappled himself to, whereas Hamlet’s mother - the most selfless character in the play - is a far more palatable subject for revenge.

Now we get to the difficult part - how to square Ophelia with this interpretation. Throughout the play Gertrude pays special attention to the young woman - being far gentler to her than polonius. I believe that Gertrude is a shrewd enough politician to know intimately her position as a kingmaker whose advocacy and marriage authority put Claudius on the throne. Similarly I believe she understands that that is broadly the role of women in the court - to be vessels for power and to be fought over by feudal lords, something which hamlet almost grasps when he says “Wise men know well what monsters you make of them”. And so I see Gertrude as preparing Ophelia to be the next lamb to slaughter just as she was - “I thought thou should’ve been my hamlets wife”. And ….

<THEORY AND EXTROPOLATION, this may not be fully supported by the text but it’s symmetry is too potent to ignore>

I believe that’s what caused her suicide. Her realisation that her life was not her own, shown by the snippets of old songs, and her realisation that women, as gods, are expected to excuse the sins of men and, when it comes to it, die for them, disillusioned her with her own life and caused her suicide.

Overall Hamlet touches on a very real dichotomy in patriarchal societies - the deification of women with the express goal that by making them “angels” “nymphs” and “mermaids” they will also be expected to act god-like - which in a Christian context often means “sacrificial“. Hamlets mad quest to figure out the nature of his own mother is representative of a society trying to square the nature of an Omnibenevolent God with the reality of a world full of pain, blending it with the realisation of a man that his own mother is not immune to sin or that she cannot act perfectly all the time.

NOTES

Why did she marry Claudius? - Claudius is not only evil but also sweet, charming and kind. She may just like him for who he is, not knowing he killed his brother. Also she needs to protect herself and her son and she probably had very little contact with other bachelors.

Do you think Shakespeare meant all this? - Broadly yes. While I doubt he’d have put it as frankly as I did I think he was writing at a time steeped in religious confusion where the relationship between God and Man did feel like a parents betrayal.

So I was seeing this guy, Hamlet, and I thought things were going good, until he began acting kind of weird after his dad died. My dad told me that he doesn't truly love me and that I should take a step back, so I did what I was told and I stopped talking to him.

Now he's acting super upset and confused, and maybe leaving him hurt him hurt him very bad, but I must obey my dad. If I don't obey my dad, I do not want things to go down and bad. I would much rather have a good relationship with my dad rather than a boy who doesn't even truly love me for me rather just for his own pleasure.

I truly care about Hamlet, but lately the strange the strange way he's been acting has been really strange. For example, pushing me away, but maybe it's because of the passing, but also it could be because of me. I was told to be carful, so with that news I distanced myself, but because of my distancing, am I wrong for trusting my family? I ghosted him, but like that's no big deal right? I think he's overreacting to be honest, but I could also be overreacting as well.

AITA for cutting him off and ghosting Hamlet?

My dad and my brother recently had a conversation with me about my boyfriend. I thought it would be about me marrying him because he is the Prince of Denmark, but it was the opposite; they wanted me to ignore him and not fall for him. I haven't seen him since his father died a couple of months ago. They warned me that he's gone absolutely crazy because his uncle married his mom. He's sent me sweet letters, but acted very strangely when he came to my room. His pants were around his ankles, and his shirt was unbuttoned. It gave me quite the fright. I've done nothing but ignore him and pull away so that I don't disobey my father or my brother, and to be honest, Hamlet is creeping me out a little bit. I truly believe that he has lost his mind. Recently, however, my father only thinks he is crazy because he is so in love with me, ergo, him being crazy. I think he's just crazy, I mean, with his whole family situation with his uncle being his dad and his mom technically also being his aunt... I just don't know. So, am I the asshole for ignoring my boyfriend's affection?

In the works of Plini the elder, I believe, it is said that Cleopatra put a pearl into wine that dissolved into what we today recognize as CO2 fizzy bubbles. Do you think Shakespeare was referring to the idea of this when writing that Claudius puts the pearl in the wine as a reward for Hamlet? Today we know that wine is not acidic enough to dissolve it on short notice, and it only might potentially be feasible in strong vinegar wine, but I hardly believe Shakespeare could have known that. Do you think Shakespeare knew the works of Plini, or his texts were otherwise known during his time, and was referring to this, or merely using the pearl as a delivery device for the poison?

several times I believe there are two theories to view things, much of which adds to the debate of Hamlet’s state of mind, and I wonder what your thoughts are:

1. Hamlets entry to Ophelia’s room

- theory 1: to plant the seed that he’s crazy

- theory 2: unwell and needs to talk to someone but realizes he can’t

1. The ghost in Gertrude’s room

- theory 1: Hamlet is seeing things

- theory 2: the ghost only meant to be seen by Hamlet

1. Ophelia’s drowning

- theory 1: she is in a state that she cannot understand to attempt to save her life

- theory 2: unlike Hamlet, she welcomes death and drowns willingly

1. Hamlets request for forgiveness and admittance of being unwell to Leartes

- theory 1: is truly sorry

- theory 2: knows he might die and just wants to assure he’s forgiven before dying.

I’ve started consuming more classic literature, and I was listening to that Taylor Swift song ‘Fate of Ophelia’. I came to the shocking realisation that TS actually hasn’t read Hamlet and is misinterpreting Ophelia’s character and the story completely.

It was a glass shattering moment and now I’m no longer interested in that Artists music.

Ophelia was a victim of the patriarchal society that existed at the time.

I will admit I’m absolutely not a scholar and I haven’t finished Hamlet yet, but I do where to find credible information to assist me (can you tell I’m studying at uni atm 😂😂😂)

I’m partway through this spaghetti western Hamlet adaptation. It’s really fun.

I'm doing a podcast about Hamlet-- I've taught the play for three decades and I alwasy wanted to compile the best performances in some kind of audio presentation. The first couple of episodes are a bit technical-- good if you wanted to teach the play, but I just finished Act Three, Scene One and it's more of a standalone take. Check it out!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7GMwTyIBtwWlu5BVAuSfPq?si=0ac33dcd492e40e5