Hamlet

Question:

Answers:

1. 
   jamie-wheeler Teacher
   College - Sophomore

   Though scholars debate his age, most peg him at around 30. The evidence for their argument rests on factors such as Gertrude and King Hamlet's 30 year marriage.

   However, several argue that he is about 20 and base their argument on Yorrik's death, some twelve years before. These scholars also claim that his maturation during the play is evidence for a younger age, but the "older" camp effectively rebutts by pointing to Claudis and Gertrude, who, though much older, are no wiser.

   For an interesting debate about Hamlet's age among Shakespearen scholars, visit the link below.

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/hamlet

   http://www.shaksper.net/archives/1999/0346.html

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   Posted by jamie-wheeler on Wednesday May 16, 2007 at 7:32 AM
   
   

2. 
   rowens Teacher
   High School - 12th Grade

   I suppose I would count myself amongst the crowd who thinks Hamlet is older. I base my belief on the following conversation that takes place between Hamlet and the 1st Clown (aka the grave-maker):

   Ham.
   --How long hast thou been
   a grave-maker?
   1 Clown.
   Of all the days i' the year, I came to't that day that our last King Hamlet overcame Fortinbras.
   Ham.
   How long is that since?
   1 Clown.
   Cannot you tell that? every fool can tell that: it was the very day that young Hamlet was born,--he that is mad, and sent into England.
   Ham.
   Ay, marry, why was be sent into England?
   1 Clown.
   Why, because he was mad: he shall recover his wits there; or, if he do not, it's no great matter there.
   Ham.
   Why?
   1 Clown.
   'Twill not he seen in him there; there the men are as mad as he.
   Ham.
   How came he mad?
   1 Clown.
   Very strangely, they say.
   Ham.
   How strangely?
   1 Clown.
   Faith, e'en with losing his wits.
   Ham.
   Upon what ground?
   

   1 Clown.
   Why, here in Denmark: I have been sexton here, man and boy, thirty years.

   According to the preceding conversation, the grave-maker had been in his occupation since the day Hamlet was born, which he eventually gets around to saying has been thirty years.

   Some may argue that Hamlet must be younger since he is in college, and he behaves so immaturely, but as jamie-wheeler stated, Gertude and Claudius don't behave much like adults at times either. Moreover, many people are still persuing post-secondary degrees well beyond thier thirties.

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/hamlet-text/3342

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   Posted by rowens on Wednesday May 16, 2007 at 4:43 PM
   
   

3. 
   alanrice Teacher
   High School - 10th Grade

   Both of the above answers are correct, in that the gravedigger scene makes Hamlet out to be 30, and yet his character suggests someone considerably younger. Is this an inconsistency? The answer possibly lies with the original cast of the play. It is widely believed that the role of Hamlet was created by Richard Burbage, the leading actor of the Lord Chamberlain's Men. And - most likely - he was about thirty and "fat and scant of breath." (Gertrude's comment in V.ii) Maybe Shakespeare had to include dialogue to justify the use of an oder man playing a younger character!

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/hamlet

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   Posted by alanrice on Friday May 18, 2007 at 6:24 AM
   
   

4. 
   jehan Teacher
   College - Senior

   I think I need to counter this and disagree. Just because its important to know why the contention exists, 30 years, is not neccesarily 'right'.  I teach script analysis to students, making them understand how to break down a script and look through it for its performative value.

   When the question came up in Hamlet, my students poured over a lot of arguments that are listed on the net, and this is the one that argues for him to be 17. Its a compelling take, and I think worth pointing out to students by Stephen Roth. Click here http://www.princehamlet.com/chapter_1.html.

   Another great look at the concept of Time in Shakespeare's plays in general, and a lovely reference to how they figured out the time of the scene where The Ghost of King Hamlet walks the ramparts.  http://extra.shu.ac.uk/emls/02-1/sohmshak.html

   And if that isn't enough, heres a whole bunch of directors at the RSC in Stratford-upon-Avon who've got thier own interpretations. 

   Reading them, I think the ambiguity he raised... is a key reason that Shakespeare has survived so incredibly well through the ages. 

   Sources:

   http://extra.shu.ac.uk/emls/02-1/sohmshak.html

   http://www.princehamlet.com/chapter_1.html

   http://www.rsc.org.uk/hamlet/learning/old.html

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   Posted by jehan on Sunday September 16, 2007 at 10:41 PM
   
   

5. 
   darkshadow Student
   High School - 10th Grade

   Hamlet is about 34-35 years old, dont be fooled he looks alot older than he is if you watch one of the movies they dyed the characters hair to be blonde and it came out whiteish grey

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/hamlet

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   Posted by darkshadow on Monday November 5, 2007 at 4:31 PM
   
   

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