Choosing a Play
For this project I had to research the plays Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet,
and decide which one I would like to continue to study.
and decide which one I would like to continue to study.
Hamlet
Main CharactersHamlet The main character of the play. Hamlet is cynical and angry, and wishes he were more decisive. He is dead by the end of the play.
Claudius The antagonist. Claudius is the late king's brother, and took his place when he died. He is dead by the end of the play. Gertrude Hamlet's mother. Gertrude married Claudius when her late husband died, to Hamlet's disgust. She is also dead by the end of the play. The Ghost Claims to be the ghost of the late king. The ghost says he is Hamlet's father, and tells Hamlet that Claudius murdered him. SummaryBefore the story begins, King Hamlet dies. His wife Gertrude marries Claudius, his brother, and Claudius takes his place as king. Hamlet, the king's son, is disgusted with his mother for marrying Claudius, and hates Claudius for taking his father's place.
When a ghost appears that looks like the old king, Hamlet speaks to it. It tells him that it is indeed his father, and that he was murdered by Claudius. Hamlet isn't sure whether or not to believe the ghost, thinking that it could be an evil spirit, but he would like to believe that Claudius is at fault. Hamlet has a troupe of actors play the scene of a king being poisoned, the murder the ghost described Claudius committing. When Claudius acts disturbed and leaves the room, Hamlet is sure that he did in fact kill the old king. Hamlet is indecisive, however, and in his reluctance to take revenge on Claudius he accidentally kills Polonius, who is the father of Ophelia, his lover. She goes crazy after her father's death, and drowns herself. Hamlet is punished for the murder by being exiled to England. There Rosancrantz Guildenstern, two of Hamlet's school friends, are supposed to have him hanged, but he arranges their hangings instead. When he arrives home, Hamlet goes to Ophelia's funeral and fights with Laertes, Ophelia's brother, about which of them loved her more. Laertes, therefore, is easy to convince when Claudius plots the murder of Hamlet with him. Laertes and Hamlet fight, and Laertes wounds Hamlet with a poisoned sword. In the following scuffle their swords are switched, and Hamlet kills Laertes with his own poison. Gertrude, thinking Hamlet has won the fight, drinks from a cup intended for Hamlet, which Claudius poisoned. She dies, and Hamlet stabs Claudius with the poisoned sword and forces him to drink the poisoned wine. As he dies, he asks his friend Horatio to tell his story. Then the king of Denmark, Fortinbras, arrives to take over Claudius' kingdom. It turns out to be a little easier than he had expected. More Information |
Romeo and Juliet
Main CharactersRomeo The son of Montague and Lady Montague. Romeo is a romantic, and falls in love with Juliet. He is dead by the end of the play.
Juliet The daughter of Capulet and Lady Capulet. Juliet falls in love with Romeo, and is also dead by the end of the play. She's only thirteen. The Montagues and the Capulets Two families who don't get along. The Montagues and the Capulets have a longstanding feud with each other. Friar Lawrence A friar and friend of Romeo and Juliet. Friar Lawrence marries Romeo and Juliet in secret, hoping to bring peace between their two families. SummaryAt the beginning of the play, Romeo is pining over a girl who doesn't love him, but when he sees Juliet at a party he falls in love with her instead. Though the party is held so that Juliet can meet Paris, whom she is supposed to marry, she falls in love with Romeo. The two of them are dismayed when they find out that they are from each other's rival families, but they are so deeply in love that they decide to get married in secret.
Later, Tybalt, one of the Capulets, initiates a fight with Mercutio, a friend of Romeo's. Romeo tries to break up the fight, but Tybalt kills Mercutio. Romeo stabs Tybalt in return, and is banished for the murder by the prince. Capulet, unknowing of Juliet's marriage to Romeo, plans her wedding with Paris. When she finds out about it she begs Friar Lawrence for help, and he gives her a potion that will make her appear dead for a length of time. She takes the potion and is placed in the family tomb. Unfortunately, the messenger meant to tell Romeo about the plan was held up, and Romeo only heard that Juliet had died. He rushed to her side and poisoned himself. Juliet, waking to find him dead beside her, took his dagger and killed herself, not wishing to live without him. Seeing them both dead, the Capulets and the Montagues made peace with each other, but at high cost. More InformationMy DecisionI have decided to continue to study Romeo and Juliet, although they both look very interesting and I would love to learn more about both of them.
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