Write a fully-developed paper on the following question after reading "The Norton Anthology of World Literature, shorter Third Edition, Vols I and II New York: W. W. Norton, 2013" supporting your claims with evidence from the text. Consider at least some of the following questions;
How do you understand the relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia? What parallels can you see between them and their situations? What kind of power does Polonius wield over his children (Ophelia and Laertes) and over the court generally? What kind of person is he? How does he influence Claudius and Gertrude? How does Hamlet try to gain power over Claudius? How does the play-within-the play unsettle power relations? Does Hamlet take full advantage of this? Why or why not? How does Claudius attempt to regain control or power after the play-within-the play? Discuss the power dynamics between Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. What strikes you about the scene between Hamlet and his mother, Gertrude, in her chamber? After the play-within-the play, how does Claudius seek to reclaim control or power? How does he use others in his attempt to regain the upper hand?
He has been mentioned earlier in the play, and will reappear at the end. Who is he? What is he doing? How does his situation parallel that of Hamlet's and how is it different? Like Hamlet and Fortinbras, Laertes is also trying to avenge his father's death. Compare the three characters. How can Laertes and Fortinbras be seen as foils to Hamlet? How does Claudius use Laertes? How has the balance of power changed from the beginning of the play to the end? What ethical dilemmas does the play raise?