What claim does Girard develop in this essay?

1. In this essay, Girard develops the claim that Hamlet's behavior and delay in seeking revenge are driven by mimetic desire and rivalry. He argues that Hamlet's desire for revenge is not genuine but is a result of his emulation of other characters and his perception of them as models of being.

What is Girard’s explanation for why Hamlet fails to take revenge swiftly? What does he argue is the link between this behavior and revenge theater?

2. Girard suggests that Hamlet fails to take revenge swiftly because he is caught in a cycle of mimetic desire. He argues that Hamlet is constantly imitating and emulating others, particularly Laertes, and this imitation leads to a delay in his actions. Girard sees a connection between this behavior and revenge theater, suggesting that Hamlet's hesitation and contemplation serve a dramatic purpose and contribute to the theatricality of the play.

What central idea does Girard begin to develop in lines 25-70?

What is Girard’s tone toward Shakespeare and his play? Explain how his feelings are revealed through his language as well as his choice of details.

Girard provides three examples of the models that he claims Hamlet needs to work up a taste for vengeance. Identify these examples and discuss how their presentation within the argument strengthens or diminishes Girard’s claims.

According to Girard, what is the relationship between the character of Laertes and revenge theater? Is this interpretation of Laertes’ role convincing? Why or why not

Review the lines spoken by Hamlet that Girard cites. Do these lines effectively support his perspective on Hamlet’s state of mind? Explain.

6. The lines spoken by Hamlet that Girard cites, such as "What is a man if his chief good and market of his time / Be but to sleep and feed?" and "O, from this time forth / My thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth," do support Girard's perspective on Hamlet's state of mind. These lines depict Hamlet's contemplation of the purpose of life and his determination to take action. They highlight Hamlet's inner struggle and the intensity of his desires, which Girard argues are driven by mimetic rivalry.

Trace the reasoning that Girard uses to support his overall claim, showing the relationships among the central ideas.

7. Girard's reasoning to support his overall claim follows a logical progression. He begins by establishing the idea of mimetic desire and its role in shaping human motivations. He then applies this concept to Hamlet, arguing that Hamlet's delay in seeking revenge is a result of mimetic desire and emulation of others. Girard further connects this behavior to revenge theater and the dramatic purpose it serves. Finally, he reinforces his claim by referencing other works and figures that he believes embody the desire for vengeance.

What is the “something portentous” that Gertrude’s birth metaphor refers to in line 195? In Girard’s view, how might the phrase be applied to Shakespeare’s play as well?