Context in Hamlet

The specific ways in which an author uses context, allow readers to develop a greater appreciation for the text. The play, Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, heavily adopts the use of context in numerous ways to allow the reader to embrace the text and its contextual meaning. In Hamlet, Shakespeare has encouraged us to focus on historical context, social context and ideological context to allow the audience to develop this appreciation for the text It is the ways in which context can be observed from the text, that allows a reader to understand meaning behind the text, develop new values and attitudes, discover a history, and in response, gather a much greater appreciation for the text.
Exploring history is an important and vital component in discovering and learning to broaden ones knowledge. To influence a readers depiction of a period in history, authors use historical context. In Hamlet, Shakespeare desires to provoke though through his use of historical context throughout the text. In the particular period this text was written; seventeenth century England, the vast cultural phenomenon known as the Renaissance was occurring. The effect of the Renaissance, and the harvesting of new ideas, values and knowledge can be reflected upon in the text. In response to the Renaissance, there occurred the development of humanism; new interest in human experience, which saw me, not gods, as the makers of their own destiny. Shakespeare created the character of Hamlet to represent the renaissance man of the period. Hamlet was a learned man who questions life and examines the world, embodying the typical, impugning Renaissance man. He encourages the audience to think of similar Renaissance themes and also adopt particular value of the time. Historical context also encourages empathy from the audience. During the time in which this text was written, there was great instability for Queen Elizabeth. A failed assassination, a failed rise and a failed invasion. The