The book opens with an "Introduction to Hamlet." This section presents a Sparknotes-style treatment of the play. It comprises a list of characters, notes on setting and source material, and a brief summary and analysis. Those are followed by a thorough synopsis and commentary of the play. I found that section to be particularly useful, even though I am well versed in the play. It is a balanced, straightforward rendering of the plot, including interesting asides from the author. For instance, Renwick notes the oddity of Hamlet's first meeting with Horatio, even though the latter has been in Denmark for the funeral and wedding. The author identifies the poison used to murder Old Hamlet as henbane, similar to the Folger edition note regarding hebona (hebanon).
Renwick labels seven soliloquies from Hamlet, including the short "O all you host of heaven" speech in I, v. In a note on the "rogue and peasant slave" soliloquy, he questions the value for Hamlet of having the players reenact the murder of his father. Later, he describes Hamlet's "limited degree of self-understanding" displayed in the "To be or not to be" soliloquy.
In describing "The Mousetrap," Renwick asserts that the exchanges between Player King and Queen may have been part of the additional lines that Hamlet inserted into the text. Regarding Hamlet's subsequent departure for England, he questions Hamlet's willingness to undertake a voyage that obviously will delay his revenge plot. Later, Renwick ascribes a lapse of logic to Claudius and Laertes' conspiracy. "It fails to occur to either of them," he notes, "that a death caused by poison would hardly appear accidental."
In his discussion of the duel, Renwick calls the preliminary apologetic exchange between Hamlet and Laertes "blatantly hypocritical." Each knows that he is lying; Hamlet about his insanity and Laertes about settling the matter honorably. Renwick describes the poisoned pearl used by Claudius as "actually hollow and contains poison," an interesting notion.
The second part of the book contains four extended essays about Hamlet. The first, "A Fetch of Warrant: The Indirect Method in Hamlet," discusses the numerous uses of indirection and their degrees of success. Polonius, Claudius, Gertrude, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern, and Hamlet all employ indirect methods so "By indirections to find directions out." Based on his analyses of each instance, Renwick concludes that indirect methods have failed. As he puts it, "Direct action could hardly have produced worse results."
The second essay, "Mighty Opposites: The Virtues of Claudius, The Vices of Hamlet," compares the two characters contrary to the manner in which one typically might. Perhaps Claudius is not entirely the contemptuous villain nor Hamlet entirely the sympathetic victim as one might think. The extended analysis leads to the conclusion that both Hamlet and Claudius possess defects in character. Hamlet is "mean-spirited and lacking will-power," while Claudius is "overly egocentric and deficient in conscience."
"Defying Augury: God, Fate, Free Will, and Chance in Hamlet" looks at various forces guiding the characters, especially Hamlet himself. Impulsiveness in the Prince yields both positive and negative consequences, generally falling on the latter option. "[His] failure to turn chance occurrences to full advantage led to his death. Although he avenged his father's murder, too many other lives were lost as well."
The final essay, "Frailty, is Woman thy True Name?" looks at the play's female characters. Renwick concludes that Gertrude and Ophelia "displayed considerable strength of character throughout the play." While they might have displayed momentary weaknesses, their overall behavior does not match Hamlet's characterization of frailty.
Understanding Hamlet is a very creditable addition to the Hamlet library. Certainly it should prove helpful to a student undertaking a study of the play for the first time. For the veteran, there also is considerable merit in its summaries and analyses. I recommend it for anyone interested in learning more about Hamlet.
