Hamlet as a symbole of the renissance man

Hi everyone,

I'm doing a paper on Hamlet as a Symbol of the Renaissance man, but I'm a little lost. I don't know what
topics to include, or what issues to tackle?
Any ideas?

The Renaissance man was a cultured scientific man who was knowledgeable about pretty much anything. He was a polymath like Leonardo DaVinci and could master many different areas. So I would discuss Hamlet's philosophical nature, his education, his thoughtfulness and all the things he is good at.

Thanks so much

Is Hamlet a Renaissance Man (or a polymath)? Clearly he is a modern man among early Medieval characters (save for maybe Horatio), and he is certainly learned - but his mind is pretty one-track. Now, I suppose you could point to all his intellectual jokes and claim just how learned he is in different subjects - theatre, music, philosophy - but I don't think this makes him a Renaissance Man.

Hamlet is certainly a complex, modern, from whom we all basically derive character - but not a polymath.

Edit: I should add that, while Hamlet may not be a Renaissance Man, Shakespeare surely was. With extensive knowledge of the humanities, arts, and sciences (cf. the flower scene in Winter's Tale) - his characters totalled make up the realm of Renaissance knowledge. He gave Hamlet much, but not everything - or maybe he did but Hamlet died before he could reveal to us the secrets of the universe.

This is an interesting post because last time someone posted about Hamlet it was asked whether readers thought Hamlet was a coward.
Two very contrasting ideas I must say.
May ask a question:
What does a renaissance man mean and would this man be different from say a tudor man?
What I mean is why the term 'renaissance'?
Because the meaning of renaissance means this:
1.The revival of art and literature under the influence of classical models in the 14th–16th centuries.
2.The culture and style of art and architecture developed during this era

That was covered here:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kelby_lake

The Renaissance man was a cultured scientific man who was knowledgeable about pretty much anything. He was a polymath like Leonardo DaVinci and could master many different areas. So I would discuss Hamlet's philosophical nature, his education, his thoughtfulness and all the things he is good at.

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