The sources
Shakespeare takes as a model for "Hamlet" the fiveth volume of Francis de Belleforest's "Histories tragiques" published on 1576; he takes as a model Saxo Grammaticus's "Historia danica" composed in latin about 1200 but published on 1514. Two tragedies show some differences: in Belleforest's one there isn't any mystery on circumstances of king's death. Hamlet is a legendary figure who we can recognize also in some Scandinavian sagas previous Saxo. Some legendary themes find in the Bruto's story too that frees his country from tyranny of Tarquins; both "Hamlet" and "Agamennon" start with same scene of sentry. The tragedy is above all in reaction of characters to situations, taken like absolute symbol of crisis more vast and deep. The problem for Hamlet is to punish a crime and to correct a suffered wrong; not only the Hamlet's integrity was violate but also the integrity of all country, a something disturbed harmony of nature. He becomes from original warlike to "depressed" and "positive" hero, he acquires a chivalrous favour to pursue the honour and the glory, and a justification for his revenge which becomes a "tyrannicide", apart from a punishment from his father's murder. Belleforest passes all guilts on the female lechery; the queen is adulterous, the sister is sensual and desirous, the wife is Scottish and unfaithful.