Conclusion

Abstract

Although I have discussed only selected problems it will be clear by now that Shakespeare gave his unremitting attention to audience-response in each of the tragedies. The question ‘ What should Hamlet do or say next?’ must have been inseparable for the dramatist from the question ‘How will it affect the audience?’ As he shaped each play its response problems seem to have been in the forefront of his mind, together with character and plot, at a more conscious level of decision-making than when he settled on its appropriate mood or imagery. While it would be wrong to suggest that its response problems are the only avenue of approach to a tragedy (I have admitted this already) we cannot explain how it ‘works’ without taking them into account at every turn.