<big>'"[[Themes]]"'</big> - as the term is used here, these are the repeated, or continuing, concepts which are of greatest significance to the events of the play. The course of events is most driven by these. The [[Themes]] are all identified from express statements in the dialogue. Knowledge of the Themes (and the Motifs, below,) is helpful in understanding the character speeches and the events, and in simply reading the play.

<big>'''[[Themes]]'''</big> - as the term is used here, these are the repeated, or continuing, concepts which are of greatest significance to the events of the play. The course of events is most driven by these. The [[Themes]] are all identified from express statements in the dialogue. Knowledge of the Themes (and the Motifs, below,) is helpful in understanding the character speeches and the events, and in simply reading the play.

'''Putting on a Show''' -- is ''the'' major theme of ''Hamlet.'' This "show" category comprises instances of usage of the word "show," itself, and the word "play," also instances of false appearance (e.g. "painted face,") and also instances of misleading or deceptive speech and behavior, which are many. The most obvious instance is the actual "show" of the Gonzago/Mousetrap play-within-a-play, but in ''Hamlet'' all the characters, in one way or another, for one reason or another, and to a greater or lesser degree, "put on a show." ''Hamlet'' might even be thought of as Shakespeare's "show about shows."

<big>'"[[Motifs]]"'</big> - is the term used here to refer to concepts which are recurrent in the play, but which mostly "set the stage." They communicate ideas to the audience. They may have some influence on events, but they don't drive the course of the action the way the Themes do. However, the Motifs can be vitally important in particular cases. It is a judgement call whether a recurrent concept is a Theme or Motif.

<big>'''[[Motifs]]'''</big> - is the term used here to refer to concepts which are recurrent in the play, but which mostly "set the stage." They communicate ideas to the audience. They may have some influence on events, but they don't drive the course of the action the way the Themes do. However, the Motifs can be vitally important in particular cases. It is a judgement call whether a recurrent concept is a Theme or Motif.

The Motifs make a rather long list, since Shakespeare repeated many concepts in the play, in creative ways. Even more might be found, but I've drawn the line at those concepts which appear most prominent, which is again, a judgment call.