Think twice before using a free research paper found on-line
We are happy to present the most complete and comprehensive collection of free research papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet on the Internet. There is no need to look
any further. The papers are totally free for you to use, however, it is our duty to forewarn you of the possible perils involved in working with free papers.
We can assure you that 99% of prewritten Shakespeare: Hamlet papers won't fit your assignment's instructions. All free as well as paid prewritten papers
feature outdated research and incomplete referencing. As a result, tailoring the paper to your specifications will take just as much time as writing a new one from scratch.
Free and prewritten papers will be traced by turnitin (plagiarism detection program)
Free and paid prewritten papers are easily traceable by turnitin.com (plagiarism detection program) even after substantial rewriting. A custom written paper composed by one of our professional writers
will never be traced by ANY plagiarism detection software because that paper will be written from scratch and pre-tested for plagiarism.
Get a custom written paper on Shakespeare: Hamlet or any other subject
The best thing about our writing service is that you can provide a complete description and have it written exactly the way you need it. We won't just give you one of the free papers, it
will be masterfully tailored and typed from scratch, authentic all the way. Coupled with our free unlimited revisions guarantee, that becomes one of the most ironclad investmentments ever done.
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
When do you know a work of literature has stood the test of time? When William
Shakespeare wrote it. But why are his works so respected and cherished? One of
his most famous works, Hamlet, is still a favorite among actors and occasional
readers, alike, but why? Why is Shakespeare’s work still able to challenge and
inspire people, four hundred years after it was written? The answer is simple.
Shak... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
People like to put things into categories. Movie critics do so with films:
slasher,buddy,western, war, and more. You can do the same with books: science
fiction, gothic romance and so on. Shakespeare's plays also have categories:
tragedies, comedies, and histories. But these terms don't mean exactly what you
may think they mean. Shakespeare's most famous plays are his tragedies, such as
Hamlet. T... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the tragic hero reveals his inner conflicts and
introspective attitude in each of the lengthy soliloquies in the play. Hamlet is
a static character whose thoughts never dramatically change. Each soliloquy
delves further into Hamlet's motivations, or lack thereof, and psyche. Each
soliloquy, each slightly different, is all united by vivid imagery,
introspective language, a... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
In the play ‘Hamlet’ by Shakespeare, the integrity of some characters are
all challenged with honesty and deceit. The King of Denmark is deteriorating and
rotting the state and its people. Many images of corruption, spying, and decay
compound as the play moves on, because Claudius is trying to find out what his
nephew, Hamlet, is planning. A description of some of the points of defilement
in deta... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, the protagonist exhibits a puzzling,
duplicitous nature. Hamlet contradicts himself throughout the play. He endorses
both the virtues of acting a role and that of being true to one's self. He
further supports both of these conflicting endorsements with his actions. This
ambiguity is demonstrated by his alleged madness, for he does behave madly,only
to become perfe... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
Throughout our lives we have to deal with the changing emotions within us. Our
emotions can sometimes be as unpredictable as the weather and yet we’ve all
found uses for the phrase “I’m having a bad week.” More over, while life
can be a roller coaster ride, it can seem at times that we have a string of
fortunate or unfortunate luck. These shifting highs and lows that we experience
are a mild form... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
The story of Hamlet comes from a long line of revenge tragedies in which a
character attempts to avenge the murder of a family member. Just as revenge is
present in literature, it is also present in today’s society. It is always
there, lurking in the darkness of the human mind, watching, waiting for an
opportunity to lash out at the surrounding world. Shakespeare suggests in Hamlet
that revenge i... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
In Shakespear's Hamlet, the reader gets to know what has been called the
"two Hamlets in the play," the first who is considered to be the
sensitive intellectual who is able to express himself through poetry and who
comes across as being dedicated to truth. The other, barbaric side of Hamlet who
treats Ophelia so cruelly with no empathy, slays Polonius and speaks of dragging
his guts int... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
Gertrude is the beloved wife and mother in the play, Hamlet. Many say that she
is responsible for Hamlet's agony in not being able to proceed with his revenge,
and Claudius' hesitation to guard himself through the destruction of Hamlet. She
is the woman who was "my virtue or my plague, be it either which," for
both of her loves, and is herself a very ordinary person. Seemingly beautiful... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
1. Hamlet, Claudius and Laertes all share similar dilemmas. Compare and contrast
how each approaches his problem. Most people call Hamlet a tragic hero but, they
forget that Claudius, Laertes and Hamlet all share similar problems. Their
dilemmas lead them to death and tragedy. These men approach their troubles in
different ways and cause conflicts in their lives. Firstly, Hamlet must avenge
the d... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
In Act I of Hamlet, the ghost of the king hamlet comes to the battlement,
outside a castle in Denmark. Marcellus and Horatio ask the ghost to speak, but
It remains silent. In Scene 2 the new king, King Claudius, King Hamlet's
brother, is reprimanding Prince Hamlet for depressed. Claudius and Gertrude,
Hamlet's mother, tell Hamlet to get over his father's death. Gertrude married
Claudius one month... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
Gertrude tells Claudius about the death of Polonius, and the King directs
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to recover the counselor's corpse. The two students
confront Hamlet, who mocks them, refuses to tell them where the body is hidden,
but then agrees to see the King. At court, Claudius tells his noblemen that
Hamlet has become a threat to the kingdom, yet he fears to act directly against
him beca... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
Viewing and Analysis a) In the in which Aphelia returns tokens of love from him
(Hamlet), William Shakespeare portrays Hamlet as first as a normal man, but then
as Aphelia returns his tokens of love, he seems to enter his “so-called”
state of madness. Shakespeare seems to reflect him as a character that just
suddenly hits madness when he is turned down by Aphelia, which is the reason
that all the... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
Whether we are planning to build a boat or hoping to write a good essay, the
only way to go about these tasks is to make a detailed plan of all the steps
that need to be taken in order to get the desired result. If you spontaneously
decide to build a boat, the result may be a plywood tub that leaks from all
sides, let alone hold anyone in it. Hamlet, a seventh century story put to life
through th... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
In the play “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare, the character of Claude is a
near perfect example of a Machiavellian character. Claude began as the brother
to King Hamlet, stepbrother to Queen Gertrude and Uncle to Prince Hamlet.
However this situation obviously does not suite Claude so he takes measures to
change it. After doing what he had to too become King, Claude’s brother is
dead, he is marrie... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
There are many different reasons why Hamlet must avenge the death of his father
the late King Hamlet. The aspect of justice versus revenge is a prominent theme
throughout the play. Prominent characteristics in each of the characters seeking
revenge shows the different aspects of what each character feels is justice.
Hamlet is notoriously known for being a man of action. This characteristic
hamper... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
Oftentimes, the minor characters in a play can be vital and, among other things,
function to further the action of the play or to reveal and illuminate the
personalities of other characters. In Hamlet, Fortinbras, the Norwegian Prince,
serves as the most important foil of Hamlet and provides us with the actions and
emotions in which we can compare to those of Hamlet and better reveal Hamlet’s
own... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
Hamlet and his mother Gertrude, the queen, have a relationship with great
intensity and many variations in the way they express their love for each other,
which are illustrated throughout the play. Gertrude helps to reveal the anger
and rage that Hamlet feels deep inside. Gertrude is also a strong contributing
factor in Hamlet’s fury and frustration. The strong feelings of love and
respect that H... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
“I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from
a handsaw” (2.2.338-9). This is a classic example of the “wild and whirling
words” (1.5.133) with which Hamlet hopes to persuade people to believe that he
is mad. These words, however, prove that beneath his “antic disposition,”
Hamlet is very sane indeed. Hamlet is saying that he knows a hunting hawk from a
hunted “han... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
Hamlet and Leartes have many similarities and differences throughout the play.
An example of this is that Laertes and Hamlet both display impulsive reactions
when angered. For example, once Laertes discovers his father has been murdered
Laertes immediately assumes the slayer is Claudius. As a result of Laertes’s
speculation he instinctively moves to avenge Polonius’s death. "To hell,
allegia... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
In the play Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, Hamlet is greatly affected
in his thoughts and his actions by his ever changing state of melancholy.
Melancholia is a medical term categorized by extreme depression, apathy, and
withdrawal. Hamlet gives in to this illness and throughout the play he shows
several characteristics of it. Hamlet being so self-centered steers him away
from performing... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
In the play Hamlet: Prince of Denmark, a young prince is in search of the truth
behind his father’s murder. At first, Hamlet sees the ghost of his deceased
father and it tells him he was murdered by the now current king, Hamlet’s
Uncle Claudius. Hamlet has to think about how he will get revenge for his
fathers death, but because his only knowledge came from a ghost that only Hamlet
heard speak, h... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
The character Ophelia in William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet plays a very
interesting and important role in the elaboration of the plot. In the beginning,
she starts off in a healthy state of mind, in love with her boyfriend Hamlet,
yet controlled by her father in regard to their relationship. During the play
she encounters several troubling experiences involving Hamlet which cause her to
become di... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
Ophelia is a beautiful and simple-minded woman, easily molded by the more
powerful opinions and desires of others. The thoughts of her father and her
brother influenced her the most. The love letters from Hamlet also swayed her
opinions and confused her mind. Ophelia wasn’t able to realize herself because
of all the pressures exerted on her to be something she’s not. That weakness
of mind and wil... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
An example of foreshadowing is when Hamlet’s father came to him as a ghost to
inform him of his murder, this caused a rage within Hamlet that foreshadows his
revenge. This revenge led to the death of his uncle, mother, and himself. It
also created Hamlet’s wild behavior, and caused him possibly to become
insane.. Another example is Hamlet’s sudden unusual behavior toward Ophelia,
which foreshadow... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
Ophelia’s Weaknesses In classic works of literature all characters have
certain flaws. In Shakespeare’s tragedies the characters all have flaws that
eventually lead to their undoing. In the play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare,
the character of Ophelia is ultimately killed by her flaw. It is apparent that
Ophelia is an obedient person through her thoughts and actions in the beginning
of the play, ... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
Ophelia, in this tragedy many see her as just Hamlet’s lover, a character who
is selfish in not helping Hamlet when in need, or just a psycho lover with a lot
of problems. What if the story was twisted so that the play wasn’t a tragedy
and actually turned into a love story due to Ophelia? This is how I would have
written it if I were William Shakespeare. Ophelia who was Hamlet’s love in the
play ... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
In his plays, Shakespeare often puts the antagonists in circumstances similar to
or resembling the problems of the main character or hero. He does this in order
to give us a clear perception of what the characters are like, through contrast
or similarity between them. These literary experiments are called foils. In
Hamlet, Shakespeare gives us many foils for Hamlet, the main character. One
major ... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
What About Polonius? One of the main characters in the play Hamlet, written by
William Shakespeare, is Polonius. Polonius is the father of Laertes and Ophelia
and is also the right hand man to the king, Claudius. He is a man who is nosy
and is constantly babbling about something, yet is a loving father and a loyal
servant to the state. Or is he? What exactly is the nature of Polonius? How
importa... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
Revenge has caused the downfall of many a person. Its consuming nature causes
one to act recklessly through anger rather than reason. Revenge is an emotion
easily rationalised; one turn deserves another. However, this is a very
dangerous theory to live by. Throughout Hamlet, revenge is a dominant theme.
Fortinbras, Laertes, and Hamlet all seek to avenge the deaths of their fathers.
But in so doin... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
As the young prince of Denmark, Hamlet, tries to uncover the truth of his
father's death, he has no one to turn to. Many of the characters within the play
appear to be genuine and honest but are really infested with evil. Not knowing
who is actually genuine and honest, Hamlet trusts no one. Shakespeare develops a
theme of appearance vs. reality where Hamlet's dedication to the truth is
stressed i... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
We often wonder why Shakespeare's character Hamlet, in the play Hamlet, waited
so long after bring told by the ghost, about the evil deed, before carrying out
his plan. Everyone contains a tinge of Hamlet in his or her feelings, wants, and
worries. Hamlet is not like other tragic heroes of his period. He stands apart
from other Shakespeare's heroes in his much discussed innocence. Is this
suppose... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
What qualities come to mind when you think of a king, or any ruler for that
matter? A ruler needs to be very trustworthy, honest, hard working, fair, just,
forgiving and intelligent. Especially where there is a king, as in the play
Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, because a king is in charge of the whole
community. He has to keep in mind all of his subjects as he makes tons of
decisions every day.... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a complex story of revenge, the lack of love, and the
“madness” of Hamlet. Hamlet is a victim of his own humanity. The decisions
he must make, make him human, and his indecisiveness makes him a man. His
father’s ghost asks Hamlet to avenge his death, and Hamlet’s procrastination
to do so adds to his humanity. “What we have in Hamlet is the exploration and
implicit criticis... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
In the play, "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare, many aspects contribute
to the tale of tragedy, but of these there is one thing that is purely essential
to this famous story : the ghost of King Hamlet. The ghost of King Hamlet is so
important to "Hamlet" on so many levels, accounting for most issues,
directly or indirectly, that are involved in the drama. The intrigue of the pal... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
In the pay "Hamlet", the main character is a man who wants revenge. He
wants it so bad that he becomes obsessed with the idea until it ultimately kills
him. Insanity has been defined in many different ways, but essentially, it's a
state in the thoughts and emotions of a person restrict his or her reasoning/
proper judgement. Hamlet lets the fact that his uncle killed his father rule his... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
In the play Hamlet Gertrude and Ophelia are portrayed as weak characters. The
men in their lives have complete control over them. These women obviously do not
have a mind of their own. If they listened to themselves, they would have more
control of their lives. Ophelia is one of those women who is a lost cause to
society. She makes women look helpless and that we can be easily manipulated.
Hamlet... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
In Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the importance of characters Laertes and
Fortinbras have been an issue that's discussed and analyzed by many literary
critics. Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras are parallel characters in the play.
Laertes and Fortinbras are often use by Shakespeare to compare the actions and
emotions of Hamlet throughout the play. "They are also important in Hamlet
as they are... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
Hamlet's classsic "To be or not to be..."(Hamlet, prince of Denmark,
3.1.57) speech really shows who he is. Obviously Hamlet is horribly depressed.
We have already seen several examples of this, but this speech gives us a clear
picture of his sadness. More importantly however, his speech shows his weakness
and indecisiveness. Hamlet is consistently melancholy, but he never really acts
o... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
Polonius advises his children by the use of axioms. He explains to Ophelia want
not to do. He also tells his son Laertes what to do. The problem with this is he
does not monitor his own actions. Shakespeare shows a great example of this is
Hamlet. It is interesting how the advice changes from male to female, and how it
changes in everyday life. Polonius tells Laertes, his son, that he should be a... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
The Tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmark is one of William Shakespeare's most
popular works. One of the possible reasons for this play's popularity is the way
Shakespeare uses the character Hamlet to exemplify the complex workings of the
human mind. The approach taken by Shakespeare in Hamlet has generated countless
different interpretations of meaning, but it is through Hamlet's struggle to
confr... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
The character of Prince Hamlet, in Shakespeare's Hamlet, displays many strong
yet justified emotions. For instance, the "To be or Not To Be"
soliloquy, perhaps one of the most well known quotes in the English language,
Hamlet actually debates suicide. His despair, sorrow, anger, and inner peace are
all justifiable emotions for this troubled character. Hamlet's feeling of
despair towards... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
A great chain of events in "Hamlet", Shakespeare's great revenge
tragedy, leads to Hamlets own demise. His necessity for subterfuge allows him to
inadvertently neglect is main objective, revenge. So much so that the ghost of
his dead father appears to stipulate Hamlets reserved behavior towards his
fathers revenge. "Do not forget. This visitation is to whet thy almost
blunted purpo... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
Everyone contains a tinge of Hamlet in his feelings, wants, and worries, and
proudly so, for Hamlet is not like the other tragic heroes of his period. He
stands apart from other Shakespeare's heroes in his today much discussed
innocence. Is this supposed tragic hero maybe an ideal hero - one without the
tragic flaw, which has been a part of the formula for the tragedy since the
Golden age of Gree... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
What is Hamlet’s flaw?…”Nor to any one is he known to have defect. No one
ever ventures to speak of him slightingly or critically. Why does not the King,
Laertes, or Fortinbras despise him for a scholar and a dreamer, at least,
instead of taking him as they all do for the worthy son of his warrior sire? Why
does not the Queen once sigh, or Horatio sadly shake his head? He is a courtier,
soldier, ... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
Hamlet’s Flaw: The Central Question of the Play? If the main question of the
play is “Why doesn't Hamlet kill Claudius at once upon hearing the ghost's
accusation?” The easiest answer is that if Hamlet had done so, the play would
have ended in Act I. And then "Hamlet, Prince of Denmark" would be a
tragedy of plot writing skills. If we must find ourselves looking for an answer
to the cen... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, Prince Hamlet replaces the letter that
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are carrying to England with a forgery of his own
making, thus sending these two men to their deaths. He does this without giving
it a second thought and never suffers from any guilt or remorse for his actions.
Considering that these two men were friends from his youth, this would at first
glance ... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
Hamlet is a tragic hero through abandonment. His father's death makes his mood
very melancholy. He feels that his father left him and he mourns over his death.
His father dies two months ago and he feels that isn't enough time to mourn. To
point this out, " But two months dread, nay, not so much, not two;"
(I,ii,138) The more Hamlet grieves about his father, the more he dislikes
Claudiu... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
In both Hamlet and King Lear, Shakespeare incorporates a theme of madness with
two characters: one truly mad, and one only acting mad to serve a motive. The
madness of Hamlet is frequently disputed. This paper argues that the
contrapuntal character in each play, namely Ophelia in Hamlet and Edgar in King
Lear, acts as a balancing argument to the other character’s madness or sanity.
King Lear’s mo... Full-text essay
Shakespeare: Hamlet coursework, term papers on Shakespeare: Hamlet, Shakespeare: Hamlet essays
There are many differences between the Kings Hamlet and Claudius with very few
similarities. Perhaps the similarities stop at being the product of the same
mother and father or even being each others brother. The reasons for these
differences can only be speculated. Assuming that each had the same education
and proper parenting one can only assume that living in Hamlets shadow Claudius
grew cold ... Full-text essay