"To be, or not to be, that is the question:/ Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer/the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,/ Or to take arms against a sea of troubles/ And by opposing end them." In this sentence, Hamlet contemplates if it is more meaningful to off one's self or to suffer their way through life. He wonders if a person's life means more if they find worth even though they have had to struggle through many hardships. His true question is : is it worth it?
"To die-to sleep,/ No more; and by a sleep to say we end/ The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks/ That flesh is heir to; 'tis a consummation/ Devoutly to be wish'd." Here, Hamlet says that death is like a very peaceful sleep, one that will be the end of pain and suffering. He says that it may sound like a curse to die, but really it is a rest that should be sought after.
"To die, to sleep;/ To sleep perchance to dream- ay, there's the rub:/ For in that sleep of death what dreams may come,/ When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,/ Must give us pause- there's the respect/ That makes calamity of so long life." Once again, Hamlet is speaking of the peace that he idealizes to come with death. He says that it annoys him that there should be such peace in death when there are such disasters and tragedies in life.
"For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,/ Th'opressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,/ The pangs of dispriz'd love, the law's delay,/ The insolence of office, and the spurns/ That patient merit of th'unworthy takes,/ When he himself might his quietus make/ With a bear bodkin?" Hamlet laments many of the things that he has suffered recently (unrequited love, his proud uncle, etc.) and even goes so far as to say that they are perhaps insignificant in the grand scheme of things (bodking=needle, meaning it is just a prickling nuisance rather than something that causes real pain).
"Who would the fardels bear, to grunt and sweat under a weary life,/ But that the dread of something after death,/ The undiscover'd country, from whose bourn/ No traveller returns, puzzles the will,/ And makes us rather bear those ills we have/ Than fly to others that we know not of?" Hamlet speaks of how many people have a fear of death. He says that they would rather face the suffering that is common in life than go on to something that they know nothing about because no one has returned from death.
"Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,/ And thus the native hue of resolution/ Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,/ And enterprises of great pitch and moment/ With this regard their currents turn awry/ And lose the name of action." Hamlet says that everyone is held in place by their morals. He speaks of how many people's morals keep them from doing any action, and in this sense, he may be talking about his own inability to act on the revenge he must take.
"Soft you now,/ The fair Ophelia! Nymph, in thy orisons/ Be all my sins remember'd." Shakespeare's placement of Ophelia at the end of this speech suggests at the part she plays in Hamlet's suffering. There is a hint that he really, truely does love her and it is only after she betrays him with lies that Hamlet realizes that he can't live wiht a woman so easily manipulated.
This whole speech serves as a reminder to the reader of the choices that Hamlet must make, as well as all of the hardships that he has had to endure. His lamentation about the things going on around him help to create an understanding of exactly how much Denmark is failing and the corruption that seems to be taking over. It is possible that this is where Hamlet begins to make the transition from acting to real madness. With his infatuation with death and the idea that with death comes peace, it is amazing that Hamlet isn't dead already.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Act 2 Questions
1. At the beginning of Act 2, Polonius tells Reynaldo to go spy on Laertes for him. He plans to trap his son by getting Reynaldo to go around telling lies to Laertes' friends to see their reaction. This is supposed to give him a more honest truth than if he just out and asked Laertes' acquaintances about him and what he does.
2. This is the first insight we have into Polonius as the fool of this story. We see how he cares about what Laertes is doing because of how it would reflect on his reputation. It also helps the reader to see the round about way that he thinks as well as the way he skirts the issue, rather than getting straight to the point.
3. Ophelia was scared because Hamlet was acting mad. He was half-naked and came and grabbed her arm and held her. He let her go eventually, but it still frightened her.
4. Rosencrantz and Gildenstern have been summoned to Denmark by the king to see what is the matter with Hamlet. Claudius thinks that Hamlet's childhood friends will be the best ones to get the truth out of Hamlet about whether he knows anything.
5. Hamlet asks the players to recite Aeneas' tale to Dido. This speech is supposed to parallel Hamlet's situation with Claudius. Hamlet has the same duty as Pyrrus of revenge for his father's death. The mention of Hecuba watching Priam's death is meant to remind Hamlet to think of the feelings of his mother and try to shield her from the revenge that he must take.
6. This line is spoken by Ophelia and is meant to emphasize her role in this text as a tool to her father. At this point, she is denying Hamlet's access to her in order to save Polonius' reputation.
7. Gertrude is telling Polonius to stop wasting time and get to the point about Hamlet's madness. I think this is meant to show her impatience and how she feels about Polonius.
8. Hamlet says it his duty by the power from both heaven and hell to avenge the death of his father. He speaks of how he has to use the speech from the play to say what he really thinks. He feels bound by his duty to keep others from knowing that he knows Claudius killed his father.
9. In this section, Polonius reveals to Reynaldo his plan for getting answers about Laertes. His plan shows us his foolish ways in how Reynaldo will have to make up a whole bunch of lies just to get a couple of answers about what Laertes is doing in France.
10. This line is both to emphasize the extent of Hamlet's acting mad as well as making fun of Polonius. Hamlet is making a pun on himself as the sun (son) and saying that he will shine women and make them "breed maggots" (aka he will get them pregnant). This is made even funnier by the fact that Polonius can't do anything to call Hamlet out because he is supposedly crazy.
11. Extended: Fortune-a prostitute that isn't constant.
Implied: poison-lies ("takes prisoner Pyrrhus' ear" ln. 465)
Direct: Denmark-a prison.
12. Polonius thinks that Hamlet coming to Ophelia, ranting and raving and half naked, is proof of his love for her.
13. "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." Hamlet is saying that Elsinore is a prison for him because of what he thinks (and what he knows). The reason it isn't a jail for Rosencrantz and Gildenstern is because they have no bad memories to make them think of it that way. This quote relates to Hamlet because he is the one who has been given the burden of knowing that his uncle killed his father. The fact that Claudius married Gertrude only adds to the prison-like atmosphere for Hamlet. He feels like he is being trapped into a corrupt world that he can do nothing to change except to lie himself.
14. A fishmonger is a pimp.
15. Jephthah prayed to God and said he would sacrifice the next person who walked in the door if only he could be advanced politically. His daughter walked in and he offers her up and is advanced politically as he had originally planned. This reinforces the idea of Polonius as a pimp using his daughter for his own gain.
2. This is the first insight we have into Polonius as the fool of this story. We see how he cares about what Laertes is doing because of how it would reflect on his reputation. It also helps the reader to see the round about way that he thinks as well as the way he skirts the issue, rather than getting straight to the point.
3. Ophelia was scared because Hamlet was acting mad. He was half-naked and came and grabbed her arm and held her. He let her go eventually, but it still frightened her.
4. Rosencrantz and Gildenstern have been summoned to Denmark by the king to see what is the matter with Hamlet. Claudius thinks that Hamlet's childhood friends will be the best ones to get the truth out of Hamlet about whether he knows anything.
5. Hamlet asks the players to recite Aeneas' tale to Dido. This speech is supposed to parallel Hamlet's situation with Claudius. Hamlet has the same duty as Pyrrus of revenge for his father's death. The mention of Hecuba watching Priam's death is meant to remind Hamlet to think of the feelings of his mother and try to shield her from the revenge that he must take.
6. This line is spoken by Ophelia and is meant to emphasize her role in this text as a tool to her father. At this point, she is denying Hamlet's access to her in order to save Polonius' reputation.
7. Gertrude is telling Polonius to stop wasting time and get to the point about Hamlet's madness. I think this is meant to show her impatience and how she feels about Polonius.
8. Hamlet says it his duty by the power from both heaven and hell to avenge the death of his father. He speaks of how he has to use the speech from the play to say what he really thinks. He feels bound by his duty to keep others from knowing that he knows Claudius killed his father.
9. In this section, Polonius reveals to Reynaldo his plan for getting answers about Laertes. His plan shows us his foolish ways in how Reynaldo will have to make up a whole bunch of lies just to get a couple of answers about what Laertes is doing in France.
10. This line is both to emphasize the extent of Hamlet's acting mad as well as making fun of Polonius. Hamlet is making a pun on himself as the sun (son) and saying that he will shine women and make them "breed maggots" (aka he will get them pregnant). This is made even funnier by the fact that Polonius can't do anything to call Hamlet out because he is supposedly crazy.
11. Extended: Fortune-a prostitute that isn't constant.
Implied: poison-lies ("takes prisoner Pyrrhus' ear" ln. 465)
Direct: Denmark-a prison.
12. Polonius thinks that Hamlet coming to Ophelia, ranting and raving and half naked, is proof of his love for her.
13. "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." Hamlet is saying that Elsinore is a prison for him because of what he thinks (and what he knows). The reason it isn't a jail for Rosencrantz and Gildenstern is because they have no bad memories to make them think of it that way. This quote relates to Hamlet because he is the one who has been given the burden of knowing that his uncle killed his father. The fact that Claudius married Gertrude only adds to the prison-like atmosphere for Hamlet. He feels like he is being trapped into a corrupt world that he can do nothing to change except to lie himself.
14. A fishmonger is a pimp.
15. Jephthah prayed to God and said he would sacrifice the next person who walked in the door if only he could be advanced politically. His daughter walked in and he offers her up and is advanced politically as he had originally planned. This reinforces the idea of Polonius as a pimp using his daughter for his own gain.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Hamlet's soliloquy (ln. 92-112)
Fielding- I'm not sure if you want us to translate this or interpret it, so I'm doing a little of both.
Hamlet calls on every force he can think of (other than man) to help him do what he has to do in order to seek revenge for his father. He also talks about how he will use every force and fiber of his being in order to seek out the revenge that the ghost of his father seeks. Hamlet speaks of how all of his previous learning will mean nothing compared to how he will throw himself into the task of avenging the murder. He blames his mother and calls her a villain. He also talks of the lies that take place in Denmark ("that one may smile...and be a villain" ln. 108). Hamlet swears an oath to himself that he will make his uncle pay for the death of his father.
It is suggested that Shakespeare puts in this speech to show the reader the beginnings of Hamlet's madness and how it starts. Because he makes this promise to himself, he is more likely to honor it than he would if he made it to anyone else. We may not all like to admit it, but all people have a basic selfishness that often makes us put ourselves before others. When Hamlet says, "Adieu, adieu, remember me" (ln. 111), it is like he knows how far lost he will get in his role of acting crazy. This line may also suggest that Hamlet is reminding himself not to forget the oath he has sworn to avenge his father. He knows he may go overboard, but at the same time, he is telling himself not to.
Hamlet calls on every force he can think of (other than man) to help him do what he has to do in order to seek revenge for his father. He also talks about how he will use every force and fiber of his being in order to seek out the revenge that the ghost of his father seeks. Hamlet speaks of how all of his previous learning will mean nothing compared to how he will throw himself into the task of avenging the murder. He blames his mother and calls her a villain. He also talks of the lies that take place in Denmark ("that one may smile...and be a villain" ln. 108). Hamlet swears an oath to himself that he will make his uncle pay for the death of his father.
It is suggested that Shakespeare puts in this speech to show the reader the beginnings of Hamlet's madness and how it starts. Because he makes this promise to himself, he is more likely to honor it than he would if he made it to anyone else. We may not all like to admit it, but all people have a basic selfishness that often makes us put ourselves before others. When Hamlet says, "Adieu, adieu, remember me" (ln. 111), it is like he knows how far lost he will get in his role of acting crazy. This line may also suggest that Hamlet is reminding himself not to forget the oath he has sworn to avenge his father. He knows he may go overboard, but at the same time, he is telling himself not to.
Hamlet 1.3 & 1.4
1. Laertes tells Ophelia not to completely trust what Hamlet tells her. He warns her that, while Hamlet may mean what he says now, there could come a time in the future when he has to make a sacrifice. Laertes' advice contrasts that of his father because, rather than trying to make himself look good, Laertes is trying to keep his sister from getting hurt.
2. This quote fits into the idea of women losing their virginity before they are married and there for becoming worthless. In this case, Ophelia is the flower that could potentially be decayed by the canker (Hamlet). The quote also reinforces and foreshadows to the theme of the end of mankind.
3. Ophelia uses the analogy of pastors preaching about heaven while they are going against what they say is right. What she means is that Laertes shouldn't be giving her such advice when she knows what he is doing in France (bars and brothels, etc.)
4. a.) don't say anything if it isn't what you think and don't act on something if you haven't thought it out.
b.) don't get into fights, but if you do, use the other guy's fear to your advantage
c.) Listen to everyone, but don't talk too much
d.) Don't loan out things to others or borrow from them
e.) Don't be too judgmental, but take judgment from others.
5. In lines 105-109, Polonius is playing off the word "tender." What he is telling Ophelia is she thinks of Hamlet's words as little words of endearment. Polonius views them as payment (Hamlet will say anything to get her into bed) and is telling Ophelia that she should as well. He criticizes her for taking such small "tenders" that could be changed at a moment's notice.
6. Polonius compares the attraction of Hamlet to small fires that create light without the heat. "These blazes...extinct in both" helps the reader to better understand how Polonius feels. He thinks if Ophelia falls for Hamlet and loses her virginity, then his reputation will also be ruined because of his status as her father.
7. Polonius commands Ophelia to stay away from Hamlet and not fall in love with him. He feels that her falling in love with Hamlet and losing her virginity reflects on him and he doesn't want anything to get in the way of his plans. This contrasts with his later plans to get his daughter married to Hamlet since he's mad.
8. In lines 13-38, Hamlet is making fun of King Claudius, who is not his favorite person. He tells Horatio of the embarrassment of the king making toasts and shooting off canons as a reason for being drunk. It is suggested that the drunken leader is the reason for the decaying society of Denmark.
9. Horatio may be right in not wanting Hamlet to follow the ghost. He thinks that the ghost is an evil spirit that will lead him off of a cliff or cause him to drown. It is possible that the ghost is a demon that has come to earth to cause the downfall of Denmark.
10. Hamlet commands the guards to let him go follow the ghost. He also tells them that he will kill them if they follow him. This may reinforce the idea that the ghost will only talk to Hamlet and not anyone else.
2. This quote fits into the idea of women losing their virginity before they are married and there for becoming worthless. In this case, Ophelia is the flower that could potentially be decayed by the canker (Hamlet). The quote also reinforces and foreshadows to the theme of the end of mankind.
3. Ophelia uses the analogy of pastors preaching about heaven while they are going against what they say is right. What she means is that Laertes shouldn't be giving her such advice when she knows what he is doing in France (bars and brothels, etc.)
4. a.) don't say anything if it isn't what you think and don't act on something if you haven't thought it out.
b.) don't get into fights, but if you do, use the other guy's fear to your advantage
c.) Listen to everyone, but don't talk too much
d.) Don't loan out things to others or borrow from them
e.) Don't be too judgmental, but take judgment from others.
5. In lines 105-109, Polonius is playing off the word "tender." What he is telling Ophelia is she thinks of Hamlet's words as little words of endearment. Polonius views them as payment (Hamlet will say anything to get her into bed) and is telling Ophelia that she should as well. He criticizes her for taking such small "tenders" that could be changed at a moment's notice.
6. Polonius compares the attraction of Hamlet to small fires that create light without the heat. "These blazes...extinct in both" helps the reader to better understand how Polonius feels. He thinks if Ophelia falls for Hamlet and loses her virginity, then his reputation will also be ruined because of his status as her father.
7. Polonius commands Ophelia to stay away from Hamlet and not fall in love with him. He feels that her falling in love with Hamlet and losing her virginity reflects on him and he doesn't want anything to get in the way of his plans. This contrasts with his later plans to get his daughter married to Hamlet since he's mad.
8. In lines 13-38, Hamlet is making fun of King Claudius, who is not his favorite person. He tells Horatio of the embarrassment of the king making toasts and shooting off canons as a reason for being drunk. It is suggested that the drunken leader is the reason for the decaying society of Denmark.
9. Horatio may be right in not wanting Hamlet to follow the ghost. He thinks that the ghost is an evil spirit that will lead him off of a cliff or cause him to drown. It is possible that the ghost is a demon that has come to earth to cause the downfall of Denmark.
10. Hamlet commands the guards to let him go follow the ghost. He also tells them that he will kill them if they follow him. This may reinforce the idea that the ghost will only talk to Hamlet and not anyone else.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Hamlet 1:1
1. Shakespeare uses the arguing of the guards to create humor and invoke interest in the play. Curiosity is also created by the appearance of the ghost of the king who is never given a chance to speak.
2. Despite the fact that the ghost doesn't speak, we are given some insight into the moment due to what he is wearing. the fact that he is dressed in his complete armor suggests at the impending attack from Norway and the decay of Denmark.
3. The reader becomes interested in the ghost when we find that it doesn't want to speak to the guards or the highly educated Horatio. This suggestion is made even more intriguing by his war clothes and how he disappears when he is attacked by the guards.
4. The mood is dark and cold, due to the presence of the ghost and the time of year. This plays into the theme of the fall of mankind.
5. The sentries are apprehensive, not only because their country is at war, but also because they have seen the ghost of their king who is dressed in full armor as if he is prepared for battle.
6. At first, Horatio suggests that the king has come to tell his people of treasure and how to get it, but he then realizes what the king is wearing and correctly assumes that he has come to warn his kingdom of the impending attack by Norway led by young Fortinbras.
7. Barnardo, Francisco, Marcellus, Horatio, and the ghost (?)
8. One thing that Horatio says about the old king is that he was a big enemy of King Fortinbras and they had a battle over lands, which King Hamlet won.
9. Young Fortinbras is the son of the king of Norway who is preparing to attack Denmark. (fits into the theme of the fall of mankind/ the fall of Denmark)
10. Horatio says that Rome was doomed after Julius Caesar was murdered. He says that the dead roamed the streets and there were many disasters ("The graves...with eclipse" ln. 118).
11. Horatio is set apart from the guards due to his educated status. His opinion is highly respected by Barnardo and Marcellus because of his education and they even go so far as to seek him out to interpret for them. Horatio is also set apart because he is so skeptical about the ghost. Once he realizes that it is real, he is the only one out of the three who can figure out what the ghost means/stands for.
12. Horatio was brought into the scene by the guards because of his educated status. They think will be able to interpret what the ghost wants, or that he can even talk to the ghost.
13. In scene one, we are given a partial back story to the feud that is going on between Denmark and Norway.
2. Despite the fact that the ghost doesn't speak, we are given some insight into the moment due to what he is wearing. the fact that he is dressed in his complete armor suggests at the impending attack from Norway and the decay of Denmark.
3. The reader becomes interested in the ghost when we find that it doesn't want to speak to the guards or the highly educated Horatio. This suggestion is made even more intriguing by his war clothes and how he disappears when he is attacked by the guards.
4. The mood is dark and cold, due to the presence of the ghost and the time of year. This plays into the theme of the fall of mankind.
5. The sentries are apprehensive, not only because their country is at war, but also because they have seen the ghost of their king who is dressed in full armor as if he is prepared for battle.
6. At first, Horatio suggests that the king has come to tell his people of treasure and how to get it, but he then realizes what the king is wearing and correctly assumes that he has come to warn his kingdom of the impending attack by Norway led by young Fortinbras.
7. Barnardo, Francisco, Marcellus, Horatio, and the ghost (?)
8. One thing that Horatio says about the old king is that he was a big enemy of King Fortinbras and they had a battle over lands, which King Hamlet won.
9. Young Fortinbras is the son of the king of Norway who is preparing to attack Denmark. (fits into the theme of the fall of mankind/ the fall of Denmark)
10. Horatio says that Rome was doomed after Julius Caesar was murdered. He says that the dead roamed the streets and there were many disasters ("The graves...with eclipse" ln. 118).
11. Horatio is set apart from the guards due to his educated status. His opinion is highly respected by Barnardo and Marcellus because of his education and they even go so far as to seek him out to interpret for them. Horatio is also set apart because he is so skeptical about the ghost. Once he realizes that it is real, he is the only one out of the three who can figure out what the ghost means/stands for.
12. Horatio was brought into the scene by the guards because of his educated status. They think will be able to interpret what the ghost wants, or that he can even talk to the ghost.
13. In scene one, we are given a partial back story to the feud that is going on between Denmark and Norway.
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