"Tell him that by his license Fortinbras Craves the conveyance of a promis'd
march Over his kingdom" (IV.4.85)
The first glimpse we catch of Fortinbras. He seems more normal and less bloodthirsty than I had imagined him to be. He is sophisticated and courteous, not the savage barbarian I was given the impression he was. He is a good ambassador. Maybe he really won't attack the Danes.
"Go softly on." (IV.4.95)
He warns the captain because he wants to seem harmless. He doesn't want to give the impression that he is going to attack the Danes. I think that he is going to do it, just because of this command.
"Let us haste to hear it, and call the noblest to the audience.For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune. " (V.2.64)
It almost seems that he is sadly accepting his victory. I think that he is very similar to Hamlet in this respect. He truly misses his father, who he has memories of with in this land. He is also respect of the slaughter scene he stumbles upon.
"This quarry cries on havoc. O proud Death,what feast is toward in thine
eternal cell that thou so many princes at
a shot so bloodily hast struck. " (V.2.112)
This statement shows the human side of Fortinbras. He is not the conquering hero that a captain usually is. He seems sorry for the death of these princes that he has stumbled upon. But his revenge has been achieved, more than anyone else's
"Let four captainsBear Hamlet like a soldier to the stage; for he was likely, had he been put on, to
have prov'd most royally; and for his passage the soldiers' music and the
rites of war speak loudly for him. " (V.2.121)
Monday, May 6, 2013
Ophelia
'Tis in my memory lock'd, And you yourself shall keep the key of it." (I.3.72)
She loves and respects her brother. This is important because it establishes their tight brother-sister relationship. She wants to be a good sister and listen to her brother, and her brother demonstrates his love for her by giving her warnings because he cares for her.
"And hath given countenance to his speech, my lord, with almost all the holy vows of heaven. " (I.3.100)
She likes Hamlet back. Although she does want to obey her father and brother, it comes at a heavy cost. Even here she can be seen as making a case for him to her father. She has invested in the fact that he has sworn his love to her, and she wants to love him back.
"Indeed, my lord, you made me believe so." (III.1.19)
Here we have it. The words are out and Ophelia is fearful that Hamlet's madness has caused him forget the vows of love he swore. She reminds him here that it was he who made the first move, and not she. Yet though she has rejected his love at the command of her father, deep down she desperately loves him back.
"To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day, All in the morning bedtime, And I a maid at your window, To be your Valentine. Then up he rose and donn'd his clo'es And dupp'd the chamber door, Let in the maid, that out a maid never departed more. " (IV.5.31)
There were things going on behind the scenes and even before the play started between Ophelia and Hamlet. In her madness here, Ophelia recollects how she and Hamlet had sex, and she came on to him. He let her in, but she never was free of him again since that night, as implied by the last line. This part in the story reveals the true reason why Ophelia was so distraught over Hamlet's madness.
"'Before you tumbled me, You promis'd me to wed.' He answers: 'So would I 'a' done, by yonder sun, an thou hadst not come to my bed.'" (IV.5.51)
This is actually heartbreaking. Ophelia seems to repeat a little dialogue that happened between Hamlet and herself. The "holy vows" that Ophelia mentioned before seem to have been matrimonial vows, giving another reason why she has gone crazy. She was going to be married! But because she slept with him, Hamlet has refused her. All of these things bear down hard on Ophelia's conscious, and she cannot carry them.
She loves and respects her brother. This is important because it establishes their tight brother-sister relationship. She wants to be a good sister and listen to her brother, and her brother demonstrates his love for her by giving her warnings because he cares for her.
"And hath given countenance to his speech, my lord, with almost all the holy vows of heaven. " (I.3.100)
She likes Hamlet back. Although she does want to obey her father and brother, it comes at a heavy cost. Even here she can be seen as making a case for him to her father. She has invested in the fact that he has sworn his love to her, and she wants to love him back.
"Indeed, my lord, you made me believe so." (III.1.19)
Here we have it. The words are out and Ophelia is fearful that Hamlet's madness has caused him forget the vows of love he swore. She reminds him here that it was he who made the first move, and not she. Yet though she has rejected his love at the command of her father, deep down she desperately loves him back.
"To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day, All in the morning bedtime, And I a maid at your window, To be your Valentine. Then up he rose and donn'd his clo'es And dupp'd the chamber door, Let in the maid, that out a maid never departed more. " (IV.5.31)
There were things going on behind the scenes and even before the play started between Ophelia and Hamlet. In her madness here, Ophelia recollects how she and Hamlet had sex, and she came on to him. He let her in, but she never was free of him again since that night, as implied by the last line. This part in the story reveals the true reason why Ophelia was so distraught over Hamlet's madness.
"'Before you tumbled me, You promis'd me to wed.' He answers: 'So would I 'a' done, by yonder sun, an thou hadst not come to my bed.'" (IV.5.51)
This is actually heartbreaking. Ophelia seems to repeat a little dialogue that happened between Hamlet and herself. The "holy vows" that Ophelia mentioned before seem to have been matrimonial vows, giving another reason why she has gone crazy. She was going to be married! But because she slept with him, Hamlet has refused her. All of these things bear down hard on Ophelia's conscious, and she cannot carry them.
Horatio
"Indeed, my lord, it followed hard upon." (I.2.26)
Hamlet is the only one brave enough to be honest, and that shines through as one of his virtues. This confession of the inappropriateness of the marriage of Gertrude and Claudius reveals his loyalty to Hamlet this early in the play. He is one of the only sympathizing character in this whole play.
"As I do live, my honour'd lord, 'tis true; and we did think it writ down in our duty to let you know of it. " (I.2.7)
Here again, we see that his loyalty lies with Hamlet. And he is pure and innocent enough to not plot and ponder whether or not he should reveal this ghost to the lord Hamlet. No, as a good friend he goes right to Hamlet, not fearing if this story will scare him, just knowing that it is the right thing to do.
"O my dear lord—" (III.2.38)
This is great. One can almost see him blushing and finish the sentence: "O my dear lord, I am just doing my duties as your servant." An aura of humility surrounds Hamlet and makes him one of those lovable characters. He apparently esteems Hamlet's complement with great worth, which makes him such a good servant.
"Never believe it. I am more an antique Roman than a Dane.Here's yet some liquor left" (V.2.79)
He would go down right next to his master without a second thought. To the very end, Horartio remains his loyalty to his prince, when everyone had turned to the new King. This last scene amplifies the golden heart of Horatio and his extreme servant-duty of dying for his kingdom.
Hamlet is the only one brave enough to be honest, and that shines through as one of his virtues. This confession of the inappropriateness of the marriage of Gertrude and Claudius reveals his loyalty to Hamlet this early in the play. He is one of the only sympathizing character in this whole play.
"As I do live, my honour'd lord, 'tis true; and we did think it writ down in our duty to let you know of it. " (I.2.7)
Here again, we see that his loyalty lies with Hamlet. And he is pure and innocent enough to not plot and ponder whether or not he should reveal this ghost to the lord Hamlet. No, as a good friend he goes right to Hamlet, not fearing if this story will scare him, just knowing that it is the right thing to do.
"O my dear lord—" (III.2.38)
This is great. One can almost see him blushing and finish the sentence: "O my dear lord, I am just doing my duties as your servant." An aura of humility surrounds Hamlet and makes him one of those lovable characters. He apparently esteems Hamlet's complement with great worth, which makes him such a good servant.
"Never believe it. I am more an antique Roman than a Dane.Here's yet some liquor left" (V.2.79)
He would go down right next to his master without a second thought. To the very end, Horartio remains his loyalty to his prince, when everyone had turned to the new King. This last scene amplifies the golden heart of Horatio and his extreme servant-duty of dying for his kingdom.
"Now cracks a noble heart.—Good night, sweet prince,And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!" (V.2.89)
He finally speaks his love for his Hamlet. It could have been conspicuously implied before, but now that Hamlet is dead and cannot hear Horatio sees no need to hold back the words that have always been in his heart. It is right that Horatio be the only one left alive since his role in the whole plot was innocent and dutiful.
He finally speaks his love for his Hamlet. It could have been conspicuously implied before, but now that Hamlet is dead and cannot hear Horatio sees no need to hold back the words that have always been in his heart. It is right that Horatio be the only one left alive since his role in the whole plot was innocent and dutiful.
Gertrude
"Do not for ever with thy vailed lids seek for thy noble father in the dust.
Thou know'st 'tis common. All that lives must die, passing through
nature to eternity." (I.2.24)
And so just like her new husband has forgotten his brother's death, the mother has tried to forget it. This demonstrates her shallowness. Or at least it presents her attempt to be shallow since deep inside she knows that what she has done is wrong, and being in a shallow denial is all one can do at that point. She loved her old husband, but now she has a new one and tries to bury her guilt and shame with that dead man.
"O Hamlet, speak no more! Thou turn'st mine eyes into my very soul, and there I see such black and grained spots as will not leave their tinct" (III.4.72)
There! Now she has come face to face with the doubt that has festered inside her since the beginning. She realizes that what she has done is wrong. Hamlet has caused her to go on a retrospective tour of her heart and what she finds there is exactly what she had been dreading.
"Oh Hamlet, you’ve broken my heart in two!" (III.4.127)
Hamlet, has separated her from her present self to her past self. It is all a matter of where her loyalties lie, that is why she is divided in two. Half of her wants to be with Claudius and the other half knows it is wrong and knows she has betrayed her late husband.
"I hop'd thou shouldst have been my Hamlet's wife; I thought thy bride-bed to have deck'd, sweet maid, and not have strew'd thy grave. (V.1.33)
It seems like Gertrude is always the one in ignorance. She does not see that it was ultimately her own son that drove Ophelia to her death. She apparently like Ophelia which was a part that I did not know before. She looked forward to her and Hamlet getting married.
"No, no! the drink, the drink! O my dear Hamlet! The drink, the drink! I am poison'd." (V.2.58)
What is interesting here is that Gertrude cries out for Hamlet in the end, not Claudius. Now, the reader can finally take comfort in the fact that her loyalty lay in Hamlet. Her desperate scream for Hamlet is heart-breaking because it is as almost as if she knows that the poison was meant for Hamlet by the scheme of Claudius. Gertrude has always been in the crossfire this whole play and now it finally kills her.
And so just like her new husband has forgotten his brother's death, the mother has tried to forget it. This demonstrates her shallowness. Or at least it presents her attempt to be shallow since deep inside she knows that what she has done is wrong, and being in a shallow denial is all one can do at that point. She loved her old husband, but now she has a new one and tries to bury her guilt and shame with that dead man.
"O Hamlet, speak no more! Thou turn'st mine eyes into my very soul, and there I see such black and grained spots as will not leave their tinct" (III.4.72)
There! Now she has come face to face with the doubt that has festered inside her since the beginning. She realizes that what she has done is wrong. Hamlet has caused her to go on a retrospective tour of her heart and what she finds there is exactly what she had been dreading.
"Oh Hamlet, you’ve broken my heart in two!" (III.4.127)
Hamlet, has separated her from her present self to her past self. It is all a matter of where her loyalties lie, that is why she is divided in two. Half of her wants to be with Claudius and the other half knows it is wrong and knows she has betrayed her late husband.
"I hop'd thou shouldst have been my Hamlet's wife; I thought thy bride-bed to have deck'd, sweet maid, and not have strew'd thy grave. (V.1.33)
It seems like Gertrude is always the one in ignorance. She does not see that it was ultimately her own son that drove Ophelia to her death. She apparently like Ophelia which was a part that I did not know before. She looked forward to her and Hamlet getting married.
"No, no! the drink, the drink! O my dear Hamlet! The drink, the drink! I am poison'd." (V.2.58)
What is interesting here is that Gertrude cries out for Hamlet in the end, not Claudius. Now, the reader can finally take comfort in the fact that her loyalty lay in Hamlet. Her desperate scream for Hamlet is heart-breaking because it is as almost as if she knows that the poison was meant for Hamlet by the scheme of Claudius. Gertrude has always been in the crossfire this whole play and now it finally kills her.
Claudius
"But to persevere in obstinate condolement
is a course of impious stubbornness. 'Tis unmanly grief;" (I.1.93)
This statement is one of the most ignorant one I have ever heard. It establishes Claudius as an unsympathetic, unreliable, untrustworthy uncle. The poor boy just lost his only father! And yet Claudius essentially tells Hamlet to "forget about it". Hamlet has every right to dislike his uncle now.
"There's something in his soul o'er which his melancholy sits on brood; And I do doubt the hatch and the disclose will be some danger" (III.1.166)
Now he is suspicious that Hamlet knows. He cannot take the pressure of his own nephew knowing that he killed his uncle, and so he does not mention what he thinks Hamlet is brooding over. Also, Claudius plays on the "squash the serpent while it is still in the egg" analogy. He wants to get rid of Hamlet before he explodes and has bad consequence. He is being precautionary.
"My words fly up, my thoughts remain below. Words without thoughts never to heaven go."(III.3.96)
The prayer that he tries to conjure when he is on his knees is useless because he does not feel repented. He says the words that what he has done is wrong, and attempts to relieve himself of this burden, but alas he cannot. It is a shame too because Hamlet would have killed him right there if he did not look like he was being earnest in praying. Claudius is not sincere of repenting of his faults and honestly this prayer is probably just a way to make him feel better.
"Do not fear our person. There's such divinity doth hedge a king that treason can but peep to what it would, acts little of his will" (IV.5.122)
Very ironic, considering that he has just killed a king himself. Claudius is proving to be shallow, very shallow indeed. He contradicts himself, he is ignorant, he murders to marry, and he tries to forget his faults. And he has such confidence in himself that it is ridiculous.
"The Queen his mother Lives almost by his looks; and for myself,- My virtue or my plague, be it either which,-She's so conjunctive to my life and soul That, as the star moves not but in his sphere,I could not but by her"(IV.7.12)
Well, I believe I have found the one good quality of Claudius. He really loves his wife, and the reason that he keeps Hamlet is because he knows his beloved wife loves him so. He is loyal to her, and that is something good. He recognizes that this hesitation to completely get rid of Hamlet is either a bane or a benefit.
This statement is one of the most ignorant one I have ever heard. It establishes Claudius as an unsympathetic, unreliable, untrustworthy uncle. The poor boy just lost his only father! And yet Claudius essentially tells Hamlet to "forget about it". Hamlet has every right to dislike his uncle now.
"There's something in his soul o'er which his melancholy sits on brood; And I do doubt the hatch and the disclose will be some danger" (III.1.166)
Now he is suspicious that Hamlet knows. He cannot take the pressure of his own nephew knowing that he killed his uncle, and so he does not mention what he thinks Hamlet is brooding over. Also, Claudius plays on the "squash the serpent while it is still in the egg" analogy. He wants to get rid of Hamlet before he explodes and has bad consequence. He is being precautionary.
"My words fly up, my thoughts remain below. Words without thoughts never to heaven go."(III.3.96)
The prayer that he tries to conjure when he is on his knees is useless because he does not feel repented. He says the words that what he has done is wrong, and attempts to relieve himself of this burden, but alas he cannot. It is a shame too because Hamlet would have killed him right there if he did not look like he was being earnest in praying. Claudius is not sincere of repenting of his faults and honestly this prayer is probably just a way to make him feel better.
"Do not fear our person. There's such divinity doth hedge a king that treason can but peep to what it would, acts little of his will" (IV.5.122)
Very ironic, considering that he has just killed a king himself. Claudius is proving to be shallow, very shallow indeed. He contradicts himself, he is ignorant, he murders to marry, and he tries to forget his faults. And he has such confidence in himself that it is ridiculous.
"The Queen his mother Lives almost by his looks; and for myself,- My virtue or my plague, be it either which,-She's so conjunctive to my life and soul That, as the star moves not but in his sphere,I could not but by her"(IV.7.12)
Well, I believe I have found the one good quality of Claudius. He really loves his wife, and the reason that he keeps Hamlet is because he knows his beloved wife loves him so. He is loyal to her, and that is something good. He recognizes that this hesitation to completely get rid of Hamlet is either a bane or a benefit.
Hamlet
"A little more than kin, and less than kind!" (I.1.37)
Score one for Hamlet! This young man is a witty one. This line reveals his innate dislike for Claudius, even before he learns the truth behind his father's death. First of all, Claudius has attempted to replace the late King with himself, and to erase the memory of him from all of his servants, even the King's wife. So Hamlet's attitude toward him continues and is justified.
"Nay, do not think I flatter....No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp, and crook the pregnant hinges of the knee where thrift may follow fawning."(III.2.56)
More than anywhere else in the story, Hamlet here opens up the door of his heart and expresses his noble opinion of his loyal friend Horatio. He begins these series of complements with the preliminary being that he truly means everyone of them because otherwise, there would not be any reason for giving them. Hamlet is Horatio's lord and profits nothing from flattery. Here, Hamlet is the most honest he has been in the whole play, and like he said earlier, an honest man is one out of a thousand.
"As woman's love."(III.2.48)
I do not think that this insult towards women is as directed to Ophelia as it is to his own mother. Hamlet has just seen his mother fall in love with her husband's brother two months after his death, and he is broken over it. The easiness with which his mother falls in love again deeply disappoints Hamlet and he loses hope in women altogether. That is why he treats Ophelia so cold-heartedly and tells her to never marry, probably secretly thinking that she'll let down her husband just like Hamlet's mother let him down.
"'Sblood, do you think I am easier to be play'd on than a pipe? Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, you cannot play upon me."(III.2.88)
So Hamlet knows who are his friends and his enemies. But more importantly, Hamlet breaks character here. He pauses in his act of madness to rebuke the falseness of his past friends. And what a clever blast he uses to call them out. Although he confesses that he is vulnerable to their annoyance and burdernsome company, he is ultimatley not fooled by them.
"I lov'd Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers could not (with all their quantity of love)
make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her?"(V.1.75)
Is this real or part of his "the reason I am mad is because I loved Opheila" act?
I believe that this outburst is true and heartfelt. Though he had rejected and insulted her, now that she is gone he realizes what he had in her and how he lost it. So with this scene he declares that he loved her, implying that he never stopped loving her.
Score one for Hamlet! This young man is a witty one. This line reveals his innate dislike for Claudius, even before he learns the truth behind his father's death. First of all, Claudius has attempted to replace the late King with himself, and to erase the memory of him from all of his servants, even the King's wife. So Hamlet's attitude toward him continues and is justified.
"Nay, do not think I flatter....No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp, and crook the pregnant hinges of the knee where thrift may follow fawning."(III.2.56)
More than anywhere else in the story, Hamlet here opens up the door of his heart and expresses his noble opinion of his loyal friend Horatio. He begins these series of complements with the preliminary being that he truly means everyone of them because otherwise, there would not be any reason for giving them. Hamlet is Horatio's lord and profits nothing from flattery. Here, Hamlet is the most honest he has been in the whole play, and like he said earlier, an honest man is one out of a thousand.
"As woman's love."(III.2.48)
I do not think that this insult towards women is as directed to Ophelia as it is to his own mother. Hamlet has just seen his mother fall in love with her husband's brother two months after his death, and he is broken over it. The easiness with which his mother falls in love again deeply disappoints Hamlet and he loses hope in women altogether. That is why he treats Ophelia so cold-heartedly and tells her to never marry, probably secretly thinking that she'll let down her husband just like Hamlet's mother let him down.
"'Sblood, do you think I am easier to be play'd on than a pipe? Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, you cannot play upon me."(III.2.88)
So Hamlet knows who are his friends and his enemies. But more importantly, Hamlet breaks character here. He pauses in his act of madness to rebuke the falseness of his past friends. And what a clever blast he uses to call them out. Although he confesses that he is vulnerable to their annoyance and burdernsome company, he is ultimatley not fooled by them.
"I lov'd Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers could not (with all their quantity of love)
make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her?"(V.1.75)
Is this real or part of his "the reason I am mad is because I loved Opheila" act?
I believe that this outburst is true and heartfelt. Though he had rejected and insulted her, now that she is gone he realizes what he had in her and how he lost it. So with this scene he declares that he loved her, implying that he never stopped loving her.
Laertes
"For Hamlet and the trifling of his favour, Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood, A violet in the youth of primy nature,"(I.3.17)
Like father like son. Laertes gives his sister a book-full of wisdom for her to keep in mind while he is gone, and five mintues later his father comes in and gives Laertes a volume. It all a sort of pun. The two are similar in their own ways.
"I stay too long. But here my father comes. A double blessing is a double grace; Occasion smiles upon a second leave." (I.3.52)
This statement by Laertes can be interpreted with an ironic twist, but I do not think so. I think Laertes here briefly expresses his love for his father. He wants to see his father once more before he departs for Paris and is glad that he catches him. Apparently, Laertes is ignornant of the superfluous wisdom of his father and almost looks forward to them, saying that it is good luck that Polonius has gotten to bless him twice.
"Let come what comes ; only I'll be revenged most throughly for my father." (IV.5.38)
Yes, Laertes does love his father. His willingness to storm right up to the castle and demand of the King the soul that he should kill for the sake of his father's revenge is proof enough that he is serious and geniune. His response to the revenge of his father demonstrates more of a "let's get this done" attitude than Hamlet's reaction to his own father's revenge. He does not waste time seeming like he is mad, neither does he hire actors to put on a mock play. He gets right down to business, ready to kill Claudius right there and then if need be.
"My lord, I will be ruled ; The rather, if you could devise it so that I might be the organ." (IV.7.91)
Here, we catch the bloodthirstiness of Laertes, who is willing to bend down to the King in order to enact his revenge. This yielding exhibits the truthfulness in his expressions for pure, unadulterated revenge. Quite opposite of Hamlet, who bows down to no one.
"Why, as a woodcock to mine own springe, Osric; I am justly kill'd with mine own treachery." (V.2.28)
There is an admirable sense of honor in Laertes that shines through his words and actions, even if they are murderously directed at the story's protagonist. Though he has taken up a non-noble method of slaying Hamlet, he confesses that it was indeed "treachery" and he has "justly" been killed by his own doing. In some ways, Laertes reminds me of the byronic hero, but he is far from being one. He is the bad/good guy here.
Like father like son. Laertes gives his sister a book-full of wisdom for her to keep in mind while he is gone, and five mintues later his father comes in and gives Laertes a volume. It all a sort of pun. The two are similar in their own ways.
"I stay too long. But here my father comes. A double blessing is a double grace; Occasion smiles upon a second leave." (I.3.52)
This statement by Laertes can be interpreted with an ironic twist, but I do not think so. I think Laertes here briefly expresses his love for his father. He wants to see his father once more before he departs for Paris and is glad that he catches him. Apparently, Laertes is ignornant of the superfluous wisdom of his father and almost looks forward to them, saying that it is good luck that Polonius has gotten to bless him twice.
"Let come what comes ; only I'll be revenged most throughly for my father." (IV.5.38)
Yes, Laertes does love his father. His willingness to storm right up to the castle and demand of the King the soul that he should kill for the sake of his father's revenge is proof enough that he is serious and geniune. His response to the revenge of his father demonstrates more of a "let's get this done" attitude than Hamlet's reaction to his own father's revenge. He does not waste time seeming like he is mad, neither does he hire actors to put on a mock play. He gets right down to business, ready to kill Claudius right there and then if need be.
"My lord, I will be ruled ; The rather, if you could devise it so that I might be the organ." (IV.7.91)
Here, we catch the bloodthirstiness of Laertes, who is willing to bend down to the King in order to enact his revenge. This yielding exhibits the truthfulness in his expressions for pure, unadulterated revenge. Quite opposite of Hamlet, who bows down to no one.
"Why, as a woodcock to mine own springe, Osric; I am justly kill'd with mine own treachery." (V.2.28)
There is an admirable sense of honor in Laertes that shines through his words and actions, even if they are murderously directed at the story's protagonist. Though he has taken up a non-noble method of slaying Hamlet, he confesses that it was indeed "treachery" and he has "justly" been killed by his own doing. In some ways, Laertes reminds me of the byronic hero, but he is far from being one. He is the bad/good guy here.
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