...ENG 4U Ms. Straus May 23, 2015 Hamlet Quotation Test Quotation 1: “How all occasions do inform against me And spur my dull revenge! What is a man, If his chief good and market of his time Be but to sleep and feed? a beast, no more. Sure he that made us with such large discourse, Looking before and after, gave us not That capability and godlike reason To fust in us unus’d.” (Hamlet: IV, iv, 3238) Literal Level: This quotation is from Act IV, Scene IV, when Hamlet observes Fortinbras leading the army through Denmark towards Poland. Hamlet learns that the Norwegians are going to war with the Polish over a small, worthless patch of land. In this soliloquy, Hamlet ponders how these men are willing to risk their lives for such a small cause, when he is still so hesitant to act on his revenge on Claudius for his father's murder. 1. This passage helps to develop Hamlet’s character and the plot of the play because it is in this scene that Hamlet realizes that he must act on his revenge plan or else he is just going to be a purposeless “beast”. Throughout the play, Hamlet struggles with whether or not to exact revenge on Claudius because he is not certain of all of the facts. When Hamlet sees how willing the soldiers are to fight over such a small piece of land, he realizes that without action Hamlet is not taking advantage of the gift of life that God has given him. Hamlet realizes that humans have “capability and godlike reason” and that ...
Words: 2082 - Pages: 9
...English 203 October 24th 2012 Hamlet Question Set ACT I 1. What happens when Francisco and Bernardo meet at the beginning of scene1? Where are they, and when? Why is Horatio with Bernardo and Marcellus there? The play, begins in Elsinore with Francisco, who is waiting for Bernardo to relieve him of his duty right after midnight. Bernardo calls wondering who is there, to which Francisco replies that Bernardo should tell him who he is first. 2. What is Horatio's initial response to the story of the apparition? Horatio’s initial response is skepticism, as in disbelief. 3. What does Horatio first assume the appearance of the ghost means (1.1.)? He assumes it must mean that there is something wrong with the government. 4. What happens when the ghost appears for the second time (I.I)? Horatio asks the ghost why it had come in the first place and the reason behind such appearances 5. What do we know so far about the nature of the ghost? Do we know yet if it is a "good" ghost? Summarize the circumstances surrounding the first encounter with the ghost. The ghost is Hamlet’s father; one can categorize him as good because he explains to Hamlet the real reason behind his death. 6. Identify Hamlet’s first Soliloquy in Scene 2. What is it that is really bothering him about what has happened since his father's death? How would you describe the tone of his feelings? In his first soliloquy he mourns his father. It is a passionate and startling passage that...
Words: 1513 - Pages: 7
...how Prince Hamlet speaks and acts different in Act V, scene II, than in other parts of the play. Throughout the play Hamlet is conflicted and revengeful when he finds out that his uncle Claudius had murdered his father. Hamlet can never seem to take action. He procrastinates and overthinks almost every situation he is in. Hamlet also fears death and what consequences his actions will have. In Act V, scene II, Prince Hamlet speaks and acts very different he overcomes being afraid of death. He also stops overthinking very move he makes. Hamlet also starts doing what he wants to do and keeping to his word. Act I is where Hamlet is first challenged. Hamlet cannot understand why he is the only one being affected...
Words: 900 - Pages: 4
...Home > Why Hamlet Delays His Revenge Why Hamlet Delays His Revenge (Excerpt from Quintessence of Dust: The Mystical Meaning of Hamlet) Kenneth Chan ... Hamlet is finally alone, and the stage is set for the soliloquy that gave rise to one of the most persistent mysteries in literature: Why does Hamlet delay his revenge? Hamlet Ay, so, God buy you. Now I am alone. Oh, what a rogue and peasant slave am I! Is it not monstrous that this player here, But in a fiction, in a dream of passion, Could force his soul so to his whole conceit1 That from her working all his visage wanned, Tears in his eyes, distraction in his aspect, A broken voice, and his whole function suiting With forms to his conceit? And all for nothing! For Hecuba! What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba, That he should weep for her? What would he do Had he the motive and the cue for passion That I have? He would drown the stage with tears, And cleave the general ear with horrid speech, Make mad the guilty and appal the free,2 Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed The very faculties of eyes and ears. Yet I, A dull and muddy-mettled3 rascal, peak Like John-a-dreams,4 unpregnant5 of my cause, And can say nothing--no, not for a king, Upon whose property and most dear life A damned defeat was made. Am I a coward? Who calls me a villain, breaks my pate across, Plucks off my beard and blows it in my face, Tweaks me by the nose, gives me the lie i'th'throat As deep as to the lungs? Who does me this? Ha, 'swounds, I should take...
Words: 7854 - Pages: 32
...the major themes in the play Hamlet. Composting and rank imagery provides the spectator with a mood that correlates well with the thoughts and feelings of many of the play's characters. Claudius, the new king of denmark, is an extremely corrupt leader and the corruption in the high ranks trickles down onto the entire kingdom. Incest, betrayal, and spying all come forth as a result of corruption. The question of morality is one that is often pondered by the protagonist, Hamlet, throughout the play. He must decide right from wrong in very difficult circumstances, which leads him to many problems throughout the play. Incest is a very prevalent topic for many of the play's characters. After killing the king,...
Words: 769 - Pages: 4
...I. Introduction: During the play Hamlet, many elements are brought forth. The three components that stand out the most are conflict, symbolism and theme. Arising dilemmas that are developed both inward and outward in the mind of Hamlet. This brings to surface different conflicts which Hamlet and other characters must face. When the ghost appears to Hamlet the symbolism is made aware, because it invites speculation to the readers mind along with numerous issues. The theme is setup with Hamlet being obsessed over who and why someone killed his father, which seems to cause revenge to take its place in this tragedy. In addition, Hamlet searches for perfect certainty so that the right person receives his revenge for his father’s death. II. During Hamlet the conflicts that stand out are both inward and outward. A. man vs. self B. man vs. man C. man vs. society 1. “To be or not to be”- Hamlet’s internal struggle throughout the story; Ophelia’s madness 2. Father vs. Son, Ophelia vs. Hamlet 3. Innocence vs. tyranny III. Symbolism in Hamlet. A. Clothing that is worn by Hamlet 1. Black cloak- symbolizing the darker portion of reason in Hamlet B. The ghost taking its place and inviting so many unique issues to be brought forth. 1. Who sees the ghost and what it symbolizes. 2. Ghost talks to Hamlet. 3. The Ghost guides Hamlet in his search for the truth C. Yorik’s skull 1. Death is unavoidable 2. Disintegration of the body back...
Words: 385 - Pages: 2
...their parents do is seen as perfect, a parent can do no wrong. As a child grows older, they start to see that their parents are in fact flawed and this can cause an inward conflict for the child. Psychology has done a lot of research about family relationships, especially the relationship between a mother and her son. Sigmund Freud himself came up with the Oedipus complex, which is when a boy has an attachment to the mother, which in turns results in aggressive and envious feelings toward...
Words: 1602 - Pages: 7
...play Hamlet: Prince of Denmark. The play is begun with the death of Hamlet’s father, which Hamlet finds to be unsettling from the start. Hamlet’s uncle Claudius then takes over the throne while Hamlet’s mother then marries his uncle. It is then that the ghost of his father, tells Hamlet that the very man who had become king murdered him in cold blood; the ghost brings the idea of revenge to Hamlet’s mind (Shakespeare 1547). While revenge is constantly on his mind throughout the play, there is also the idea that Hamlet must forgive those who have done wrongs to him or his family; this is shown through his dedication to religion. But in the end, Hamlet’s internal need to seek revenge for his father’s death is so great that he is ultimately unable to forgive his uncle. The play begins with the sudden death of Hamlet’s father, and his uncle Claudius, his father’s brother, taking the throne (Shakespeare 1550). Hamlet’s mother chooses to marry Claudius just days after the death of Hamlet’s father, and Prince Hamlet expresses his disgust through his soliloquies, where he exclaims, “Frailty, thy name is woman!” (Shakespeare 1553). After some time, Hamlet is brought out to a forest by two guards who have claimed to see the ghost of his father. After some deliberation, the ghost of Hamlet’s father does indeed appear and tells Hamlet that Hamlet’s uncle Claudius, the current king of Denmark, murdered him. Hamlet’s father tells him that he must avenge his death, but Prince Hamlet can only...
Words: 1396 - Pages: 6
...Der Paelt 1 Mr. Hughes ENG4U-01 20 July 2010 Shakespearian Literatures Effect on a Modern Audience Throughout the Folger Library edition of Hamlet written by William Shakespeare and edited by Louis B. Wright and Virginia A. LaMar there is an obvious relationship between the dramatic works and their target audience. A good example of this relationship can be found in a speech given by King Claudius in act IV scene V from lines seventy seven to ninety seven. In this speech Claudius is attempting to gain the sympathy of the audience. However it has the opposite effect with a modern day audience due to current social, cultural, and economical perspectives. This effect is clearly demonstrated by the following three points. During his speech King Claudius twists and forms the words in an attempt to distance himself from any wrong doing. When giving his speech Claudius states, “Next, your son gone, and he most violent author of his own just remove.” (Hamlet IV.IV. 107) referring to Hamlet being taken from Queen Gertrude. These words would suggest that Hamlet was taken away solely due to his own actions and that he deserved this punishment. When in fact Claudius had banished Hamlet to England where he was to be killed by the King of England. The audience is fully aware that Claudius was behind the removal of Hamlet his choice of words portray him as a liar to the audience. In todays Van Der Paelt 2 society lying is frowned upon. People deem those who lie as untrustworthy...
Words: 865 - Pages: 4
...because it looked like Hamlet walked into her room as if he just came back from hell. Polonius fears that his decision to get Ophelia to stop seeing Hamlet and to keep them from communicating as often may have been the cause of what has happened to Hamlet. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are former friends of Hamlet from Wittenberg. The King and Queen invited Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to Elsinore because the King and Queen need their help with Hamlet. They want Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spend some time with Hamlet to see if they can get Hamlet to have fun and find out if anything is bothering him....
Words: 469 - Pages: 2
...been confused of why someone you thought loved you betrayed you? In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, There is different emotions throughout act 3. These emotions portray what happens. These themes of confusion and betrayal develop the irony, tone, and mood in act 3 scene 1. Two element’s Shakespeare uses in Hamlet is situational and dramatic irony. A example of this is when Hamlet expresses how he feels about ophelia and says “ You should not have believed me, for virtue cannot so inoculate our old stock but we shall relish of it. I loved you not..” This shows act of betrayal when Hamlet tells ophelia he never loved her when she thought he did and was blindsided by him. Another example of irony is dramatic irony when the king and Polonius are spying on Hamlet and ophelia conversation. This shows act of confusion of what’s wrong with Hamlet as they have seen the betrayal before their eyes. In addition to irony, Shakespeare uses tone to develop the themes....
Words: 622 - Pages: 3
...madness whether it is feigned or not to be presented in literary works. William Shakespeare and Euripides depict this theme in their works Hamlet and Medea. Medea and Hamlet have experienced familial hardships; as a result they believe that the only way to obtain what they desire is through manipulation. Indeed both characters have become masters at the art of deceiving. In both works the theme of madness can be discussed as we cannot be certain that these personas are truly lunatics. Madness can be here considered as a tool to achieve ones end. Indeed Medea and Hamlet feign insanity in order to achieve revenge over their disloyal family. Medea and Hamlet have been betrayed by their family, the first through the murder of his father by his uncle and the marriage of his mother to the same man and the second by her husband who has agreed to marry somebody else. Both are left alone dealing with these events. As madness may be described as “mental incapacity caused by an unmentionable injury”, it is with no surprise that Hamlet or Medea would fall in the hands of insanity. However their actions and words prove the opposite. We can thus suppose that they are both feigning madness to achieve revenge. Medea thinks about the consequences before taking action “what state would take me in? What friend would offer me his land as refuge”. Hamlet weighs also his options as he does not know whether he should defend his father’s honor or not, “Now might I do it pat, now he is praying;...
Words: 1630 - Pages: 7
...Hamlet Pleads Sane William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet is considered to be a great tragedy in the eyes of many. In the play, the protagonist, Hamlet, is on a quest to avenge the death of his father. At the beginning of the play, Hamlet is upset that his mother married his uncle, Claudius, only two months after his father’s death. As the story progresses, Hamlet is confronted by King Hamlet’s ghost. The ghost informs Hamlet that he was murdered by Claudius. When the ghost asks Hamlet to seek revenge for his murder, Hamlet takes on the task whole-heartedly. Hamlet’s actions, in the first half of the play, are rooted in revenge and anger, not madness. I can prove he is not crazy and acts as a normal human, out of curiosity. Hamlet’s first soliloquy begins by him suggesting, “Oh,that this too, too-solid flesh would melt, Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew! Or that the Everlasting had not fix’d His canon 'gainst self-slaughter!”(Shakespeare 1.2.129-132).This excerpt clearly highlights Hamlet’s thoughts regarding his mother’s recent nuptials. It only took Gertrude two months after the death of King Hamlet to marry Claudius. This abrupt marriage causes Hamlet to suspect that something might have been taking place between the two before his father’s death. Hamlet reacts as any logical or sane individual who finds himself in the same situation. Hamlet’s anger towards the hasty marriage between Claudius and Gertrude is a logical reaction that any sane individual has; thus highlighting...
Words: 644 - Pages: 3
...In Hamlet, Claudius, the antagonist in the play, is considered to be an evil character. For it is Claudius that killed Hamlet’s father. On the other hand, Hamlet, the protagonist, is considered to be the good character that seems to be trying to avenge his father’s murder. On the other hand, in Lyrical Ballads, the poem “Goody Blake and Harry Gill” Harry Gill is considered to be evil because he scared a poor lady that was just trying to get warm from the cold weather. Can we characterize the previous characters as good or evil? Can we actually categorize specific actions as good or evil? I believe we can not do so. It is because people have their own perspectives on what is virtue and what is not. For example, Alcohol consumption in western...
Words: 1083 - Pages: 5
...Hamlet is a revenge play. At this time, Shakespeare wrote Hamlet, this was a very common genre. It had certain conventions: a villain commits a murder; the son of the murdered man insists revenge; he carries out his duty and pledge, but in so doing destroys himself. In Hamlet, the entire action of the play is centered on the task assigned by the ghost to Hamlet to avenge his father’s murder But Hamlet has to answer four questions: Is the ghost real? Is revenge good or evil? Is Claudius guilty? These questions, complicates Hamlet’s decision and his reflective, intellectual nature and the revenge obligations of Laertes and Fortinbras that parallel the main plot. Hamlet is tasked with avenging his father’s horrible and unnatural murder. However, he faces a dilemma: should he believe in the honesty of the ghost? The ghost might be a devil. By nature a thinker and truth-seeker, his first step is to evaluate the truth of the ghost’s command, but this self-examination causes delay. Moreover, his extreme depression at his mother’s detestable remarriage, and the fact that Claudius was elected king, has served to make him sarcastic and disbelieving. A chain of circumstances provides a series of obstacles that Hamlet first has to overcome in order to achieve his revenge. This however, affects Hamlet on a spiritual level, as he accepts that both good and evil exist in the world, and that there is a fitness in performing his duty of revenge. His nobility and balance is at constant war...
Words: 2737 - Pages: 11
