1. We'll watch the very end of the last Murder of Gonzago before heading down. Then you'll complete the assignment explained in the next blog post by class on Monday, March 22.
2. You'll also be responsible for creating a sixteen (or more) panel comic strip depicting the story of Hamlet through act three scene two (the Murder of Gonzago/Mousetrap). You will hand in your comic strip on Tuesday, March 23.
3. Here are your motif assignments:
appearance and truth (Dan B)
honesty and dishonesty (Jacklyn L)
youth and age (Zachary M)
corruption and virtue (Ethan B)
madness and normalcy (Molly B)
playing and acting (Gil B, Jeremy N)
words and speaking (Kayla B)
women and womanliness: mothers, daughters, lovers, “strumpets” (Hannah C, Emily P)
men and manliness: fathers, uncles, friends, rivals (Cameron C, Jeremiah S)
action and inaction (Emily C, Grant W)
water and other fluids (Leila G)
responses to authority: mocking, obeying, flattering, etc. (Samantha H)
life and death (and the afterlife) (Kevin H)
ghosts and spirits (Mac H)
sleep and dreams (Stephanie K)
food and appetite (Tom M)
flora (flowers, plants)(Moriah O)
fauna (animals) (Chase K)
fortune and fate (Evan K)
I and eye (the self and seeing) (Nicole L)
First go here and here to help find some references to your motif. You can also visit any online text of Hamlet (such as this one) and use the control-f function to look for quotations related to your motif.
In the comment box below write an open response explaining the significance of the motif in the play so far. Make sure you analyze at least three direct quotations in your response. This is due by class time on Wednesday.
As we continue reading and watching the play keep track of the motif by writing down the speaker, act, scene, and line (for example Polonius 2.1.97). You will asked to do another analysis of the motif at the end of the play.
24 comments:
Ethan Bergeron
Corruption and virtue
1.2.139-141 Fie on t ah fie! Tis an unweeded garden That grows to seed. Things rank and gross in nature
posses it merely to come to this.
1.5.49-53 Ay, thst incestuous, adulterate beast, with witchcraft pf his wit, with traitorous gift. O wicked wit and gifts that have the power So to seduce won to his shameful lust. The will of will of my most seeming virtuous queen
1.5.60-64 But virtue, as it never will be moved, Though lewdness court it in a shape of heaven, so lust, though to a radiant angel linked, Will sate itself in a celestial bed and pray on garbage
1.5.89-90 Let not the royal bed of Denmark be a couch for luxery and damned incest
2.2.607-609 With this slave's offal. Bloody, bawdy villain! Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain
The motif of honesty and dishonesty has been very important and is very prominent in the first half of Hamlet. Honesty and dishonesty plays parts in the spying that goes on within Hamlet, Hamlet pretending or not pretending to be insane, and another example is Hamlet’s love and pretending not to love Ophelia. Honesty and dishonesty is one of the more noticeable motifs within Hamlet. The motif of honesty and dishonesty shows itself in words like lie and truth, but also acts of deception. The main people that the motif of honesty and dishonesty center around are Claudius, Hamlet, Polonius, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern.
A scene that shows the motif of honesty and dishonesty is, “Get thee to a nunnery: why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners? I am myself indifferent honest; but yet I could accuse me of such things that it were better my mother had not borne me: I am very
proud, revengeful, ambitious, with more offences at my beck than I have thoughts to put them in, imagination to give them shape, or time to act them in. What should such fellows as I do crawling between earth and heaven? We are arrant knaves, all; believe none of us. Go thy ways to a nunnery. Where’s your father?” (Act 3, scene 1. lines 131-141.) This quote was made by Hamlet while he denounces his love to Ophelia. This shows the motif of dishonesty because the audience knows that Hamlet loves Ophelia. This is significant because it makes the reader question whether or not Hamlet is crazy. It helps the idea that all life really is honesty or dishonesty. Hamlet believes that all life will ever be is lies. He knows that he himself is dishonest. He tells Ophelia not to have children because he is disgusted at the actions of his uncle and the action he will perform in a matter of time. Also when Hamlet mentions that he is proud, revengeful, and ambitious he says this because he knows that these attributes are due to his ability to be dishonesty. This also shows the motif of honesty however because he is honest when he says that his mother should not have borne him. He says this because he knows that he has to kill his uncle for his father, but he is unsure whether he really wants to do it. He wonders if the ghost was really his father or not, but to himself he knows that this ghost is honest.
This quote also comes from the scene where Hamlet denounces his love to Ophelia,”Ay, truly; for the power of beauty will sooner transform honesty from what it is to a bawd than the force of honesty can translate beauty into his likeness: this was sometime a paradox, but now the time gives it proof. I did love you once.” (Act 3, Scene 1. lines 121-125.) Hamlet is referring to the idea that beauty is a deception so therefore beauty is dishonest. He is saying that men and woman never truly love the other sex they only love the beauty on the outside. Hamlet uses this so he can play on the idea as he lies to Ophelia that he does not love her anymore. He is also referring to his uncle and mother. His uncle though not looking at the beauty of Gertrude, but at the beauty of the throne. The throne is a deception and is dishonest what should bring happiness and everything one needs brings him only a “crazy” nephew and a woeful, but infatuated queen. It refers to Gertrude because she was deceived by the dishonest sadness of Claudius. She also fell for his dishonest remorse over the death of her late husband. The beauty of the soul she thought Claudius had was deceitful and in the end was dishonest. The quote also refers to how Ophelia is being dishonest with Hamlet by trying to use her beauty to distract him while she is being deceitful and dishonest by helping to spy on him.
This quote comes from the conservation between Hamlet and Polonius when Hamlet makes fun of Polonius, "Ay, sir. To be honest, as this world goes, is to be one man picked out of then thousand." (Act 2, Scene 2. lines 194-195.) Hamlet is saying that it is almost impossible for a man to be honest in this world. He says this because he is saying that he is not actually crazy, but he is going to be dishonest and pretend to be crazy. He also says this because he knows that Polonius and his uncle Claudius are not being truthful. He is trying to convey to Polonius that he sees behind his façade and knows that he is not the honest man he tries to portray. He also is referring to his father because to him his father was the one of the almost impossible men to find and he believes this because he believes that his father was a god. That is why he believe the ghost so immediately because his father was an honest man. He also says this because he knows that Polonius made Ophelia help spy on him and no honest man would make his daughter do this. He also wants to portray the fact that he is not honest because he lies and tells only Horatio of his plan to kill his uncle. Hamlet knows that other than his father it is almost impossible to find another honest man in Denmark.
other quotes:
1.3.124,3.134 1.5.174-184, 2.1.21-30, 2.2.190-195, 2.2.255-256, 2.2.287-289, 3.1.113, 3.1.116-124,3.1.132-134, 2.2.194-195, 1.5.45-48, 2.2.15-18, 2.2.292, 2.2.315, 3.1.37-40
Cameron C
Men and Manhood
Hamlet I s constantly through out the play questioning himself on his man hood, because of Claudius hamlet tortures himself whether or not he is a man. He cant fin the nerves to kill him he is driving himself crazy and thoughts of man and manhood are constantly being used in the tragedy.
1.2.195, Hamlet, He was a man. Take him for all in all.
Hamlet is talking his dad and who he was be fore. This lets us know the relation ship he had with him before he was murdered. We learn that the king was a great man.
1.3.75, Polonius, Give every man thy ear , but by few thy voice,.
Polonius is talking to his son Laertes before he leaves. He is giving him some information that he should live by. He is telling him meet many people and listen to them but be careful on who you become friends with.
2.2.215, Hamlet, old men have gray beards.
Hamlet is talking to Polonius. This scene is quit comical and sarcastic. Hamlet is calling Polonius old and Polonius has no idea that he is being slammed around.
The motif man is so important because it gives depth to the character Hamlet while also giving depth to the other charters such as Claudius when he tells Hamlet that he is not really a man.
Gilbert Brown
So far in the play two significant motifs are playing and acting. Hamlet is a man of the theatre and so far it is very apparent that his heart lies on the stage by the way he conducts himself and speaks. One aspect of playing in Hamlet is not on the stage but actually playing a person or spying. Polonius hires Reynaldo to spy on his son Leartes; (2.1.7-8) “Marry, well said, very well said. Look you, sir, Inquire me first what Danskers are in Paris;” this shows how twisted and conniving Polonius is even to his own son. He basically sets his own son up so he can see all his whereabouts on his own in Paris. Even someone very close to Hamlet tries to play him, Gertrude and Claudius. They summon Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spy on Hamlet to find out why he has been acting so strange; (2.2.11-18) “That, being of so young days brought up with him and sith so neighbored to his youth and havior, That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court Some little time, so by your companies to draw him on to pleasures, and to gather so much as from occasion you may glean,[Whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus] That, opened, lies within our remedy.” The king and queen try to play Hamlet but Hamlet is so clever that he sees right through there fake personas and realizes what there actual trying to do. A significant piece of acting is when Hamlet put on a production which he called the “Mousetrap” where he tries to rouse a confession out of Claudius. The point in the play where Lucianus poisons the King Hamlet stands and says (3.2.287-290) “He poisons him i’th’ garden for his estate. His name’s Gonzago. The story is extant and written in very choice Italian, You shall see anon how the murderer gets the love of Gonzago’s wife.” This convincing acting propels Claudius to relive his sins and simultaneously leave the theatre.Even though these methods of acting are unconventional they really give the play its excitement and drama.
Mac Hutchinson
ghosts and spirits
Ghost and Spirits is such a significant part of Hamlet for the obvious reason that it is referred to in context of Hamlets thoughts of existence and action. Throughout the play both the reader and Hamlet are drawn into the question of whether or not the ghost of Hamlet's father is a spirit that was possibly sent to destroy Hamlet. It could also be that it is truly his father who has come back to reveal the tragedy of his death so that revenge can be brought. This causes both the reader and Hamlet to question the ghosts and spirits that might exist around Hamlet. In the play we see fear from the ghost as Marcellus fears that it will take him away, when he warns, “Look with what courteous action it wafts you to a more removed ground. But do not go with it” (1.4.64). The reader could possibly assume that “removed ground” is hell itself and is another place of existence. Horatio then warns about the ghost trying to trick him or lead him to death when he says, “What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord? Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff / That beetles o’er his base into the sea” (1.4.77). These initial reactions of fear expressed by Horatio and Marcellus creates a question of the ghost’s identity and remind readers of different perceptions of the function and nature of ghosts. It reminds the reader of the danger surrounding the appearance of a ghost and questions if it is the ghost of Hamlet's father or if it is a spirit or a demon sent to destroy Hamlet. Hamlet shows great concern about the ghost but he can not help himself from talking to it. He is very skeptical about the presence of the ghost at first but then he sees he cant resist and calls upon God to protect him saying, “Angels and ministers of grace, defend us!” (1.4.43). He then questions the spirit and its intentions, and out loud says, “Be thy intents wicked or charitable, Thou com’st in such a questionable shape / That I will speak to thee” (1.4.47). The ghost is significant since it is used to make Hamlet reveal that he cannot resist temptation and must know the truth or some sort of view on his confusing situation. Another important stance on Hamlets view of the spirits was when he states, “The spirit I have seen may be the devil, and the devil hath power / T’assume a pleasing shape; yeah, and perhaps, out of my weakness and melancholy, As he is very potent with such spirits, Abuses me to damn me. I’ll have grounds / More relative than this. The play’s the thing / Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King” (2.2.627). Hamlet explains that the spirit had a great deal of power over him since it appealed to his strongest emotions of “weakness and melancholy.” Hamlet recognizes that if he had been weaker he could have enacted his revenge immediately that readers might have expected but instead he doubts himself and put himself through a painful process of thoughts and inaction. The used of the ghost was greatly significant in the idea for revenge to later twist our expectations since would be easy to predict that Hamlet might have simply listened to the ghost and believed it completely. The ghost is used to create these questions that allows Hamlet to keep constantly question things instead of taking an immediate revenge.
Tom Martin
Food & Appetite:
Food and appetite play an important role as a metaphor in the tragedy of Hamlet so far. Hamlet sees gluttonous and greedy behavior all around him, especially from his mother and Claudius. For instance Hamlet states in Act 1, “Must I remember? How she would hang on him as if an increase of appetite had grown by what it fed on.” Hamlet- 1.2.147-149. Here Hamlet is stating how he feels about his mother’s very improper behavior. She has gotten over the death of her husband so quickly and moved right on to marrying Claudius in an instant. Her appetite for him has grown from the possible presence of loneliness caused by the death of King Hamlet. This is a common theme throughout the play, how appetite causes characters to do crazy things for their own selfish wants. Most of the characters in the play are greedy themselves and have a yearning, an appetite for something more, even Hamlet, with his revenge. In Scene 4 of this act, we see a different side of Hamlet’s view of Claudius, a drunk. “The king doth wake to-night and takes his rouse, Keeps wassail, and the swaggering up-spring reels; And, as he drains his draughts of Rhenish down,The kettle-drum and trumpet thus bray out The triumph of his pledge.”-Hamlet 1.4.9-13. Here Hamlet says that Claudius is drinking tonight, and the ongoing trumpets as entertainment act as a salute, a triumph to his drinking. Hamlet notices just how much consumption affects a society. How “more” of anything means you are of a higher rank, the more food and drink you have, the bigger the person you are, which is actually a very true fact. And he observes how we revel in this, revel in drunkards actions, as if they were proper, respectable, and esteemed accomplishments. He then goes on to say, “They clepe us drunkards and with swinish phrase Soil our addition; and indeed it takes From our achievements, though perform'd at height, The pith and marrow of our attribute.”-Hamlet 1.4.21-24. He states how because of this attribute of rank in society, the greed, the act of gluttony, many believe the Danes are nothing more but drunks, and so this takes away from many of the Danes accomplishments. And while drinking does in turn take away the ability to master those accomplishments perfectly, it still is an important attribute to their customs. It is a very complex society of deceit and greed that Hamlet lives in. The metaphor of food and appetite play such a vital role through Shakespeare’s text. So far in the play, many characters have proved themselves to gain what they want through their greedy appetites. Gertrude has gained a husband for instance, while Claudius has gained a wife and the kingdom. Hamlet is seeking revenge by any means necessary. As the play goes on it is inevitable for more characters to show their big appetites to get what they want.
Although the motif of water and other fluids has not been the most obvious throughout the first half of Hamlet, it gives us great insight into the play. Blood is one of the liquids that appears a few times throughout the beginning of the play. Lines like, “stars with trains of fire and dews of blood,” (Horatio 1.1.129) bring up vivid imagery. It seems as though blood was used in this case to set an ominous tone about the ghost of Hamlet’s father. Horatio felt that they should be weary of the ghost. Later, in a soliloquy Hamlet uses blood to bring about the idea of dirtiness and villainy. “With this slave's offal: bloody, bawdy villain! / Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain!”(2.2.607). Being bloody in this play is a very negative thing, it brings up the idea of murder and treachery. Hamlet says “O, that this too, too sullied flesh would melt, / Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew” (1.2.133) to describe how he is feeling. The idea of melting into a liquid brings up the emotion of shame. Hamlet feels ashamed of his mother and himself, and would like to melt away from the dirtiness that he feels.
Samantha Hiltz
Responses to authority
Responses to authority have been incredibly significant throughout Hamlet. 'I will obey' has been said by many of the characters multiple times. I think that Hamlet feels he does not have to obey Claudius. He refers to Claudius as his uncle father but never as his father. It is very clear that Hamlet hates Claudius and therefore does not need to obey him. Not only is obeying someone significant, but acts of flattery are also important. Throughout the play 'much thanks' is said multiple times. In addition to that 'Lord' is used very often. Lord is used as an act of showing respect, or showing authority.
(1.2.40)-"In that and all things will we show our duty." This quote said by Cornelius and Voltemand means that they will follow through and show their duty, not in just what Claudius told them but in everything they do. They are showing respect for Claudius by saying that they will fulfill their duty which is also a response to authority. Claudius is higher in the social structure than Cornelius and Voltemand and therefore has more authority.
(1.3.136)-"I shall obey, my lord." Ophelia says this after her father (Laertes) has told her to stay away from Hamlet. Ophelia does not want to stay away from Hamlet but knows she has to obey her father. Ophelia knows that her father has more authority and also knows what is good for her, so she says she will listen to him.
(2.2.29-32)-"But we both obey/And here give up ourselves, in the full bent,/To lay our service freely at your feet/To be commanded." Guildenstern says this to Claudius, meaning that he and Rosencrantz will obey and listen to Claudius. This also means that they are both there to do whatever Claudius needs them to do, they are entirely his.
Throughout Hamlet so far the motif of manliness has been brought up constantly. In fact, this motif lies at the very most inner being of the book. Hamlet is continuously questioning his manliness. Not only is he questioning his manliness, but he also comes to hate women in this play. He loses all trust in women after his mother fails to stay loyal to her recently deceased husband, and it is hinted that she was interested in Claudius before the death of her previous husband. Hamlet becomes very pessimistic about women and it shows that he is secure in the fact that he believes men are superior.
In the quote “(let me not think on ‘t; frailty, thy name is women)” 1.2.150. Hamlet shows his problem with women. He believes that women are the inferior race, and that they are frail. He says this after he discovers that his mother has married his uncle only one month after the death of his father. He says that he doesn’t even have to think about it; he is completely sure at this point that he doesn’t trust women and that this implies that he has put his faith in manliness. “O most pernicious woman!” 1.5.112. Hamlet calls women destructive. The way Hamlet sees it women have been one of the main causes for his pain at this point so he can not respect them anymore.
Later in the book, in act 2, Hamlet claims that he is not happy with men either. “Man delights not me, (no,) nor women neither.” Hamlet is depressed at this point and he dislikes everyone. Men have failed him as well, because even his friends he caught spying on him. He believes that no one has remained loyal to him.
Hamlet is also focusing on manliness throughout the play. He points out what manliness is, “but to preserver in obstinate condolement is a course of impious stubbornness. ‘Tis unmanly grief. It shows a will most incorrect to heaven.” Hamlet states what manliness is, but he is mad at himself for not being able to do anything about his father’s murder. He considers himself unmanly. Yet Hamlet is unable to do anything about his unmanliness because like he says, by thinking about doing things he remains inactive about those things.
Youth and age have a role in Hamlet showing experience and inexperience, Intelligence and superiority. Age in Hamlet gives authority to a character when talking to a younger one. Youth can be linked to immaturity in ones self in Hamlet.One passage that conveys youth and age in Hamlet is Laertes is talking to Ophelia (1.3.143-148) “The canker galls the infants of the spring to oft before their buttons be disclosed, And, in the morn and liquid dew of youth, Contagious blastments are most imminent. Be wary, then; best safety lies in fear. Youth to itself rebels, though none else near.” In the first part of Laertes speech to Ophelia refers youth being ruined by one. Canker being a rotten fruit almost ruining the youth of all other fruits as they are infants in the spring. Being reborn. Laertes is referring to Hamlet. Hamlets in Laertes’s eyes is just a rotten fruit to Ophelia and would take away form her is she were to fall in love with her. The liquid dew of youth is where Ophelia is at and she is most venerable to contagious blastments (withering blights) or Hamlet. Laertes is constantly reminding Ophelia to be weary of Hamlet for his age is to high and that her youth is very much important. Ophelia is told that her youth will loose itself even without a person such as Hamlet. Keeping youth is somewhat sacred in Hamlet as to keep innocence for as long as possible almost preserves ones self control. As we see Hamlet has not much self control at this point in the play and as is goes on he looses that. In act one scene five Hamlet is greeted with his fathers ghost who tells Hamlet about his fate. This passage uses youth as immaturity. (1.5.20-23) “ I could a tale unfold whose lightest word harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood, make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres” Hamlets father is warning Hamlet as the story of his fate could cause great distress to Hamlet. Blood being warm the story could freeze his young blood. The ghost is trying to tell Hamlet that he is to young to know that Claudius murdered him. Hamlet in his dead fathers eyes is still young and innocent. Innocence plays a major role in youth in Hamlet. Hamlet in act two scene two refers to youth as being underdeveloped and not intelligent. (2.2.368-372) “ What, are they children? Who maintains’ em? How are they escoted? Will they pursue the quality no longer than they can sing? Will they not say afterwards, if they should grow themselves to common players.” An acting troop is sent to Hamlet. He is displeased to find out that they are just children. He questions their motive and if they will be actors once the reach adolescence. He questions how they got there. Hamlets seems weary of they young as if they are to unknowing to engage in the grownup task of being a player. Hamlet wonders if the children will even act once their voices change. Hamlet notices that youth is something still developing and it is best not to get involved in such tasks while still young. He’s weary of the children. In Hamlet youth and age play the role in innocence and intelligence of people. Innocence in all three quotations explored is seen as something best preserved. To loose innocence and youth is to loose self control over oneself. The very age of one is examined first as almost a facade of the character in Hamlet. Age is used much in Hamlet and is a very important aspect of ones self. Youth and Age in Hamlet is the very defining factor of how ones development as a person can be viewed.
I and eye
The motif of I and eye are very important and are used a lot throughout the first part of Hamlet. Even though these seem different, they relate to each other extremely well. For instance, whatever you see seems to be reality to you. By seeing with your eyes, and seeing whatever it is that someone might see, has a huge impact on one’s self. You might know the quote, “seeing is believing.” Well in Hamlet, that is very true because Horatio, Marcellus, and Barnardo see the ghost of the king and Horatio says, “Before my God, I might not this believe Without the sensible and true avouch Of mine own eyes” (1.1.66-68). After telling Hamlet that they saw the ghost of his father Hamlet wasn’t going to believe it because he didn’t think that could happen but ones he saw with his own eyes the ghost, he knew it was true.
These two motifs also relate to each other because someone could be referring to their own eye, or what they see can affect how they think or act. This quote is a good example of that. “In my mind's eye, Horatio” (1.2.193). Once Horatio tells Hamlet about seeing his father’s ghost, Hamlet doesn’t believe him and says only in his mind does he see his father’s face. Soon after, the ghost appears and Hamlet believes it.
Also someone’s eyes can tell a lot about a person. The look they have in their eyes, or how they look at something can express their emotions and feelings toward something. An excellent example of this is when Horatio says, “By their oppress'd and fear-surprised eyes” (1.2.213).
In the film we watched in class where Kenneth Branagh was Hamlet, he portrayed the motifs I and eye in a very particular way. When saying the “to be or not to be” speech, he looked directly into a mirror without knowing it was a two-way mirror and talked to himself and got very aggressive even though he was looking at himself. These to motifs are related to each other in a very interesting ways and throughout Hamlet, they will be used a lot with specific meaning and importance.
Womanliness, 1.2, 1.2, 1.5
In the first half of Hamlet, the idea of womanliness and women becomes an important motif to the theme of the play. From the beginning of the play a great deal of Hamlet’s inner conflict is the problems he has with his mother’s sexuality. He sees how quickly his mother forgets his father and remarries, and says “Frailty thy name is woman” and that a beast would have mourned longer for his father. The motif of women seems to be directly involved with sex, and how they are motivated by it in the sense of Hamlet’s mother’s speedy remarriage. “She would hang on him, like appetite had grown” Hamlet uses appetite to stand as a meaning for lust, or desire. He doesn’t understand how someone goes from being so attached to another man’s bed so fast; this is why he says that women are weak. The motif of women also seems to be that women are only good for their virginity, and that they are allowed much less sexual freedom than men. Laertes warns Ophelia not to trust Hamlet, and not to have sex with him by saying “lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open”. In Laertes eyes a woman’s treasure is her virginity and she would protect that in order to remain desirable. He also says “The Chariest maid is prodigal enough, if she unmask her beauty to the moon: virtue itself scapes not calumnious strokes”. The motif of women goes alongside with the double standard; Shakespeare may even be poking fun at the double standard in some of the mentions because he shows the hypocrisy of it. Overall the motif of womanliness and women is used to show Hamlet’s fear of sexuality, therefore showing his immaturity. Also it shows the double standard that existed during Shakespeare’s time, and how hypocritical it is.
Moriah O’Neil
Flora (flowers, plants)
Thus far into reading Hamlet, there have been multiple references pertaining to this motif. Among three prominent ones in Acts: I – III, the first one is used to describe how Hamlet is feeling towards the world as a result of everything that has happened in his life. In the second one the ghost, or better known as Hamlet’s deceased father, makes a reference relating to where his death occurred. And in the third quote King Claudius uses a certain kind of plant to kill Hamlet’s father. In each of these scenes, flora is referred too and is important in understanding certain aspects of the text.
The first quotation is from Act One. It reads, “How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable, / Seem to me all the uses of this world! / Fie on't! ah fie! 'tis an unweeded garden, / That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature / Possess it merely.” (1.2.137-141) Here Hamlet is talking to himself just after hearing a speech from the king. Hamlet, at t his point is still very angry over the death and is terribly upset with his mother’s actions of re-marrying so suddenly. From hearing the news of not being about to go back to his school in Wittenberg, and no longer being able to see his dear Ophelia also makes Hamlet very depressed and upset. During his soliloquy, Hamlet expresses that he now sees the world as being an unweeded garden. There is so much going on that is darkening his world and tangling his feelings and at this point Hamlet doesn’t see any weeding happening soon. Here, flora represents sorrow and despair resulting in a tangled mess without hopes of wilting.
A second reference to flora in Hamlet occurs in Act Two. The ghost is speaking to Hamlet and says, “Wouldst thou not stir in this. Now, Hamlet, hear: / 'Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, / A serpent stung me;” (1.5.41-43) Here the ghost is explaining how and where he was murdered. A sleeping orchard is mentioned which is like a garden. The King often slept in his during the afternoon and he is revealing to Hamlet that this place of peace ended up being the place where the serpent stung. In this part of the passage, flora is used to describe the place in where Hamlet’s father and to show a place of deceit and corruption.
A final reference to flora in Hamlet up until now is also in Act Two. The ghost is still speaking to Hamlet and he says, “Sleeping within my orchard, / My custom always of the afternoon, / Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole, / With juice of cursed hebona in a vial, / And in the porches of my ears did pour / The leperous distilment.” (1.5.66-71) The connection to flora here is the “juice of cursed hebona.” Henbane is a poisonous weed; that if one were to intake it, death would result. The ghost is explaining to Hamlet that King Claudius used this to pour into his ear and kill him. Again the idea of flora and plants used in this text relates to evil attributes and connections leading to unfortunate actions and vice. Throughout the first half of Hamlet, there have been various connections made to flora and these three are among them.
Grant Weaver
3/23/10
E Block
There are many reoccurring themes in William Shakespeare's Hamlet but there are none more important than action and inaction. This is the biggest debate in the mind of the protagonist and is discussed often.
There are many quotes that support the theme of action and inaction, but one of the most famous is “O cursed spite that I was ever born to set it right!” (1.5.210). This sets the premise for many important scenes in the play. Hamlet feels that the Ghost of his father means to tell him that he must revenge his murder by killing the King. Hamlet has trouble doing this though, and is angered at himself for not being enough of a man to ‘do the deed’. He even calls himself an ass. This inaction does lead us to some action though.
When Hamlet thinks he is unable to act, and when he acts purely on instinct. This is clearly shown in the quote said by the queen referring to the (accidental) murder of Polonius “O, what a rash and bloody deed is this!” (3.4.33). This is most defiantly Hamlet’s largest action in the entire play (that we have seen so far). Despite the fact that the intended target was not killed, this action still shows the reader and Hamlet that he still has the ability to kill, providing some foreshadowing.
So far we have looked at two clear cases of action and inaction, but the next quote/scene is not so cut and dry. This scene is the ‘Mousetrap’ or The Murder of Gonzago. This quote is “We’ll ha ‘t tomorrow night…study a speech of some dozen or sixteen lines, which I would set down and insert” (2.2.566-569). Here Hamlet is telling the player to play a play that is similar to his fathers death, but with a few added lines to increase the similarities. Hamlet is hoping to trick his uncle into showing emotions relating to his fathers death. This poses a question of weather action is taken or not. On one hand Hamlet comes up with a plan and sets for it to be carried out, with him playing an intricate role, but on the other hand Hamlet simply came up with an idea and had others follow through on it while he simply sat and observed. I personally believe that he did take action, but it is most definitely still up for debate.
Action and inaction is a theme present in every version of Hamlet from the traditional one done in the Globe Theater to the modern version with Ethan Hawke walking through the Action section in a movie store, and it is easy to see why that is so.
There have been many questions surrounding the motif “action and inaction” in Hamlet. Why doesn’t Hamlet kill his uncle/father right away? Many people think that the whole play is about Hamlet’s indecisiveness toward the decision to kill Claudius. The only way Hamlet seems to take action is when he does it blindly and recklessly, like when he killed Polonius (3.4.29-30). Hamlet has been holding off on killing Claudius for months, but acts rashly in an instant and kills Polonius. The fact that Hamlet is not taking action troubles him. “Why, what an ass am I!” (2.2.611). In the same soliloquy, Hamlet talks about how the actor can act with such emotion for something meaningless to him, and Hamlet can’t even act upon the deep emotions he has because of his father’s death. (2.2.586-598). There is also a debate on weather Hamlet is truly waiting for the right moment to kill Claudius, or if he is too scared. For example, in the “Mousetrap” scene, Hamlet tells the actors to act out a scene similar to the murder of King Hamlet, in hopes of having Claudius confess to the murder out of the guilt he has after seeing it. Hamlet does this because he is not sure if he can believe what the ghost told him about Claudius killing his father. The question is, did Hamlet really question the ghost, or was he too scared to just kill him? After all, Hamlet does acknowledge the fact that it is his purpose in life to kill Claudius. “Oh cursed spite, that ever I was born to set it right!” (1.5.210). Another example is when Hamlet walks in on Claudius praying (or so he thought). Hamlet decides not to kill Claudius because if he is praying while he dies, he will go to heaven. Does Hamlet truly believe these things, or is he trying to put off killing Claudius? Many people debate over this topic.
The use of animals in Shakespeare’s Hamlet is certainly a notable motif. Several different animal references are made to contrast or effect how we view someone. Hamlet expresses how dominant he sees man, in comparison to all other animals. This, though a very two dimensional sentiment, is very important to later interpretations. Hamlet is speaking to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern when he se reveals that he has not been feeling like himself recently. He says “What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and moving how express and admirable; in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like a god: the beauty of the world, the paragon of animals—and yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust?”. He basically asserts man’s dominance. He says we move like angels, think like gods, we have no limits. Humans essentially surpass all other animals, yet in reality we are dust. It is all the same. This nihilistic take is notable along the lines of the animal motif by simply asserting how superior Hamlet views humans over animals. This is an important reinforcement to other animal-related ideas. Another example would be when Hamlet compares his father to Claudius by saying that his father is a “Hyperion to a satyr” (1.2.144). A satyr, being a goat-man, is meant to demean Claudius, as being so much less of a man than Hamlet’s father, that he is only part man. This is the way that Shakespeare uses animals throughout Hamlet. They are used to diminish the audience’s impression of a certain person. We see that Hamlet views his Uncle very poorly due to his reference of him being a goat-man. Another glaring example of the use of animals to reflect negatively in Hamlet is when Hamlet says to Polonius, referring to Ophelia that “If the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a good kissing carrion” (2.2.198). This is a very complex quote with multiple tears of meaning. Since before this in the conversation, Hamlet was remarking how no one is honest anymore, we can read this as saying that those who are dishonest raise dishonest children (or maggots) and thus are nothing more than good kissers that should be dead. When we put this into context, knowing that Polonius has told Ophelia not to see Hamlet anymore and Ophelia did not tell this to Hamlet, we can read that Hamlet is saying if you do not protect your daughter’s womb, she will yield liars like your entire family, and she might as well be dead. Hamlet is mocking Polonius, because he feels that Polonius’ over-shielding of Ophelia is wasting her life by forcing her to lie. Also, “sun” and “son” are homophones. Hamlet can be seen as the son in many senses because he is King Hamlet’s son, and because he is Claudius’ wife’s son, thus making him the son of Denmark so to speak. So he is mocking Polonius’ judgment by saying essentially, “You are correct! Your dog of a daughter and I would certainly only breed maggots of children.” These jokes do not work unless the audience understands that to be a dog, especially one that breeds maggots, is certainly an insult and a lowering of status.
Stephanie Kelley
sleep and dreams
The words sleep and dreams are often mentioned in Hamlet by himself and other characters in the play. When Hamlet uses the word sleep it seems to be connected to death and the afterlife that he is very unsure of. In Hamlet’s “To Be or Not to Be” soliloquy he mentions the words sleep and dream quite often. “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. To die, to sleep, to sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub; For in that sleep of death what dreams may come.” (3. 1. 68) Hamlet sees death as nothing but sleeping that will end all of the troubles his life has brought him. Sleep puts the mind at peace and away from the rest of the world. Sleep brings along with it dreams, so along with death something else must come, but Hamlet is unsure of what this could be. He does not know what comes after death just as he never knows what kind of dream he will have when he is sleeping. Earlier on, Hamlet says to Horatio, “And therefore as a stranger give it welcome. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy. But come, here, as before, never, so help you mercy, how strange or odd soe'er I bear myself, as I perchance hereafter shall think meet.” (1.5.186) Hamlet is saying to Horatio that there are more things in heaven and Earth than he has ever dreamed of. Neither Horatio nor Hamlet knows what lies beyond life and what can be found in heaven. When the ghost of Hamlet’s father is explaining his death to Hamlet he says that he was sleeping when he was murdered by Claudius. “That roots itself in ease on Lethe wharf, wouldst thou not stir in this. Now, Hamlet, hear. 'Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, a serpent stung me, so the whole ear of Denmark, is by a forged process of my death.” (1.5.42) This is yet another reference to death with sleeping. Claudius was murdered while he was asleep almost as if saying he was already separated from the world at the time of his death. Dreams and sleeping are quite often referred to when death is being discussed in Hamlet.
Other quotations:
1.5.66
1.5.188
2.2.275-280
2.2.579
2.2.276-279
In the kingdom of Denmark, Hamlet has little power over anything, and due to the recent events that have taken place, he feels more powerless than ever. Hamlet also has many angry and depressive feelings towards his mother, Claudius and Ophelia. Although he cannot take any real physical action nor does anything major to help the situation, he uses words. His word choices are his weapon to persuading people about the truths he believes (the death of his father, evil Claudius, etc). Hamlet talks uses the word “vows” very often: 1.3.47 “and hath given countenance to his speech, my lord, with almost all the holy vows of heaven”, “…the soul lends the tongue vows”, “his vows, they are brokers”, 1.5.59 “…even with the vow I made to her in marriage”, 3.1.133 “…scholars, eye, tongue, sword”, “that sucked the hockey of his musicked vows”. These quotes show his strong belief in his faith, also the second quote shows Hamlet’s sarcastic hatred towards his mother. Hamlet is very sarcastic when it comes to speaking choices: 2.2.95 “words.words.words” (when he is asked what he is reading), Hamlet uses these quick sarcastic responses so that he does not have to form an actual response, to Hamlet there is no need, it would just be wasted time to make the effort. His word choices are also smart and very put together, however this is done effortlessly, it shows how clever and smart he is: 3.2.429 “I will speak (daggers) to her, but use none”. This quote also shows his wanted hatred, yet true love for his mother.
In the kingdom of Denmark, Hamlet has little power over anything, and due to the recent events that have taken place, he feels more powerless than ever. Hamlet also has many angry and depressive feelings towards his mother, Claudius and Ophelia. Although he cannot take any real physical action nor does anything major to help the situation, he uses words. His word choices are his weapon to persuading people about the truths he believes (the death of his father, evil Claudius, etc). Hamlet talks uses the word “vows” very often: 1.3.47 “and hath given countenance to his speech, my lord, with almost all the holy vows of heaven”, “…the soul lends the tongue vows”, “his vows, they are brokers”, 1.5.59 “…even with the vow I made to her in marriage”, 3.1.133 “…scholars, eye, tongue, sword”, “that sucked the hockey of his musicked vows”. These quotes show his strong belief in his faith, also the second quote shows Hamlet’s sarcastic hatred towards his mother. Hamlet is very sarcastic when it comes to speaking choices: 2.2.95 “words.words.words” (when he is asked what he is reading), Hamlet uses these quick sarcastic responses so that he does not have to form an actual response, to Hamlet there is no need, it would just be wasted time to make the effort. His word choices are also smart and very put together, however this is done effortlessly, it shows how clever and smart he is: 3.2.429 “I will speak (daggers) to her, but use none”. This quote also shows his wanted hatred, yet true love for his mother.
Hannah Cain
The motif of women and womanliness through out Shakespeare’s Hamlet is quiet noticeable and affects many of the characters. For example, Ophelia is warned by her brother Laertes about Hamlet and his false love for her. Laertes suggests to Ophelia that Hamlet’s feelings are just lust. Before leaving for France Laertes tells Ophelia “Then weigh what loss your honor may sustain if with too credent ear you list his songs,
or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open to his unmastered importunity.” Her Laertes is telling Ophelia to keep her virginity because once she gives it up, she will be worthless to the rest of the men in the world who may have something more to offer. Here, Shakespeare shows that he connects woman and their worth to the sexual activities; women have more worth if they have virginity. Also, relating woman with their sexual status is Ophelia’s father Polonius. In act two, when Polonius sends Reynaldo to France to check up on Laertes social status he asks Reynaldo to ask this question about Laertes, “Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing, quarreling, drabbing—you may go so far.” Here, when Polonius mentions drabbing, he is refereeing to prostitutes. This quote proves two things about woman. One of the points mad about women is that they are a type of play to men, because the list of things that visiting prostitutes was included in where things like drinking, swearing, and fighting. If Polonius includes visiting prostitutes and whore houses along with drinking, swearing, and fighting, it proves that woman with no more worth than drinking, swearing, or fighting. Another situation in which women and womanliness is brought about is in Hamlet’s first soliloquy. In his speech, he mentions that he can’t fathom how or why his mother would move along to another marriage so soon after his father’s death. He says, “She would hang on him, like appetite had grown”. Here Hamlet is saying that his mother has a lack of morals because she moves from man to man too quickly. He views her as a week human that isn’t able to function alone. He believes his mother is a fool for falling in and out of love so quickly.
Playing and acting is a very important motif in hamlet. Hamlet is a big fan of theater so there is a lot of acting in this book. Hamlet uses acting as a way to make the king know that he knows that he killed his father. Also hamlet himself acts crazy to throw people off the track that he knows what’s going on. One example is this part from the play that hamlet stages 3.1.170. “For us and for our tragedy, here stooping to your clemency, we beg your hearing patiently.” Playing is very important in Hamlet because it lets hamlet show things that he would normally not show, as we see in the play and him acting crazy. Another example of playing is when hamlet was messing with Polonius and making fun of his intelligence. 2.2.190-237. this is where hamlet calls Polonius a fishmonger and makes fun of him without him knowing. Without acting and playing the play would not have the slyness it has now.
Sleep and Dreams:
Dreaming was rarely mentioned in the second half of the book, however sleeping was mentioned quite often. Sleep is often referred to as something unknown and brought up when death is mentioned. Hamlet refers to sleeping when he is speaking about murdering his uncle. He sees his uncle praying and does not want to murder him because then he will go to heaven. He says, “Up, sword and know thou a more horrid hent. When he is drunk asleep, or in his rage, or in the incestuous pleasure of his bed.” (Hamlet 3.3.167) Death is once again brought up in this passage with sleep involved. Hamlet wants to kill his uncle while he is sleeping. This is the same way his father was murdered. Sleep is also shown as causing people to be unprepared. Queen Gertrude says to Hamlet, “Forth at your eyes your spirits wildly peep and, as the sleeping soldiers in the alarm, your bedded hair, like life in excrements, starts up, and stands on end. (Queen Gertrude 3.4.177) Gertrude thinks Hamlet is crazy and is unprepared for things that are coming his way. Sleeping is brought up again referring to being unknown and misunderstood. Hamlet says, “I am glad of it: a knavish speech sleeps in a foolish ear.” (Hamlet 4.2.193) He is saying that clever words are never understood by fools. Sleep is seen as a strange thing and no one knows what happens when you sleep and what dreams may come. When Hamlet uses the word sleep it seems to be connected to death and the afterlife that he is very unsure of. Hamlet talks about death as just being a long, deep sleep that will put an end to all of the things he has had to go through. Sleeping brings peace and separation from the rest of the world for some time. Hamlet is unsure of what comes after death, just like when you sleep you never know what dreams may come. Hamlet does not know if there is a heaven and he is afraid of where he will go once his life ends. He cannot be sure what will come when his life is over. Sleep and dreams are difficult to explain and are often mentioned in Hamlet.
(Hamlet 4.4.203)
(Claudius 4.7.225)
(Hamlet 5.2.259)
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