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Analysis of quotations from 'Hamlet' by Shakespeare
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Analysis of quotations from 'Hamlet' by Shakespeare, organised by theme.
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Theme Act 1 HamletDeath “rank”, “gross”, “an unweeded garden” Act 1 Scene 2 (Hamlet’s O, that this
too too solid flesh soliloquy) (Hamlet) – Hamlet’s speech is saturated with
suggestion of rot and corruption
“With mirth in funeral, and with dirge in marriage” Act 1 Scene 2 (Claudius) -
This line indicates that Claudius and Gertrude's marriage took place shortly
after King Hamlet's death. Claudius adjectives are backwards, as "mirth" is
typically associated with marriages and "dirges" (funeral songs) are played
after a death. This diction is very telling of Claudius' true feelings and suggests
that he is, in fact, happy about his brother's death. It is unclear whether or not
Gertrude also feels this way, which causes tension between her and her son
Hamlet.
“'gainst self-slaughter”” Act 1 Scene 2 (Hamlet’s O, that this too too solid
flesh soliloquy) (Hamlet) - In Catholic belief, suicide is a mortal sin, or
something that is such an egregious wrong that it cannot be forgiven by God.
To commit suicide condemns a person to Hell and reflects poorly on one's
surviving loved ones. This exclamation marks Hamlet's first reference to
suicide and the beginning of a downward emotional spiral that some scholars
have linked to modern conceptions of depression. For Hamlet even to be
considering suicide suggests that something is desperately wrong.
Appearance vs "Windy suspiration of forced breath" Act 1 Scene 2 (Hamlet) - Suggests their
reality morning of Hamlet's father is forced and fake. Cuts through their pomposity
and artificiality. Idea of them playing a role for the public - insincerity and
falseness of the monarchy.
Women “Frailty, thy name is/woman” Act 1 Scene 2 (Hamlet’s O, that this too too
solid flesh soliloquy) (Hamlet) - In Hamlet's first soliloquy. The pause
preceding this phrase mimics Hamlet's turmoil. The quote condemns all
women for being weak. 'Frailty' is the personification of an abstract noun. This
has the effect of it being held equal to women. We can see that Gertrude has
made him lose faith in women because Gertrude is blamed through his anger.
- This could be the first evidence of Hamlet's misogynous tendencies. Hamlet's
language becomes less controlled and deliberate - enjambment suggests
angry free flow of thoughts that he can't contain.
'I shall th'effect of this good lesson keep/ As watchman to my heart. But, my
good brother,/ Do not, as some ungracious pastors do,. Show me the steep
and thorny way to heaven,/ Whilst, like a puffed and reckless libertine.
Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads,/ And recks not his own rede.'
Act 1 Scene 3 (Ophelia) - Ophelia gracefully takes on the advice of Laertes, but
points out the often inherent hypocrisy in man's advice. She believes there is a
chance that Laertes is preaching sexual virtue to her, whilst himself being
sexually promiscuous, like 'a puffed and reckless libertine.'
"I shall Obey my Lord" Act 1 Scene 3 (Ophelia) - As an unmarried woman,
Ophelia has no choice but to do as her father says and stop seeing Hamlet.
She is powerless over her own body and her relationships and most aspects of
her life.
Structure in Act 1 Scene 3 (Between Ophelia and Polonius) - Shakespeare's
use of structure reflects this as well; for example, the long, rambling speech of
Polonius, which dominates the conversation, contrasts with the lack of
character or emotion behind the short, bland sentences of Ophelia that
parallels her defenceless situation, heightening sympathy from a modern
audience in this passage.
, "My lord" Act 1 Scene 3 (Ophelia) - Ophelia's use of the honorific repeatedly
throughout the passage, which subtly stresses her subordination to her father
and his authority and supremacy over her. This dynamic would be regarded as
ordinary by a Jacobean audience, who would be indifferent about Ophelia's
inferiority. Nevertheless, a modern audience would sympathise with Ophelia's
constrained position within the patriarchal system.
"Or lose your heart or your chaste treasure open To his unmaster'd
opportunity. Fear it, Ophelia, fear it my dear sister" Act 1 Scene 3 (Laertes) -
Treasure refers to her value, virginity is precious and and valuable. With her
virginity they can get her decent marriage. The men of her family have control
and invested interest in her chastity. State of women at the time. Reputation
was priceless to a women. Treasure = Ophelia as a commodity or how value
was placed on a woman's chastity and modesty
"springes to catch woodcocks," Act 1 Scene 3 (Polonius) - referring to
Hamlet’s vows to Ophelia. This metaphor creates a intense visual image as, in
literature, birds represent independence and liberty, due to their ability to
escape through flight, therefore, the image of the bird’s confinement is
emotionally charged and highlights Ophelia's vulnerability, lack of freedom,
and imprisonment in a patriarchal society.
Revenge “In the most high and palmy state of Rome, A little ere the mightiest Julius
fell, the graves stood tenantless, and the sheeted dead did squeak and
gibber in the Roman streets.” Act 1 Scene 1 (Horatio) – He is pointing out the
seriousness of the sighting, recalling that before Caesar died the dead rose
from their graves and were in the streets. This foreshadows the revenge that
Hamlet will embark upon, leading to the death of his uncle, mother, and
himself.
“A little more than kin, and less than kind.” Act 1 Scene 2 (Hamlet) – Hamlets
first words in the play which is very sensitive to language, clever, witty, puny.
It shows that Hamlet is not always nice and that he can also be kind of mean.
(kin = relative, kind = caring - they sound alike) . Foreshadowing that Hamlet is
not going to be so kind and that Claudius and Hamlet will have a
conflict. Dramatic irony the play begins with the audience invited to share
Hamlet's inner thoughts
"Haste me to know't that I with wings as swift as meditation or the thoughts
of love may sweep to my revenge" Act 1 Scene 5 (Hamlet) - Linguistic irony
and contradictions sum up Hamlet's struggle in terms of the vengeance
debate. Juxtaposing "meditation" and "love" with "revenge" shows the conflict
in his subconscious mind between reason, intellect, self control, and rage,
passion, anger. "Wings as swift" and "sweep" is sweeping, rushed sibilance
suggests Hamlet's rage amd anger causing him to be rash and hasty. "Wings"
suggests an avenging angel, an agent of God. The calm, controlled, self-
reflective practice of "meditation" and the gentleness of "thoughts of love"
suggests Hamlet's intellect is trying to reign in his passionate rage and need to
revenge. This quote is showing a natural reticence and an innate sense of the
need for caution and reflection as opposed to rash deeds.
"Sleeping in my orchard a serpent stung me... and in the porches of my ears
did pour the leperous distilment... and curd, like eager droppings into milk"
Act 1 Scene 5 (The ghost) - Claudius is the manipulative, sly, sinister creature,
the metaphor's sibilance gives a sly hiss, thus associating Claudius with the
classic fall imagery of the snake in the Garden of Eden."Sleeping in my
orchard" shows innocence and vulnerability, "orchard" links to the garden of
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