... The guilty creatures sitting at a play/ Have by the very cunning of the scene/ Been struck so to the soul that presently/ They have proclaimed their malefactions."(II, ii, 601-604). Hamlet wanted to make the king feel his guilt so he would confess to the death of his father: "I'll have these players/ Play something ... murder of my father/ Before mine uncle: I'll observe his looks;/ I'll tent him to the quick. If he but blench,/ I know my course."(II,ii,606-610). It seems that at this point Hamlet is afraid to kill or does not want to kill Claudius because he is delaying so much and is ...

• Word Count: 1897
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... the profanity was removed, and that that was not had just reason for being there. Some of the Bard's censored oaths are; "God's blessing on your beard" Love's Labors Lost, II.i.203 This was a very rude curse because a man's facial hair was a point of pride for him. And "to play with someone's beard" was to insult him. "God's body" 1 Henry IV ... VIII, V.i Swearing by the virgin was almost as rude as swearing by her son, especially when addressing a catholic cathedral as Gloucester did in 2 Henry VI, II.i Perhaps the two worst of these Shakespearean swears were "'zounds" and "'sblood." "...

• Word Count: 1988
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... and gifts, while she was still alive. Hamlet subtly hints his awareness of his dissolving sanity as he tells Laertes that he killed Polonius in a fit of madness [Act V, scene II, lines 236-250] Hamlet has violent outbursts towards his mother. His outburst seems to be out of jealousy, as a victim to the Oedipus complex. He alone sees his father's ghost ... 's actions and words have a method to them; there appears to be a reason behind them, they are logical in nature. Though this be madness, yet there is method in't. [Act II, scene II, line 206] Hamlet tells his mother That I essentially ...

• Word Count: 2716
• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: High School

... Hamlet becomes enraged when he thinks about her incestuous sheet, and in frustration he makes the irrational generalization that, Frailty, thy name is woman! (I, ii, 146). In the closet scene, Hamlet treats his mother cruelly, and he accuses her of being involved in the plot to kill his father. Once ... take an immediate liking to Claudius, and they are give up [themselves] in the full bent,/ To lay [their] services freely at [his] feet (II, ii, 30-31). This is a clear illustration of how Claudius' subject support him. Another indication of the people's support of Claudius is that he was...

• Word Count: 2834
• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: High School

... superior memory. Hamlet is also a very witty person who uses sharp language to gain the advantage in conversations. For instance, he pretends not to know Polonius and calls him a "fishmonger- (II.ii.172). He then goes on to subtly tease him about his daughter, Ophelia. However, Hamlet's wit often lends itself to facetious behaviour. When being confronted about the location of Polonius ... his life, as well as women in general. In one particular instance, Hamlet is lamenting the marriage of his mother to his dead father's brother. "Fraily, thy name is woman!- (I.ii.146). Considering Haml...

• Word Count: 1991
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... of Norway. He is hoping to regain the lands that his father "did forfeit with his life- (Ii.88) when King Hamlet "did slay this Fortinbras- (Ii.86) and seized parts of Norway. Also "now sir, young Fortinbras, of unimproved mettle hot and full- (Ii.95-96) seeks revenge for his father's death. At the end of the play young Fortinbras has more ... by poison on Laertes's sword. Yet, in doing so, he loses his own life by his own sword: "The treacherous instrument is in thy hand, Unbated and envenomed. The foul practice Hath turned itself on me- (Vii.296-298) As he dies he realises the true vi...

• Word Count: 1437
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... that she acts towards others. Laertes is the only male character who cannot control Ophelia. He tells Ophelia to stay away from Hamlet and Ophelia replies by telling him to practice what he preaches. When Hamlet begins to act mad, Polonius comes up with the idea that keeping Ophelia away from Hamlet is the reason for his madness. Hamlet, Polonius, and ... Claudius. Depending on the reaction from Claudius, he would see whether or not to revenge Old Hamlet's murder.The play's the thing Wherein I?ll catch the conscience of the King.? (II ii l. 633-634). During the performance, Hamlet tries...

• Word Count: 831
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... because of the incestuous relationship between Hamlet's mother, Queen Gertrude, and uncle, King Claudius. Even in Elizabethan times, Hamlet was disturbed by his mother's quickly new found love. In scene II of the first act, Hamlet's disgust with his mother's incestuous relationship and pain over his own father's death is no more clear then in the lines of his speech: "But ... wicked speed, to post with such dexterity to incestuous sheet! It is not nor it cannot come to good: but break, my heart; for I must hold my tongue."" (Act I, Scene II, line 138-158) Hamlet's feelings are very clea...

• Word Count: 1494
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... a murder for the prince. They plan a fatal sword match and Claudius mischievously retorts, " And for his death no wind of blame shall breathe,But even his mother shall uncharge the practice, and call it an accident."(iv.: vii.: 1034). The revenge is plotted, yet the dual ends in tragedy. Foreshadowing is ultimately addressed in certain situations. A remark is made, "Something is ... rotten in the state of Denmark." (ii.:iv.: 973). This one remark embarks the whole setting and brings the misfortune to reality. One does not even know yet of what foul play and wrong doings have happened .....

• Word Count: 1335
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... with such phrases as, "That I can keep your counsel and not, mine own. Beside, to be demanded of a sponge, what replication should be made by the son of a king?" (IV, ii, 12-14) The reference to the sponge reflects the fact that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are easily ordered by the king and do not have minds of their own. Hamlet does ... the reader to side with Hamlet. Another incident of Hamlet's high intelligence is shown when he tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, "I am glad of it: a knavish sleeps in a foolish ear." (IV, ii,24-25) This statement leaves Rosencrantz and Guildenstern ...

• Word Count: 764
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... or should not act upon his suspicion that Claudius killed King Hamlet as told to him by the Ghost, so he will test him. "I"ll tent him to the quick" (II.ii.609) In search for the answer is exemplified in the picture, as hamlet putting his hand in the air trying to move the bushes and braches out the way to ... deed that way he will go to hell, in stead of killing him while he is praying. "As hell, whereto it goes." (IIIiii.98) Strong at will but weak in practice, Hamlet was a example of a many who was ambitious but lacked doing. ("And ever three parts coward - I do not know"(IV.iv.45)) ...

• Word Count: 867
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... response to his father's murder. Hamlet then calls himself a coward for his inability to say anything in defense of his father. "Am I a coward"(II, ii, 578)? This is ironic because he is concentrating on the actor's expression of grief, not a proactive response, which will only inhibit one's action. ... Hamlet never discusses the act of vengeance, only the actor's ability to "cleave the general ear with horrid speech"(II, ii, 569). Hamlet also displays his low self-esteem in this soliloquy as he sarcastically describes his inaction. This is most brave, That I, the son of ... murdered, P...

• Word Count: 1431
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... are many confines, wards, and dungeons . . . Denmark's oath" worst . . . I could be bounded in a nutshell and cut myself a kind of infinite space [thought]. (II.II.243-255) A man who is a mere "prince of philosophical speculators," as F.E. Halliday puts it, would not feel at home in an incestuous tomb of politics. Hamlet is so out ... wittingly, Polonius is assured that it was the talk of a mad man. "Do you know me, my Lord? . . . excellent well. You are a fishmonger . . ."(II.II. 173-4) For in the ordinary sense "it is . . . Polonius . . . breed . . ." A fishmonger being a honest trad...

• Word Count: 2932
• Approx Pages: 12
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... response to his father's murder. Hamlet then calls himself a coward for his inability to say anything in defense of his father. "Am I a coward"(II, ii, 578)? This is ironic because he is concentrating on the actor's expression of grief, not a proactive response, which will only inhibit one's action. ... Hamlet never discusses the act of vengeance, only the actor's ability to "cleave the general ear with horrid speech"(II, ii, 569). Hamlet also displays his low self-esteem in this soliloquy as he sarcastically describes his inaction. This is most brave, That I, the son of ... murdered, P...

• Word Count: 1456
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... , "But two months dead, nay, not so much, not two! / So excellent a King; that was to this / Hyperion to a satyr". [I.ii.138-140] This reveals the depth of emotion and turmoil within Hamlet's mind. This is also shown further at the end of Hamlet's soliloquies. Most Shakespearean characters ... Hamlet's prevarication and ultimate confusion is that Hamlet is unsure whether his father's apparition, "may be the devil" [II.ii.597] and that, "the devil hath power / T"assume a pleasing shape". [II.ii.597-598] By this, Shakespeare creates dramatic tension through pretence of madness, as it can al...

• Word Count: 1550
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... Claudius in such haste, causing such internal torment for Hamlet. This leads Hamlet to make a generalization about all women. Frailty, thy name is woman(I, ii, 146)! Here, Hamlet is beginning to loath his mother for marrying Claudius only one month after King Hamlet's death. Hamlet loathes his mother and begins ... the actor exhibits for the death of his character's father. What would he do, / Had he the motive and cue for passion/ That I have (II, ii, 566-68) Hamlet is amazed that the actor can evoke these emotions without a real purpose, while he is incapable of doing anything in res...

• Word Count: 1492
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... and he must continue to live in the 'unweeded garden, / That grows to seed' in order to fulfill the obligation he has to his father (I.ii. 135-6). Making Hamlet more a story of personal growth than a dark murder mystery, Shakespeare emphasizes the emotional, rather than the physical, obstacles that Prince ... ta'en with equal thanks. . . .Give me that man / That is not passion's slave, and I will wear him / I my hearts core' (III.ii. 70-79). Hamlet must become like Horatio. He must learn that evil is a necessary part of the harmonious order that God created. When Hamlet can become impervi...

• Word Count: 1879
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... then; / Mark the encounter: if he love her not / And be not from his reason fall"n thereon / Let me be no assistant for a state," (II, ii, 159-165). Polonius becomes so intent on pleasing the king and queen, and proving his point, that he does not think about Ophelia. He uses Ophelia as a pawn ... the queen, and Hamlet. After Hamlet's father died, his uncle Claudius, assumed the role of parent. "But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son," (II, ii, 64). In front of the kingdom, Claudius refers to Hamlet as "son". He wants the people to accept his reign and tries to do so by winning ... gather...

• Word Count: 1575
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... to be mad. This is shown when he says to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, "I know not "lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of/ exercises - (II, ii, 296-297) Later he tells them that he is just faking madness when he says, "I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is/ southerly ... like Horatio, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. This is evidenced when he says, " there is nothing/ either good or bad but thinking makes it so - (II, ii, 249-250) Hamlet is saying that thought shapes our perception of reality. It is puzzling that Hamlet is comfortable with his antic disposition at this point ....

• Word Count: 1433
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... , he feels so isolated and entrapped in his native land that he says " Denmark's a prisonin which there are many confines, wards, dungeons" (II. ii.264-6). These feelings of loneliness and isolation are common to those people suffering from melancholy and/or depression. "Shakespeare represents Hamlet's melancholy as genuine rather ... all faith in mankind: "And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? Man delights not me, {no}, nor woman neither [...]" (II. ii. 331- 3). Drawing on Biblical allusions, Hamlet redefines the position of man as simply he who came from dust and regards h...

• Word Count: 4821
• Approx Pages: 19
• Grade Level: High School

... on their watch In the dead waste and middle of the night Been thus encounter"d: a figure like your father Armed at point exactly, cap-a-pie, (I,ii 196-200) Horatio's care for Hamlet is seen here. He makes sure that Hamlet is aware of the apparition, and the events surrounding the appearance of his ... for what he has done. " Well my lord. If" a steal aught whilst this play is playing And scape detecting, I will pay the theft." (III, ii, 86-88) Again, Horatio proves that he does care for Hamlet. He is willing to sacrifice himself, in order to help Hamlet. Perhaps the biggest sacrifice tha...

• Word Count: 1781
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, to spy on Hamlet. King Claudius tells them about the situation, Something have you heard. Of Hamlets transformation, so call it. (II, II) What does the King mean by transformation? Does the King ever say what he might think that the transformation is caused from? He certainly has an ... Your noble son is mad. eMad call I it, for to define true madness, what ist but to be nothing to be nothing else but mad? (II, II) Polonius defines madness here; he tells us that Hamlet is a perfect example of madness. Later in the scene, when Polonius is confronted by Hamle...

• Word Count: 1318
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... that the grief of loosing his father has made him so. With this erratic behavior from Hamlet comes the confrontation with Polonius, "You are a fishmonger." (II ii 190) Hamlet is using "fishmonger" as an insult to Polonius by implying he is a pimp. Hamlet knows that Polonius is using his daughter, Ophelia, to ... . "You cannot, sir, take from me anything that I will more willingly part withal -- except my life, except my life, except my life (II ii 233-235)." In telling Polonius this, Hamlet is letting him know that he is not to be fooled or deceived by anybody and that he is brighter ... ...

• Word Count: 1315
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... brave overhanging firmament, this majestically roof fretted with golden fire - why, it appeareth no other thing to me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapors. (II.ii.307-317) Yet Hamlet goes far beyond melancholy and the purpose of this paper is to discuss Hamlet's madness. Madness or insanity is part of a mental health ... Even before Hamlet speaks with the ghost of his father, Gertrude and Claudius speak to Hamlet about letting go of his "nighted color" (I.ii.68) and "obsequious sorrow" (I.ii.92). As the play progresses, Hamlet exhibits markedly diminished interest in daily lif...

• Word Count: 1100
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... , "Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears/ Had left the flushing in her [Gertrude] galled eyes,/ She married O most wicked speed!" (Hamlet I ii 153-156) The recent dramatic events deeply distressed him, and he longed no more than to seek a way out. Under these circumstance, Prince Hamlet contemplated about his ... own death and even thought about suicide, in lines 129-134 of Act I Sc II, he cried out, O that this too sullied flesh would melt, Thaw and resolve itself into a dew, Or that the Everlasting had not fixd His canon gainst ... " but the bitter prince only replied, "You canno...

• Word Count: 950
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School