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![ Hamlet’s commentary on Claudius’s partying
“[i]t is a custom/more honoured in the breach
than the observance.”
Hamlet isn’t afraid to die because he doesn’t
“set [his] life in a pin’s fee” and his soul is
immortal.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/hamletact1-160526163941/85/Hamlet-act-1-22-320.jpg)
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Hamlet act 1
- 1.
- 2. The GreatChain of Being Belief in the supernatural Setting Source Characters
- 4. • Superstition • Ghostswalking earth evidence of break in the chain • Demons at work on earth • Heaven and Hell are real
- 12.
- 15. Nemesis Foils Disease and Corruption Women Hamlet asTragic Hero Appearance vs Reality
- 16. Threat alertlevel in Denmark is high: Fortinbras History with Norway Death of king Ghost
- 17. Claudius thePolitician
- 18. Claudius keepshis friends close and his enemies closer “But to persever/ In obstinate condolement is a course/ Of impious stubbornness. ‘Tis unmanly grief.”
- 19. “O, thatthis too too sullied flesh would melt…”
- 20. Hamlet admitsthe ghost might be the devil and not his father’s ghost: “If it assume my noble father’s person, / I’ll speak to it, though hell itself should gape/ And bid me hold my peace.”
- 21. Ophelia the“good daughter” –or is she? Polonius talks about Ophelia like she’s property. Uses language of business. “brokers” “investments” “tender”
- 22. Hamlet’s commentaryon Claudius’s partying “[i]t is a custom/more honoured in the breach than the observance.” Hamlet isn’t afraid to die because he doesn’t “set [his] life in a pin’s fee” and his soul is immortal.
- 23. Foreshadowing? Horatio:What ifit … deprive your sovereignty of reason/ And draw you into madness? Marcellus: Something is rotten in the state of Denmark
- 24. The ghostclaims Claudius seduced Gertrude and echoes Hamlet’s claim that Claudius is vastly inferior to Old Hamlet. Imagery of disease and corruption powerful: And in the porches of my ears did pour The leperous distilment,… And with a sudden vigour doth possed And curd, like eager droppings into milk, The thin and wholesome blood. Body of King=The State of Denmark
Editor's Notes
- #13 Norse Legend composed by Saxo Grammaticus in Latin around 1200. Essentially the same plot.
- #16 See your handout for this
- #17 We learn from the nervous guards of preparations for war and nightly visits by a ghost of the previous king. Horatio, a scholar, has been asked by the guards to come watch with them. The ghost appears but won’t speak to them. They decide to tell Hamlet what they’ve seen.
- #18 Claudius holds court. Talks about his recent marriage and the death of his brother as well as activities of Fortinbras. Solidifies his claim to the throne. Lets Laertes go to Paris, but doesn’t let Hamlet go to Wittenburg. Hamlet whines about how life sucks. Horatio and the two soldiers tell Hamlet about the ghost. Oxymorons: Claudius can rejoice and mourn at the same time: acknowledges his brother’s death and says that everyone has gone along with the wedding. Sets himself up to look like a nice guy: agrees to let Laertes go back to Paris. But isolates Hamlet
- #19 Claudius tells Hamlet he’s unmanly and impious for mourning so long. Won’t let him go back to Wittenburg. Hamlet’s concerned with appearance vs realitiy, Gertrude asks him why he “seems” to be mourning so much. Hamlet says “I know not ‘seems’”
- #20 Hamlet wants to die. Won’t kill himself because God has “fixed/His canon’gainst self-slaughter.” The world is an unweeded garden. His father was awesome and Gertrude seemed destroyed when he died “Like Niobe, all tears” but in less than two months, she married Claudius “a beast that wants discourse of reason/Would have mourned longer.”
- #22 Laertes, before leaving for France has advice to give to Ophelia: don’t sleep with Hamlet. He’s just messing with you. Don’t lose your “chaste treasure”. Ophelia: yeah, well don’t lose yours either, hypocrite. Polonius: You’re a stupid baby who can’t think for herself. Hamlet may say he loves you but that’s what all young men do. He’s not free to marry you like he would be if he weren’t a prince but he’s happy to have sex with you and you’ll “tender me a fool”. Never talk to him in private again.
- #23 Hamlet’s waiting on the battlement with Horatio and Marcellus. Ghost appears and beckons Hamlet to go with him. They try to stop him citing common fear that spirits were sent by the devil to tempt good men to commit suicide.
- #25 Hamelt learns from the ghost that Claudius murdered his father. Hamlet’s father is suffering in purgatory. Tells Hamlet to take revenge but leave his mother alone. Hamlet swears to do this. Swears Marcellus and Horatio to secrecy and not to tell anyone that he’s not actually crazy.