TS-0228-20200228

“Not so, my lord, I am too much in the sun.” (Act 1, Scene 2, line 68) Hamlet is first introduced to us as an isolated, black-clad figure. He is forced to wait on the sidelines while Claudius deals with all the other business of the court. He announces his presence in the play via two pithy puns, both of which make it clear to the audience that he is unhappy with the current status quo. “These indeed seem, For they are actions that a manmight play” (Act 1, Scene 2, lines 83-4) Having been berated by both his mother and his uncle for stubbornly insisting on remaining in mourning, Hamlet points out that surface appearance and behaviour can simply be an act, but his grief is deep and genuine. It can also be seen to foreshadow the fact that he will later play the role of the madman to try to deflect from his quest to avenge his murderous uncle. “Remember thee? Ay poor ghost, whiles memory holds a seat In this distracted globe.” (Act 1, Scene 5, lines 96-7) Having been told by his loyal friend Horatio that his father’s ghost has been seen walking the castle’s battlements at night, Hamlet joins the night watch the following evening. Not only does his father’s ghost appear, it tells the prince that rather than being bitten by a serpent in the orchard, he was murdered by Claudius. Hamlet swears to the ghost that he will avenge his murder. However, there is a warning in the way he describes his head as ‘distracted’ – it pre-empts the fact that Hamlet often seems incapable of focusing on the task. “tis a consummation Devoutly to be wished.” (Act 3, Scene 1, lines 63-4) In the iconic ‘To be or not to be’ speech Hamlet contemplates life and death, seemingly wishing to end his life. However, although the speech is traditionally classed as a soliloquy (and the conventions of a soliloquy dictate that the character is speaking the truth) there is an argument that it is not, because Ophelia is on stage too and because Hamlet is also aware that Claudius and Polonius are eavesdropping on him. This may mean that the speech could be interpreted as a further example of his ‘antic disposition’. “Here is your husband like a mildewed ear, Blasting his wholesome brother.” (Act 3, Scene 4, lines 64-5) Throughout the play, Hamlet comments on the contrast between the two brothers, his father and uncle, highlighting his father’s superiority to his usurping brother. This example is interesting for the punning on the word ‘ear’, alluding to the way that Claudius poisoned Old Hamlet by pouring poison in his ear. “I think it be thine indeed for thou liest in’t.” (Act 5, scene 1, line 124) After running linguistic rings around every other character in the play, Hamlet finally meets his match in an unexpected place. Having returned from his intended trip to England, Hamlet and Horatio find themselves in a graveyard where two sextons are digging up bodies to make a new grave for Ophelia. The older of the two dazzles Hamlet with his complex puns, frustrating the prince. This acts as something of a leveller for Hamlet. “The point envenomed too? Then venom to thy work.” (Act 5, scene 2, 324-5) After spending much of the play seemingly incapable of taking action, knowing that he is doomed from the effects of Laertes’ poisoned tipped sword, he is finally is able to fulfil his promise to his father and kill his uncle. 49 S H A K E S P E A R E HAMLET Key Quotations: HelenMears examines the complex mix of indecisiveness, quick-wittedness and stubbornness that drives the title character of arguably Shakespeare’s most celebrated play... OUR EXPERT: Helen Mears is an English teacher who sits on the education committee of the British Shakespeare Association. teachwire.net/secondary Who is he? The titular character of the play, Hamlet is the Prince of Denmark. His father has recently died and his mother has since married the King’s brother, Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius. At the beginning of the play, Hamlet is charged by his father’s ghost to revenge his murder. However, he seems almost incapable of action and makes excuse after excuse to explain his delay.