Hamlet (26 page)

Following 5.2.107:

Following 5.2.119:

Following 5.2.153:

Enter a Lord

[
Exit Lord
]

Q2 = Second Quarto text of 1604/5

Q3 = a correction introduced in the Third Quarto text of 1611

Ed = a correction introduced by a later editor

5 mote
spelled
moth
in
Q2
14 feared
= Ed. Q2 = feare
24 clepe
spelled
clip
in
Q2
42 often douse
= Ed. Q2 = of a doubt
51 An anchor’s
= Ed. Q2 = And Anchors
168 spendthrift
= Ed. Q2 = spend thirsts
172 feelingly
= Q3. Q2 = fellingly (
in some copies
) sellingly (
in other copies
)
176 dizzy
= Q3. Q2 = dosie (
in some copies
) dazzie (
in other copies
)

Lines 1–14:
The play begins with a question, as the guards Barnardo and Francisco swap shifts and Barnardo asks “Who’s there?,” evoking the themes of identity, uncertainty and existence which indicate that this is a reflective play, often with more emphasis on thought and speech than on action. The information that it is midnight reinforces setting, with ideas of night and darkness and the associated themes of secrecy/deception. It also introduces the concept of “balance” between two opposites: the play begins at the point between one day and another, a literal representation of this “balance” between key themes and motifs such as day/night, words/actions, physical/spiritual and appearance/reality.

Lines 15–117:
Marcellus brings Horatio to witness an “apparition” that he and the sentinels have previously seen, as Horatio thinks they have imagined the whole thing. Barnardo begins to describe a previous encounter when the ghost appears. Commenting on its resemblance to the late king, they urge it to speak, but the ghost leaves in silence. Shaken, Horatio says that he would not believe it “Without the sensible and true avouch” of his “own eyes,” a statement that raises the theme of sight/perception. He adds that the appearance of the ghost “bodes some strange eruption to our state,” establishing that the play functions on a national/public level, often in tension with the individual/personal. Marcellus asks why Denmark appears to be preparing for war. Horatio explains that the late king conquered lands belonging to Norway and that the young Norwegian prince, Fortinbras, is preparing to take them back.

Lines 118–168:
The ghost reappears and, as Horatio attempts to make it speak, a cock crows. Horatio instructs Marcellus to “Stop it” and Marcellus strikes at the ghost, which leaves again. Horatio suggests
that they tell Prince Hamlet what they have seen, as, if it really is the ghost of his father, it will speak to him.

Lines 1–128:
King Claudius (whose name is never mentioned in the dialogue) makes a speech to court, expressing his grief at the death of his brother and announcing that he has married his brother’s widow, Queen Gertrude: “With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage, / In equal scale weighing delight and dole,” again suggesting balance between opposites. The speech is formal and ceremonious, as Claudius emphasizes his new role as king, but it seems awkward as well: it is difficult to reconcile his apparent grief with his happiness at his marriage. Claudius also announces that Fortinbras is demanding the “surrender” of the captured Norwegian lands, and he sends two ambassadors to inform the king of Norway, Fortinbras’ elderly uncle, of his nephew’s actions. Laertes asks for permission to return to his studies in France now that he has shown his duty in attending Claudius’ coronation. Claudius agrees, provided Laertes has Polonius’ permission, which is given. Three sets of father/son relationships have now been established, emphasizing the importance of this particular family dynamic to the play. Claudius turns to Hamlet, addressing him as “my son,” and asks him why “the clouds still hang” on him, to which Hamlet replies that he is “too much i’th’sun.” This pun on “son/sun” establishes the wordplay that is a key feature of this play, particularly in Hamlet’s speeches. Language/words are focused on and explored throughout in terms of the complexities of “meaning,” and also as an opposition to action. Gertrude asks Hamlet to stop wearing mourning for his father, but Hamlet responds that his grief goes much deeper than “the trappings and the suits of woe,” reinforcing the theme of appearance and reality and the motif of clothing. He argues that there is a difference between what is “within” and external appearances, which are something a “man might play,” an expression that raises the theme of performance/theater. Claudius accuses Hamlet of “impious stubbornness,” and calls his grief “unmanly,” one of several reflections on gender. In a more conciliatory tone, he asks Hamlet to think of
him as a father, and says that he would prefer him to remain in court rather than returning to university in Wittenberg. Gertrude adds her “prayers” that Hamlet will remain, and he agrees.

Lines 129–271:
Alone, Hamlet embarks on the first of the many soliloquies that reveal his introspective nature. He wishes that he could die and that his “too solid flesh would melt,” emphasizing the opposing elements of physical and spiritual as he also regrets that suicide is a sin against God. He contemplates the “stale” nature of the world, comparing it to an “unweeded garden” filled with “things rank and gross in nature,” establishing the recurring motif of decay/infection. He reveals his disgust at his mother’s remarriage and the “wicked speed” with which she moved between “incestuous sheets.” He recalls how much she appeared to love his father, blaming her behavior on the fickle nature of her sex: “frailty, thy name is woman!” Horatio, Barnardo and Marcellus arrive. Horatio tells Hamlet about seeing his father’s ghost. Hamlet resolves to watch that night and to try to speak to it. After they leave, he contemplates what the appearance of the “armed” ghost means, suspecting “some foul play.”

Laertes says goodbye to his sister, Ophelia. He warns her against “Hamlet and the trifling of his favours,” saying that, while Hamlet may love her now, their difference of rank is too great for him to marry Ophelia and so she must not open her “chaste treasure” to him. Ophelia says that she will do as he asks, but reminds him that he must not preach virtue to her and then behave immorally himself. Polonius arrives and urges his son to board the ship, which is ready to sail. He kindly, but pompously, gives Laertes a great deal of advice and bids him farewell. Laertes urges Ophelia to remember what he has said and leaves. Polonius asks Ophelia what Laertes meant and, hearing that it concerns Hamlet, repeats Laertes’ advice in harsher, more realistic terms. He forbids Ophelia to “give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet,” and Ophelia obeys with a readiness that demonstrates her father’s authority over her.

Hamlet, Horatio and Marcellus wait for the ghost as sounds of revelry from the court are heard in the background. The Ghost appears and Hamlet declares his intention to speak to it, whether it is “a spirit of health or goblin damned,” raising the possibility that the Ghost is a malevolent force and reminding us that appearances are subjective. The Ghost beckons and Hamlet follows, despite Horatio and Marcellus’ attempts to stop him.

Lines 1–118:
The Ghost tells Hamlet that he is his father’s spirit, “Doomed for a certain time to walk the night,” and asks Hamlet to revenge his murder. The ghostly request for revenge is a key element of the “revenge tragedy,” a genre that is acknowledged throughout the play, but also consciously explored and challenged. Hamlet begs to hear more, so that he may “sweep” to his revenge. The Ghost explains that Hamlet’s father was not, as everyone believes, killed by a snake’s bite. He tells Hamlet that Claudius first seduced the “seeming virtuous queen,” Gertrude, and then killed him by pouring poison in his ear as he slept (a literal representation of the rumor and plotting in the play). He urges Hamlet to kill Claudius, but says that he must spare Gertrude, who will be punished by her own guilt: “the thorns that in her bosom lodge.” Morning approaches and the ghost leaves, urging Hamlet to remember him. Alone, Hamlet swears that he will remember nothing else.

Lines 119–207:
Horatio and Marcellus find Hamlet and question him, but he reveals nothing except that “There’s ne’er a villain dwelling in all Denmark / But he’s an arrant knave,” a statement that is both true and meaningless, showing the ambiguity of language and Hamlet’s control over it. Hamlet asks his companions to swear on his sword that they will never reveal what they have seen that night. The voice of the Ghost repeats “swear,” and Horatio and Marcellus do so. Hamlet’s disjointed speech reveals his state of mind as he thinks about what he has heard. Establishing the theme of sanity/madness, he hints that he may in the future pretend to be
mad: “put an antic disposition on,” and asks them not to reveal what they know, whatever happens.

Polonius sends Reynaldo to Paris with messages and money for his son, but tells him that first he is to spy on Laertes and spread rumors about him to the effect that he is “very wild.” Ironically, he explains the purpose behind these lies is to discover the truth about Laertes’ behavior. He shows Reynaldo how to subtly generate rumors, demonstrating the potential distance between words and truth. The conversation reveals tensions in the characterization of Polonius: his instructions to Reynaldo show cunning, but the reason for them seems nonsensical and foolish. The latter aspect to his character is emphasized by his long-windedness and temporary forgetfulness mid-speech, requiring Reynaldo to “prompt” him in a moment that becomes almost metatheatrical. Reynaldo leaves and Ophelia enters, telling Polonius that she has been “affrighted” by Hamlet, who appeared in her chamber half-dressed and looking “As if he had been loosèd out of hell.” She reports that Hamlet did not speak, but just held her arm and stared at her face. Polonius decides that Hamlet has gone mad with love for Ophelia and goes to tell Claudius.