Most important, if you want to understand, not only existentialism, but human nature In The Flesh! In this soliloquy, Hamlet explores the ideas of being and nothingness by asserting a basic premise: We are born, we live, and we die. Because no one has returned from death to report, we remain ignorant of what death portends. Hence, Hamlets dilemma encapsulates several universal human questions: Do we try to affect our fate? Do we take action in the face of great sorrow, or do we merely wallow in the suffering? Can we end our troubles by opposing them? How do we know? What is the nature of death? Do we sleep in death, or do we cease to sleep, thereby finding no rest at all? Hamlet hopes that death is nothingness, that death will end the heartache and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to, that death will end thinking, knowing, and remembering. But he fears that, in death, he will be haunted interminably by bad dreams of life itself, by dreams heavy with the memory of fear and pain. Ultimately, he says, thats why humans dread death. We fear that our consciences will torment us forever. Thus, human beings choose life, with its torment and burdens, chiefly to avoid death, the great unknown. However, death is, like life, inescapable, and Hamlet curses his luck for having been born at all. Hamlets dilemma underlies the entire soliloquy. If he kills Claudius, he will assuredly be killed himself. Hamlet is not sure he is ready for death; life is all he knows, and he fears the unknown. Further, he is not yet ready to take responsiblity for sending another human being into the throes of death. He understands his duty to avenge the murder that is now disclosed, and he accepts responsibility for the Ghosts torment, but he knows that by killing Claudius he could be consigning himself to his fathers fate for all eternity. Hamlet ends his revery when he sees Ophelia enter, engrossed in her book. He entreats her to remember him in her prayers. His words startle her, and she responds by inquiring after his health. Immediately, she recovers and launches into her assigned speech: My lord, I have remembrances of yours That I have longèd long to redeliver. I pray you now receive them. Aware that they are being watched, Hamlet stages his own response and argues that he gave her nothing and that he has never loved her. He tells her to go to a nunnery, assaulting her with another double entendre insult. In the Protestant Elizabethan world, people used the word nunnery as a euphemism for brothel. Knowing that she is working for her father and Claudius, Hamlet accuses Ophelia of prostitution. Hamlet now asks a question on which turns the entire remaining action of the play: Where is your father? He earlier asked her, Are you honest? Are you fair? To which she gave no direct reply. Now he asks her where her father is, knowing full well that he is in the room. She lies, At home, my lord. Hamlet flies into a rage. He calls her two-faced and accuses her and all women of painting a false face. His accusations leave her aghast and certain that his madness is complete and completely destructive. Ophelias response to Hamlets question serves as the force that propels Hamlets story to its tragic ends. If Ophelia had answered truthfully, if she had disclosed her fathers whereabouts, if she had allied herself with Hamlet rather than with Claudius, if she had truly believed in her love for Hamlet, Ophelia might have saved Hamlet from his burden. The play could have been a romance rather than a tragedy. However, by confirming his belief in womens basic dishonesty — frailty thy name is woman — Ophelia seals her fate and Hamlets at the same time. Claudius and Polonius emerge from hiding, astounded. Claudius still finds Polonius case for Hamlets love of Ophelia dubious. Furthermore, Claudius questions Hamlets madness. A master of deception, Claudius suspects that Hamlet is not as he seems and, as such, is a danger. He hatches his plan to exile the Prince to England. Perhaps to save Hamlet or perhaps to buy favor with the Queen, Polonius suggests yet another trap. Send Hamlet to see Gertrude, and instruct her to beg Hamlet to leave well enough alone. Polonius will spy as Hamlet confides in his mother. The old man expects that Hamlet will confess his love for Ophelia. For reasons he does not disclose, Claudius agrees to the plan. Hamlet knows that his elders are ganging up on him. He is furious and skittish, and his judgment is entirely impaired. Polonius plot cannot help but backfire. Glossary drift of conference roundabout methods. lawful espials spies who are justified in their action. rub an obstacle hindrance, difficulty, or impediment. contumely haughty and contemptuous rudeness; insulting and humiliating treatment or language. bodkin a dagger or stiletto. fardels burdens; misfortune. bourn limit; boundary. pitch and moment height and importance. expectancy and rose bright hope ( as future king). mould of form pattern of manly beauty and behavior. Back to Top
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 04:58:58 +0000
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