I assume this is for Scenes 3 and 4 so here we go! :)
Do you think Ophelia will listen to Laertes and Polonius? Are Hamlet's affections real?
What do you think the ghost will tell Hamlet?
And to reference the senior play, What does Marcellus mean when he says, Something is rotten in the state of Denmark?
I personally think that Ophelia will get hurt by believing Hamlet's infatuation that will blow over in a short period of time. I think the ghost will tell Hamlet of something to do with Norway's plan of revenge or something to do with the untrustworthy King. And as for Marcellus's quote, I'm not quite sure. I think he probably means something fishy is going on, and he doesn't like the feel of Hamlet running off with the ghost. This makes me want to say the ghost isn't a real ghost and this is all an attempt to kill Hamlet.
I think that Orphelia will not listen to the advice from her borther and father regarding Hamlet, as I think that Shakespeare will characterize Orphelia as the young, foolish girl who doesn't listen to what others tell her, since afterall, this play is kept in the "Conformity and Rebellion" chapter of the book. Also, I think that whole Hamlet is mature, he seems to be strongly governed by his emotions, and he does not seem to indicate any strong feelings for Orphelia, so therefore he must not truly love her.
I believe that the ghost will turn out to be really the former King Hamlet, and I think that his return will serve as some omen for misfortune and quarrel to come. Shakespeare has left the nature of King Hamlet's death to be widely a mystery, I feel as though King Hamlet's reappearance in the story will serve as a explanation.
When Marcellus says that "something is wrong in the state of Denmark", I believe that he means that the Ghost will bring bad news concerning the future and stability in Denmark, and that some scandal will soon plague the entire nation--foreshadowing some tragically significant news from the Ghost.
While I do have my doubts concerning the Ghost's true intentions, I overall believe that Hamlet's presence will make it talk, and will reveal that it is truly Hamlet's father with some answers, because his is such a major character, yet has a gigantic mystique about him.
Yet again Shakespearean language continues to amaze me, with his puns that would be funny if I knew what they meant to the original use of "swaggering." I was also wondering if Hamlet truly likes Ophelia I say no mostly because Hamlet seems like a careless person and doesn't really think things through. For example when he blindly follows a ghost that he's not sure if it's his father or not. Speaking of the ghost I think he's just going to talk about what/who killed him and the impending dangers. I also had a question regarding where Laertes is going did I miss that part or are just supposed to assume?
So I'm going to be writing as I read so I'm sorry if this is incoherent: The ghost seems very focused with his (it's?) mission and the word "doom'd" is a little unsettling in my opinion It's interesting how Shakespeare handled the rules of ghostdom, with the spirit being very direct and immediately telling them to Hamlet without question. Porpentine! Why do you think Shakespeare makes so many allusions to Greek mythology? The many times they call out on the uncle's incestuous makes me wonder what Shakespeare is trying to convey Different types of ghosts? Creepy protective ghost telling people to swear by the sword also pretty alarming Who is the "he" Polonius is talking about? Is it Laertes? I kind of got lost in the footnotes... Like father like son Hamlet is also kind of a creep but maybe it was just the ghost he saw affected him?
I find the usage of ghosts to be odd and surprising. Why didn't King Hamlet's ghost just reappear during the promise following the big reveal? It seems very creepy and suspicious to have the actor of the ghost sit "under the stage" to repeat these lines. Also, why does the Ghost seem so obsessed with Hamlet's friends' secrecy? Does he suspect their unloyal or is he trying to protect this deep secret? As for the Ghost's mission that you mentioned, I find the Ghost's true intentions to be very puzzling and odd. Why come back from the dead to ensure revenge is sought by your son, even though it means risking Hamlet's life, too? Is there a higher purpose to this other than settling the score? The Ghost's refusal to rest in peace is odd, and he directly encourages his son to put his life in danger. As we see later on, the Ghost can't be seen by everyone, including the Queen, why is this? Do ghosts have some selective power? Or could Hamlet be fooled in deceit and lashing out from some imaginary vision from a dream or something? I just find it odd that a Ghost was immediately trusted when meanwhile Hamlet has a hard time believing his friends when they swear to secrecy the first few times.
Shakespeare alludes to mythology because the people of the time were very familiar with those stories. They were common allusions during the 1500-1600s.
I also found the ghost saying "Swear" over and over very creepy. It was kind of obvious the King killed Hamlet's dad, but I got lost in the how he was killed. The language confused me. Was he poisoned?
I'd have to relook at the text to determine who "he" is, but I think it is probably Laertes because I think I remember Polonius referencing him.
What do you think happened with Hamlet after the swearing and before he showed up in Ophelia's room? Did he tell Horatio and Marcellus what the ghost told him? By the way, I'm proud of Ophelia for listening to hee brother and father regarding the advances of Hamlet.
Yeah the king got hemlock poured into his ears or something. I honestly don't know I assume he did but that was really like sudden. Like I just saw the spirit of my dead father telling me that my uncle killed me I guess I'll go try and make out with a girl...Like really? And I am proud of Ophelia too.
I'm fairly certain that Hamlet told Horatio and Marcellus about the news from the Ghost, as he made the swear many times after his talk with the Ghost, and his suspicious behaviors would seem extremely odd to them without an explanation, so I feel as though he informed them so as to not come across as completely insane. As for Orphelia's incident with Hamlet, I feel as though Hamlet is beginning his act of acting crazy, and is using Orhpelia as an outlet to begin to highlight this behavior so it is brought to the King's attention and immediately responded to in the fear of bringing shame to the royal family.
Why are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern there? Language confused me.
Do you think Hamlet's love for Ophelia has anything to do with the ghostly meeting?
What is the significance of the Players' retelling of the slaughter of Priam?
Is Hamlet mad?
As far as I can tell, Ros and Guil are there to observe Hamlet's "too-changed" self. Is there another reason? I feel like Hamlet may love Ophelia, but I also think it may be him not being in a right state of mind so he's saying things he doesn't mean. I think the story is foreshadowing of a future story of a man who "weeps" for a woman he doesn't really know, which most likely is Hamlet and Ophelia. I think he has a touch of insanity. I'm not sure though. Some of the stuff he was saying was weird, but it could just be language. However, from what I gathered from Polonius's aside remarks, it probably wasn't normal speech.
Well I had the same question about Hamlet being mad. I think he is just for other reasons. I still don't know what to make of Hamlet' s character. He seems like a rude creep but at the same time he just lost his dad and found out his uncle killed his father. What is with the word honest? Possible reflection on how the king isn't being honest. I think Hamlet just takes out his anger in the form of being more "loving" to Ophelia. Yeah I think Ros and Guil were there to help the audience see what may not be obviously stated and move along the story. And I agree with the whole story thing, I didn't even think about it that way but it makes sense.
So finally we reach the ever famous "To Be Or Not To Be" speech. Well, clearly Hamlet is contemplating suicide and is so deep in thought as to not notice Ophelia. Why does he want to die though before avenging his father's death?
Do you guys think Hamlet truly doesn't love Ophelia? I'd like to believe he actually does, but right now things are too confusing for him to have a relationship. This shows when Hamlet asks if he could sit with his head in Ophelia's lap. I hope they do become a thing though.
What does the Player Queen's quote mean? "Where love is great, the littlest doubts are fear; Where little fears grow great, great love grows there." It doesn't make sense to me because if there is a lot of fear, how could love flourish? Unless the fear is not spurred of doubt but rather an outside force.
Hamlet says "my wit's deceased". What does that imply? Is he admitting madness or is it just saying he can't think of a proper abswer to Guildenstern right now?
I think Hamlet just doesn't feel like dealing with the responsibility of finding a way to avenge his father's death, but I could be wrong. Yeah Hamlet definitely seems to care about Ophelia even if it's just a little bit but they seem more like friends who tease each other a lot. I mean I guess it's more like flirting, but I don't know tone is hard to pick out when you can only tell what they are saying half of the time. It's funny how you want them to become a thing after we've discussed how it was good on Ophelia' s part to listen to her father and brother. I don't really know about that quote I've read it like 20 times and it still doesn't really make much sense to me. I think it was just to mock the queen and show that she's full of contradictions or whatever but maybe I'm just really off. I think Hamlet just doesn't feel like answering Guild's question as he himself is not entirely sure what to make of the whole situation so yup. I didn't have too many questions and the ones that I had were answered as I read but I am curious to see how the rest of the story plays out.
Hamlet has viewed life and all of the things around him to be pointless since the beginning of the play, and his recurring contemplation of suicide (possibly foreshadowing his death) highlights this, and while he has yet to avenge his father's death, I think that these thoughts show the immaturity of Hamlet--he is just a boy in line of the throne, who has not only lost his father, but has been betrayed by his unloyal relatives. His thoughts of suicide show his instable emotions and inability to deal with this level of stress, as despite the high expectation sets for him, he is governed by fleeting emotions and confusion. With that being said, I think Hamlet thinks he loves Orphelia, but he is young and experiences frequent deep, unstable emotions, which may indicate that he is immature in the sense that he still does not know what love truly is. I think that the Player Queen's quote may possibly mean something along the lines of fear drives people to make rash decision regarding love, as the Queen, Hamlet's mother, may know more than she lets on and may have only married Claudius in fear of some other outcome. Hamlet's deceased wit reflects his exhaustion with his pressing family issues, causing him to abandon his former ways of contemplation and reasoning, and taking on a new "mad" persona.
I think that Hamlet wants to die because he is devastated that he has no one in this world, and I think it was finally getting to him. The old adage "you get what you give" comes to mind, Hamlet was selfish and because of that he is alone. On the same train of thought I do not think Hamlet loves Ophelia, I think he is too self centered to truly love anything. I think when Hamlet says "my wit's deceased" he means that he is very tired and frayed, I don't think it is necessarily an admission of insanity.
I agree with your interpretation of Hamlet's quote regarding his wit, while he has appeared to have gone mad, I feel as though Shakespeare includes this to offer further explanation to Hamlet's exhaustion with his family and inner drama, and to reflect on how Hamlet is changing his rationality and reasoning, thus taking on a more recklessly immature behavior. I think that Hamlet, as a young teenager, wants to die because he has his father's death, and newly discovered murder, has made him feel surrounded by complete darkness, and even the remote aspects of light in his life are deemed useless.
Do you agree with Shakespeare's choice to give Hamlet the opportunity to kill the king but have him let it pass? At first, I was totally waiting for an all-out brawl even though I knew it was too soon in the play for such an event. Then after Hamlet explained that he would wait for the king to do something ungodly, it all made sense.
On the same topic, since the king is at least putting an effort into repenting after seeing the unremoveable stains of his trangression, will Hamlet actually murder him? I believe it makes sense for him to still be killed as the king is still a horrible character, but I also think it might be a good plot twist type of deal if he didn't in the end.
What is your opinion on the queen? Was she involved in Hamlet's father's death? I feel like she was and had been having an affair with the king's brother before Hamlet's father's murder. I think they planned this whole thing together, which explains why she is not a grieving widow and why she kept begging Hamlet to stop talking about how wretched the current king is and how honorable his father was. I hope she is truly repentant of her sins though.
What is the significance of Polonius's death? How will it play into the whole Ophelia thing (I apologize for still hoping Hamlet actually likes her)? I feel like this event showed the impulsive and sometimes irrational thinking pattern of Hamlet. I liked how at the end of scene 4, Hamlet leaves by dragging Polonius offstage. I'm so morbid. Sorry.
Finally, how do you all enjoy the play so far? I think it is fabulous! :)
I was disappointed by Hamlet's hesitation, although I totally agree, it made sense given Hamlet's explanation. However, I feel like Hamlet hesitated more so because he could not bring himself to kill Claudius, his uncle/step-father, despite all of the horrible things he has done. while Claudius is praying for forgiveness, it seems to be very selfish and artificial; is he repenting out of the goodness in his heart (if any)? or to secure his own redemption?
Do you think that the King responds the way in which he does to the play because of his own inner guilt or because in the play an uncle is killed by a crazy nephew (therefore making Claudius fearful of his lunatic nephew)? While I originally thought this to be indicative of his guilt, Claudius's attempts at redemption and repentance following this scene imply that perhaps he knowingly fears the possibility of his nephew coming after him--a possibility I see as very strong and likely, as Hamlet will surely try to carry out his revenge, but may not succeed, and this plan may even backfire and get himself killed.
I had similar thoughts regarding the Queen. While her behavior is surely unnatural, I found the Player Queen's quote regarding love and fear to be relevant and reflective of the real Queen's behavior: perhaps she loves in fear of what Claudius would do if she were to disobey.
Polonius's death indicates how Hamlet is morphing into the type of paranoid lunatic that he took on, as the murder was an overreaction to being spied on. However, it shows Hamlet's growth and development within just a few minutes, as prior to this, Hamlet could not murder Claudius despite his horrendous sins, and now Hamlet stabs and kills blindly. After this event, I doubt Ophelia will ever like Hamlet again, as she'll probably blame her intolerance for Hamlet's love and affection for the murder. I wouldn't be surprised if now Laertes (who had foreshadowed the misfortune by declaring the dangerous farewell to his father further back) were to seek revenge on Hamlet, in typical Shakespearean fashion.
I, too, enjoyed Hamlet's awkward removal of the body, and found it odd that nobody seemed concerned when he said that he took care of it.
The king was definitely trying to secure his own redemption. I do not believe he actually is sorry for what he did, especially now that he's trying to get rid of Hamlet.
I typed this whole thing and it decided to disappear into the void but basically: -I think it shows that Hamlet can be smart and think things through; also that he probably wants to uphold his honor -I think if Hamlet doesn't kill the king either a) the king will go mad and kill himself b) Hamlet will think that he has failed his father and kill himself or c) both a and b -If the queen did have a hand in Hamlet's father's death it makes sense on why she couldn't see the ghost as she would have never allowed herself to see the ghost and still be okay -Polonius' death seems very Romeo and Juliet, although I'm not sure if Romeo and Juliet came before or after this play, in the sense that the male protagonist kills the family member and the female has to figure out whether or not she can trust the killer anymore -I like the play and it's definitely easier to read than I thought it would be which is good so yay!
So far I think that this play is great. I definitely agree with Angie in the sense that some, if not the majority, of these characters will end up dying by the end, as is usually the way with Shakespeare. As I read this, I am constantly reminded of Othello by Shakespeare, as once again, the distinction between truth and misconceptions becomes obscured and shapes the outcomes in the play. Nobody knows what is actually going on in both pieces, lies are constantly being told, and while the reader thinks that they know the truth, they never truly do, so I would not be surprised if suddenly the Queen were to be revealed as an accomplice in the murder, etc. The Queen's inability to see the Ghost makes me skeptical about its true existence, and once again Shakespeare mixes what is real with what is fake.
One question that I have is what is the point in Hamlet acting insane after discovering the "truth" about the Ghost? Why not act sane and still carry out revenge? Also, why is the Ghost immediately trusted and believed? What does this show of Hamlet's character? ad why can't the Queen see it? Perhaps she is guilty, as Angelina suggested, or perhaps the Ghost is a liar trying to cause issues even in death amongst the family, and cannot be seen by the Queen, who may act as a voice of truth. Polonius's death shows Hamlet's sudden reckless and immature behavior, and I think it may foreshadow future carelessness which may backfire on him, perhaps in battle with Claudius. Also, I suspect that Laertes may quickly return to the plot in revenge for his father's death.
One scene that I have been unable to stop thinking about was near the beginning of the play after Hamlet first speaks with the Ghost and learns of the murder, and then begs Horatio and Marcellus to swear to secrecy. The ambiguity of their allegiance shows their loyal and submissively obedient ways, but more so, the way Hamlet asked three times (with the faint echo of the Ghost) reminded me of Jesus being denied three times by Peter before the rooster's third crow, perhaps foreshadowing either a future betrayal or death? I just found the emphasis on this part to be extremely fascinating, as I see Hamlet as a leader with his loyal "disciples" almost.
Hamlet trusts the Ghost because he isn't maple tally stable as is and because he believes it is his father. I believe his anger at his mother and uncle also plays a role into this blind trust.
The fact the Queen can't see the ghost hardens back to MacBeth in which only MacBeth could see the ghost of Banquo. I think it is a Shakespearean trademark. I believe he does it so that it makes the audience wonder if that character is mad, who is telling the truth, and what might happen next.
I like your connection to the denials of Jesus as well. I think it foreshadowed scene 2, in which Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are now doing the king's bidding and going against Hamlet.
Why won't Hamlet let Rosencrantz and Guildenstern take Polonius's body? Is it because he doesn't want people to know of his deed?
Why isHamket going to England? I feel like this was mentioned before, but I can't remember why. How will the plot be twisted if Hamlet journeys to another country? I believe Hamlet will never actually get to England because he still needs to kill the King. I don't think Shakespeare would let the two enemies be in different locations for the end of the play. It wouldn't make sense. However, if this did happen, I suppose one would get an assassin to do the dirty work for them. Although it would work fine fir the King, that would not give Hamlet the satisfaction of avenging his father's death.
What is the purpose of Hamlet's "worm speech"? I think it was included to reference the circle of life and how everyone is the same in the end. It shows how no matter who you are in life, in death that does not matter because all you are is food for the next generation.
Is Ophelia insane? I'm pretty sure the answer is yes but just checking. I find it ironic because everyone has been concerned with Hamlet's insanity, and yet his lover or whatever she is goes mad. I now have decided Hamlet and Ophelia won't become a thing, which makes me sad, but now with her in her current state, I don't mind too much.
What of Fortinbras? How will his invasion play a role in this situation? I feel like this will only be a minor thing, but I can't help but believe it is crucial to the plot. Will Hamlet and his uncle have to team up? Will Fortinbras kill the king before Hamlet gets the chance? I assume not, but it's still a possibility.
Since I have finished the play I can't really answer the questions as if I didn't know what was going to happen but I will answer some of the symbol questions. I agree with you that the worm speech is a symbol of the circle of life but also the consequences of every action in this play such as after Claudius kills the old Hamlet, young Hamlet must kill Claudius in order for justice to be restored. I think Ophelia is just extremely upset over her father's death and considering all the events going around her it makes sense although arguably a little too dramatic.
So after this fabulous break, we return to the state of Denmark.
Do you think the attack on Hamlet's ship was intentional? Yes, I believe it was set up by the King, but I don't get how they let Hamlet escape and why the King was not informed of Hamlet's escape before this.
What is the significance of Hamlet's change in standpoint on the dead? Why is he now concerned with the lives of the people who are now just worm-food? At first I thought this is because now he has lost Ophelia so he is heartbroken and aches over her loss. This yearn for life extends into others long dead. However, Hamlet has no knowledge of Ophelia's death yet so could someone help me out?
So a lot of the beginning of scene 2 confused me, mostly just the language so I couldn't make much sense of Hamlet's and Horatio's conversation.
Did anyone catch Osric's complete agreement to whatever Hamlet said? Osric said it was hot, Hamlet said it was cold, so Osric said it was cold. Then Hamlet said it was hot, and then Osric agreed. I like how Shakespeare showed how Hamlet still has power over others even in his current state.
What are the carriages Laertes has? I couldn't understand this. Are they just the forces coming from France to kill Hamlet out of revenge?
Why does Hamlet begin to talk in third person before his fencing fight with Laertes? I think it's to make sure he protects himself from Hell in a way by saying his madness is why he does this, so he can't be blamed for his actions since he's also a victim.
Why did the King poison himself? I believe it is out of guilt so he is either attempting to remove himself from the world and therefore stop himself from hurting others or he is drowning himself in his guilt.
What is the significance of Hamlet's last words? I still never figured out the England thing, so what news from England will he not be able to hear?
Why does Fortinbras honor the dead when they were his enemies? Well, actually I don't think they were enemies because it was just Hamlet's father who is already dead. I'd like to think Fortinbras is a kind character. Does he now control Denmark though? He does, right?
Any final thoughts on the play? Do you think it was a good read? Will it be an option for a work for question 3 on the AP test?
What kinds of questions could it apply to? I think Hamlet would work well for character, state of mind, past actions, and betrayal based questions.
I assume this is for Scenes 3 and 4 so here we go! :)
ReplyDeleteDo you think Ophelia will listen to Laertes and Polonius? Are Hamlet's affections real?
What do you think the ghost will tell Hamlet?
And to reference the senior play, What does Marcellus mean when he says, Something is rotten in the state of Denmark?
I personally think that Ophelia will get hurt by believing Hamlet's infatuation that will blow over in a short period of time. I think the ghost will tell Hamlet of something to do with Norway's plan of revenge or something to do with the untrustworthy King. And as for Marcellus's quote, I'm not quite sure. I think he probably means something fishy is going on, and he doesn't like the feel of Hamlet running off with the ghost. This makes me want to say the ghost isn't a real ghost and this is all an attempt to kill Hamlet.
I think that Orphelia will not listen to the advice from her borther and father regarding Hamlet, as I think that Shakespeare will characterize Orphelia as the young, foolish girl who doesn't listen to what others tell her, since afterall, this play is kept in the "Conformity and Rebellion" chapter of the book. Also, I think that whole Hamlet is mature, he seems to be strongly governed by his emotions, and he does not seem to indicate any strong feelings for Orphelia, so therefore he must not truly love her.
DeleteI believe that the ghost will turn out to be really the former King Hamlet, and I think that his return will serve as some omen for misfortune and quarrel to come. Shakespeare has left the nature of King Hamlet's death to be widely a mystery, I feel as though King Hamlet's reappearance in the story will serve as a explanation.
When Marcellus says that "something is wrong in the state of Denmark", I believe that he means that the Ghost will bring bad news concerning the future and stability in Denmark, and that some scandal will soon plague the entire nation--foreshadowing some tragically significant news from the Ghost.
While I do have my doubts concerning the Ghost's true intentions, I overall believe that Hamlet's presence will make it talk, and will reveal that it is truly Hamlet's father with some answers, because his is such a major character, yet has a gigantic mystique about him.
Yet again Shakespearean language continues to amaze me, with his puns that would be funny if I knew what they meant to the original use of "swaggering." I was also wondering if Hamlet truly likes Ophelia I say no mostly because Hamlet seems like a careless person and doesn't really think things through. For example when he blindly follows a ghost that he's not sure if it's his father or not. Speaking of the ghost I think he's just going to talk about what/who killed him and the impending dangers. I also had a question regarding where Laertes is going did I miss that part or are just supposed to assume?
ReplyDeleteLaertes is going back to France where he is originally from. He wants to go back to help his mothercountry.
ReplyDeleteSo I'm going to be writing as I read so I'm sorry if this is incoherent:
ReplyDeleteThe ghost seems very focused with his (it's?) mission and the word "doom'd" is a little unsettling in my opinion
It's interesting how Shakespeare handled the rules of ghostdom, with the spirit being very direct and immediately telling them to Hamlet without question.
Porpentine!
Why do you think Shakespeare makes so many allusions to Greek mythology?
The many times they call out on the uncle's incestuous makes me wonder what Shakespeare is trying to convey
Different types of ghosts?
Creepy protective ghost telling people to swear by the sword also pretty alarming
Who is the "he" Polonius is talking about? Is it Laertes? I kind of got lost in the footnotes...
Like father like son Hamlet is also kind of a creep but maybe it was just the ghost he saw affected him?
I find the usage of ghosts to be odd and surprising. Why didn't King Hamlet's ghost just reappear during the promise following the big reveal? It seems very creepy and suspicious to have the actor of the ghost sit "under the stage" to repeat these lines. Also, why does the Ghost seem so obsessed with Hamlet's friends' secrecy? Does he suspect their unloyal or is he trying to protect this deep secret? As for the Ghost's mission that you mentioned, I find the Ghost's true intentions to be very puzzling and odd. Why come back from the dead to ensure revenge is sought by your son, even though it means risking Hamlet's life, too? Is there a higher purpose to this other than settling the score? The Ghost's refusal to rest in peace is odd, and he directly encourages his son to put his life in danger. As we see later on, the Ghost can't be seen by everyone, including the Queen, why is this? Do ghosts have some selective power? Or could Hamlet be fooled in deceit and lashing out from some imaginary vision from a dream or something? I just find it odd that a Ghost was immediately trusted when meanwhile Hamlet has a hard time believing his friends when they swear to secrecy the first few times.
DeleteShakespeare alludes to mythology because the people of the time were very familiar with those stories. They were common allusions during the 1500-1600s.
ReplyDeleteI also found the ghost saying "Swear" over and over very creepy. It was kind of obvious the King killed Hamlet's dad, but I got lost in the how he was killed. The language confused me. Was he poisoned?
I'd have to relook at the text to determine who "he" is, but I think it is probably Laertes because I think I remember Polonius referencing him.
What do you think happened with Hamlet after the swearing and before he showed up in Ophelia's room? Did he tell Horatio and Marcellus what the ghost told him? By the way, I'm proud of Ophelia for listening to hee brother and father regarding the advances of Hamlet.
Yeah the king got hemlock poured into his ears or something.
DeleteI honestly don't know I assume he did but that was really like sudden. Like I just saw the spirit of my dead father telling me that my uncle killed me I guess I'll go try and make out with a girl...Like really? And I am proud of Ophelia too.
You mean, killed his dad. Haha. Although Hamlet was particularly ghotsly with his bare, pale skin.
DeleteI'm fairly certain that Hamlet told Horatio and Marcellus about the news from the Ghost, as he made the swear many times after his talk with the Ghost, and his suspicious behaviors would seem extremely odd to them without an explanation, so I feel as though he informed them so as to not come across as completely insane. As for Orphelia's incident with Hamlet, I feel as though Hamlet is beginning his act of acting crazy, and is using Orhpelia as an outlet to begin to highlight this behavior so it is brought to the King's attention and immediately responded to in the fear of bringing shame to the royal family.
DeleteWhy are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern there? Language confused me.
ReplyDeleteDo you think Hamlet's love for Ophelia has anything to do with the ghostly meeting?
What is the significance of the Players' retelling of the slaughter of Priam?
Is Hamlet mad?
As far as I can tell, Ros and Guil are there to observe Hamlet's "too-changed" self. Is there another reason? I feel like Hamlet may love Ophelia, but I also think it may be him not being in a right state of mind so he's saying things he doesn't mean. I think the story is foreshadowing of a future story of a man who "weeps" for a woman he doesn't really know, which most likely is Hamlet and Ophelia. I think he has a touch of insanity. I'm not sure though. Some of the stuff he was saying was weird, but it could just be language. However, from what I gathered from Polonius's aside remarks, it probably wasn't normal speech.
Well I had the same question about Hamlet being mad. I think he is just for other reasons.
ReplyDeleteI still don't know what to make of Hamlet' s character. He seems like a rude creep but at the same time he just lost his dad and found out his uncle killed his father.
What is with the word honest? Possible reflection on how the king isn't being honest.
I think Hamlet just takes out his anger in the form of being more "loving" to Ophelia.
Yeah I think Ros and Guil were there to help the audience see what may not be obviously stated and move along the story. And I agree with the whole story thing, I didn't even think about it that way but it makes sense.
Oh right that kind of mad as in crazy I was thinking that at first I don't know why I second guessed myself
DeleteI like how you said Hamlet is taking out his anger by loving Ophelia. It's an interesting way to look at that.
DeleteSo finally we reach the ever famous "To Be Or Not To Be" speech. Well, clearly Hamlet is contemplating suicide and is so deep in thought as to not notice Ophelia. Why does he want to die though before avenging his father's death?
ReplyDeleteDo you guys think Hamlet truly doesn't love Ophelia? I'd like to believe he actually does, but right now things are too confusing for him to have a relationship. This shows when Hamlet asks if he could sit with his head in Ophelia's lap. I hope they do become a thing though.
What does the Player Queen's quote mean? "Where love is great, the littlest doubts are fear; Where little fears grow great, great love grows there." It doesn't make sense to me because if there is a lot of fear, how could love flourish? Unless the fear is not spurred of doubt but rather an outside force.
Hamlet says "my wit's deceased". What does that imply? Is he admitting madness or is it just saying he can't think of a proper abswer to Guildenstern right now?
I think Hamlet just doesn't feel like dealing with the responsibility of finding a way to avenge his father's death, but I could be wrong.
DeleteYeah Hamlet definitely seems to care about Ophelia even if it's just a little bit but they seem more like friends who tease each other a lot. I mean I guess it's more like flirting, but I don't know tone is hard to pick out when you can only tell what they are saying half of the time. It's funny how you want them to become a thing after we've discussed how it was good on Ophelia' s part to listen to her father and brother.
I don't really know about that quote I've read it like 20 times and it still doesn't really make much sense to me. I think it was just to mock the queen and show that she's full of contradictions or whatever but maybe I'm just really off.
I think Hamlet just doesn't feel like answering Guild's question as he himself is not entirely sure what to make of the whole situation so yup.
I didn't have too many questions and the ones that I had were answered as I read but I am curious to see how the rest of the story plays out.
Hamlet has viewed life and all of the things around him to be pointless since the beginning of the play, and his recurring contemplation of suicide (possibly foreshadowing his death) highlights this, and while he has yet to avenge his father's death, I think that these thoughts show the immaturity of Hamlet--he is just a boy in line of the throne, who has not only lost his father, but has been betrayed by his unloyal relatives. His thoughts of suicide show his instable emotions and inability to deal with this level of stress, as despite the high expectation sets for him, he is governed by fleeting emotions and confusion. With that being said, I think Hamlet thinks he loves Orphelia, but he is young and experiences frequent deep, unstable emotions, which may indicate that he is immature in the sense that he still does not know what love truly is. I think that the Player Queen's quote may possibly mean something along the lines of fear drives people to make rash decision regarding love, as the Queen, Hamlet's mother, may know more than she lets on and may have only married Claudius in fear of some other outcome. Hamlet's deceased wit reflects his exhaustion with his pressing family issues, causing him to abandon his former ways of contemplation and reasoning, and taking on a new "mad" persona.
DeleteI think that Hamlet wants to die because he is devastated that he has no one in this world, and I think it was finally getting to him. The old adage "you get what you give" comes to mind, Hamlet was selfish and because of that he is alone. On the same train of thought I do not think Hamlet loves Ophelia, I think he is too self centered to truly love anything. I think when Hamlet says "my wit's deceased" he means that he is very tired and frayed, I don't think it is necessarily an admission of insanity.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your interpretation of Hamlet's quote regarding his wit, while he has appeared to have gone mad, I feel as though Shakespeare includes this to offer further explanation to Hamlet's exhaustion with his family and inner drama, and to reflect on how Hamlet is changing his rationality and reasoning, thus taking on a more recklessly immature behavior. I think that Hamlet, as a young teenager, wants to die because he has his father's death, and newly discovered murder, has made him feel surrounded by complete darkness, and even the remote aspects of light in his life are deemed useless.
DeleteDo you agree with Shakespeare's choice to give Hamlet the opportunity to kill the king but have him let it pass? At first, I was totally waiting for an all-out brawl even though I knew it was too soon in the play for such an event. Then after Hamlet explained that he would wait for the king to do something ungodly, it all made sense.
ReplyDeleteOn the same topic, since the king is at least putting an effort into repenting after seeing the unremoveable stains of his trangression, will Hamlet actually murder him? I believe it makes sense for him to still be killed as the king is still a horrible character, but I also think it might be a good plot twist type of deal if he didn't in the end.
What is your opinion on the queen? Was she involved in Hamlet's father's death? I feel like she was and had been having an affair with the king's brother before Hamlet's father's murder. I think they planned this whole thing together, which explains why she is not a grieving widow and why she kept begging Hamlet to stop talking about how wretched the current king is and how honorable his father was. I hope she is truly repentant of her sins though.
What is the significance of Polonius's death? How will it play into the whole Ophelia thing (I apologize for still hoping Hamlet actually likes her)? I feel like this event showed the impulsive and sometimes irrational thinking pattern of Hamlet. I liked how at the end of scene 4, Hamlet leaves by dragging Polonius offstage. I'm so morbid. Sorry.
Finally, how do you all enjoy the play so far? I think it is fabulous! :)
I was disappointed by Hamlet's hesitation, although I totally agree, it made sense given Hamlet's explanation. However, I feel like Hamlet hesitated more so because he could not bring himself to kill Claudius, his uncle/step-father, despite all of the horrible things he has done. while Claudius is praying for forgiveness, it seems to be very selfish and artificial; is he repenting out of the goodness in his heart (if any)? or to secure his own redemption?
DeleteDo you think that the King responds the way in which he does to the play because of his own inner guilt or because in the play an uncle is killed by a crazy nephew (therefore making Claudius fearful of his lunatic nephew)? While I originally thought this to be indicative of his guilt, Claudius's attempts at redemption and repentance following this scene imply that perhaps he knowingly fears the possibility of his nephew coming after him--a possibility I see as very strong and likely, as Hamlet will surely try to carry out his revenge, but may not succeed, and this plan may even backfire and get himself killed.
I had similar thoughts regarding the Queen. While her behavior is surely unnatural, I found the Player Queen's quote regarding love and fear to be relevant and reflective of the real Queen's behavior: perhaps she loves in fear of what Claudius would do if she were to disobey.
Polonius's death indicates how Hamlet is morphing into the type of paranoid lunatic that he took on, as the murder was an overreaction to being spied on. However, it shows Hamlet's growth and development within just a few minutes, as prior to this, Hamlet could not murder Claudius despite his horrendous sins, and now Hamlet stabs and kills blindly. After this event, I doubt Ophelia will ever like Hamlet again, as she'll probably blame her intolerance for Hamlet's love and affection for the murder. I wouldn't be surprised if now Laertes (who had foreshadowed the misfortune by declaring the dangerous farewell to his father further back) were to seek revenge on Hamlet, in typical Shakespearean fashion.
I, too, enjoyed Hamlet's awkward removal of the body, and found it odd that nobody seemed concerned when he said that he took care of it.
The king was definitely trying to secure his own redemption. I do not believe he actually is sorry for what he did, especially now that he's trying to get rid of Hamlet.
DeleteI typed this whole thing and it decided to disappear into the void but basically:
ReplyDelete-I think it shows that Hamlet can be smart and think things through; also that he probably wants to uphold his honor
-I think if Hamlet doesn't kill the king either a) the king will go mad and kill himself b) Hamlet will think that he has failed his father and kill himself or c) both a and b
-If the queen did have a hand in Hamlet's father's death it makes sense on why she couldn't see the ghost as she would have never allowed herself to see the ghost and still be okay
-Polonius' death seems very Romeo and Juliet, although I'm not sure if Romeo and Juliet came before or after this play, in the sense that the male protagonist kills the family member and the female has to figure out whether or not she can trust the killer anymore
-I like the play and it's definitely easier to read than I thought it would be which is good so yay!
So far I think that this play is great. I definitely agree with Angie in the sense that some, if not the majority, of these characters will end up dying by the end, as is usually the way with Shakespeare. As I read this, I am constantly reminded of Othello by Shakespeare, as once again, the distinction between truth and misconceptions becomes obscured and shapes the outcomes in the play. Nobody knows what is actually going on in both pieces, lies are constantly being told, and while the reader thinks that they know the truth, they never truly do, so I would not be surprised if suddenly the Queen were to be revealed as an accomplice in the murder, etc. The Queen's inability to see the Ghost makes me skeptical about its true existence, and once again Shakespeare mixes what is real with what is fake.
ReplyDeleteOne question that I have is what is the point in Hamlet acting insane after discovering the "truth" about the Ghost? Why not act sane and still carry out revenge?
Also, why is the Ghost immediately trusted and believed? What does this show of Hamlet's character? ad why can't the Queen see it? Perhaps she is guilty, as Angelina suggested, or perhaps the Ghost is a liar trying to cause issues even in death amongst the family, and cannot be seen by the Queen, who may act as a voice of truth.
Polonius's death shows Hamlet's sudden reckless and immature behavior, and I think it may foreshadow future carelessness which may backfire on him, perhaps in battle with Claudius. Also, I suspect that Laertes may quickly return to the plot in revenge for his father's death.
One scene that I have been unable to stop thinking about was near the beginning of the play after Hamlet first speaks with the Ghost and learns of the murder, and then begs Horatio and Marcellus to swear to secrecy. The ambiguity of their allegiance shows their loyal and submissively obedient ways, but more so, the way Hamlet asked three times (with the faint echo of the Ghost) reminded me of Jesus being denied three times by Peter before the rooster's third crow, perhaps foreshadowing either a future betrayal or death? I just found the emphasis on this part to be extremely fascinating, as I see Hamlet as a leader with his loyal "disciples" almost.
Hamlet trusts the Ghost because he isn't maple tally stable as is and because he believes it is his father. I believe his anger at his mother and uncle also plays a role into this blind trust.
DeleteThe fact the Queen can't see the ghost hardens back to MacBeth in which only MacBeth could see the ghost of Banquo. I think it is a Shakespearean trademark. I believe he does it so that it makes the audience wonder if that character is mad, who is telling the truth, and what might happen next.
I like your connection to the denials of Jesus as well. I think it foreshadowed scene 2, in which Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are now doing the king's bidding and going against Hamlet.
Why won't Hamlet let Rosencrantz and Guildenstern take Polonius's body? Is it because he doesn't want people to know of his deed?
ReplyDeleteWhy isHamket going to England? I feel like this was mentioned before, but I can't remember why. How will the plot be twisted if Hamlet journeys to another country? I believe Hamlet will never actually get to England because he still needs to kill the King. I don't think Shakespeare would let the two enemies be in different locations for the end of the play. It wouldn't make sense. However, if this did happen, I suppose one would get an assassin to do the dirty work for them. Although it would work fine fir the King, that would not give Hamlet the satisfaction of avenging his father's death.
What is the purpose of Hamlet's "worm speech"? I think it was included to reference the circle of life and how everyone is the same in the end. It shows how no matter who you are in life, in death that does not matter because all you are is food for the next generation.
Is Ophelia insane? I'm pretty sure the answer is yes but just checking. I find it ironic because everyone has been concerned with Hamlet's insanity, and yet his lover or whatever she is goes mad. I now have decided Hamlet and Ophelia won't become a thing, which makes me sad, but now with her in her current state, I don't mind too much.
What of Fortinbras? How will his invasion play a role in this situation? I feel like this will only be a minor thing, but I can't help but believe it is crucial to the plot. Will Hamlet and his uncle have to team up? Will Fortinbras kill the king before Hamlet gets the chance? I assume not, but it's still a possibility.
Since I have finished the play I can't really answer the questions as if I didn't know what was going to happen but I will answer some of the symbol questions. I agree with you that the worm speech is a symbol of the circle of life but also the consequences of every action in this play such as after Claudius kills the old Hamlet, young Hamlet must kill Claudius in order for justice to be restored. I think Ophelia is just extremely upset over her father's death and considering all the events going around her it makes sense although arguably a little too dramatic.
DeleteSo after this fabulous break, we return to the state of Denmark.
ReplyDeleteDo you think the attack on Hamlet's ship was intentional? Yes, I believe it was set up by the King, but I don't get how they let Hamlet escape and why the King was not informed of Hamlet's escape before this.
What is the significance of Hamlet's change in standpoint on the dead? Why is he now concerned with the lives of the people who are now just worm-food? At first I thought this is because now he has lost Ophelia so he is heartbroken and aches over her loss. This yearn for life extends into others long dead. However, Hamlet has no knowledge of Ophelia's death yet so could someone help me out?
So a lot of the beginning of scene 2 confused me, mostly just the language so I couldn't make much sense of Hamlet's and Horatio's conversation.
Did anyone catch Osric's complete agreement to whatever Hamlet said? Osric said it was hot, Hamlet said it was cold, so Osric said it was cold. Then Hamlet said it was hot, and then Osric agreed. I like how Shakespeare showed how Hamlet still has power over others even in his current state.
What are the carriages Laertes has? I couldn't understand this. Are they just the forces coming from France to kill Hamlet out of revenge?
Why does Hamlet begin to talk in third person before his fencing fight with Laertes? I think it's to make sure he protects himself from Hell in a way by saying his madness is why he does this, so he can't be blamed for his actions since he's also a victim.
Why did the King poison himself? I believe it is out of guilt so he is either attempting to remove himself from the world and therefore stop himself from hurting others or he is drowning himself in his guilt.
What is the significance of Hamlet's last words? I still never figured out the England thing, so what news from England will he not be able to hear?
Why does Fortinbras honor the dead when they were his enemies? Well, actually I don't think they were enemies because it was just Hamlet's father who is already dead. I'd like to think Fortinbras is a kind character. Does he now control Denmark though? He does, right?
Any final thoughts on the play? Do you think it was a good read? Will it be an option for a work for question 3 on the AP test?
What kinds of questions could it apply to? I think Hamlet would work well for character, state of mind, past actions, and betrayal based questions.