Act I, scene ii
Here's your question for this reading...follow the same guidelines you did for the short story blog: reader response of 4-5 sentences (with evidence!) and then a slightly shorter response to two classmates. Go beyond just "good job"! If this format gets too unwieldy because we're all responding to one post, we'll find another platform. Thanks for your patience!
“What do you think the most important lines of the play are so far and why?”
“What do you think the most important lines of the play are so far and why?”
I think the most important lines that really set up the roles that each character will play during the novel fall in a couple places throughout the scene. Though it may seem obvious, King Claudius' first speech where he thanks the court for all of their support of him through some pretty unorthodox actions makes for a very good explanation of who he is. He says, "Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death The memory be green, and that it us befitted to bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom to be contracted in one brow of woe," using repeated "us" wording. This enforcement of the idea that they are all on the same team and that King Claudius is only there to fulfill his duty and not to grab power, which just doesn't feel accurate. He is clearly able to very easily manipulate people, and the only person who seems phased by his marriage to Gertrude and decision to take power is Hamlet. In addition, Claudius talks about the greeness of the memory of King Hamlet's death, something that leads well into the next line that shifts its focus towards setting up Hamlet's character for the rest of the novel. In a conversation with Hamlet, Horatio explains, "My lord, I came to see your father's funeral." Hamlet replies, "I prithee, do not mock me, fellow student. I think it was to see my mother's wedding." Hamlet later says, "The funeral baked meats did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables." The view that Hamlet has on this whole situation is unique in that he, being the son of the late king and next to the throne past Claudius, is the only character who has been introduced to the story yet who is of high enough status to see past the power of the crown, and instead see the manipulation and unethicality that is beginning to develop.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with the way you explained these lines! I think the lines for Claudius are very important because they're his first lines in the play which means they play a part in somewhat introducing his character to the readers. It's interesting how right away it seems like he has some sort of agenda and readers immediately acknowledge his ability to swoon people over with using the words "us" and "we" to seem like he is on the people's side. To me, the fact that Hamlet immediately becomes suspicious of Claudius' actions sets Claudius up as the villain. The question is will Claudius succeed in this role or will he fail and what characters will fall due to Claudius' future actions?
DeleteGreat points...Claudius is very slippery with the use of "green" and "us"--he acknowledges that he has married Gertrude very quickly after the death of his brother, which is a smart move since it means that he's getting to that criticism before anyone else can. And you're right: Hamlet is not having it.
DeleteI love how you revealed his true nature through his own speech as opposed to through someone else's point of view. I think it exposes a lot about Claudius that he can't even hide behind his slippery tongue.
DeleteI think the most important lines in the play so far are the very first line of the first scene, "Who's there?," and the last sentence of the second scene, "Foul deeds will rise, / Though all the earth o'erwhelm them, to men's eyes." These two lines capture the tension in the atmosphere and internal conflict of the characters and foreshadow the danger that is yet to come. The first line, with its brevity and question form, sets up an uncertain and even haunted atmosphere; even the sentinels, whose job is to ensure the security of the castle, are fearful of a recurring apparition of the deceased King Hamlet. The question also marks the interrogative nature of the play, in which characters keep questioning their identity and other people's motives. In the second scene, we have already seen Hamlet's confusion about Queen Gertrude's motive in marrying Claudius and also the objective of his father's ghost. The line "Who's there" also depicts the characters as constantly being under surveillance, conscious of what they tell others and only revealing their true emotions when they are alone. In the last line of the second scene, Hamlet expresses his deeply held belief that crimes committed will eventually be revealed to the people, no matter how well they are disguised. This line illustrates his commitment in justice, which potentially justifies his actions in the future and his madness. The phrase "Though all the earth o'erwhelm them" also foreshadows more "foul deeds" that are yet to take place in the kingdom, creating a dangerous atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteI really like the way you write. This does *such* a good job at capturing the essence of this scene while not overloading it with run on ideas/sentences. I totally agree with your about the interrogative nature of the play; so good. I also like the part you discussed the characters true emotions when they are alone. I really liked this response.
DeleteYour analysis is very clear and makes a lot of sense! It also made me think more about the simple line of, "Who's there," and your connections to that and how each character's faces some sort of stalking and having to be conscious at all times. I really like how you brought up how each character has to go through an identity crisis almost and they are faced with difficulties due to themselves and their surroundings... very well put!
DeleteYes! Great job distilling the significance of "who's there." I also like the other line you've chosen, and the fact that it references "men's eyes" is really interesting: seeing is believing, according to Horatio, but everyone is always watching/being watched, so who knows what "foul deeds" have already been observed, or which might still be coming.
DeleteThis analysis is very precise and detailed. I completely agree with what you're saying and how you analyzed these lines as well as how the lines set up the story to go off of the anger and the tension between some of the characters.
DeleteYay! Carlie sorted out the blog issue!
DeleteIn my opinion, the most important lines of the first two scenes of Shakespeare's Hamlet establish the character's dealings with mortality and loss, which sets the mood for the rest of the story. The first of these two important lines occurs when newly crowned King Claudius condescendingly remarks to Hamlet, "Why should we in our peevish opposition/take [King Hamlet's death] to heart? Fie! 'tis a fault to heaven,/a fault against the dead, a fault to nature." Through diminishing Hamlet's grief over his dead father, Claudius effectively establishes himself at odds with his nephew. Also, the anaphora repeating the word "fault" is significant to the beginning because it brings up the idea of guilt, which makes the audience wonder who the true guilty party is. The words "heaven" and "the dead" allude to the recent passing of King Hamlet and implies that his death was deserved. Additionally, the choice of the word "heaven" is fitting because it juxtaposes against the next most important line in the beginning of the play, "If it assume my noble father's person,/I'll speak to it, though hell itself should agape/And bid me hold my peace." This line, said by Hamlet, expresses his determination to confront his father's ghost and seek the answers to his questions through the metaphor "hell itself should agape." The reference to "hell" encapsulates the dark mood of the scene in which Hamlet is suspicious of King Claudius' hasty admission to the throne and suspects the worst, that his uncle had something to do with his father's death. The references to heaven and hell in these lines foreshadows that the characters in "Hamlet" must confront mortality in some way in the play to come.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an interesting perspective! When I read the line about hell I never thought about it that way! I like how you interpreted it as Hamlet being suspicious of Claudius having to do with his father's death. That sets such an interesting narrative on the play because for Claudius to kill his own brother, he would've needed substantial reasoning. If true, I wonder if it was for the transfer of power, for love(to marry his brother's wife), or just for hatred towards his brother, or maybe all of the above. I also wonder if Hamlet's suspicions will get him into trouble later in the play because if Claudius does have an agenda, he definitely wouldn't want people poking around.
DeleteIt is so fascinating how you brought the ideas of "heaven" and "hell" together. Like Jada, I have never put those two lines together either. Hamlet's determination to confront his father's ghost, as seen in the line "I'll speak to it, though hell itself should agape," also reveals his close ties with his father, suspicion of the cause of his father's death, and above all, his commitment to truth.
DeleteI think that the way that you put together the components of heaven and hell is really cool and I feel like it fits really well with the rest of the themes about death and mortality. It also brings a layer of judgement to how each character reacts in the face of mortality, and to some degree foreshadows a conflict over how much reverence each character will give their own mortality.
DeleteI agree! Bringing together heaven and hell in this way is really interesting, and I'm also intrigued by how that can parallel the question of whether the ghost is good or evil...the same question could be applied to Claudius and his motives, perhaps, especially in the way that you're reading these lines.
DeleteI think the most important lines of the play so far come up in Claudius' speech to Hamlet regarding Hamlet's inability to stop mourning his father. A peek into Claudius' character is set up when Claudius says "think of us as a father, for let the world take note, You are the most immediate to our throne, and with no less nobility of love than that which dearest father bears his son do I impart toward you." Earlier in his rant to Hamlet, Claudius was showing an extra lack of empathy as he told Hamlet that mourning his own father would be "unmanly." Claudius' abrupt shift in emotions poses the question of if Claudius is a truly genuine character or if he's putting on a performance to fool Hamlet. He tells Hamlet that he loves him just as much as he would a son because he wants Hamlet to see and trust him like he would a father. Hamlet becomes skeptical of Claudius' intentions because it seems as if Claudius wants Hamlet to forget about his late father all together. In these lines, Claudius looks like he's trying to replace King Hamlet by stealing both his throne and his son. Claudius' mention of Hamlet being the "most immediate to our throne" displays how Claudius may see Hamlet as a threat to his power since he is next in line for royalty. Claudius could potentially be the villain in the play who may have a hidden agenda where he plots to eliminate anyone who he thinks poses as his competition. If Hamlet eventually begins to see him as a father, Claudius would be reeling him in close enough to establish a level of trust that he could be planning to break later in the novel.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a good response. I love the way you wrote about the "unmanly" ideas, it kind of relates to what I just wrote about! I hadn't thought of this perspective. I like the way you talked about how Claudius has the potential to be the villain, since there's always an antagonist in Shakespeare.
DeleteI completely agree with your analysis of Claudius' wicked scheme. In addition, I think he assures Hamlet that he is still the next in line for the throne to ensure that Hamlet remains loyal to him wholeheartedly throughout his reign and that Hamlet does not object to the legitimacy of his authority.
DeleteI 100% agree with you J! I think Claudius is a very suspicious and menacing character and we are bound to find out more about him throughout the play. When he said these things to Hamlet it not only was out of place, but it diminished Hamlet and his feelings towards his actual father. Claudius is also quick to try to make Hamlet forget and is very unsympathetic. I love the connections you made and it made me realize even more that it seems like Claudius is bad bad news...
DeleteI agree with your point and see where this line could've made Hamlet more suspicious, especially as he expresses his worry at "foul play" at the end of the scene. Claudius definitely has a large motive for dethroning the king.
DeleteOoooh..."wicked scheme"! Yes, this passage, and your analysis, nicely sets up Claudius's characters. Even if he's well-meaning when he talks about Hamlet's grief, he's very insensitive. And you're all correct that he would have multiple motives for wanting his brother out of the way. He's certainly done well as a result of his brother's death, but Hamlet is a thorn in his side.
DeleteI really like how you touch on the idea of Hamlet continuing to mourn his father's death being "unmanly". It's super interesting to think about, because the way that the king was responding to Hamlet was almost like a threat, that was almost like him telling Hamlet, "I'm your father now and if you don't learn to accept that, we will have issues." Super well written!!!!
DeleteI think that the most important lines of the play so far have been in act 1 scene 2, when Hamlet says "He was a man. Take him for all in all. I shall not look upon him like again," because it sets a definition of masculinity for the rest of the play. Hamlet is describing the mortality of the king, but also his humanlike normalcy that is sometimes lost when royal. This is the first time in the play that Shakespeare defines manhood, this quote is less about being a man, and more about being human. He seems somewhat omniscient, as he is seemingly perfect. This sets the scene for human worth in the rest of the play, which will be interesting to note as the play progresses. With the king being the definition of the perfect human, this brings into question who will foil King Hamlet. This line also touches on the loss of a father for Hamlet. He finds the king who is also his father to be hard to follow as his legacy is impressive, as he says "I shall not look upon him like again" which is him saying that he will not be everything that his impressive father was, however, he was still a mortal man, not always a ghost. Others seem to perceive the King has more of a god figure, but Hamlet assesses that thought, and reminds both Horatio and the reader that he was just a very good man, which can sometimes be seen as godly. This will be interesting to assess throughout the rest of the play to see if Hamlet will be challenged by King Hamlet's perfection.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting how you brought up that King Hamlet is the physical embodiment of perfection--I have never thought about that idea before! Prince Hamlet's words "I shall not look upon his like again" also reveals that he lacks confidence or even is self-deprecating, which potentially plays an important role in his future decisions and tragedy in the end.
DeleteGreat points about masculinity, loss, and even Hamlet's lack of confidence when he looks at himself in comparison with his father. This line is a sad one to me for all of those reasons, and it also shows how it will be hard for Hamlet to see if his father had any faults.
DeleteI think the most important line so far has been in Act 1, Scene 2 where Hamlet is talking to Claudius and his mother and he proclaims his grief due to his father's death. They shun Hamlet for being 'too sad' and wearing dark clothing, and they believe that Hamlet should move on from thinking about his father. Hamlet explains that his external expressions may come off as depressing, but are no where near what he is really feeling internally. He says to his mother, "For they are actions that a man might play. But I have that within which passeth show, these but the trappings and the suits of woe." These lines show how no one is really there for Hamlet and he is having to face this tragedy by himself, and he must stop portraying that he is sad because everyone in his life has clearly moved on. It also shows that Hamlet and his father must have had a very strong and significant bond that no one really understands; his grief is subdued and he is trying to express that it is harder for him to let go and shut off the importance of his father just for the sake of others. Claudius also wants to fill the void of Hamlet's father and pushes Hamlet to start seeing him the same way he saw his father. Hamlet, of course, is not ready for that and his surroundings convince him that he is stuck and shouldn't mourn this death. However, Hamlet is demonstrating what being a human really is and what he is dealing with due to his emotions is completely normal and justified.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting how you said that Hamlet should stop "portraying himself as sad" due to the fact that the rest of his family had moved on. By him holding onto the past, it would make his transition to his new life with his new family all the more difficult. I like how you said that "Claudius also wants to fill the void of Hamlet's father and pushes Hamlet to start seeing him the same way he saw his father", which we can clearly see that Hamlet doesn't do that, but rather compares Claudius to his father in an incomparable way.
DeleteYes, you're right that Hamlet really is facing this alone. He has Horatio, but no one in his family seems to have any sympathy for him, not even his mother, which adds insult to injury. I love your point about him demonstrating what being human really is...that's at the core of Shakespeare (and literature in general).
DeleteI feel like the most important line so far is found in Act 1, Scene 2, when Hamlet compares his father (late king Hamlet) to the newly crowned King Claudius. The line shows Hamlet's true feelings on the new king, as well as how he compared to his Father, both as a king, but also as a husband. Hamlet said, "So excellent a king, that was to this Hyperion to a satyr; so loving to my mother that he might not beteem the winds of heaven visit her face too roughly" (lines 143-146). By using the mythological references, which would have been more common during these times, the audience watching Hamlet would be able to visualize King Hamlet as a shining, radiant Sun god, that truly loved his wife and wouldn't let the winds of heaven hit her face to roughly. They would also visualize King Claudius as a scraggly, short, goat man, which is incomparable to that of a sun god. By using this comparison, it would become clear that Hamlet would never see Claudius as his father, let alone a king.
ReplyDeleteI found that line very interesting. Additionally, Hamlet exclaims that Claudius is no more like his father than he is to Hercules, furthering your point.
DeleteWhat that line also sets up is the nature of Hamlet's mother, who Hamlet seems to have nothing against. All of his anger is on Claudius, not his mother, a character that would be interesting to hear from later in the story.
Delete"Scraggly, short goat man"! Nice line to show the difference between the kings, at least from Hamlet's POV. And yes, right now he's more angry with Claudius, though he does say that his mother isn't grieving enough...and stay tuned, because he'll have more to say on that subject!
DeleteGoing off of gus and Dr. Hynes, it is interesting to see that there is no direct ill will towards his mother, yet he takes out much of his anger on her looking just before he starts his comparison of Hamlet and Claudius comparing her to a beast for moving on too quickly.
DeleteI believe the most important line in Hamlet so far occurs in Act 1, Scene 2 when Hamlet expresses his suspicion at his father's death: "My father's spirit--in arms! All is not well. / I doubt some foul play" (lines 277 - 278). Young Hamlet's exclamation most likely foreshadows key future information within the play while simultaneously setting the stage for the rest of the plot, and therefore becomes the most noteworthy and memorable line so far. The fact that the spirit is "in arms" suggests that important conflict has either already happened, with the king's death, or that it will happen and the king is preparing for it. Additionally the use of the word "foul play" suggests that Hamlet believes someone betrayed or deceived the king in order to gain something.
ReplyDeleteI agree and feel like these lines are a kind of turning point in the novel- if you hadn't figured out for yourself yet that the new king had a deeper connection to the late king Hamlet's death, then young Hamlet has really spelled it out for you. I also hadn't really thought hard about the meaning of "foul play" but I like where you took it- betrayal or deceit.
DeleteEspecially considering Shakespeare's pattern of ghosts as messengers (like the array of ghosts in Macbeth), the "in arms" could certainly be a warning to young Hamlet, or perhaps some kind of cryptic message to convince the prince to finish his father's work
DeleteYes, he sets that up nicely here...and the idea of "foul" fits well with betrayal, deceit, an "unweeded garden," "something rotten."
DeleteLike Annie said above, I agree that this line serves as a turning point in the story, but serves as a major twist, or foreshadow as you [Vincent] put it. I also like Dr. Hynes's connection to the unweeded garden. With all of the weeds growing, it could become increasingly harder to tell the good plants from the bad ones, which could correlate to "weeding" out the good people from the bad ones.
DeleteWhen the audience finally gets to see what Hamlet is thinking in the form of a monologue, the prince ends his rant with, "It is not nor it cannot come to good: But break, my heart; for I must hold my tongue." Considering the common pattern of death in Shakespearean tragedies, this line seems to be strong foreshadowing for what's to come in the play. Additionally, this line further develops the struggle that Hamlet is facing, his heart is "broken" from the loss of his father and his subsequent replacement with his uncle, and the only way he is dealing with it is by hiding it. Hamlet decides to "hold his tongue" in fear to speak out against the king, but the tensions created by this will certainly blossom later in the novel.
ReplyDeleteI also really love these lines...it's important to remember that he really is heartbroken, and, because of his position in the court, his family's lack of sympathy, the surveillance everywhere, he can't articulate anything that he needs to. It's also an interesting parallel to the Ghost, who refuses to speak up until now. Keep that in mind as you read scene v this week.
DeleteAlthough Hamlet is filled with many significant and thought-provoking lines, the most significant prove to be those regarding the symbolism of Hamlet’s ghost because through this symbolism we are brought one step closer to learning the truth or answering the question posed at the beginning of the story. After learning of this ghost’s existence, young Hamlet questions the facial expression (“frowning?”), the skin condition (“flushed or pale?”), and the eyes (“eye contact”) of the ghost, from which he deduces that this ghost sighting was a foreshadowing of a dark future: “Foul deed will rise,/ Though all the earth o’erwhelm them, to men’s eyes” (Act I, scene ii, lines 469-471). The definitive nature of “will” as opposed to may/might/could emphasizes young Hamlet's assurance that something wicked this way comes. Still, he ends the soliloquy with the notion that all evil plans will come to light, “to men’s eyes,” that all will be revealed in time. Since Hamlet begins with a question, this soliloquy brings us one step closer to learning what will soon be revealed, hopefully.
ReplyDeleteYes, and seeing is believing, according to Horatio, so it's quite possible that more evil plans will come to light...stay tuned for the Ghost's appearance in scene v. The quote you've chosen here sets it up really well!
DeleteI think the most important lines of the play so far were in (1.2.157-161). Hamlet says, "My father's brother, but no more like my father than I to Hercules. Within a month, ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears had left the flushing in her galléd eyes." He is talking about how his mother married his uncle soon after his father died. He mentions that they were married so soon after his father's death that the redness around his mother's eyes from crying had just started to go away. That her tears were so fresh she had barely just stopped crying. I think this is such an important line because it sets up reasoning for the rest of the book, it expresses that Hamlet is angry and feels that his father's memory has been disrespected because his mother got remarried so quickly. It sets off the story to continue off of Hamlet's anger towards his uncle and mother.
ReplyDeleteDo you think he's more angry at his uncle/stepfather or his mother (and is his mother also now his aunt since she married his uncle?!?)? It's interesting that when he agrees to stay in Elsinore, he addresses himself to his mother and not his stepfather, but then, in this quote, it seems like he still feels very betrayed by her.
DeleteI think so far the most important line in the play has been in act 1 scene 2. After king Claudius addresses hamlet as his "son" queen gertrude commands hamlet to "cast thy nighted color off, And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark." In essence the queen has revealed she has completely gotten over the death of king hamlet; and because she has done so she wants hamlet to stop mourning and do the same. In this case hamlet's grief shows his authenticity, foreshadowing his transparency and honesty that is to come in the play. Both king claudius and queen gertrude show no regard for the pain and emotion hamlet is going through. This conveys how Hamlet and his mom are polar opposites of each other because while hamet deals with vulnerabilities of death, queen gertrude is more focused on maintain power and status in society.
ReplyDelete-Bryan lugo
Great contrast of the response (in grief) between Hamlet and his mother...I also like that you point out that she says this right after Claudius has told Hamlet to more or less get over it...it feels like she's choosing sides, which has to really hurt Hamlet.
DeleteHamlet giving his speech on grief towards his mother says "These indeed 'seem,' For they are actions that a man might play" (1.2.86-87). We briefly discussed this line in class, but I think it is especially important looking at so many aspects of the play that have yet to be explored. Hamlet confesses that the grief he is experiencing is not for show, but genuine. although he says his feelings are genuine, we can't know for sure... after all, he's talking to his mother, not himself. This perpetuates the idea of trust, with there still being ambiguity on Hamlet's mental state. The unsurety of the reader also complicates hamlet a character. We can see his melancholy but we don't know it in its entirety... in other words, is there something more... is this the beginning of his downfall into insanity?
ReplyDeleteYou raise a lot of interesting points here, Toby. You're right...we, as an audience, can't really believe anything we're told just like the characters can't believe anything that's they hear. I also love this line for its emphasis on performance: we see that Hamlet is a good actor when he pivots from grief and rage at his mother (in particular) in the first soliloquy to being a cheerful pal to his college friends. His ability to shift like that will be important going forward.
DeleteSo far most important line from act 1, scene ii has been when Hamlet is defending his right to be morning his father death: "These indeed 'seem,' For they are actions that a man might play" (1.2. 25). Hamlet is emphasizing that his pain is real, therefore, he will express it for it is not a performance or act, something that characters tend to do in this play. He is also defending himself from his mother who married only "within a month" of his fathers death allowing the readers to think that she is also acting as a caring wife but only wants the status of being the kings wife. The king also seems not to care about the death and attempts to play the role of father to Hamlet expecting him to be over his fathers death. This brings up the question of who can we, the reader, actually trust and who is just putting up a performance or act, loyalty.
ReplyDelete-Michelle Ramirez
DeleteI think one of the most important lines so far is around 135 on page 29. Hamlets description of his fathers death and how quickly his mother moves on provides insight on the lack of emotion some of the royalty have. He speaks out about the unfairness of his mother moving on so quickly, but I also think he is speaking about some of the faults Denmark royalty has a whole. He says, " ’Tis an unweeded garden. That grows to seed." Here he really describes how things are out of hand and aren't really operating how they should be but that the only goal is to keep moving, to keep growing seed even though the metaphorical garden is already filled with weeds. Hamlet is very disturbed at the lack of respect payed to his father and his death which is, I think, the main contributor to his want to have his flesh melt into nothingness. His concern with the respect of his father is also symbolic of how he feels overlooked in a way, because he truly is an ends to a mean and his title is more important to others than anything personal about himself.
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