Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Hamlet, Act V

1. The gravedigger is there mainly for comic relief. He acts as the clown before the really tragic part. He also allows us to see Hamlet's change in character. Hamlet now sees death as a natural event, and he doesn't care as much about it.

2. Hamlet is able to speak to the skulls and the gravedigger about death in a nonchalant kind of way. It shows how differently he views death; his motive is more about a greater good than his own personal wants. He is sad that Yoric and Ophelia is dead, but perhaps has accepted the death of his father already. It also shows how really did love Ophelia.

3. Hamlet is 30-years-old. The gravedigger says he's been digging since Hamlet was born, and that was 30 years ago.

4. The argument between Hamlet and Laertes highlights their dramatic foils. It is just more evidence that Hamlet really did love Ophelia, but also backs up Hamlet's need for dramatic attention.

5. After his stay with the pirates, Hamlet is more willing to take action. He isn't concerned about consequences anymore. He is more concerned with the state of Denmark as a whole than his own personal revenge.

6. Before, the revenge was all for Hamlet's own self, his mother, and his father. Now, Hamlet thinks he should be king of Denmark.

7. Osric acts as a reincarnation of Polonius. He backs up the idea of prostitution. He sucks up to Hamlet, and tells him what he wants to hear.

8. "We defy augury". The "we" in this case isn't just Hamlet and Horatio, it's Denmark as a whole. Hamlet is saying that to not duel Laertes would be going against fate. He states that whatever is going to happen is going to happen anyway because it's God's will.

9. Laertes wants revenge on Hamlet because Hamlet killed his dad. He has essentially lost because he isn't going to kill Hamlet in an honorable way; he's cheating by using the poison.

10. Gertrude talks about how the drink has poisoned her and warns Hamlet not to drink of it. This shows Gertrude's care for Hamlet, as well as her fault that she cares too much for material things. Claudius asks his friends to defend him because he's hurt, which shows how he relies on everyone else to do stuff for him, and shows how he uses others people. Laertes apologizes to Hamlet and asks for forgiveness. He is the only person that feels guilty. This shows that he is still noble.

11. Fortinbras is obviously a winner here. He gets Denmark and his revenge without any opposition. Horatio also wins because he survives, unlike everyone else.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Hamlet Act IV - Study Questions

Scene One:

1. Gertrude tells him immediately after.

2. Claudius must do something with Hamlet immediately, before everyone finds out and he kills them too. He tells his "wisest friends" so that they will be witness that Claudius didn't kill Polonius and is "deeply concerned" about his death.

3. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

Scene Two:

1. Hamlet says that "the body is with the king, but the king is not with the body". He doesn't answer them directly and doesn't give any clues as to where he hid the body. Hamlet is implying that Claudius isn't the actual king, but that the king is merely a figurehead, a shadow of the lower people.

2. Claudius.

Scene Three:

1. Claudius says that Hamlet won't be confined because he is loved by the people. He doesn't want to look like the bad guy, or start a rebellion.

2. Hamlet replies with an example of a worm eating a king, a fish eating the worm, and a beggar eating the fish. He says that Polonius is "not where he eats, but where he is eaten." He also gives a clue that you could smell him from the lobby.

3. Claudius wants to have someone kill Hamlet while he is in England. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern don't know this.

Scene Four:

1. The captain is sent to greet Claudius and inform him that they are going to pass through Denmark to get to Poland.

2. The soldiers are going to Poland to fight for a small, worthless piece of land.

3. Hamlet is impressed with Fortinbras because he actually takes action and gets things done, even if it's just about honor.

Scene Five:

1. Gertrude says she won't talk to Ophelia because Ophelia's crazy and only speaks in symbolic songs. She changes her mind because Horatio warns her that Ophelia might end up saying something she shouldn't to somebody that shouldn't know about it if her mood isn't satisfied.

2. Claudius thinks that Ophelia is mad mainly because of her father's death, but also because Hamlet left. I think he's right.

3. Laertes returns from France because of his father's death. He wants to be there for the funeral and for Ophelia, and also to seek revenge. He wants to become king.

4. Laertes's followers want him to be king. Claudius feels he has to placate Laertes before there is an uprising, and also to get on his good side for when he asks Laertes to get revenge on Hamlet.

5. Claudius comes Laertes down by flattering him. He promises Laertes that if any guilt can be found with him and the queen, then they will gladly give up their throne to him.

Scene Six:

1. The ship Hamlet was traveling on to get to England is taken over by pirates, and in the ensuing fight, Hamlet ended up over on the pirates's ship. He is taken captive, but not treated badly because he has made a deal with them.

2. The pirates bring him back to Denmark as part of their deal.

3. The pirate messengers are going to take Horatio to Hamlet.

Scene Seven:

1. Hamlet is loved both by Gertrude and the people.

2. Hamlet sends a letter to Claudius.

3. Hamlet was supposed to be killed in England under orders of the King, but he never made it to England.

4. Claudius and Laertes plan to put poison on the rapier so it will kill Hamlet even if he survives the duel. If this doesn't work, they'll just poison him the old-fashioned way, with a chalice of poison.

5. Ophelia is picking flowers by a stream and starts to climb a willow tree. One of the branches breaks and she drowns.