1.2 Hamlets Opening Soliloquy Flashcards
‘This____ garden that grows to_____.’
Unweeded, seed
Analyse the quotation ‘this unweeded garden that grows to seed’
This conveys H’s intense melancholy and shows how he views the world with a nialistic attitude, while also the metaphore conveys how Hamlet views the royal court, something that was once beautiful and pure as inherently corrupted. Motif of disease and decay. The marriage has corrupted the court.
What does Hamlet compare Claudius and Old Hamlet too
‘ Hyperion to a Satyr’
Analyse this quotation - ‘Hyperion to a satyr’
The contrasting metaphor, shows how H views his father as a sun-god ( the centre of his universe) whereas he sees Claudius as lustful and inhumane ( a satyr is a lustfull mythological creature - a half man half goat)
What does hamlet Compare his mother to?
‘A beast that wants discourse of reason//would have mourned longer’
What does Hamlet saying ‘a beast that wants \sicourse of reason would have mourned longer’ show about how he views his mother and her grief?
The metaphor presents Gertrude as inhumane due to her lack of capacity to grieve. She is irrationally inhumane in hamlets eyes.
What’s some A03 that you could pair with this scene?
The character of Gertrude and her seemingly lack of grief - could relate to Mary queen of Scot’s, who, like Gertrude, failed to observe a proper period of mourning. She even went on to marry the man who was thought to have murdered her husband.
What’s a critical view you could use here?
‘Gertrude is a moral defective’ - Muir
‘O most____________, to post with such_____to_____ sheets!’
Wicked speed to post with such dexterity to incestuous sheets
Analyse the quotation - “O most wicked speed to post with such dexterity to wicked sheets”
The sibilance captures Hamlets intense anger and frustration - he feels betrayed at the speed and ease ( such dexterity) that Gertrude has betrayed his father. ‘Dexterity’ specifically highlights how H views G as a rehearsed and skillful liar.
“ But no more like my Father than i to _____”
Hercules
Why does H refer to his father as “ Hercules”
H is once again comparing his father to a God, whilst simultaneously admitting his own inadequacies. H views his father as string and domminant
“_____ thy name is a woman”
frailty
Analyse “ frailty thy name is a woman “
Shows how hamlet sees his mother as emotionally and morally weak, needing male attention.
