Act 1 Scene 5 Flashcards
Hamlet hears from the ghost
How is Hamlet authoritative?
“Speak, I’ll go no further.” - It is an imperative yet shows some fear and uncertainty.
Where is the Ghost, according to what he says?
“sulphurous and tormenting flames” he must return to. “Doomed for a certain term to walk the night, and for the day confined to fast in fires, till the foul crimes done in my days of nature are burnt and purged away,” - purgatory.
“I am forbid to tell the secrets of my prison-house” - cannot give details about purgatory.
Why might we question if the ghost is REALLY Old Hamlet with the intentions of punishing Claudius and not some demon?
because he’s being purged for “foul crimes” but Hamlet said he was a “hyperion”. Is this because Hamlet idolises his father? Or does this prove the ghost is here to make Hamlet sin?
How does the ghost blackmail Hamlet?
“Speak, I am bound to hear.” “So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear.” “If thou didst every thy father love-“ - this links back to Hamlet idolising his father.
What does the ghost reveal to Hamlet?
“Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder… most foul, strange and unnatural.”
Does Hamlet show hesitation when the ghost reveals Old Hamlet was murdered?
“Haste me to know’t, that I with wings as swift as meditation or the thoughts of love, may sweep to my revenge.” - Hamlet does not think about it twice.
How does the Ghost describe Claudius?
“the fat weed” “A serpent stung me… the serpent that did sting thy father’s life now wears his crown”
“That incestuous, that adulterate beast, with witchcraft of his wits with traitorous gifts”
How does the Ghost describe Gertrude?
“won to his shameful lust the will of my most seeming-virtuous Queen” - alludes to the idea she was easily seduced.
“O Hamlet, what a falling-off was there, from me whose love was of that dignity that it went hand in hand even with the vow I made to her in marriage, and to decline upon a wretch whose natural gifts were poor to those of mine” - lust led her astray.
How does the Ghost say he died?
“juice of cursed hebona in a vial, and in the porches of my ears did pour the leperous distilment” - poisoned - poison symbolises corruption and internal decay. What might that allude about Old Hamlet?
What else, apart from the death and marrying Gertrude, does the ghost say Claudius did maliciously to Old Hamlet?
He sent him to death unprepared. “By a brother’s hand, of life, of crown, of queen, at once dispatched; cut off even in the blossoms of my sin… not a reckoning made, but sent to my account with all my imperfections on my head.”
What does the Ghost say Hamlet should not let happen to Denmark, to himself and to Gertrude?
“Let not the royal bed of Denmark be a couch for luxury and damned incest”
“Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive against thy mother aught; leave her to heaven”
What does Hamlet vow in response to the Ghost?
“Remember thee? Yea, from the table of my memory I’ll wipe away all trivial fond records… and thy commandment all alone shall live within the book and volume of my brain” - his thoughts will only be vengeful.
How does Hamlet curse his mother and Claudius now?
“O most pernicious woman! O villain, villain, smiling, damned villain.”
When telling Horatio and the soldiers what he heard, how does Hamlet insult Claudius?
“arrant knave” - complete villain
Does Hamlet believe the ghost?
Yes, “It is an honest ghost, that let me tell you”
What does Hamlet ask of the soldiers and how does he refer to them?
As you are friends, scholars, and soldiers… never make known what you have seen tonight.”
Does Hamlet tell the soldiers what he was told? What does he make them do?
“I hold it fit that we shake hands and part” - he says he will not tell them and what they already DO know should not be said to anyone and they are sworn to secrecy. “swear’t… upon my sword”
Is Horatio suspicious? How do we know?
“O day and night, but this is wondrous strange” - he notices Hamlet’s odd behaviour.
What does Hamlet tell Horatio he’s going to do?
“As I perchance hereafter shall think meet to put an antic disposition on”
What does Hamlet believe his purpose is?
“This time is out of joint. O cursed spite, that ever I was born to set it right. Nay come, let’s go together.” - Hamlet’s purpose and fate is the path of revenge and restoring order in Denmark.
