ACT 2,2 HAMLET SOLILOQUY AND POLONIUS Flashcards
What does Hamlet call polonius?
Fishmonger
Analyse fishmonger
Hamlet insults polonius which undermines his arrogance and high position to being ‘lowbourne’ instead
Also calls our his immorality as a fishmonger is also a brothel- how he treats Ophelia as a prostitution
What comment does Hamley make on the royal courts corruption
To be honest…is to be a man/picked out of ten thousand
Analyse to be honest…is to be a man/ picked out of ten thousand
Hamlet calls out the corruption of the kingdom after Claudius ascension as king. He makes reference to polonius and Claudius feigned care for hamlet and interest
What does hamlet say that shows his madness is feigned
Tedious old fools
Analyse tedious old fools
Hamlet shows that he in control of his mind and thus his madness is feigned
Critic for Hamlet’s madness
Hamlet can be privileged in madness to say things about the corruption of human nature’ Mack
Quotes that show Hamlet’s doubt and inferiority
Unpregnant
I am pigeon liver’d, lack gall
Rogue and a peasant slave
Must like a whore unpack my words with my heart
Quotes that show the conflict between renaissance and medieval
The spirit i have seen/ may be a devil and that devil hath the power the power t’assume appeasing shape
The play is the thing/wherein ill catch the conscience of the king
Critics for Hamlet’s inaction
Hamlet is incapable of deliberate action (Hazlitt)
Hamlet’s delay is due to a form of melancholy (Bradley)
Analyse rogue and peasant slave
Hamlet is describes himself as being like a criminal and thus characterises him as ignoble
He lowers his value and makes himself appear inferior and weak
Both reflect how hamlet is unable to fulfill his avenging prince role
Analyse must like a whore unpack my heart with words
Hamlet acknowledges the pointlessness of his speaking and his inaction, emphasises his lack of medieval mindset which emasculates him
Whores had to make frequent confessions
Analyse I am pigeon liver’d and lack gall
Reflects how Hamlet lacks the necessary aggressors for action. He is presented as cowardly and weak due to his lack of yellow bile.
Analyse unpregnant
Hamlet emphasises his failure to take up his role as the avenging prince which is presented as natural.
Similar to how women have the role of having children.
Analyse the play will be the thing/ wherein ill catch the conscience of the king
This is the rhyming couplet that ends the scene which suggests a final resolution to hamlet’s conflict whereby his logical renaissance mindset triumphs.
It also foreshadows the climax of the play
