Act 5 Scene 1 Flashcards
That skull had a tongue in it and could sing once. How
the knave jowls it to the ground, as if it were Cain’s
jawbone, that did the first murder! It might be the pate
of a politician, which this ass now o’erreaches, one
that would circumvent God, might it not?
S: Hamlet
C: Hamlet is holding a skull of Yorick, Hamlet Sr’s court jester, whom he once knew and is discussing it with Horatio in the graveyard while the two gravediggers are present.
1) Hamlet is saying these skulls could have been anyone but it is not important because, in the end, they are simply just skulls being thrown around by gravediggers. This shows that it does not matter what you do in your life because it will always end in death. This quote portrays death as a great equalizer.
2) demonstrates how Hamlet’s views on death have evolved. He is no longer scared of death and accepts that it is everyone’s fate. characterization + growth
Alas, poor Yorick! I knew
him, Horatio;
a fellow of infinite jest
S: Hamlet
C: Hamlet and Horatio are strolling through a graveyard when they come across two gravediggers and start a conversation with them. Hamlet then picks up a skull and now learns that the skull belonged to Yorick, his father’s court jester, whom he once knew.
1) Hamlet is telling Horatio that he knew Yorick himself in this quote.This shows that it does not matter what you do in your life because it will always end in death and portrays death as a great equalizer. For example, Yorick was a man of “infinite jest” but still ended up in a graveyard with many others all having different accomplishments. Hamlet knew this person very well. Yorick was his friend/nanny/paid entertainment and they were most likely very close.
2) Hamlet is literally looking death in the face, which can also foreshadow his death soon approaching.
3) It doesn’t matter who you are. Death is the great equalizer; we come from dust we leave as dust.
To what base uses we may return, Horatio. Why may not
imagination trace the noble dust of Alexander till he
find it stopping a bunghole?
Speaker: Hamlet
Context: Hamlet and Horatio are strolling through a graveyard when they come across two gravediggers and start a conversation with them. Hamlet has just thrown back down the skull of Yorick, his father’s jester, whom he once knew.
Importance: This quote evinces Hamlet’s evolved view on death. He is no longer afraid of death and now views it as a great equalizer. As evidence, he states that Alexander the Great, who had accomplished amazing things in his life, is now simply dust and being used as a corkscrew to stop a bung-hole. Therefore, it does not matter what a person does in their life, everyone has the same ultimate fate: death.
S: Hamlet
C: Standing with Horatio and a gravedigger after just throwing Yorick’s skull to the ground
1) It doesn’t matter who you are. Death is the great equalizer; we come from dust we leave as dust.
2) Foreshadowing: Great men become nothing
I hoped thou shouldst have been my Hamlet’s wife; I thought thy bride-bed to have deck’d, sweet maid, and not t’ have strew’d thy grave.
S: Gertrude speaking to Ophelia’s dead body.
C: This quote takes place during Ophelia’s funeral while Hamlet and Horatio are nearby watching (this is when Hamlet finds out that Ophelia is dead).
1) Gertrude is saying that she had hoped she would have been throwing her flowers on Ophelia’s bride bed after she married Hamlet, not on her grave. This quote is very important because it reveals that Hamlet would have been allowed to marry Ophelia even though she was not royalty, contrary to Laertes’ and Polonius’ initial thoughts on Ophelia and Hamlet’s relationship.
2) Shakespeare adds a sad mood using this quote by making the audience think of what could have been for Hamlet and Ophelia’s relationship if all the bad things had not happened during the play. Knowing Gertrude wanted them to be together makes the entire thing more tragic
I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers
Could not with all their quantity of love
Make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her?
S: Hamlet
C: Hamlet and Laertes have been separated after fighting inside Ophelia’s grave and Hamlet begins to declare his love for Ophelia
1) This shows that Hamlet really did love Ophelia, and did not just use her for sex like Ophelia had thought after she had gone mad.
2) Hamlet fighting over who loves her more shows his envious and immature nature
3) Sets up next scene → leads to his death
4) Reveals Hamlet’s weird competitiveness that he has with Laertes which will ultimately lead to Hamlet (and Laertes’) downfall (they will die while fencing each other).
Dost thou come here to whine,
To outface me with leaping in her grave?
Be buried quick with her?—and so will I.
S: Hamlet
C: Hamlet and Laertes have been separated after fighting inside Ophelia’s grave and Hamlet continues to declare his love for Ophelia
1) Hamlet is personally offended by Laertes’ reaction and takes it as Laertes not being sad
2) In Hamlet’s world, everything is about himself
3) Sets up his final confrontation with Laertes occurring in the next scene
4) Foreshadows his approaching death
Hear you, sir.
What is the reason that you use me thus?
I loved you ever. But it is no matter.
S: Hamlet
C: Hamlet pauses for a second and then addresses Laertes with more gentleness
1) Hamlet has been so caught up in the moment up to this point
2) Recognises that they are equal and Laertes grief is justified
3) Hamlet sees a bit of himself in Laertes– both trying to avenge their father’s deaths
4) laertes would have been Hamlet’s brother-in-law
An hour of quiet shortly shall we see.
Till then in patience our proceeding be.
S: Claudius
C: Hamlet has fled the scene and now Claudius is speaking to Laertes about their plan to kill Hamlet.
1) Dramatic Irony: Claudius knows that what is to come will not be quiet
2) Claudius believes that Hamlet will die tonight
3) foreshadowing that bad things will happen in the next scene
