Act 5 Scene 2 Flashcards
There’s a divinity that shapes our ends,
Rough-hew them how we will—
S: Hamlet
C: Hamlet is conversing alone with Haratio in the castle in the final scene. He is speaking to Horatio about how he escaped England and what will happen to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
1) He believes that we are all on a path that we can’t escape. We can’t escape fate or “divinity. Hamlet is saying that fate always rules, which is one of the main themes of this play. For example, Hamlet was sent away to England to die but still managed to end up back in Denmark because it is his fate to kill Claudius.
2) Feels like its his fate to get vengeance but also to die and he is ok with it
Why, even in that was heaven ordinant.
I had my father’s signet in my purse,
S: Hamlet
C: Hamlet is telling Horatio how he managed to escape from England and get Rosencrantz and Guildenstern killed by replacing the letter Claudius wrote instructing them to kill Hamlet with a new forged letter by Hamlet instructing them to kill Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Horatio then asks how he sealed this letter with the royal crest to make it look real. This quote is Hamlet’s reply stating that he had his father’s ring which has the crest on it. Therefore, Hamlet believes that it is his fate to return to Denmark and kill Claudius.
1) This gives Hamlet a renewed sense of motivation to kill Claudius since he believes it is his fate, even if he will die in the process. In other words, Hamlet believes God wants him to return to Denmark in order to fulfill his purpose of killing Claudius.
2) This gives Hamlet the characterization of having somewhat of a God complex to justify all his actions.
S: Hamlet
C: Hamlet is explaining to Horatio how he survived on his last trip
1) By having his fathers ring with him in time of need, Hamlet certainly believes this is his fate
2) Everything in his life has been leading up to this
3) Feels like God was leading him here
Why, man, they did make love to this employment.
They are not near my conscience.
S: Hamlet
C: Hamlet is explaining to Horatio how he escaped from England and got Rosencrantz and Guildenstern killed in the process. In this quote, Hamlet is saying he does not feel bad for having them killed.
1) This demonstrates how much Hamlet has changed as a person since the beginning of the play. At first, he was a very religious scholar, afraid of death and going to Hell/purgatory, he wrote poetry, etc. However, he now has little conscience left, has committed murder, and is consumed by vengeance entirely.
2) Shakespeare is depicting the way revenge can corrupt an individual and change them for the worse.
3) once again not taking responsibility for his actions
But I am very sorry, good Horatio,
That to Laertes I forgot myself,
For by the image of my cause I see
The portraiture of his. I’ll court his favors.
But sure the bravery of his grief did put me
Into a towering passion.
S: Hamlet
C: Hamlet is talking with Horatio in the castle and apologies for losing control earlier at the grave
1) Hamlet sees himself in Laertes
2) Feels bad that he fought him in Ophelia’s grave→ dramatic irony since he has lacked compassion the entire play
3) thinks he should apologize to “court his favors”
I mean, my lord, the opposition of your person in trial.
S: Oscric
C: Osric has come to inform Hamlet that Claudius has proposed a duel between Hamlet and Laertes to sort out their issues. Osric is saying that if Hamlet does not accept the duel, he will go to trial for the murder of Polonius.
1) This shows that Hamlet is accepting his fate, whether it be murder/killed in the duel, or the trial.
2) it is ironic that Claudius has decided that if he does not accept the duel, that Hamlet will go on trial for the murder of Polonius, when Claudius was never punished for the murder he committed.
Let the
foils be brought, the gentleman willing, and the king
hold his purpose. I will win for him an I can. If not, I
will gain nothing but my shame and the odd hits.
S: Hamlet
C: He is telling Osric that he accepts to duel with Laertes.
1) this is dramatic irony because Hamlet is saying that he thinks he can win, but the audience knows that Claudius and Laertes have a plan to have him killed during the match, which builds tension.
2) shows Hamlet’s arrogance because he is confident that he will win, when Laertes had better fencing stats.
I am constant to my purpose. They follow the king’s
pleasure. If his fitness speaks, mine is ready
S: Hamlet
C: Hamlet is talking to a Lord and stating that he follows through with his purposes and that he’ll please the king. He’s agreeing to take on the fencing match.
1) This is ironic because he never completes his purposes. Hamlet isn’t a man of action.
2) Dramatic irony because his purposes (revenge) don’t please the king at all because he’ll kill him.
I do not think so. Since he went into France, I have
been in continual practice. I shall win at the odds.
S: Hamlet
C: Horatio has just told him that he will lose the duel. This quote is Hamlet’s reply stating that he believes he will win, even though he has a bad feeling about this duel.
1) Builds on the idea of fate as Hamlet is ok with whatever the results of the match will be, as evidenced by him ignoring the bad feeling he has about the duel.
2) Confirms that Hamlet is no longer afraid of death.
3) This depicts Hamlet’s arrogance because he believes he can win even though Laertes; fencing stats are better.
4) Horatio has a bad feeling about all of this, he cares for Hamlet
Not a whit. We defy augury. There’s a special
providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, ’tis
not to come. If it be not to come, it will be now. If it
be not now, yet it will come—the readiness is all.
Since no man of aught he leaves knows, what is ’t to
leave betimes? Let be.
S: Hamlet
C: He is talking to Horatio right before the duel with Laertes is about to begin. He is saying that no one knows when they are going to die using a bird analogy.
1) This reveals that Hamlet is finally fully ok with death and he accepts his fate if it is to be that he dies during the match. This quote contrasts heavily with his initial characterization of being a man afraid of death, Hell, the unknown, and purgatory, therefore demonstrating his character evolution.
2) Hamlet believes his purpose is to kill Claudius and that it is the only thing left for him to do before dying.
3) Foreshadows his death, as well as Claudius’ death.
That might your nature, honour and exception roughly awake, I here proclaim was madness
S: Hamlet
C: Right before the dueling match, Hamlet is asked to apologize to Laertes for having killed his father, and in Hamlet’s apology he blames his madness for the bad
1) This shows that Hamlet once again does not take any responsibility just like when Hamlet blamed Polonius’ death on god having put him there. This deflected blame also sets Hamlet apart from Laertes who does take responsibility for his actions (foil).
2) There is dramatic irony within this quote because the audience knows that Hamlet was only pretending to be crazy (antic disposition), but Laertes does not know.
To my revenge: but in my terms of honour I stand aloof, and will no reconcilement till by some elder masters
S: Laertes
C: This is Laertes’ response to Hamlet’s apology where Hamlet blames the bad things he has done on his madness right before the dueling match
1) Laertes is saying that he appreciates Hamlet’s apology but he still needs to get his revenge. Laertes is trying to be polite.
2) Shows that Laertes is a man of action, unlike Hamlet, who will let nothing stop him from carrying out his revenge.
The queen carouses to thy fortune, Hamlet
S: Gertrude
C: Hamlet is in the lead at this point during his dueling match with Laertes, therefore Gertrude is going to drink a glass of poisoned wine, that was intended for Hamlet by Claudius, to celebrate his good fortune.
1) This is dramatic irony because the audience knows the cup is poisoned but Gertrude does not. By extension, tension is being built since the audience knows Gertrude will die soon.
2) This also adds to the idea that nothing is as it seems because Gertrude thinks she is celebrating but really she is killing herself.
3) This also puts Claudius in a position where he must choose between saving Gertrude by telling her the cup is poisoned and saving himself. He ends up choosing himself, showing that Claudius is selfish.
Why, as a woodcock to mine own springe, Osric. I am
justly killed with mine own treachery.
S: Laertes
C: Hamlet has just stabbed Laertes with Laertes’ own poisonous sword after they fight and the swords get mixed up. Osric asks Laertes’ how Laertes is feeling and this is his response, saying that he knows he will die by his own trap.
1) This echoes what Polonius said to Ophelia about getting trapped by Hamlet’s promises that he loves her and will marry her. This similarity between Polonius and his son, Laertes, brings this full circle.
2) This shows Laertes’ honor and responsibility because Laertes is taking accountability unlike Hamlet who blames everything on god and his madness. The contrast between these two characters is very prominent when analyzing this quote.
It is a poison tempered by himself.
Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet.
Mine and my father’s death come not upon thee,
Nor thine on me.
S: Laertes
C: Laertes says this right before he dies. He is saying that Hamlet and him shouldn’t blame each other for the bad things that have happened and is asking forgiveness. They are now even.
1) They are repenting and making amends possibly in an attempt to get into heaven which brings into question whether it is enough.
2) In this brief moment, Hamlet is the King, since Claudius has just died, therefore he is God’s representative on Earth, so he would probably go to Heaven.
But I do prophesy the election lights on Fortinbras; he has my dying voice.
S: Hamlet
C: Right before Hamlet dies because of the poisoned tip of a sword used by Laertes during the duel, he says that he wants Fortinbras to be the new king of Denmark.
1) This shows that Hamlet supports Fortinbras, even though he is the enemy, as the new King of denmark. Hamlet accepts that Fortinbras is the better man for having been a man of action unlike him, therefore he supports him.
2) Fortinbras is what Hamlet should have been. The respect Hamlet has for Fortinbras is reciprocated by Fortinbras since he gives him a royal funeral.
