Action Flashcards
Bitter {Francisco}
‘For this relief much thanks. ‘Tis bitter cold and I am sick at heart’ 1.1.8
The plosives create a tense atmosphere, as if the state is under attack, and the pathetic fallacy hints at a potential conflict in the air, further indicating that ‘something is rotten in the state of Denmark’. Just as Francisco feels ‘sick at heart’, it appears as if everything and everyone is experiencing the corruption at the heart of Denmark, even it if doesn’t appear initially apparent. It seems that some kind of relief, perhaps the truth, is needed, and this foreshadows the revelation of Claudius’ betrayal - all of this indicates the play to be one of action, with a mission, a hero, and even a conflict.
Kin {Hamlet}
‘A little more than kin, and less than kind’ 1.2.65
Characteristically, Hamlet’s first line is a witty play of words that indicates the King as claiming an excess of kinship, which is ‘unkind’ - this may be performed in a confrontational manner, or even as an aside, both highlighting that Hamlet’s protest and disapproval is shown through speaking rather than physically carrying out an action.
Two months {Hamlet}
‘Two months death - nay, not so much, not two’ 1.1.138
Hamlet’s first soliloquy allows the audience to gain a glimpse into Hamlet’s mind, exploring his thoughts even as they come to him - however, they are hard to follow, with many interjections and pauses, the second hemstitch caesura reflecting his tendency to be side-tracked and mull over melancholy thoughts, indicating him as someone who prefers to think, rather than act.
Rotten {Marcellus}
Foul {Ghost}
‘Something is rotten in the state of Denmark’ 1.4.90
‘Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder’ 1.5.25
The lexical field of death and decay used throughout portray the deceptive misconduct carried out in Denmark, with morals and politics both corrupt due to Old Hamlet’s death, and Claudius’ sin, a play full of action in this sense - this idea of a ‘foul and unnatural murder’ indicates an unbalance to the whole state, where a hero is needed to restore nature to this ‘unnatural’ situation - it is therefore ironic that only through killing Claudius’, and creating more deaths, that Hamlet can return Denmark to a peaceful country, but does highlight the play as one of action, primarily as a Revenge Tragedy, with a hero needed to carry out justice.
Born {Hamlet}
‘O cursed spite that ever I was born to set it right’ 1.5.187
Hamlet feels that his duty is a burden, preferring to have a choice to ignore it and not act - this indicates his as not being a man of action, perhaps even a coward, and yet he represents the ideal Renaissance man in this sense: reason, and thoughts appear to govern him, with action at the bottom. However, it is hard for the audience not to link his delay in action with his death, after all, it could possibly have been prevented if he had acted earlier - this indicates that Shakespeare is criticizing the ideal Renaissance man, and the attitudes of the time.
Cowards {Hamlet}
‘Thus conscience does make cowards….the native hue of resolution is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought’ 3.1.83
It appears that Hamlet is finally facing his delay in action, indicating his conscience as the root of his problem, his fear of punishment in the afterlife preventing him from carrying out his duty. In one sense this quote is ironic, after all, a person’s conscience should in theory enable them to do good in this world, and yet Hamlet indicates his conscience as restricting him from doing what he needs to do. He shows that thus far, for the majority of the play he has not been able to act, indicating it as a play that ponders the mind instead. Hamlet personifies ‘resolution’ as a natural thing, perhaps to show what kind of person he should be, and then highlights how thoughts disguise this bravery by making cowards. I
Eggshells {Hamlet}
‘capability and Godlike reason…bestial oblivion or some craven scruple of thinking too precisely on the event’ 4.4.38
‘A delicate and tender prince…even for an eggshell…honor’s at stake’ 4.4.47
Hamlet refers to the heedless characteristic of animals and cowardly hesitation that overthinking leads, apparently ignoring the reasoning that God has given him - in this sense, he has failed his duty, hasn’t acted out his revenge, and has become just as bad as those he is trying to punish, who he often insulted with animalistic imagery, to show their lack of reasoning. This shows that the play has been primarily focused on Hamlet’s mind and thoughts, and he compares himself to Fortinbras to highlight his lack of action - while the fragile description seems inappropriate for Fortinbras, whose name literally means strong-in-arms, perhaps the implication is that he is sensitive to questions of honor, ready to fight even when it’s over something that is proverbially useless. This juxtaposition with Hamlet further emphasizes his inability to act out his revenge, showing this to thus far be a play that shows the power of one’s mind, fears and conscience.
Allegiance {Laertes}
‘To hell allegiance…conscience and grace to the profoundest pit….both the worlds I give to negligence’ 4.5.130
Laertes denounces his relationship with God, disregarding morals and the consequences both on Earth and the hereafter - perhaps this is the only way for him to enact his revenge, whereas Hamlet juxtaposes with Laertes completely, in his inability to disregard God, morals and the afterlife. In this way, Shakespeare may be suggesting that to enact revenge and commit sin, you must draw away from human nature, and by showing Hamlet’s struggle, Shakespeare humanizes him to the audience, drawing sympathy - it is ironic once again, as Hamlet’s conscience forces him to carry out this revenge, and yet the very act of revenge draws him away from his conscience. This indicates the struggle between acting out revenge, and the morals of the mind.
