Family and Incest

Question 1

Hamlets disgust at her mother re marrying and at her incest / possible jealousy.

Answer 1

“She married. O, most wicked speed, to post
With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!
It is not nor it cannot come to good:
But break, my heart; for I must hold my tongue.”

Question 2

Gertrude is the one who has “offended” Hamlet’s real father, Old King Hamlet, by marrying Claudius. Hamlet also makes a point of saying that Claudius is not his real dad.

Answer 2

QUEEN GERTRUDE
“Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended.”
HAMLET
“Mother, you have my father much offended. “

Question 3

Laertes’ previous preoccupation with Ophelia’s sexuality and his emotional response to her death, can’t help but notice the traces of incestuous desire.

Answer 3

“O, treble woe
Fall ten times treble on that cursed head,
Whose wicked deed thy most ingenious sense
Deprived thee of! Hold off the earth awhile,
Till I have caught her once more in mine arms: “

Question 4

Claudius prays, he acknowledges that, by murdering his brother, Old Hamlet, he has brought upon himself the first (“primal”) and oldest (“eldest”) “curse,” which is a reference to the biblical story of Cain, who committed the first murder when he killed his brother Abel (Genesis 4.10-12).

Answer 4

“O, my offence is rank it smells to heaven;
It hath the primal eldest curse upon’t,
A brother’s murder”

Question 5

as unmarried daughter, Ophelia has no choice but to be obedient to her father. This means that Polonius is free to order Ophelia to break up with Hamlet.

Answer 5

”[…] and there put on him
What forgeries you please; marry, none so rank
As may dishonour him; take heed of that;
But, sir, such wanton, wild and usual slips
As are companions noted and most known
To youth and liberty.”

Question 6

Hamlet contrasts his father to Claudius , a god ( sun) to animalistic creature.

Answer 6

“Hyperion to a satyr”