Hamlet Flashcards
Who says this and what does it show?
“…the sheeted dead”
Horatio:
He compares the Ghost of King Hamlet to the supernatural omens that appeared before the assassination of Julius Caesar - ultimately foreshadowing the disaster that is to come
Who says this and what does it show?
“…our dear brother’s death/the memory be green”
Claudius:
Shows his duplicity and is ironic as he describes the former king as “dear” when he was the one who killed his brother. He acknowledges that the death is a recent event
Who says this and what does it show?
“A little more than kin, and less than kind”
Hamlet:
He uses puns to show how he is unhappy with Claudius being so closely related now he’s wed Gertrude - first words from Hamlet, showing the audience he is witty, clever and not a fan Claudius
Who says this and what does it show?
“O, that this too too solid flesh would melt”
Hamlet:
He considers suicide in his first soliloquy - but won’t because it is against God’s law, even the thought of this would have shocked the Elizabethan society as suicide was considered a great sin
Who says this and what does it show?
“Hyperion to a satyr”
Hamlet:
He describes his father as a God and describes Claudius as a satyr (lecherous men/goat creature). Showing Hamlets distaste towards Claudius
Who says this and what does it show?
“…frailty, thy name is woman”
Hamlet:
He condemns all women for being weak due to his mothers speedy marriage. This is the first evidence of Hamlet’s misogyny - also foreshadows his later treatment to Ophelia
Who says this and what does it show?
“…All is not well. /I doubt some foul play”
Hamlet:
He believes that his father’s ghost is a sign that his death is suspicious - he has come back to haunt due to the treacherous way in which he was killed. Broke the Great Chain of Being, meaning God has left his soul in unrest?
Who says this and what does it show?
“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark”
Marcellus:
An ominous warning after Hamlet follows the Ghost - this creates a sense of corruption from the start of the play, leaves the audience suspicious
Who says this and what does it show?
“Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder”
The Ghost:
This request from the Ghost spurs on the plot and is essentially the canon event that causes all the character deaths
Who says this and what does it show?
“That incestuous, that adulterate beast”
The Ghost and Hamlet:
Used to describe Claudius - portrays him as more of a villain than he already is
Who says this and what does it show?
“a coward…pigeon-livered”
Hamlet:
Self-reproach - he isn’t convinced that he can carry out the revenge. The first sign of inaction
Who says this and what does it show?
“Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain”
Hamlet:
Used to describe Claudius
Who says this and what does it show?
“To be, or not to be: that is the question:”
Hamlet:
He is once again questioning suicide - shocking for 16th century audiences and creates an uncertainty in Hamlet’s character as God chose whether the people lived or died - his hubris as he is taking God’s power
Who says this and what does it show?
“The fair Ophelia”
Hamlet:
Kind words before he turns against her
AO4: parallels between Othello and Desdemona: “The Divine Desdemona” compliments are given to both female characters before male figures turn against them
Who says this and what does it show?
“Get thee to a nunnery”
Hamlet:
A repeated phrase which suggests that Ophelia is a whore as nunnery is another name for a brothel
AO4: parallels between Othello and Desdemona: “Impudent strumpet” both referring to their loves as whores
Who says this and what does it show?
“Look you how cheerfully my mother looks, and my father died within two hours”
Hamlet:
He shows his anger at the happiness of his widowed mother as her previous husband has just died - she should be mourning
