Hamlet 4:1 Flashcards
What is act 4 scene 1 of Hamlet considered?
the domestic scene - we see Gertrude and Claudius together, alone, for the first and last time
‘Mad as the sea…’
(in response to ‘How does Hamlet?’ - C)
‘Mad as the sea and wind, when both contend/ Which is the mightier.’ - Gertrude
- seems to be siding with Hamlet in keeping his secret, is this her genuine feeling though - perhaps she does think he is ‘mad as the sea and wind’
‘In his lawless fit,/ Behind…’
In his lawless fit,/ Behind the arras hearing something stir,/ Whips out his rapier, cries ‘A rat, a rat!’/ And in this brainish apprehension kills/ The unseen good old man.’ - Gertrude
‘Oh heavy deed…’
‘Oh heavy deed!/ It had been so with us had we been there./ His liberty is full of threats to all -/ To you yourself, to us, to every one.’ - Claudius
- first thought is of himself and the threat hamlet poses to him
- realisation that it could’ve been/was supposed to be him
- powers his decision to get rid of hamlet
‘Alas, how shall this…’
‘Alas, how shall this bloody deed by answer’d?/ It will be laid to us, whose providence/ Should have kept short, restrain’d, and out of haunt,/ This mad young man.’ - Claudius
- the blame will lie with Claudius (and Gertrude) for not controlling hamlet and preventing this from happening
‘But so much was…’
‘But so much was our love,/ We would not understand what was most fit;/ But, like the owner of a foul disease,/ To keep it from divulging, let it feed/ Even on the pith of life.’ - Claudius
- his love for hamlet was so great that he didn’t do anything to stop him
- compares hamlet to a ‘foul disease’ kept secret and allowed to feed on the “core” of life
‘To draw apart the body he…’
‘To draw apart the body he hath kill’d;/ O’er whom his very madness, like some ore/ Among a mineral of metals base,/ Shows itself pure: a weeps for what is done.’ - Gertrude
- maintains Hamlet’s ‘madness’
- uses the metaphor of a vein of precious metal in normal rock standing out as Hamlet’s good nature standing out after murdering Polonius
- very contrasting metaphor to Claudius’ ‘foul disease’
- ‘a weeps for what is done’ appears to be a blatant lie, he didn’t do this at all in the previous scene
‘The sun no sooner shall…’
‘The sun no sooner shall the mountains touch/ But we will ship him hence; and this vile deed/ We must with all our majesty and skill/ Both countenance and excuse.’ - Claudius
- they will ship Hamlet away before the sun sets
- they’ll use their power and skill to acknowledge and excuse the murder
‘Friends, both go join you with…’
‘Friends, both go join you with some further aid:/ Hamlet in madness hath Polonius slain,/ And from his mother’s closet hath he dragg’d him;/ Go seek him out’ - Claudius to Ros and Gil
- clearly not trying to keep this quiet (no attempt to preserve Hamlet’s reputation)
- accepts H’s madness
what does Claudius ask Ros and Guil to do?
‘Go seek him out; speak fair, and bring the body/ Into the chapel. I pray you haste in this.’ - Claudius
‘so haply slander…’
‘so haply slander -/ Whose whisper o’er the world’s diameter,/ As level as the cannon to his blank,/ Transports his pois’ned shot - may miss our name,/ And hit the woundless air.’ - Claudius
- hoping to avoid slander or gossip by acting faster, does appear unsettled though
- possible double meaning (hoping to avoid Hamlet coming for him next now he has proven his willingness to kill)
- all about saving himself
‘O, come away…’
O, come away!/ My soul is full of discord and dismay.’ - Claudius
- unsettled by the events, scared for himself
