hamlet act 1 Flashcards
symbolism of a rooster
positive omen
- defiance, resurrection, dawn, new day
Horatio
- scholar, very educated
- hamlet’s bff
who are the 2 guards on watch in act 1, scene 1
Bernardo and Marcellus accompanied by Horatio who is visiting from Wittenberg, Germany
Quote:
Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother’s death
The memory be green, and that is is befitted
To bear our hearts in grief and our whole kingdom
To be contracted in one brow of woe
Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature
That we with wisest sorrow think on him
Together with remembrance of ourselves.
- despite Hamlet Sr’s death being so recent and saddening and us grieving so strongly over his death, we can’t fight with nature (his death was inevitable) and it is important that I think of myself and move on.
significance:
- this is King Claudius’ first addressing to the people of Denmark as King during his coronation.
- Selfish method to approach the situation, especially considering he says that the death of his brother is fresh, could’ve spent longer on a eulogy
where does Laertes wanna go to school
France
Quote:
The head is not more native to the heart
The hand more instrumental to the mouth
- Claudius speaking to Laertes about Polonius
- He is expressing how important Polonius, as the Kings right hand man is to him
Head= reason
Heart=emotion and passion
not connected but part of a larger whole body, body of denmark=king
Quote:
‘Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet,
To give these mourning duties to your father
But you must know your father lost a father
- Claudius speaking to Hamlet
- He is saying that Hamlet’s grief is understandable TO AN EXTENT and that he is doing too much, especially because death is inevitable
Quote:
To thine own self be true
- be true to yourself
- Polonious to Laertes
- makes 0 sense because Polonious is political and In his other pieces of advice advises Laertes to be a fake character-type to fit in and gain power
And that in a way to be caution- I must tell you, You do not understand yourself so clearly
As it behooves my daughter and your honour what is between you and God? Give me up the truth
- Ophelia and Polonius (P talking)
- you aren’t conducting yourself (based on rumours) with the chastity and self-restraint that Ophelia as Polonius’ daughter should have
What’s going on between you two, (hiding from me) tell the truth?
Ay, springes to catch Woodstocks. I do know, when the blood burns , how prodigal the soul Lends the tongue vows. These blazes, daughter, Giving more light than heat , extinct in both Even in their promise it is a making
- Polonious talking to Ophelia
- These vows are just traps for dumb birds. when a man is on fire he will swear anything but when a heart is on fire it will give up more light than heat, and the fire will be out even before he’s done making her promises.
More honoured in the breach than the observance. This heavy-headed revel east and west
Makes us traduced and taxed of other nations
- would be better to ignore it than practice it (indulgence in drinking, it reflects poorly on our country and other make fun of us.
what was thought about Hamlet Sr’s death
- bit by a snake
- rumours circulated
- scaly itchy rash that broke out immediately or quickly after
Hamlet Sr. afterlife quality of life
- stuck in purgatory, halfway between winter and summer, to repent sins before getting into heaven
antic disposition and swear by my sword
antic disposition- if I, hamlet, behave strongly don’t aclnolwedge It and don’t tell anyone else
- swear to tell the truth by my sword: if you don’t I’ll kill you
setting of part 1
Elsinore, the royal castle in Denmark
“This bodes some strange eruption in our state”
- represents a bad omen, especially since war is seemingly impending
- Hamlet Sr. at the end of a war was challenged by Fortinbras Sr in a duel where the winner would win land in Norway
- Hamlet Sr. won, but Fortinbras Jr. wants the land back and since he isn’t king (same issue as Hamlet) he is forging an underground army and attempting to attac k
character analysis of fortinbras Jr.
- unimproved mettle: young, inexperienced
- passionate, full of anger
- “lawless resolutes” for the payment of food= making the army of criminals to get revenge
what are 3 reasons for the ghost returning
1) if there be any good deed to be done that may…. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
2) KNOWING THE FUTURE
3) BURIED TREASURE
CLAUDIUS CORONATION SPEECH
1) marrying Gertrude
2) fortinbras messages demanding the land back
3) Laertes wants to return to france
4) Hamlet appears
*IMPORTANT: HAMLET SR. NEVER NAMED A SUCCESSOR
Hamlet’s first line
” A little more than kin and less than kind”
- its an aside, meaning that clad. is family that he would rather distance himself from
- hamlet believes he should be king
- I am too much in the sun- wanting to avoid cladius
- Gertrude and Clad will respond poorly accusing Hamlet of overreacting and being too grieving
what is important to remember during the scene 1up until hamlet’s soliloquy
- everything is happening in public
- constraint especially on those who are NOT the king and queen
why would Gertrude want cladius as king over hamlet
1) love
2) keep more power as queen instead of king’s mom
3) cladius is using Gertrude who is emotionally distraught
4) potential affair where it was an arranged marriage for power
5) G+C marry to protect hamlet see him as too emotional and unfit for King
- also important to remember how women could not interfere in the conversations of men at the time
“On, that this too, too sullied flesh would melt. Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew, or that the everlasting had not fixed his canon against self-slaughter”
- hamlet is suicidal
- can’t go through with it because of God
- identifies lack of free will
- UNWEEDED GARDEN: everything you want is taken over by the bad
hamlet compares who to what during his soliloquy
King Hamlet- Hyperion (sun god)
Clad: Satyr :1/2 man 1/2 goat (driven by lust)
Foul deeds will rise, though all the earth, overwhelm them, to men’s eyes
- bad deeds will be revealed no matter how hard you try to hide them
Ophelia and Laertes
Hamlet: obligations as a member of the royal family, can’t pick his partner
- marriage is historically a strategy to gain allies
Maintain your honour : REPUTATION, which extends to her and her family, especially with the risk of pregnancy
important scenes in Act 1 part 1 movie
- G+C are directly in the centre and we are behind them where we can see everyone (from their POV)
- symmetrical
- Hamlet first appearance: hands clasped, head down, intentionally isolated, darker lighting, higher collar BEING CHOKED BY GRIEF, off-centre positioning: no longer the centre of attention
- G looks up at hamlet, creating a power imbalance where Hamlet is in power, C stands between them similar to the relationship his tone is soft making him seem manipulative, H doesn’t look at C, not acknowledging him
- Hamlet at front: positioned between empty thrones and leans over them, expects family support where it isn’t, and the absence of his presence in those chairs
- Ophelia being pushed away from him by L
- increased voice during mention of gertrude
- increased physical movement less constraint
Act 1, scene 3
- polonius advice to Laertes
polonius advice to Laertes
- don’t speak every thought you have
- don’t act on a thought immediately
- be friendly but not too friendly, (Don’t be taken advantage of)
- bind yourselves to those who have proven themselves with hoops of steel
- don’t get into fights easily…but be able to hold your own
- dress nicely, but don’t be flashy
- TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE
- political advice: opposite of what he told him, only be real to yourself wear a facade in front of others
- no mention of studying, love, or mental and physical health
Ophelia and Polnious
- rumours of hearing H+O together
- IMPORTANT BC OPHELIA IS P’S DAUGHTER, HER HONOUR AND FAMILY’S HONOUR
- O is a hypocrite: gives pages of advice to Laertes, only mentions love to Ophelia
- makes it seem as if he was once in. place like hamlet
- hamlet is just using her, SHORT LEASH- WOMAN LESS FREEDOM
- forbids her from seeing hamlet
- OPHELIA LIED TO GOD, CONFIRMED IN THE MOVIE
hamlet and ophelia connection
” I shall obey “
- Hamlet was in public however and Ophelia in private
Why would P stop O from marrying hamlet
1) especially after coronation, his reputation decreases
2) possibly has some work to do with Royal Fam, doesn’t want her involved
3) reflects poorly on him more because it’ll make it more obvious he wants more power, HE WANTS CONTROL AGAIN
4) he wants control over his daughter
Act 1, scene 3 film analysis
- L+O his voice isn’t as authortative
- good body language
- setting: open, colourful
- Laertes leaves Polonius alone with ophelia in a closed door dark
- stand apart from eachother
- large distance, inside, less colour
- P pushes O. into the darkness
- cut to P, dark light making him appear like Satan
Hamlet is being warned against going to the ghost
1) life isn’t worth anything
2) what’s it going to do, it can’t speak
HORATIO CONCERN: what If the ghost changes its form and coerces him off a cliff to kill himself
What does Hamlet Sr. identify
1) in purgatory
2) can’t talk abt it
3) C killed him
- says G is lustful and she downgraded, but don’t hurt her LEAVE IT TO GOD
- avenge my murder, seek revenge
hamlet soliloquy metaphor
book=mind
burn the book/erase everything, erase everything in the book of my life
- preserve only your commandment: I’ll focus on your mission
GIVES HIM PURPOSE
