Hamlet - Act 2, Scene 1 Flashcards
1
Q
“Put on him what forgeries you please” / “none so rank as May dishonour him”
A
- Structural parallel to Ophelia’s treatment which highlights the patriarchal society
- Polonius is presented as cruel and duplicitous
Elizabeth I’s spy network
2
Q
“Drinking, fencing, swearing, quarrelling, drabbing”
A
- Asyndetic listing emphasises the extent of the dishonourable characteristics
- Emphasises male hypocrisy at the time - Ophelia cannot abjure anything to distort her image
- Male v Female representation
3
Q
“As Gaming my lord?”
A
- Questioning of Polonius’ requests emphasises Polonius’ foolishness
4
Q
“What was I about to say? By the mass, I was about to say something.”
A
- Archetypal Shakespearean fool
- Seen as verbose and excessive in language
- Trying to sound intelligent but comes across as foolish
5
Q
“Knees knocking each other” / “No hat upon his head” / “ As if he had been loosed out of hell”
A
- Ophelia’s depiction of Hamlet’s insanity
- Insanity is choreographed and physically manifested
- Comedic element by being over the top
6
Q
“I will go seek the King. This is the very ecstasy of love”
A
- Irony : not taking responsibility
- Contradicts his previous comments about Hamlet (“mad for thy love”)
- Hyperbolic and extreme emphasising his foolishness
- Trying to bring about self importance and superiority
7
Q
“I did repel his letters and denied his access to me”
A
- Conformity to male authority emphasises submissive and dependent relationship
- Rejection because of Polonius
- Lack of agency in her own choices, ignores Hamlet
8
Q
“I am sorry that with better heed and judgement I had not quoted him”
A
- Archetypal Shakespearean fool
- Apology emphasises him as potential caring and loving
- Turning point for Polonius
- Potentially a loving father - looks after his daughter
