Revenge Flashcards
“Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder!”
“Murder?”
A1S5, Ghost’s reveal of the murder to Hamlet, and the first direct command of revenge. Hamlet finally has a reason to act!
“The serpent that did sting thy father’s life now wears his crown.”
A1S5, Ghost’s reveal that it was Claudius who killed him, and Hamlet’s goal is clearly laid out for him.
“Oh cursed spite, that I was ever born to set it right.”
A1S5 Hamlet feels like it’s his birthright to avenge his father, as he is given the means and a reason for action (to “set it right”). The final line of Act 1, which sets up oncoming conflict.
“We go to gain a little patch of land.”
A4S4 Captain describing Fortinbras’ reasons to invade Poland, sends Hamlet on a little spiral-soliloquy about his revenge, as he compares his situation to Fortinbras (fighting for honour, people will die for nothing, also ties to Hamlet’s ‘value of life’ spiel)
“Oh from this time forth, my thoughts be bloody or nothing worth.”
A4S4 Hamlet makes his choice to act against Claudius, after comparing his situation to Fortinbras, whose “twenty thousand men” (a number which Hamlet inflates during the scene) “go to their graves like beds” (could be linked to “to sleep/dream” in A3S1 soliloquy)
“O thou vile king, give me my father.”
A4S5 Laertes very angry reaction to Polonius’ death, as he acts first (creating a foil to both Hamlet and Ophelia?) Weirdly, Gertrude is the first to intervene in this moment, telling him to “calm down.”
“And where the offence is, let the great axe fall.”
A4S5 Claudius is trying to be ‘supportive’ to Laertes, but manipulates him into getting revenge and killing Hamlet
“But my revenge will come.”
A4S7 Laertes is determined to get revenge, later saying he’d even “cut his [Hamlet’s] throat in church”, all comments which directly contrast against Hamlet’s own procrastination and inaction towards avenging Old Hamlet
“Too much water hast thou, poor Ophelia, and therefore I forbid my tears.”
A4S7 A very sad line from Laertes as he decides to shut off his emotions after Ophelia’s death, there’s only another reason to kill Hamlet as he is indirectly responsible for her suicide.
