Revenge Flashcards
“mettle hot and full”
Unlike ham, fortinbras has “stomach” - Fort is image of revenge tragedy hero, not complicated like Ham or Claud
“Sleeping in my orchard a serpent stung me”
Devil, tempts Eve, no longer innocent, morality, killed asleep, not given chance to repent, ghost possibly deceiving, tempting, manifestation of Devil - wants to cause chaos / revenge (Protestant belief)
“Leave her to heaven”
Ghost wanted to leave her sins to own conscience, doesn’t hold to blame, innocent?, Eliz society- women not held accountable for sins as they’re underestimated or forgiven for having more base emotions - chain of being
“The spirit that I have seen may be the devil”
Rational, Protestant - manifestation
“[he draws his sword]
A villain kills my father for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send to heaven”
Ham doesn’t get revenge and kill, prolonged, because he’s praying - repenting? Needs to be given same treatment as father, wasn’t given the opportunity to ask for forgiveness
“Eggshell”
Fortinbras fighting + murder if for no more than something insignificant/tiny - Ham can’t avenge despite reasons/verification of murder + fathers wishes, own moral? divine right - sin? Beginning of course of revenge hero
“I’ll be revenged most thoroughly for my father”
Compare Laertes to Ham - rash?
“Revenge should have no bounds”
Claud to L- irony
“I do prophecy the election lights on Fortinbras; he has my dying voice”
“Shot”
Successor, nomination, giving audience hope? The monarch will continue, importance, chain of being - macro world effects micro - if king makes decision it effects the state of Denmark - shows that life goes on after death - Elizabethan obsession with afterlife and being remembered
