Hamlet (Prince of Denmark)
“(Aside) Hamlet resents Claudius calling him
A little more that kin, and less than “son,” since Claudius is both uncle and
kind!” stepfather (“more than kin”), yet their
relationship is unnatural and hostile
(“less than kind”). It exemplifies
Hamlet’s disgust at Claudius’s intrusion
into family and nature.
“Not, so my lord. I am too much in the A pun: Claudius calls him “son,” but
sun.” Hamlet complains he is “too much in the
sun/son.” This exemplifies Hamlet’s
bitter wit and resistance to Claudius’s
false fatherly role.
“For they are actions that a man might Hamlet contrasts outward appearance
play. with inward truth. Exemplifies the play’s
But I have that within which passes show theme of appearance vs reality, and
–“ Hamlet’s refusal to disguise his grief like
others.
“His canon° ’gainst self-slaughter. O God, Hamlet longs for death but knows God
God, How weary, stale, flat, and forbids suicide. This exemplifies his
unprofitable Seem to me all the uses of despair and conflict between human
this world!” suffering and religious morality.
“an unweeded garden That grows to Denmark (and life itself) is like a
seed. Things rank and gross in nature” decaying garden, corrupt and neglected.
Exemplifies the imagery of rot and
corruption that recurs throughout the
play.
“That it should come to this: But two Hamlet is shocked at how quickly his
months dead, nay, not so much, not two” mother remarried. Exemplifies his sense
of betrayal and obsession with the short
gap between his father’s death and her
marriage.
“Let me not think on’t; frailty, thy name He generalises his mother’s weakness to
is woman—” all women. Exemplifies Elizabethan
anxieties about female inconstancy and
Hamlet’s misogyny.
“Like Niobe,° all tears, why, she—O God, Compares Gertrude unfavourably with
a beast that wants discourse of reason° Niobe, a mythic symbol of endless grief,
Would have mourned longer” saying even an animal without reason
would show more loyalty. Exemplifies
Hamlet’s outrage at Gertrude’s apparent
lack of mourning.
“married with my uncle, My father’s Claudius is contrasted with Hamlet’s
brother, but no more like my father Than heroic father; Hamlet contrasts himself
I to Hercules. Within a month” with Hercules to express inadequacy.
Exemplifies his disillusionment with both
Claudius and himself.
“O, most wicked speed, to post° With Hamlet is appalled at Gertrude’s lust,
such dexterity to incestuous° sheets!” calling the marriage incestuous.
Exemplifies his obsession with sexual
disgust and moral corruption.
“I’ll speak to it though hell itself should Hamlet’s determination to confront the
gape And bid me hold my peace.” Ghost, even at risk of damnation.
, Exemplifies his reckless courage and
desperation for truth.
“Would the night were come! Till then sit He anticipates truth will surface despite
still, my soul. Foul deeds will rise, Though secrecy. Exemplifies the theme of hidden
all the earth o’erwhelm them, to men’s crimes inevitably revealed.
eyes.”
“But to my mind, though I am native Hamlet criticises Danish drinking
here And to the manner born, it is a customs. Exemplifies his distaste for
custom More honored in the breach than corruption and desire for higher moral
the observance.” standards.
“Makes us traduced and taxed of other Hamlet laments how Denmark’s drunken
nations.” reputation damages its honour abroad.
Exemplifies concern with national
identity and moral decay.
“Oft breaking down the pales and forts of Passion and excess overpower reason.
reason” Exemplifies the Renaissance struggle
between rationality and emotion.
“The dram of evil Doth all the noble A small amount of corruption taints the
substance” whole. Exemplifies the play’s obsession
with moral decay, reflecting Hamlet’s
view of Claudius’s rule.
“With thoughts beyond the reaches of Hamlet questions human existence and
our souls? Say, why is this? Wherefore? purpose. Exemplifies the play’s
What should we do?” philosophical dimension and Hamlet’s
paralysis through overthinking.
“I do not set my life at a pin’s fee” Hamlet declares he values his life little.
Exemplifies his suicidal despair and
reckless bravery in facing the Ghost.
“By heaven, I’ll make a ghost of him that Hamlet’s metaphor indicated the extent
lets° me! I say, away! Go on. I’ll follow to which the non-speaking visual
thee.” presence has changed even infected his
spoken language
“O my prophetic soul! My uncle!” Hamlet utters this after the Ghost
confirms that Claudius murdered King
Hamlet. The line shows his horror at
discovering his worst suspicions were
true. It exemplifies the theme of betrayal
within the family and sets the foundation
for Hamlet’s quest for revenge.
“O villain, villain, smiling, damnèd villain! Here Hamlet condemns Claudius for
/ My tables—meet it is I set it down / That appearing kind while being corrupt. The
one may smile and smile and be a phrase shows how easily appearances
villain” can deceive, as Claudius hides his crime
behind a false smile. It exemplifies the
recurring theme of appearance versus
reality in the play.
“There are more things in heaven and Hamlet says this to Horatio after
earth, Horatio, / Than are dreamt of in encountering the Ghost, stressing that
your philosophy” not everything can be explained by
reason. The line points to the mystery of
the supernatural and the limits of human
understanding. It exemplifies the play’s
fascination with the unknown, especially
death and the afterlife.
“(Aside) Hamlet resents Claudius calling him
A little more that kin, and less than “son,” since Claudius is both uncle and
kind!” stepfather (“more than kin”), yet their
relationship is unnatural and hostile
(“less than kind”). It exemplifies
Hamlet’s disgust at Claudius’s intrusion
into family and nature.
“Not, so my lord. I am too much in the A pun: Claudius calls him “son,” but
sun.” Hamlet complains he is “too much in the
sun/son.” This exemplifies Hamlet’s
bitter wit and resistance to Claudius’s
false fatherly role.
“For they are actions that a man might Hamlet contrasts outward appearance
play. with inward truth. Exemplifies the play’s
But I have that within which passes show theme of appearance vs reality, and
–“ Hamlet’s refusal to disguise his grief like
others.
“His canon° ’gainst self-slaughter. O God, Hamlet longs for death but knows God
God, How weary, stale, flat, and forbids suicide. This exemplifies his
unprofitable Seem to me all the uses of despair and conflict between human
this world!” suffering and religious morality.
“an unweeded garden That grows to Denmark (and life itself) is like a
seed. Things rank and gross in nature” decaying garden, corrupt and neglected.
Exemplifies the imagery of rot and
corruption that recurs throughout the
play.
“That it should come to this: But two Hamlet is shocked at how quickly his
months dead, nay, not so much, not two” mother remarried. Exemplifies his sense
of betrayal and obsession with the short
gap between his father’s death and her
marriage.
“Let me not think on’t; frailty, thy name He generalises his mother’s weakness to
is woman—” all women. Exemplifies Elizabethan
anxieties about female inconstancy and
Hamlet’s misogyny.
“Like Niobe,° all tears, why, she—O God, Compares Gertrude unfavourably with
a beast that wants discourse of reason° Niobe, a mythic symbol of endless grief,
Would have mourned longer” saying even an animal without reason
would show more loyalty. Exemplifies
Hamlet’s outrage at Gertrude’s apparent
lack of mourning.
“married with my uncle, My father’s Claudius is contrasted with Hamlet’s
brother, but no more like my father Than heroic father; Hamlet contrasts himself
I to Hercules. Within a month” with Hercules to express inadequacy.
Exemplifies his disillusionment with both
Claudius and himself.
“O, most wicked speed, to post° With Hamlet is appalled at Gertrude’s lust,
such dexterity to incestuous° sheets!” calling the marriage incestuous.
Exemplifies his obsession with sexual
disgust and moral corruption.
“I’ll speak to it though hell itself should Hamlet’s determination to confront the
gape And bid me hold my peace.” Ghost, even at risk of damnation.
, Exemplifies his reckless courage and
desperation for truth.
“Would the night were come! Till then sit He anticipates truth will surface despite
still, my soul. Foul deeds will rise, Though secrecy. Exemplifies the theme of hidden
all the earth o’erwhelm them, to men’s crimes inevitably revealed.
eyes.”
“But to my mind, though I am native Hamlet criticises Danish drinking
here And to the manner born, it is a customs. Exemplifies his distaste for
custom More honored in the breach than corruption and desire for higher moral
the observance.” standards.
“Makes us traduced and taxed of other Hamlet laments how Denmark’s drunken
nations.” reputation damages its honour abroad.
Exemplifies concern with national
identity and moral decay.
“Oft breaking down the pales and forts of Passion and excess overpower reason.
reason” Exemplifies the Renaissance struggle
between rationality and emotion.
“The dram of evil Doth all the noble A small amount of corruption taints the
substance” whole. Exemplifies the play’s obsession
with moral decay, reflecting Hamlet’s
view of Claudius’s rule.
“With thoughts beyond the reaches of Hamlet questions human existence and
our souls? Say, why is this? Wherefore? purpose. Exemplifies the play’s
What should we do?” philosophical dimension and Hamlet’s
paralysis through overthinking.
“I do not set my life at a pin’s fee” Hamlet declares he values his life little.
Exemplifies his suicidal despair and
reckless bravery in facing the Ghost.
“By heaven, I’ll make a ghost of him that Hamlet’s metaphor indicated the extent
lets° me! I say, away! Go on. I’ll follow to which the non-speaking visual
thee.” presence has changed even infected his
spoken language
“O my prophetic soul! My uncle!” Hamlet utters this after the Ghost
confirms that Claudius murdered King
Hamlet. The line shows his horror at
discovering his worst suspicions were
true. It exemplifies the theme of betrayal
within the family and sets the foundation
for Hamlet’s quest for revenge.
“O villain, villain, smiling, damnèd villain! Here Hamlet condemns Claudius for
/ My tables—meet it is I set it down / That appearing kind while being corrupt. The
one may smile and smile and be a phrase shows how easily appearances
villain” can deceive, as Claudius hides his crime
behind a false smile. It exemplifies the
recurring theme of appearance versus
reality in the play.
“There are more things in heaven and Hamlet says this to Horatio after
earth, Horatio, / Than are dreamt of in encountering the Ghost, stressing that
your philosophy” not everything can be explained by
reason. The line points to the mystery of
the supernatural and the limits of human
understanding. It exemplifies the play’s
fascination with the unknown, especially
death and the afterlife.
