Meaning: One must balance thought with action to be a successful leader and person.
· Hamlet spends the entire novel thinking, and dies from his hesitance. Laertes acts quickly upon his desire for vengeance and dies as a result. Fortinbras however balances thought with action and gains an entire country.
Narrative Voice: Hamlet is chalk full of darkness and fogginess symbolizing the ominous state of affairs in Denmark. Shakespeare also uses Biblical references, such as the reference to the Garden of Eden when Old Hamlet describes his death by poison in the garden. There is also quite a bit of focus on hearing and break down of communication. The King is killed by poisoning his ear. Communication failing is presented through old Hamlet’s apparent inability to respond to Horatio. Young Hamlet struggles throughout the play with the issues in spoken language as a way to communicate.
Quote 1: “Something is rotten in the State of Denmark.” With the massive amounts of synecdoche in Hamlet, this quote has many meanings. One of course refers to the war with Norway. It can also refer to the corruption in the royal court, or the corruption of Claudius, or Hamlet’s insanity.
Quote 2: “To be or not to be, that is the question.” This is one of the most obvious examples of Hamlet’s hesitance. Instead of acting on his hatred, he talks for a couple pages.
Again, I think the meaning doesn't include all parts of the Hamlet. How do you reconcile Hamlet's sudden decision to avenge his dad with "there is a certain providence in the fall of a sparrow speech". How well does Hamlet know himself? What does he learn, if anything? How does Horatio's "good night sweet prince" add to our impression of Hamlet? Is he noble, or a confused whiner?
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