1. "Go, Captain, from me greet the Danish king. Tell him that by his license
Fortinbras Craves the conveyance of a promis'd march Over his kingdom.
You know the rendezvous. If that his Majesty would aught with us, We
shall express our duty in his eye; And let him know so." (IV.4.1-8)
Fortinbras has lost his father because the old king of Denmark, Hamlet's father, killed him. Fortinbras is seeking for revenge on the country of Denmark and is setting out to claim the land that was lost from the death of his father. Fortinbras is in many ways like Hamlet, but they have this difference: Hamlet takes no action to take revenge on his uncle, while Fortinbras immediately forms an army to take over the land that was once his. This quote shows that Fortinbras is very diligent in what he feels like he needs to do, unlike Hamlet.
2. "Go softly (slowly) on." (IV.4.10)
Fortinbras is ready to take his land back and however long it takes him, he will patiently wait for his rewards. Again, he is similar to Hamlet in that they both want revenge, except Hamlet does not take action; therefore, he is hasty, while Fortinbras does take action and he is willing to wait for what rewards awiat him.
3. "This quarry cries on havoc. O proud Death, what feast is toward in thine
eternal cell that thou so many princes at a shot so bloodily hast
struck." (V.2.364-368)
Fortinbras has just come back to tell the king that Rosencrantz and Guildnestern are both dead as he wanted when he sees the sight of everyone dead except for Horatio. Fortinbras is stunned by the scene and wonders what death is thinking to have taken the lives of so many people. Fortinbras, even in his own revenge, seems to have a good control on it, and he is able to still the frailty and brevity of life, which took Hamlet a very long time to see. Again, this is where Fortinbras and Hamlet are different.
4. "Let us haste to hear it, and call the noblest to the audience. For me,
with sorrow I embrace my fortune. I have some rights of memory in this
kingdom which now, to claim my vantage doth invite me." (V.2.387-391)
Fortinbras has done his mourning, however short it may have been, and is now ready to recieve his reward of the land that he has been desiring to have for so long, unfortunately, not through the way that he would have wanted.
5. "Let four captains bear Hamlet like a soldier to the stage; for he was
likely, had he been put on,
to have prov'd most royally; and for his passage
the soldiers' music and the rites of war speak loudly for him. Take
up the bodies. Such a sight as this becomes the field but here shows much
amiss.
Go, bid the soldiers shoot." (V.2.396-404)
Fortinbras, instead of disrespecting everyone that has died; even though he has tried so desperately to get revenge on them, he gets soldiers to respectfully bury them, but he tells them to bury Hamlet as a one would bury a soldier, with the utmost honor and respect. It is truly amazing to see that Fortinbras still respects the one that he was trying so hard to get revenge on by burying him with a respectful and honorable burial.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Character Analysis: Ophelia
1. "I shall th' effect of this good lesson keep as watchman to my heart." (I.3.45-46)
Ophelia is being spoken to by Laertes about how she should be careful with Hamlet because even though it may seem like he loves her, he only wants her for his own lusts. She respectfully submits to her brother's advise. This shows that she is somewhat of a gentlewoman.
2. "No, my good lord; but, as you did command, I did repel his letters and denied his access to me." (II.1.108-109)
Ophelia is beginning to become a little freaked out by Hamlet, as he has just ran into her room looking very indecent and inappropriate, embraced her, and looked at her for a very long time before he leaves her room. She tells her father of what happened and says that she has tried her best to obey him. She truly does seem to want honor her father as well as her brother.
3. "O, woe is me t' have seen what I have seen, see what I see!" (III.1.163-164)
Ophelia is extremely confused now. She believed that Hamlet loved her because of how stormed into her room and embraced her not a few moments before this, and now he is saying that he does not love her and that she should just go to a convent so she does not have to marry anyone. Her feelings are definitely being messed with and she is very stressed. She believes that he is now mad and hopes that God will save him. She still loves him; however, she is beginning to feel very stressed and confused about Hamlet feels about her.
4. "You are naught, you are naught! I'll mark the play." (III.2.152-153)
Hamlet is saying some very vulgar and seductive things to Ophelia now and she knows better so she is just deciding to not give in to his little tricks and to just watch the play instead. She wants to honor her father it seems more then give in to her own desires. That's something that is very rare in the characters of this play.
5. "And will he not come again? And will he not come again? No, no, he is dead; Go to thy deathbed; He never will come again. His beard was as white as snow, All flaxen was his poll. He is gone, he is gone, And we cast away moan. God 'a'mercy on his soul! And of all Christian souls, I pray God. God b' wi' you." (IV.5.188-198)
Ophelia has now gone off the deep end. These are her very last words that are recorded in the book, and she is singing these words. Her feelings and thoughts are so distorted at this point because of Hamlet and because of the death of her father that she has gone insane and will not stop singing. She seems to be singing about the two things that have driven her crazy. She is singing about having sexual relations with another man (most likely Hamlet), and about how her father is dead. She has totally and utterly fallen off the deep end and it is a shame to see her die that way as well.
Ophelia is being spoken to by Laertes about how she should be careful with Hamlet because even though it may seem like he loves her, he only wants her for his own lusts. She respectfully submits to her brother's advise. This shows that she is somewhat of a gentlewoman.
2. "No, my good lord; but, as you did command, I did repel his letters and denied his access to me." (II.1.108-109)
Ophelia is beginning to become a little freaked out by Hamlet, as he has just ran into her room looking very indecent and inappropriate, embraced her, and looked at her for a very long time before he leaves her room. She tells her father of what happened and says that she has tried her best to obey him. She truly does seem to want honor her father as well as her brother.
3. "O, woe is me t' have seen what I have seen, see what I see!" (III.1.163-164)
Ophelia is extremely confused now. She believed that Hamlet loved her because of how stormed into her room and embraced her not a few moments before this, and now he is saying that he does not love her and that she should just go to a convent so she does not have to marry anyone. Her feelings are definitely being messed with and she is very stressed. She believes that he is now mad and hopes that God will save him. She still loves him; however, she is beginning to feel very stressed and confused about Hamlet feels about her.
4. "You are naught, you are naught! I'll mark the play." (III.2.152-153)
Hamlet is saying some very vulgar and seductive things to Ophelia now and she knows better so she is just deciding to not give in to his little tricks and to just watch the play instead. She wants to honor her father it seems more then give in to her own desires. That's something that is very rare in the characters of this play.
5. "And will he not come again? And will he not come again? No, no, he is dead; Go to thy deathbed; He never will come again. His beard was as white as snow, All flaxen was his poll. He is gone, he is gone, And we cast away moan. God 'a'mercy on his soul! And of all Christian souls, I pray God. God b' wi' you." (IV.5.188-198)
Ophelia has now gone off the deep end. These are her very last words that are recorded in the book, and she is singing these words. Her feelings and thoughts are so distorted at this point because of Hamlet and because of the death of her father that she has gone insane and will not stop singing. She seems to be singing about the two things that have driven her crazy. She is singing about having sexual relations with another man (most likely Hamlet), and about how her father is dead. She has totally and utterly fallen off the deep end and it is a shame to see her die that way as well.
Character Analysis: Polonius
1. "What is't, Ophelia, he hath said to you?" (I.3.88)
Laertes, Polonius' son, had just been talking to Ophelia, Laertes' sister as well as Polonius' daughter, about how Hamlet's feelings for her are only temporary based on his lusts. Polonius walks in and Laertes leaves immediately. Polonius, not trusting his own son, asks his daughter what Laertes said to her. He does not trust his own son which is sad, but it gives the reader a speculation about whether or not Laertes has done something bad before. Either way, Polonius does not trust his own son by questioning what he said to his daughter.
2. "Give him this money and these notes, Reynaldo." (II.1.1)
Polonius is asking Reynaldo if he can give the king this money and notes to let him know to keep an eye out for Laertes. Polonius, again, does not trust his own son and is now asking others to spy on him to make sure that his not doing anything "out of line." Polonius it seems is quite a deceiver, even to his own family, sort of like the Queen to her own son.
3. "Do you know me, my lord?...Not I, my lord....Honest, my lord?...That's very true, my lord...I have, my lord." (II.2.173-180)
Polonius is speaking to Hamlet here, and he (Polonius) is trying very hard to suck up to Hamlet by continuously calling him "my lord." Polonius, again here, is displaying his deceitfulness, this time to Hamlet.
4. "Lights, lights, get us some lights!"
The King has just exclaimed for the lights to be turned on, and here, Polonius is trying very hard to have the act done. As Horatio is to Hamlet, Polonius is to the King. Polonius' loyalties are shown through this quote to be given to the illegitimate king.
5. "O, I am slain!" (III.4.26)
Polonius had been hiding behind the tapestry listening to what Hamlet was saying to his mother. Polonius sensed that Hamlet was going to kill the Queen so Polonius called for help. Hamlet heard him and stabbed into the tapestry and killed Polonius. Even during the death of Polonius, he was being deceitful and sneaky, just like he has always been.
Laertes, Polonius' son, had just been talking to Ophelia, Laertes' sister as well as Polonius' daughter, about how Hamlet's feelings for her are only temporary based on his lusts. Polonius walks in and Laertes leaves immediately. Polonius, not trusting his own son, asks his daughter what Laertes said to her. He does not trust his own son which is sad, but it gives the reader a speculation about whether or not Laertes has done something bad before. Either way, Polonius does not trust his own son by questioning what he said to his daughter.
2. "Give him this money and these notes, Reynaldo." (II.1.1)
Polonius is asking Reynaldo if he can give the king this money and notes to let him know to keep an eye out for Laertes. Polonius, again, does not trust his own son and is now asking others to spy on him to make sure that his not doing anything "out of line." Polonius it seems is quite a deceiver, even to his own family, sort of like the Queen to her own son.
3. "Do you know me, my lord?...Not I, my lord....Honest, my lord?...That's very true, my lord...I have, my lord." (II.2.173-180)
Polonius is speaking to Hamlet here, and he (Polonius) is trying very hard to suck up to Hamlet by continuously calling him "my lord." Polonius, again here, is displaying his deceitfulness, this time to Hamlet.
4. "Lights, lights, get us some lights!"
The King has just exclaimed for the lights to be turned on, and here, Polonius is trying very hard to have the act done. As Horatio is to Hamlet, Polonius is to the King. Polonius' loyalties are shown through this quote to be given to the illegitimate king.
5. "O, I am slain!" (III.4.26)
Polonius had been hiding behind the tapestry listening to what Hamlet was saying to his mother. Polonius sensed that Hamlet was going to kill the Queen so Polonius called for help. Hamlet heard him and stabbed into the tapestry and killed Polonius. Even during the death of Polonius, he was being deceitful and sneaky, just like he has always been.
Character Analysis: Horatio
1. "Friends to this ground." (I.1.14)
Horatio is saying to the two guards that are unable to see him that he is a friend to the country of Denmark. Horatio, throughout the book, is a good friend to both people and his country.
2. "The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever." (I.2.162-163)
Horatio has just walked into the room where Hamlet is and he greets him while saying that he is still Hamlet's loyal and respectable servant. Horatio shows here where his true loyalties lie, only with the legitimate king and his good friend, Hamlet.
3. "If he steal aught the whilst this play is playing, and scape detecting, I will pay the theft. Sound a flourish." (III.2.90-91)
Hamlet is explaining to his good friend Horatio, who he trusts with all his heart, how the play that Hamlet wrote for the King called "The Mousetrap" is to guilt the king into showing in whatever way possible that he killed Hamlet's father. Horatio responds by saying that he will keep such a good eye on him and watch his every move. Horatio loves his friend Hamlet and he truly does show where his loyalties lie through this quote.
4. "If your mind dislike anything, obey it. I will forestall their repair hither and say you are not fit." (V.2.218-220)
Hamlet has just been given a challenge by Laertes to match him in a duel. Hamlet wants to do it very badly; however, Horatio senses that it will end badly (in which he is obviously correct). Horatio again displays some good wisdom here to the person that he cares about most.
5. "...All this I can truly deliver." (V.2.386-387)
Everyone has just died, including Hamlet, and Horatio is now seriously contemplating killing himself. Hamlet tells him specifically however to not kill himself, but rather to go and tell the story of exactly what happened to all the others. Fortinbras then comes in to find the dead bodies with Horatio, alive, in the midst of them. Horatio tells this to Forinbras; therefore, he is willing to deny what he so desperately wants to do, which is to kill himself, in order that he may honor his good and dear friend Hamlet.
Horatio is saying to the two guards that are unable to see him that he is a friend to the country of Denmark. Horatio, throughout the book, is a good friend to both people and his country.
2. "The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever." (I.2.162-163)
Horatio has just walked into the room where Hamlet is and he greets him while saying that he is still Hamlet's loyal and respectable servant. Horatio shows here where his true loyalties lie, only with the legitimate king and his good friend, Hamlet.
3. "If he steal aught the whilst this play is playing, and scape detecting, I will pay the theft. Sound a flourish." (III.2.90-91)
Hamlet is explaining to his good friend Horatio, who he trusts with all his heart, how the play that Hamlet wrote for the King called "The Mousetrap" is to guilt the king into showing in whatever way possible that he killed Hamlet's father. Horatio responds by saying that he will keep such a good eye on him and watch his every move. Horatio loves his friend Hamlet and he truly does show where his loyalties lie through this quote.
4. "If your mind dislike anything, obey it. I will forestall their repair hither and say you are not fit." (V.2.218-220)
Hamlet has just been given a challenge by Laertes to match him in a duel. Hamlet wants to do it very badly; however, Horatio senses that it will end badly (in which he is obviously correct). Horatio again displays some good wisdom here to the person that he cares about most.
5. "...All this I can truly deliver." (V.2.386-387)
Everyone has just died, including Hamlet, and Horatio is now seriously contemplating killing himself. Hamlet tells him specifically however to not kill himself, but rather to go and tell the story of exactly what happened to all the others. Fortinbras then comes in to find the dead bodies with Horatio, alive, in the midst of them. Horatio tells this to Forinbras; therefore, he is willing to deny what he so desperately wants to do, which is to kill himself, in order that he may honor his good and dear friend Hamlet.
Character Analysis: Laertes
1. "Out of the shot and danger of desire. The chariest maid is prodigal enough If she unmask her beauty to the moon. Virtue itself ’scapes not calumnious strokes. The canker galls the infants of the spring too oft before their buttons be disclosed. And in the morn and liquid dew of youth, Contagious blastments are most imminent. Be wary, then. Best safety lies in fear. Youth to itself rebels, though none else near." (I.3.35-44)
Laertes is explaining to his sister, Ophelia, that Hamlet is after one thing, her body, and that is all he wants, whether it seems like it or not and whether he knows it or not. Laertes has a very good point about how men are and he seems to display a stroke of wisdom to his naive sister.
2. "I stay too long. But here my father comes. A double blessing is a double grace; occasion smiles upon a second leave." (I.3.52-54)
Laertes is talking to his sister about Hamlet's feelings for her as well as her feelings for Hamlet, when Polonius, their father walks in, and Laertes seems to immediately want to leave the presence of his father. He truly does not like his father that much, and its funny to see how he does not even want to be around his father, Polonius.
3. "O thou vile king, Give me my father!" (IV.5.114-115)
Laertes has just found out that his father has been killed by, so he thinks, the king. His immediate way of grief seems to be revenge rather then depression, like it was with Hamlet.
4. "I will do't! And for that purpose I'll anoint my sword. I bought an unction of a mountebank, So mortal that, but dip a knife in it, Where it draws blood no cataplasm so rare, Collected from all simples that have virtue under the moon, can save the thing from death this is but scratch'd withal. I'll touch my point With this contagion, that, if I gall him slightly, It may be death." (IV.7.139-148)
Laertes was talking with the king on how to kill Hamlet, since they both want him dead for their own different reasons, and Laertes agreed to challenge Hamlet to a duel and to take the protective layer off of his sword, put poison on the tip, and if that doesnt work, the King will give Hamlet a poisoned drink. This goes to show again just the corruptedness of each character, including Laertes as the reader sees.
5. "Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet. Mine and my father's death come not upon thee, Nor thine on me!" (V.2.330-332)
Laertes is in a duel with Hamlet when they accidently switch swords and Hamlet has the poisoned sword that Laertes was going to use to kill Hamlet. Hamlet trikes Laertes and these are Laertes final words. Unlike almost every other character in the book that dies, Laertes dies forgiving Hamlet as well as asking for forgiveness. He dies well.
Laertes is explaining to his sister, Ophelia, that Hamlet is after one thing, her body, and that is all he wants, whether it seems like it or not and whether he knows it or not. Laertes has a very good point about how men are and he seems to display a stroke of wisdom to his naive sister.
2. "I stay too long. But here my father comes. A double blessing is a double grace; occasion smiles upon a second leave." (I.3.52-54)
Laertes is talking to his sister about Hamlet's feelings for her as well as her feelings for Hamlet, when Polonius, their father walks in, and Laertes seems to immediately want to leave the presence of his father. He truly does not like his father that much, and its funny to see how he does not even want to be around his father, Polonius.
3. "O thou vile king, Give me my father!" (IV.5.114-115)
Laertes has just found out that his father has been killed by, so he thinks, the king. His immediate way of grief seems to be revenge rather then depression, like it was with Hamlet.
4. "I will do't! And for that purpose I'll anoint my sword. I bought an unction of a mountebank, So mortal that, but dip a knife in it, Where it draws blood no cataplasm so rare, Collected from all simples that have virtue under the moon, can save the thing from death this is but scratch'd withal. I'll touch my point With this contagion, that, if I gall him slightly, It may be death." (IV.7.139-148)
Laertes was talking with the king on how to kill Hamlet, since they both want him dead for their own different reasons, and Laertes agreed to challenge Hamlet to a duel and to take the protective layer off of his sword, put poison on the tip, and if that doesnt work, the King will give Hamlet a poisoned drink. This goes to show again just the corruptedness of each character, including Laertes as the reader sees.
5. "Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet. Mine and my father's death come not upon thee, Nor thine on me!" (V.2.330-332)
Laertes is in a duel with Hamlet when they accidently switch swords and Hamlet has the poisoned sword that Laertes was going to use to kill Hamlet. Hamlet trikes Laertes and these are Laertes final words. Unlike almost every other character in the book that dies, Laertes dies forgiving Hamlet as well as asking for forgiveness. He dies well.
Character Analysis: Gertrude
1. "Do not forever with thy vailèd lids seek for thy noble father in the dust. Thou know’st ’tis common. All that lives must die, passing through nature to eternity." (I.2.70-74)
The Queen, though being against the feelings of her own son and not helping to comfort him at all, has a very good point in this quote. Life is brief, and this is something that seems to not get until the very end of the play.
2. "O Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain." (III.4.156)
Hamlet is condemning her mother for not only marrying her husband's brother, but for marrying her husband's killer as well. She is torn between Hamlet and her own desires. She longs to be with Hamlet and to make him happy; however, she also loves to still have a king at her side while enjoying the sexual act that comes with it.
3. "Mad as the sea and wind when both contend which is the mightier. In his lawless fit behind the arras hearing something stir, Whips out his rapier, cries 'A rat, a rat!' and in this brainish apprehension kills the unseen good old man." (IV.1.7-12)
The Queen is now telling her husbad, Claudius, how Hamlet yelled at her and how he killed Polonius, even after Hamlet had specifically told her not to tell Claudius anything that he (Hamlet) said to her. She decided to tell her husband anyway, and therefore, she decided her own lusts and desires over her own son.
4. "To my sick soul (as sin's true nature is) each toy seems prologue to some great amiss. So full of artless jealousy is guilt it spills itself in fearing to be spilt." (IV.5.17-20)
Gertrude is beginning to see how sin is a sickness and how it will give someone away on its own even when that someone, Gertrude in this instance, is trying so hard to act normal even in her sin. She has sinned, and she knows it. She chose her flesh above her own flesh and blood, Hamlet.
5. "He's fat, and scant of breath. Here, Hamlet, take my napkin, rub thy brows. The Queen carouses to thy fortune, Hamlet." (V.2.287-289)
Even to the end, Gertrude is trying to justify her son by still treating her son with kindness, even though she has betrayed him continuously. She dies still in her sin, like many others in the play.
The Queen, though being against the feelings of her own son and not helping to comfort him at all, has a very good point in this quote. Life is brief, and this is something that seems to not get until the very end of the play.
2. "O Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain." (III.4.156)
Hamlet is condemning her mother for not only marrying her husband's brother, but for marrying her husband's killer as well. She is torn between Hamlet and her own desires. She longs to be with Hamlet and to make him happy; however, she also loves to still have a king at her side while enjoying the sexual act that comes with it.
3. "Mad as the sea and wind when both contend which is the mightier. In his lawless fit behind the arras hearing something stir, Whips out his rapier, cries 'A rat, a rat!' and in this brainish apprehension kills the unseen good old man." (IV.1.7-12)
The Queen is now telling her husbad, Claudius, how Hamlet yelled at her and how he killed Polonius, even after Hamlet had specifically told her not to tell Claudius anything that he (Hamlet) said to her. She decided to tell her husband anyway, and therefore, she decided her own lusts and desires over her own son.
4. "To my sick soul (as sin's true nature is) each toy seems prologue to some great amiss. So full of artless jealousy is guilt it spills itself in fearing to be spilt." (IV.5.17-20)
Gertrude is beginning to see how sin is a sickness and how it will give someone away on its own even when that someone, Gertrude in this instance, is trying so hard to act normal even in her sin. She has sinned, and she knows it. She chose her flesh above her own flesh and blood, Hamlet.
5. "He's fat, and scant of breath. Here, Hamlet, take my napkin, rub thy brows. The Queen carouses to thy fortune, Hamlet." (V.2.287-289)
Even to the end, Gertrude is trying to justify her son by still treating her son with kindness, even though she has betrayed him continuously. She dies still in her sin, like many others in the play.
Character Analysis: Claudius
1. "With an auspicious and a dropping eye, with mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage, in equal scale weighing delight and dole—Taken to wife." (I.2.11-14)
This quote expresses, indirectly, Claudius' reason for the quickness of him being betrothed to the queen, a new widow. Claudius only wants to be king for the royalty of it, as well as having a pleasure mate in the queen. Claudius' true motives are very distorted and perverted from the start.
2. "Give me some light, away!" (III.2.269)
Claudius is frightened by the play that Hamlet is playing for the King and Queen. He quickly asks for the lights to be turned on and he hurrily leaves the play room. This shows that Claudius knows that Hamlet knows about how he killed Hamlet's father.
3. "What if this cursèd hand were thicker than itself with brother’s blood? Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens To wash it white as snow? Whereto serves mercy but to confront the visage of offence? And what’s in prayer but this twofold force, To be forestallèd ere we come to fall or pardoned being down? Then I’ll look up. My fault is past. But oh, what form of prayer can serve my turn, “Forgive me my foul murder"? That cannot be, since I am still possessed of those effects for which I did the murder: My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen. May one be pardoned and retain th' offense?" (III.3.43-52)
Claudius now is thinking about the sin he committed by killing his own brother. He does want to be forgiven; however, he feels as though he cannot be forgiven because he does not want to give up the throne, his queen, and his own pride for righteousness. He is too in love with the affects of his wickedness to ask for foregiveness. This shows the awful mindset of pride and selfishness that Claudius seems to maintain throughtout the play.
4. "To bear all smooth and even, this sudden sending him away must seem deliberate pause. Diseases desperate grown by desperate appliance are relieved, or not at all." (IV.3.7-11)
Claudius wants Hamlet to go to England so that he does not ruin anything for him (Claudius). Therefore, he tells the court to make it seem like the plan for Hamlet to go to England was long and thought out, when in reality it was a hasty and quick decision. This just goes on to show how Claudius is trying to use deceit and falsehood to get rid of Hamlet. Evil will not prevail for long.
5. "O, yet defend me, friends; I am but hurt." (V.2.324)
The King has just been stabbed by Hamlet, and these are his dying, last words. Even though he is about to die, he still does not have a repentant spirit and actually is still looking for others to accomodate to his desires. All he cares about when he dies is himself, and that is how he is forever remembered; as a selfish, wicked man.
This quote expresses, indirectly, Claudius' reason for the quickness of him being betrothed to the queen, a new widow. Claudius only wants to be king for the royalty of it, as well as having a pleasure mate in the queen. Claudius' true motives are very distorted and perverted from the start.
2. "Give me some light, away!" (III.2.269)
Claudius is frightened by the play that Hamlet is playing for the King and Queen. He quickly asks for the lights to be turned on and he hurrily leaves the play room. This shows that Claudius knows that Hamlet knows about how he killed Hamlet's father.
3. "What if this cursèd hand were thicker than itself with brother’s blood? Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens To wash it white as snow? Whereto serves mercy but to confront the visage of offence? And what’s in prayer but this twofold force, To be forestallèd ere we come to fall or pardoned being down? Then I’ll look up. My fault is past. But oh, what form of prayer can serve my turn, “Forgive me my foul murder"? That cannot be, since I am still possessed of those effects for which I did the murder: My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen. May one be pardoned and retain th' offense?" (III.3.43-52)
Claudius now is thinking about the sin he committed by killing his own brother. He does want to be forgiven; however, he feels as though he cannot be forgiven because he does not want to give up the throne, his queen, and his own pride for righteousness. He is too in love with the affects of his wickedness to ask for foregiveness. This shows the awful mindset of pride and selfishness that Claudius seems to maintain throughtout the play.
4. "To bear all smooth and even, this sudden sending him away must seem deliberate pause. Diseases desperate grown by desperate appliance are relieved, or not at all." (IV.3.7-11)
Claudius wants Hamlet to go to England so that he does not ruin anything for him (Claudius). Therefore, he tells the court to make it seem like the plan for Hamlet to go to England was long and thought out, when in reality it was a hasty and quick decision. This just goes on to show how Claudius is trying to use deceit and falsehood to get rid of Hamlet. Evil will not prevail for long.
5. "O, yet defend me, friends; I am but hurt." (V.2.324)
The King has just been stabbed by Hamlet, and these are his dying, last words. Even though he is about to die, he still does not have a repentant spirit and actually is still looking for others to accomodate to his desires. All he cares about when he dies is himself, and that is how he is forever remembered; as a selfish, wicked man.
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