Character Analysis: Fortinbras

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Character Analysis: Hamlet

1. "Seems,” madam? Nay, it is. I know not “seems.” 'Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother, Nor customary suits of solemn black, Nor windy suspiration of forced breath, No, nor the fruitful river in the eye, Nor the dejected 'havior of the visage, Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief, That can denote me truly. These indeed “seem,” For they are actions that a man might play. But I have that within which passeth show, These but the trappings and the suits of woe." (I.2.76-86)

Hamlet is explaining to his mother that with all his different physical acts of grief that he shows, whether its dressing in black, crying continually, etc. he will never be able to tell her or show her the terrible pain that roars on inside him. It is unable to be shown. This shows the basis of Hamlet's actions for everything that he does in the remainder of the play. Though he does eventually become very angry and revengeful, the center of it all is his sadness of the death of his father.

2. Yes, by heaven! O most pernicious woman! O villain, villain, smiling, damnèd villain! My tables!—Meet it is I set it down that one may smile, and smile, and be a villain. At least I’m sure it may be so in Denmark. (writes) So, uncle, there you are. Now to my word." (I.5.104-109)

Hamlet has been struggling with how to deal with the death of his father. He has been depressed and sadness has overtaken him. However, the ghost of his father tells Hamlet to take revenge on his (Young Hamlet's) uncle, the King, for the death of his father, because Claudius killed Hamlet's father. This is a huge turning point for Hamlet in the play and also for the plot in the play. Everything begins to become dark in the remainder of the book.

3. "Observe mine uncle. If his occulted guilt Do not itself unkennel in one speech, It is a damnèd ghost that we have seen, And my imaginations are as foul as Vulcan's stithy." (III.2.80-84)

This shows the tremendous trust that Hamlet has in his dear friend Horatio, who seems to be the only person Hamlet really trusts.

4. "A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of a king, and eat of the fish that hath fed of that worm." (IV.3.27-28)

Hamlet is now beginning to attack his uncle with verbal abuse. He tells his uncle that even though he is a king, he is still as low as a worm and he should be thought of as that. Hamlet, whether insane or sane, is dealing with his grief now through anger and hate towards his uncle.

5. "Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio, a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy. He hath borne me on his back a thousand times, and now, how abhorred in my imagination it is! My gorge rises at it. Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft. —Where be your gibes now? Your gambols? Your songs? Your flashes of merriment that were wont to set the table on a roar? Not one now to mock your own grinning? Quite chapfallen? Now get you to my lady’s chamber and tell her, let her paint an inch thick, to this favor she must come. Make her laugh at that.—Prithee, Horatio, tell me one thing." (V.1.185-195)

Hamlet sees the skull of his once good friend and fellow jester, Yorick, in the graveyard where Ophelia is being buried. Hamlet begins to realize the frailty of life and its brevity. Hamlet's whole mindset on death is now much more intensified and it now has much more value to him. Life is not just fun to him now, it is serious and short, and he wants to make the most of it.

Hamlet Act V.2

     This is such a great scene! Finally, some action...some violent action! That is what is exciting! There were many deaths in this last scene, some were predictable while others were actually quite unpredictable. The King was bound to die, every reader knows that. However, it is quite surprising to see the Queen die as well. Out of each death, the one that truly deserved the death was Claudius. When one goes through his "resume," one will see that he is a murderer, an adulterer (to a certain extent), a prideful man (concerning the crown), and a revengeful man as well. Now, Claudius at one point did feel sorry for all the things that he had done; however, he excused that sorry feeling. He never followed through with his repentant spirit. Rather, he continued to act wickedly and actually plotted to kill Hamlet rather then ask for forgiveness from him. Claudius is definitely the man who well deserves his death. The one who least deserves his death is Laertes. One can easily respect Laertes. For one, he is one out of the two characters who die forgiving another person, or rather who die a respectable death. Hamlet is the other person who dies forgiving Laertes for fighting/killing him (Hamlet). Anyway, Laertes dies saying this: "Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet. Mine and my father's death come not upon thee, nor thine on me!" (V.2.330-332). This quote explains how Laertes' heart truly was when he died. Therefore, what quantifies deserving death is someone who no matter how they lived, died with his/her heart set on sin, destruction, and pride; like Claudius. Laertes displayed pure unselfishness even in the hardest time to display such humility: during his last, few breathes. Laertes died with honor, not because of how he lived, but because of how he died.

Hamlet Act V.1

     The gravediggers, though they may seem insignificant, are actually extremely important in the plot of this book. Hamlet has been concocting a plan to kill his uncle, who is also the king, Claudius because he killed Hamlet's father who was the king before. Hamlet's whole thought process throughout the book is revengeful and at certain points heartless. All he wants is to have his revenge on the king. However, the gravediggers really put life in perspective for young Hamlet. The gravediggers are digging a grave for the young woman Ophelia, who had just killed herself, and Hamlet and Horatio came up to the two diggers and began to talk to them (one of them did leave during the conversation (V.1.61-62)). As the diggers dug, Hamlet saw all these skulls all over the ground and the diggers were throwing them over their shoulders like there was no issue; however, Hamlet began to think about the brevity of life (V.1.76-81). Life is much too short to just have fun. Hamlet realized this in that time and he wanted to take every opportunity in this life. "Dost thou think Alexander looked o' this fashion I' th' earth?" Hamlet said as he contemplated life's brevity (V.1.199-200).  Hamlet has been having this perverted outlook on life, in that he believes in just having fun. However, the gravediggers have put life in perspective for Hamlet. Life is no longer eternal now to Hamlet, it is now very mortal and brief. He longs to now take life as seriously as possible. He wants use every opportunity he gets and make the most of them. Life is no longer everlasting, it is rather extremely brief. Hamlet is a changed man now because of these gravediggers. Thy are extremely important in this pay for that very reason of changing the mind of Hamlet indirectly. 

Hamlet Act IV.6 and IV.7

     Hamlet really does seem to trust Horatio. Hamlet does not trust anybody, even his own mother. He does not trust Rosencrantz or Guildenstern or anybody. However, he does seem to trust his good friend Horatio. Why is that? It seems that Horatio has shown that he is a faithful friend in the past. Remember, they both went to the same college together and they are both extremely close with each other. Horatio has proved himself to be a good friend towards Hamlet because never throughout the book so far has Horatio betrayed hisclose friend Hamlet like so many others had already, including his own mother. Horatio has proved himself a faithful friend.

     The relationship between Cluadius and Laertes is based solely on feeling. There is no substance at all in their relationship. All Claudius cares about is using Laertes to fulfill his own plans and desires, and it is the same for Laertes. The fact that Claudius is the King is great for him (Laertes) because he can use him for basically anything, including getting revenge on Hamlet. It seems that their entire relationship is based on the idea a seeking the death of Hamlet. Hamlet killed Polonius, so Laertes wants revenge on him, and Claudius just wants Hamlet dead because he (Claudius) knows that Hamlet knows that Claudius killed Hamlet's father just so Claudius could be king. Another thing that the King wants from Laertes is his submission to the king. "Will you be ruled by me?" (IV.7.58) The King asked Laertes, concerning if they would come together to kill Hamlet. It is interesting because they both do not care about the other person at all, they only want to fulfill their own desires, and they use each other to do that. It seems like a relationship that probably will not last very long.

Hamlet Act IV.4 and IV.5

     Hamlet feels quite uneasy about the Norwegians crossing over Denmark to be able to get to Poland so that they may have a bloody battle for a piece of land that is almost entirely insignificant besides the name of it (IV.4.18-22). Honestly, one can understand why Hamlet could be a little confused and even a little troubled about it as well. However, the main reason that he is so troubled is because he begins to see his own heart and how he has been dealing with the whole situation with Claudius. He wants to kill the king, but he has not taken much initiative to do so yet. Hamlet sees the Norwegians and how they are fighting for something that is not important at all and it makes him look down on them for not fighting for something bigger, yet realizes his ownself and he hasnt fought for what he thinks is very important, which is to have revenge on Cluadius. It's interesting to see what is going to happen next. It seems like Hamlet's plan is starting to lose control a little bit.

     Laertes and Hamlet both have fairly similar characteristics. For instance, Hamlet shows his superiority not only as a male, but also a person when he talks to his mother and the king. He is very confident in his speech with the king and he is also very controlling to his mother when he tries to tell her of her sin and Cluadius' sin (III.4.54-88). Laertes also does the same thing with Claudius when he approaches him with pure confidence when he (Laertes) thinks that the king killed his father. Laertes runs up to the king and breaks the door down because of his rage at the king (IV.5.111). Both Laertes and Hamlet are both similar in that they both display confidence when handling certain situations. Sometimes this is good, but sometimes this is very bad and it gets them in trouble, or rather, will get them in trouble.

Hamlet Act IV.1, IV.2, and IV.3

     Gertrude, who immediately after her confrontation with Hamlet, goes and tells her husband of what Hamlet has done, that is, killing Polonius. She goes on to tell Claudius about what happened, and he summons Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to go retrieve Hamlet, along with the body, and bring him to Claudius. Gertrude and Claudius both seem to treat Rosencrantz and Guildenstern with firmness, yet not with any rudeness or hate towards them. They are very scared for the rest of the kingdom with Hamlet roaming around; however, the Queen and King seem to treat Rosencrantz and Guildenstern with firmness and haste that is all.

     "The body is with the King, but the King is not with the body" (IV.2.27-28) means that though the King does have a physical body, he does not have a part in the kingship of Denmark, or in the political body. The kingship of Denmark belongs to one person, and that is Hamlet Sr. Who knows, maybe Hamlet is saying that he should be king, but either way, the interpretation of this quote is that though Claudius does have an actual physical body, he has absolutely no right to the kingship of Denmark.

     It's funny; yes, Hamlet did hide Polonius' body from the King, but he soon revealed to him where it he hid it (IV.3.35-37), which was under the stairs in the castle lobby. What seems to be the only reason that Hamlet hid Polonius' body is so that Hamlet could send his uncle a message that even "...a king may go a progress through the guts of a beggar" (IV.3.30-31). Hamlet, it seems from the text, wants to bring Claudius as low as humanly possible without killing him just yet, and that may mean through little things such as hiding Polonius' body from him. Hamlet is very clever in many of his answers, especially to Claudius. For instance, Hamlet was asked where Polonius' body was and he replied saying that he was at supper. He began to explain that he was having supper with the worms who were eating his dead body (IV.3.16-25). Hamlet wants to bring his uncle as far down as possible so that he may experience the true pain and suffering that he deserves.

Hamlet Act III.3 and III.4

     Hamlet's soliloquy while he is on his way to kill Claudius is extremely gripping. Hamlet longs to have revenge on his uncle; however, he does not want to kill his uncle while he (Claudius) is praying for forgiveness. Rather, he wants to kill him when he is doing something sinful. Hamlet says that he wants to kill him "When he is drunk asleep, or inhis rage, or in th' incestous pleasure of his bed, at game a-swearing, or about some act that has no relish of salvation in't..." (III.3.89-92). So, it is tough to believe that Claudius really does hear Hamlet. If he did hear Hamlet, then he would have most likely said something to him about it, but rather he just says, "My words fly up, my thoughts remain below. Words without thoughts never to heaven go" (III.3.97-99). From what the script tells the reader, it does not seem like Claudius hears Hamlet's soliloquy.
    
     Gertrude is very upset when Hamlet begins to tell her of the way he feels about her marrying the murderer of his father and her husband. One can only sympathize with Gertrude because of her weakness and brokeness towards Hamlet. "...Thou hast cleft my heart in twain" (III.4.157) means that she is torn between Hamlet and her second husband. She loves her son, more then anything in the world, but she would also love to continue to be Queen and have a husband who "loves" her and "cares" for her both emotionally and physically. Hamlet goes on to beg his mother to "Confess yourself to heaven, repent what's past, avoid what is to come, and do not spread the compost on the weeds to make them ranker" (III.4.150-153). She loves her son; however, it is tremendously difficult for her to give up the satisfaction of royalty, sex, and "romance." Gertrude is torn between herself and her son; the only question is who will she pick?

Hamlet Act III.2

     Hamlet's play. which is called "The Mousetrap," consists of a king and queen who love each other, but then one day, as the king fell asleep, a man came and poured poison in his ear to kill him. The king died and the murderer seduced the queen in order to gain the crown. The slowly and reluctantly obliged and they got married. This play is almost the exact same thing that Hamlet's uncle did to his (Hamlet's) father. The new King, Hamlet's uncle, killed Hamlet's father, the old King, in order to gain the crown. Hamlet made this play in order to guilt his uncle into admitting that he killed Hamlet Sr. "The Mousetrap" is genius! Hamlet sets the stage, the characters, and the play itself so well in order to guilt his uncle. Hamlet asks Horatio, his good friend, to do this: "...when thou seest that act afoot, even with the very comment of thy soul observe my uncle" (III.2.80-82). Hamlet then asks his players, or actors, to say the lines a certain way so that the guilt will really grab at the heart of the King and pull him into admitting his sin. This entire plan is brilliant! It is truly exquisite! The reader immediately realizes the mastery in Hamlet's play when the King sees that the play resembles his murder very much and exclaims, "Give me some light, Away!" (III.2.275), and then he quickly leaves the room. The very fact that the King reacted in such a rash way shows that there is something more tot the play then just a silly play. Others will begin to realize that the King's reaction was not normal and they will want to know why. His behavior will begin to become very suspicious, and that is exactly where Hamlet wants his uncle to do. This plan, also known as "The Mousetrap," is truly remarkable and masterful!

Hamlet Act III.1

     Hamlet's soliloquy, which has become one of the most inspirational and famous in the history of British Literature, explains to the reader of the warring battle that is going on inside of Hamlet. "To be, or not to be, that is the question..." (III.1.56), is arguably the most world renowned quote in British Literature and, honestly, in literature itself. This says it all for Hamlet Jr. Hamlet here is talking about life, whether to let it be, or whether to let it not be. Hamlet seems to be contemplating suicide. Now, at the moment that Hamlet is reciting his famous soliloquy, the King; whose name is Claudius, and who is also the uncle of young Hamlet;and the Queen; whose name is Gertrude, and who is also young Hamlet's mother, are spynig on Hamlet Jr. trying to find out his source of madness. The reader knows that Hamlet is not necessarily going "crazy", but he is rather concocting a plan to avenge his father's death through the death of his uncle, the King, who killed Hamlet's father in order to gain the crown. So, the question is therefore, did Hamlet know that his mother and uncle were spying on him, or did he not. He most certainly did! Hamlet knows that the King and Queen are under suspicion of his madness, and they are trying to find out what is the source of his craziness. Hamlet, trying to give off the wrong idea of his "melancholy", wants his mother and his uncle to think that he is truly contemplating suicide. Why would he want to kill himself when he is so focused on the task that is at hand; to kill his uncle? Hamlet his quite aware of the presence of his uncle and his mother while he is giving his "speech." One can easily believe that he is giving this particular speech in order that the Queen and King might think that his thought of suicide is really the reason for his melancholy and madness.

Hamlet Act II.2

     Throughout the play so far, there has been evidence of Hamlet's madness as well as evidence of his saneness. The reader obviously knows that Hamlet is not insane but is rather trying to act crazy in front of everyone around him so that they will just stay away from him and dismiss him along with his feelings and thoughts. However, of the times that it seems that Hamlet truly is insane is when he is talking to Polonius in the hallway when Claudius and Gertrude are trying to spy on Hamlet and see if he is crazy. Hamlet seems to be acting very strangley towards Polonius calling him a "fishmonger"(II.2.174), and saying what seems to be nonsense to Polonius (II.2.172-223). An example of Hamlet's saneness is when his two friends Rosengrantz and Guildenstern come and visit him to see if he is still feeling melancholy because of the death of his father. Hamlet seems perfectly normal and actually admits to his two friends that he is "but mad north-northwest: when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw" (II.2.387-388). Meaning that he is sometimes mad and sometimes he is perfectly sane. Hamlet seems to do a very good job at presenting himself as someone who truly is mad in the fact that he is mad only sometimes and then is sane the rest of the times. Again, the reader truly knows what Hamlet's motives are and one knows that Hamlet is not crazy, but rather is full vengeance for his uncle is focused on how to kill him and he is constantly thinking about that. He seems to many people including Polonius, the King and Queen (his Uncle and Mother), Laertes, Ophelia, etc. to be very deranged and psychotic. However, the reader knows the truth and they know that Hamlet is indeed not crazy.

Hamlet Act 1.5 and Act 2.1

     The relationship that older Hamlet seems to have with younger Hamlet, or rather had with younger Hamlet, truly seems to be quite a healthy relationship. Hamlet Jr. seems to respect his father very well, and Hamlet Sr. also seems to respect his son as well. One could easily see the respect and appreciation that Hamlet Sr. and Hamlet Jr. have for each other. The very fact that Hamlet Jr. chooses to follow the ghost of his father when the ghost tells Hamlet Jr. to follow him shows a tremendous amount of respect between the son and the father (I.5.1-3). Respect and honor for each other seems to be what truly characterizes Hamlet Sr. and Hamlet Jr.

     Polonius and Laertes are very unstable. They both are not the most honorable men, with Laertes being a potential and apparent trouble maker; who, by the way, hates his father, and Polonius, who is very similar to Laertes, but he is also extremely deceptive and misleading. For Laertes, whenever his father enters the room, he becomes very anxious and upset at the presence of his own father; "But here my father comes. A double blessing is a double grace; occasion smiles upon a second leave" (I.3.50-53). Polonius actually makes a full plan to figure out if his son, Laertes, is doing something that he shouldnt be doing or something that he (Polonius) would not like him doing. Both of these men do not like each other very much and they both do not respect each other or trust each other at all in anyway. There is definitely a huge difference between the relationship that Polonius and Laertes have and the relationship that Hamlet Jr. and Hamlet Sr. have. Polonius and Laertes' relationship is extremely unstable and dishonest as well.

Hamlet Act 1.3 and 4

Polonius and Laertes both decide to take upon themselves to tell Ophelia, Laertes' sister and Polonius' daughter, that the man that she is in love with, Hamlet, only shows love to her for one thing. One can easily assume what this "one thing" may be. Nevertheless, Polonius and Laertes both understand the true motives of Hamlet and they want to do everything they can to get their young family member away from that man. Not only do they tell her about the danger of Hamlet, but they actually make her not associate herself with him in any way anymore. Laertes was the one who initiated the conversation with Ophelia and he was actually kind, yet he was also extremely up front and to the point with her as well. He told her for what it was, "Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister, and keep you in the rear of your affection, out of the shot and danger of desire" (I.3.33-35). Polonius then came into the room and began to reem out Ophelia for her love for Hamlet. Overall, the main reason that the two men approach Ophelia and warn her of Hamlet is because they know what Hamlet's real motive is, he wishes to have sexual intercourse.

Horatio's fear of Hamlet following the ghost to where it wants to go is that Horatio believes that if Hamlet begins to become attached to the ghost then he will also begin to loose his wits and he will become crazy. Horatio says this when he is speaking to Hamlet: "...which might deprive your sovereignty of reason and draw you into madness..." (I.4.73-74). One cannot fully blame Horatio for having this natural discomfort. Hamlet really should not be following this unknown ghost. One can only wonder if Horatio will be correct about how Hamlet will be affected due to the giving in of the urgent calling by the ghost.

Hamlet Act 1.1 and 2

      Hamlet’s first soliloquy, one seems to notice, is saturated in melancholy phrases and words that really paints the picture for how Hamlet is feeling about the death of his father and the fact that his mother is now marrying her brother in law. Hamlet immediately gives the audience the impression of his deep sadness with his first phrase saying, “O, that this too, too sullen flesh would melt...” Hamlet’s deep anguish that he expresses in this soliloquy is obviously for his the death of his father, who is also named Hamlet. Young Hamlet seems to really love his father and he truly is depressed about the death of his father. This phrase displays the unbearable pain that Hamlet is in by wishing that his “sullen flesh would melt.” The death of Hamlet’s father, also named Hamlet, has brought young Hamlet to a position in his immature life that no child should be in as young as Hamlet. Hamlet wishes to just “melt” away the pain that now seems to entrap him.

      Shakespeare’s opening scene of his popular play Hamlet consists of four men who are standing outside the castle on a guarding platform in the middle of the night. First of all, the fact that the opening scene is taking place outside of a scary castle in the middle of the night truly sets the stage for a ghost story. Secondly, these men are talking about how the past two nights they have seen a ghost appear to them while they were guarding the castle. Then, as the men continue to talk and say goodnight to each other and after one of the men actually retires to his chamber, the ghost appears to them and they want it to speak; however, it does not. This opening really sets up the stage for what actually seems to be a ghost story.