William Shakespeare - The Complete Works/William Shakespeare - The Complete Works on CD-ROM.iso/library/line/ham/ham2.txt

Text File | 1994-05-22 | 12.0 KB | 337 lines

Act 1 Scene 2

Inside the castle the new King addresses his
assembled court, speaking of the old KingÆs death,
and of his own marriage. He tells them of the
Norwegian threat. Laertes requests that he may
return to Paris, and Hamlet asks permission to go
back to his university. The Prince appears sullen
and withdrawn, so both the King and the Queen try
to console him for the death of his father. When he
is left alone on the stage, however, Hamlet reveals
the cause of his sorrow ù not his fatherÆs death,
but his motherÆs remarriage. Horatio greets
Hamlet, and tells him of the GhostÆs appearance.
They arrange to meet on the gun-platform with the
guards.
s.d.    Flourish: The trumpet heralds the formal
approach of the royal party, led by the King;
Hamlet, at the end, seems to be separated from the
rest.
1    Hamlet our dear brother: In an elective
monarchy such as Denmark was, Claudius could
have come legitimately to the throne of his brother;
but his situation, like his speech, is full of
ambiguities ù and the unctuousness of his style
cannot totally conceal the unease of his position.
2    green: fresh.
that it us befitted: although it would have been
more suitable for us. The King cleverly merges the
royal use with the ordinary plural, identifying
himself with his audience.
4    contracted: knit together.
5, 6, 7    ôWe have had to be sensible about our
natural emotions, and grieve for him, but also
remember our own position.ö
8    sometime sister: Gertrude was formerly
his sister-in-law; the Church of England forbade
such marriages, regarding them as incestuous.
9    jointress: woman who shares property
with her husband; Claudius implies that Gertrude
has some part in the kingdom, so that his marriage
has somehow safeguarded his claim to the throne.
10    defeated: subdued (by sorrow).
11    ôWith one eye smiling and the other
shedding tears.ö
12    dirge: lamentation.
13    In equal scale weighing: with an equal
measure of.
dole: sorrow.
14    Taken to wife: married.
barred: acted without.
15    better: i.e. better than those of ordinary
men.
15, 16    freely . . . along: willingly agreed to the
marriage.
17    Now follows . . . know: The next thing I
have to tell you. Claudius declares the details of
what Fortinbras demands; the courtiers probably
know already, but the audience needs to be
informed ù and introduced to the comparison
between Fortinbras and Hamlet.
18    weak supposal: poor opinion.
20    disjoint: disturbed.
frame: order.
21    Colleagued: allied. He believes Denmark
to be vulnerable and has big ideas for himself.
22    with message: by sending demands.
26    for . . . meeting: the reason for our
meeting at this time.
28    Norway . . . Fortinbras: the King of
Norway. The Norwegian situation is parallel to
DenmarkÆs in that the elder Fortinbras has been
succeeded by his brother and not by his son.
29    impotent: powerless.
30, 31    suppress . . . herein: stop him going any
further in this business.
31    in that: because.
32    lists: enrolment.
full proportions: supporting force.
33    subject: subjects.
37    To business: to do business, to negotiate.
38    dilated: detailed.
39    let . . . duty: show your obedience by the
speed with which you obey.
42    Laertes: With these caressing repetitions,
Claudius shows his graciousness to the son of
Polonius ù and Shakespeare introduces the
character who is to be the main foil for Hamlet.
43    suit: request.
45    lose: waste.
thou: Claudius adopts an intimate form of address.
46    ôThat I wonÆt give you before you ask for
it.ö
47    native: closely related. The commonplace
parallel between the human body and the body
politic of the state gives added force to this
assertion.
49    the throne: the entire monarchy ù not
merely Claudius himself.
53    show my duty: i.e. by taking an oath of
allegiance to the new king.
55    bend: turn.
56    pardon: indulgence.
58    wrung . . . leave: got my permission at
last.
60    ôI reluctantly agreed that he could have
what he wanted.ö Polonius plays on two senses of
ôwillö, and uses the image of fixing the seals that
give authority to a legal document.
62    Take thy fair hour: enjoy yourself whilst
you are young.
time be thine: take as long as you like.
63    ôYou can do whatever you want with your
skillsö (ôgracesö = attractive qualities,
accomplishments).
64    cousin: This was used for any kinsman
other than a brother.
65    ôRather more than kinsmen in our
relationship, but not very well-disposed (ôkindö) to
one anotherö; and ônot part of the same family
(ôkindö).ö Hamlet puns on different senses of
ôkindö.
67    sun: Hamlet puns on ôsun/sonö, perhaps
implying his resentment at being still a kingÆs son
and not the king himself.
68    nightly: dark (see lines 77û8).
69    Denmark: Gertrude could mean either
ôthe King of Denmarkö (i.e. Claudius), or the
kingdom.
70    vailed lids: downcast eyes.
72    Ætis common: it happens to everyone.
75    particular with thee: any different for you.
76    Seems: Hamlet snatches GertrudeÆs word
to introduce his meditation on the appearance of
grief and the reality of his own sorrow.
77    not alone: not only; Hamlet implies that
GertrudeÆs mourning may be only a matter of
dress.
78    customary: conventional; and habitual.
79    windy . . . breath: uncontrollable sighing.
81    haviour: expression.
82    moods: modes.
shapes: appearances.
83    denote: portray (as an actorÆs appearance
portrays the role he is acting).
84    play: perform (like an actor).
85    passeth show: cannot be expressed in
outward appearances.
90    bound: was bound.
92    To . . . sorrow: to perform the proper
funeral rites.
persever: The stress (normal in the early 17th
century) is on the second syllable.
93    condolement: grieving.
95    incorrect: disobedient.
96    unfortified: not strengthened by religious
discipline.
impatient: lacking the virtue of patience.
97    simple: untaught.
98, 99, 100, 101    ôWhy should we be so
obstinate as to be distressed by something which
we know to be inevitable and which we can see is
more common than anything else.ö
100    peevish: perverse.
101    fault to heaven: a sin against God.
102    a fault to nature: an offence against the
natural order of things.
103    whose common theme: regular subject
matter.
104    still: always.
105    the first corpse: The first body was that of
Abel, who was killed by his brother Cain (see
Genesis, 4:8).
he: him.
106    throw to earth: overcome (as a wrestler
throws his opponent).
107    unprevailing: unavailing.
109    most immediate: next in succession.
Hamlet is a popular prince (see OpheliaÆs praise of
him, 3, 1, 153û7; and ClaudiusÆs
acknowledgement that he is loved by the people, 4,
3, 4 and 4, 7, 18). But the present admission
strengthens HamletÆs position.
110    nobility: A fatherÆs love for his son was
regarded as a very noble emotion.
112    impart toward: deal generously with.
For: as for.
113    school in Wittenberg: Wittenberg was
famous as LutherÆs university ù and (for theatre
audiences) as the university of the eponymous hero
in MarloweÆs Dr Faustus.
114    retrograde: contrary.
115    bend you: submit yourself.
116    eye: presence.
119    stay with us: Gertrude aligns herself with
her husband.
120    all my best: to the best of my ability.
obey you: Hamlet ignores the KingÆs remarks.
123    unforced accord: willing agreement.
124    Sits . . . heart: gives my heart much
pleasure.
grace: thanksgiving.
125    Denmark: the King of Denmark, i.e.
himself. The King seems to find every occasion for
a drink.
126    great cannon . . . tell: See 1, 4, 7.
127    rouse: carousal.
bruit again: re-echo the noise of the cannon.
130    resolve itself: dissolve.
132    canon Ægainst self-slaughter: A ôcanonö
is a religious law; and the sixth commandment,
ôThou shalt not killö (Exodus, 20:13), was
generally interpreted as a prohibition of suicide.
134    all the uses: the whole business.
136    rank . . . nature: weeds, which grow
strongly and spread wildly.
137    merely: entirely.
138    But: only.
140    Hyperion to a satyr: a god compared with
a beast. Hyperion was the glorious sun-god of
classical mythology; a satyr was a creature half
man and half goat.
141    beteem: permit. The majesty of the love
that seemed to control even the winds, is
contrasted with the sensuality ù the ôappetiteö ù
of the QueenÆs affection.
147    or ere: before.
149    Niobe: The type of sorrowing
womanhood: in Greek mythology Niobe, who
mourned the deaths of all her children, wept until
she was turned to a stone fountain.
150    wants discourse of reason: is incapable of
rational thought processes.
153    Hercules: The superman of classical
mythology. Hamlet is already conscious of
inadequacy, although he is as yet ignorant of his
task.
154    unrighteous: insincere ù because her
tears are betrayed by her conduct.
155    ôHad ceased to make her eyes red and
sore.ö
157    dexterity: skill.
incestuous: See note to line 8.
159    break . . . tongue: Unspoken griefs were
said to break the heart.
163    change that name with you: Hamlet
seems to be using the words of Jesus (as reported
in St John, 15:15): ôHenceforth I call you not
servants, for the servant knoweth not what his Lord
doeth: but I have called you friends.ö
164    what make you: what are you doing.
from: away from.
166    good even: A normal greeting any time
after noon .
169    say so: say that of you.
173    Elsinore: The Danish name was well-
known to the Elizabethans; some of ShakespeareÆs
company on tour had performed there.
174    deep: well. Hamlet speaks ironically of the
Danish drinking habits.
179    ôThe food cooked for the funeral was
served up cold at the wedding.ö
181    Would: I wish.
dearest foe: worst enemy.
182    Ere...ever: before.
184    mindÆs eye: imagination.
185    once: This seems inconsistent with
HoratioÆs apparent familiarity with the dead king at
1, 1, 57û62 and later in this scene.
186    A was a man: He was the ideal of
manhood.
all in all: perfect in every way.
192    Season your admiration: control your
wonderment.
193    attent: attentive.
deliver: report. HoratioÆs speech has been called
(by S.T. Coleridge) ôa perfect model of dramatic
narration and dramatic style, the purest poetry and
the most natural styleö.
194    Upon the witness of: witnessed by.
198    dead waste: most desolate part.
200    at all points: correctly in every detail.
cap-;aga-pie: from head to foot (the phrase is
French).
203    oppressed: troubled.
204    truncheon: military baton.
distilled: dissolved, melted.
205    act: action, effect.
207    dreadful: Marcellus and Barnardo were
full of fear.
209    in time, Form: in time and form.
211    knew: was acquainted with.
212    These. . . like: The Ghost was as like
HamletÆs father as HoratioÆs hands are like each
other.
213    platform: terrace of a fort, where the guns
are mounted.
watched: kept guard.
216    it: its.
216    address . . . speak: begin to move as
though it were going to speak.
218    even then: at that very moment.
224    The lines here have the rhythm of verse,
although they are not always strict pentameter
lines.
228    beaver: face-guard of a helmet.
229    What: how.
frowningly: i.e. as a warrior ought to look.
233    I would: I wish.
234    amazed: bewildered.
236    tell: count .
239    grizzly: grey.
241    sable silvered: black with silver hairs.
Perchance: perhaps.
243    assume . . . person: has the appearance of
my father (spirits, both good and bad, could
manifest themselves in the likeness of human
beings).
244    hell . . . gape: The gaping hell-mouth
(open to receive those who communicated with
evil spirits) was a common property on the
Elizabethan stage.
248    whatsoever: whatever.
hap: happen.
250    requite: reward.
loves: friendship. Hamlet emends the formal
respect of the guardsÆ ôdutyö.
254    My fatherÆs spirit: The belief that ghosts
were spirits of the dead dates back to classical
times, and was reinforced for Christians by the
Roman Catholic doctrine of purgatory.
255    doubt: suspect. Hamlet is quick to suggest
another reason (not mentioned by Horatio in the
first scene) for a ghostÆs appearance: it wishes to
reveal a crime that has been committed.