QUOTES
These quotes relate to theme of the play
ACT 1
Bernado: "Who's there?" (I, i, 1)
- With this being the first line of the play, it creates an atmosphere of uncertainty and the audience starts questioning what is reality and what is false.
- During this scene, the guards are wondering whether or not the ghost is real or is it just their imagination. They are not certain if the ghost is the dead King Hamlet or not.
Hamlet: "Seems, madam! nay it is; I know not 'seems.'
'Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother,
Nor customary suits of solemn black,80
Nor windy suspiration of forced breath,
No, nor the fruitful river in the eye,
Nor the dejected 'haviour of the visage,
Together with all forms, modes, 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, ii, 76-86).
- When Gertrude asks why Hamlet is wearing mourning clothes and "seems" so upset, Hamlet replies that he "is" indeed upset
- He thinks that his exterior appearance does not represent how he really feels internally
- Although he "seems" upset but in reality he "is" upset
Claudius: "Of impious stubbornness; 'tis unmanly grief;
It shows a will most incorrect to heaven,
A heart unfortified, a mind impatient,
An understanding simple and unschool'd" (I, ii, 94-97).
- Claudius praises Hamlet for grieving for his dead father but he believes that grieving too long is "unmanly"
- Though Claudius gives Hamlet advice, it is hypocritical since he knows that he killed Hamlet's father.
- He is acting to be a caring father but in reality he is manipulative
- Though Claudius gives Hamlet advice, it is hypocritical since he knows that he killed Hamlet's father.
Hamlet: "The dram of evil
Doth all the noble substance of a doubt
To his own scandal-" (I, iii, 36-38).
- Hamlet does not like when people drink
- He believes that drinking connects to corruption
- Being intoxicated only hides one's internal struggles and evils
- This can be related to how Claudius is hiding the fact that he murdered his own brother. He is hiding his guilt internally and masking the truth through his enjoyment of partying and drinking
Hamlet: "O villain, villain, smiling, damned villain!" (I, v, 1O9).
- Hamlet finally realizes that Claudius is a "villain" who is pretending and appearing all nice and "smiling" all the time to hide his evil.
Hamlet: "To put an antic disposition on" (I, v, 173).
- After being exposed to the truth / reality, Hamlet decides to pretend to be insane
- Now Hamlet is going to appear mad but in reality he is functioning normally while trying to avenge his father in secret.