The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark Quotation Workshop
For each of the quotations assigned, the groups in charge should determine the following:
The purpose of these quotations is to help you think about the play, both microscopically and macroscopically. Read these passages carefully. Identify where they come from in the play and who is speaking to whom. Then, determine what the passages mean within their specific location: what is the character saying, what does it mean at the moment? Last of all, think about what the passage means in terms of the play as a whole: does it have a larger significance when you think about those words against the backdrop of the whole play? Is the passage prophetic? Ironic? Illuminating? All of the above? Something else?
Quotation Two
The single and peculiar life is bound
With all the strength and armour of the mind
To keep itself from noyance; but much more
That spirit upon whose weal depends and rests
The lives of many. The cease of majesty
Dies not alone, but like a gulf doth draw
What’s near it with it. It is a massy wheel
Fixed on the summit of the highest mount,
To whose huge spokes ten thousand lesser things
Are mortised and adjoined, which when it falls
Each small annexment, petty consequence,
Attends the boist’rous ruin. Never alone
Did the King sigh, but with a general groan.
Group 2: P.C. Paul, Holly S. Daugherty, Robert Yu, Amber Shipp, Benjamin G.
Field-Pickering, Minmin Bao
Found in Act 3 Scene 3 line 11
Spoken by Rosencrantz to King Claudius
This is basically Rosencrantz trying to tell Claudius how important he is and Claudius blowing
him off. The irony is that Rosencrantz is right about the king's displeasure effecting the
people worse than it ever did the king. The really ironic part is that this applies as much to
the old dead king Hamlet as it does to Claudius.
The gist Rosencrantz is getting at is that a king is different from an individual because a king has power over other people, therefore, he also carries a certain responsibility for those peoples' well being. If something malicious were to happen to the king, its affects would be felt widespread. Judging from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's prior dealings with the king (as his lapdogs), this feels a bit like brown-nosing to me. That they would betray their childhood friend Hamlet by forcing him to England in order to appease the king. Also, the passage shows that these three suspect that Hamlet's madness, if kept unmonitored, will eventually wind up being the death of Claudius. Maybe some inkling to the future.-Rob
There may be another purpose to this passage and that is within its social context. Shakespeare may have been making a prophetic and illuminating statement to the highly educated within his audience. Keep in mind during this time, Cosmology thought that the planets and the sun revolved around the earth. Copernicus begins to discuss a new theory that the sun, not the earth is stationary and that the earth and the other planets revolve around the earth. Machiavelli is questioning political order and suggesting that maybe a Monarchy may not be the best form of government. Montaigne is questioning natural order by saying that there are no true distinctions between the psychology of man and the psychology of animals. Ideas of the Renaissance are now reaching England. These ideas are questioning the very things that frame society; cosmology, politics, and nature.
The single and peculiar life is bound... beliefs in cosmology, politics, and nature would be the binding or framing. With all the strength and armour of the mind... referring to the fact that it is the human mind that decides what to accept and what to reject as how the world around him or her is composed. To keep itself from noyance (irritated, troubled or distressed)... what people believed then as far as cosmology, politics, and nature was satisfactory. Even though the way that things function may be incorrect, believing in these false theories was enough for them to conduct everyday life. That spirit upon whose weal (wealth) depends and rests| The lives of many. Yes the subjects of the King depend upon the King's wealth but is it not also true that the wealth of each person depends on the wealth of the next person? Therefore, socially and economically each is dependent upon the other. This includes adherence and acceptance of ideas. When the natural order of ideas is upset or overturned nothing remains the same.
The cease of majesty| Dies not alone, but like a gulf doth draw| What's near it with it. These new and controversial ideas in cosmology, politics, and nature threaten all that Elizabethans accept as being true and if these ideas re no longer true there is the possibility of social collapse and there may be a fear of social collapse considering that England is just emerging from the Dark Ages.
It is a massy wheel| Fixed on the summit of the highest mount,| To whose huge spokes ten thousand lesser things| Are mortised and adjoined, which when it falls| Each small annexment, petty consequence,| Attends the boist'rous ruin.
Shakespeare seems to suggest that with these revolutionary ideas if accepted that the current social order will collapse but provides no alternative as to what will be constructed within its place.
Never alone| Did the King sigh, but with a general groan. Here Shakespeare suggests that the King's or societies expiration will not be the sound of one but the sound of many. In other words, many beliefs will collapse if these new ideas gain acceptance. ~P.C. Paul
This quote from the play is ironic because what Rosencrantz is warning the king about has already been set in motion by Claudius' poisoning of King Hamlet. They don't see it but the kingdom is already falling apart as a result of the rightful king's death. -Ben
Group 5: Andrea D. Clarke, Laura M. Duffy, Gursimran K. Grewal, Jessica D. Richardson,
Rebecca L. Stern
I think this passage is from Act 3 Scene 3 and it is being said by Rosencrantz. I think it is
lines 11 - 23. I think that this is a response to Claudius when Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
are being asked by him to take Hamlet away from the castle and away from him. This scene
happens after the players have re-enacted the murder of king Hamlet. In the first couple lines,
I think what is being said by Rosencrantz is that Claudius, since now he is the king has to
make sure that he has the adequate protection that is fit for a king. And that when a king dies,
not only does he die, but it affects all the people surrounding him and in the kingdom,
everyone suffers. Even though this is what Rosencratz is saying to Claudius in respect to what
may happen to him if they do not take care of Hamlet, it is ironic because King Hamlet was
killed and therefore the whole kingdom is mourning for him and many people suffered from his
sudden death, i.e. Hamlet.... ~Andrea
I agree. Rosencrantz is replying to the Claudius and affirming his choice to send Hamlet to England with them. He uses the analogy of a wheel to represent how the king of a country impacts everything that surrounds him. He says how even the smallest turn of the wheel is bound to turn 'ten thousand lesser things.' I especially like the last line because it sums up the passage well by saying even when a king sighs, the populations groans with him. It displays how important of a figure the king is to the population and how something as simple as a sigh will not go unnoticed. -Rebecca
Hi guys. First of all, Rosencrantz is speaking to Guildenstern and King Claudius. This passage takes place in Act III, scene iii, lines 11-23. I feel this passage is saying that every single person tries to stay away from getting hurt, but a known, major person needs much more protection than the average person. When a major person dies, he does not die alone, but with everyone around him. He then goes on to show an example of what he means by explaining how when a wheel is at the top of a mountain and falls, all the other objects around it fall as well. The king will never sigh alone, but with the groans of everyone else. Rosencrantz says this speech after Claudius explains to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that they have to go with Hamlet for a business trip to England because Hamlet is getting crazier as the minutes go by. ~Simran G.
Quotation One
So, oft it chances in particular men
That, for some vicious mole of nature in them
As in their birth, wherein they are not guilty,
Since nature cannot choose his origin,
By the o’ergrowth of some complexion,
Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason,
Or by some habit that too much o’erleavens
The form of plausive manners--that these men,
Carrying, I say, the stamp of one defect,
Being nature’s livery or fortune’s star,
His virtues else be they as pure as grace,
As infinite as man may undergo,
Shall in the general censure take corruption
From that particular fault.
Group One: Bryan D. Dalina, Christopher Fenlon, Adrienne V. Hawkins, Thomas Noble,
Katherine M. Schmitt
The quotation we are to discuss comes from Act I, scene IV of Hamlet. In this part of the scene,
Hamlet is keeping watch with Horatio and Marcellus to see if the ghost will reappear. Here's
what I think off the top of my head: In this passage, Hamlet is explaining to Horatio that King
Cladius is up at that late hour (it is approaching the time when the ghost is going to appear,
which is 1 in the morning) drinking and having too much fun. He explains that even though what
Cladius is doing is considered a tradition, it is one that should be given up. However, there
are some people who give in to the bad parts of their nature, which is what he feels Cladius is
doing. What do you guys think? ~A~
The passage before is talking about what Claudius is doing, this short bit is talking about men in general.
In some people, some little thing bad about them, like their ancestry is bad, but they can't really chose their parents so they're not guilty of anything.
Because of this fault they have an unbalanced personality, causes everything about them to seem bad, or to go wrong.
And because they have this little fault, unless in every other virtue they're perfect, excellent, wonderful people- everyone thinks they're evil/bad, ignoring all the good stuff.
The line after our quote sums it all up: "The dram of evil Doth all the noble substance over-daub to his own scandal" (dram= tiny amount and scandal=shame). Hamlet is commenting on how sometimes all we can focus on is that one little thing that's wrong with someone, to the point of not even noticing his or her virtue. To understand this quote, we could refer to the discussion today of Polonius. He's so annoying, that we miss all the good things about him. ~Katherine
I think you make a good point Katherine; with each of the characters we tend to look at and focus on the bad which makes us miss possible good characters. Perhaps in this quote Hamlet speaks to himself as well...his bad fault may be his indecision to avenge his father's death. What are the possible good qualities that he wants people to see? I have to say that Hamlet is not particularly one of my favorite Shakespearean characters, so I can't really think of any good qualities of the top of my head. ~A~
The willingness to take another man's life to avenge his father can be seen as a good quality to many people. Also, perhaps Hamlet's ability to deceive others and persevere through many obstacles in order to achieve his goal, albeit one of murder, can be considered a good quality as well, anyway, here is what I think about some parts of the quote...
Here, I believe Hamlet is actually saying that men are not evil by nature, but evil is brought upon them by their society. Perhaps he is even starting to justify to himself what he knows his future actions to be (deceit and murder). A "mole" can be referring to whoever or whatever poisons men into becoming evil.
Then Hamlet backs up his point with what could be seen as an allusion to political philosophy. The idea of "Tabula Rasa", the notion that all men are created with a clean slate and thus nature does not choose their path, can be traced back to Aristotle, and more recently for Shakespeare would be the writings of Thomas Aquinas. -Tom
This quotes is exactly what I was talking about on the final with regards to appearance vs. reality. Hamlet's talking about the "vicious mole," or, more specifically, an underlying personality flaw that could destroy someone from the inside out. What Hamlet fails to take notice of is that his own desire for revenge is his "vicious mole" that ultimately destroys him and several others. -Chris
Group 4: Zachary M. Dow, Dorothy E. Garrett, Shanna M. Kibler, Sarah S. Sood, Fatimah
Walee
This quote is from Act 1 Scene 4 of the play. The quote itself is located on page 1682 in
the Norton Anthology. The scene begins much like the first in the play. Hamlet, Horatio, and
Marcellus all are outside waiting for the ghost. Before it is time for the ghost to appear
they all hear the blast of trumpets signifying the carousing of the new king through Denmark.
We know this because in lines 15-18 Hamlet describes the carousing as a Danish custom. But he
feels that it is a custom that should be broken because it does nothing to honour the country.
Then Hamlet gives the speech in which our quote is located. Hamlet is saying that like those
born with a birth defect, there are holes in people's seemingly good character, or just defects
in general that ruin a persons reputation. Hamlet believes that it doesn't matter how talented
or good the person is, just one little quirk will completely ruin them in the eyes of others.
I understand that this is just a summary, but I have to go to class. So I mostly likely post something else later on. ~Meg
I think that in this quote, Hamlet gives forgiveness for a person's faults. He says that "the mole of nature" is "in their birth, wherein they are not guilty,/ Since nature cannot choose his origin." While one small quirk in a person's character may corrupt the entire character of that person (at least in the eyes of others), one cannot be blamed, at least not entirely, as it is nature that has corrupted them. Hamlet also says that "the stamp of one defect" is "nature's livery or fortune's star." It is either by nature or by misfortune that a person comes by a corrupt character, not by choice. In light of Hamlet's obvious feelings towards his uncle and his corrupt nature, I find it interesting that Hamlet would give this speech. Unless I'm just misinterpreting the quote entirely, which could very well be the case! ~Shanna
Hi ladies! Great input! Upon reading (and re-re-re-reading) this section of the play I understood this as Hamlet speaking on nature creating differences in people through flaws. Since these flaws are imbedded within our character, they are inescapable. Any little stray from perfection (which we all naturally have) immediately make you "not good enough" to the rest of the world. Since mankind will remain for generations upon this earth, there will never be a time when one is not characterized by their flaw. This clearly applies to the play. It is Hamlet's temper that causes his to kill Polonius (instead of seeing who is behind the curtain before he takes action), Polonius also has a flaw of selfishness--when he restricts Ophelia and later realizes he was wrong, and there are of course examples for everyone (including you and me!). ~Sarah
Hmmm. I think I'd say that Hamlet is talking about the unfairness of how society will condemn someone based on one flaw even though they are essentially a good person. It reminded me of what Professor Farabaugh was saying in class about how a woman with "loose lips" would be considered a loose woman even if she were really quite chaste. ~Dorothy
Ok, I apologize for my tardiness in responding to all this. I am technologically challenged I must say... I believe that maybe the flaw referred to not only pertains to the king or individuals but perhaps the leaders of Denmark as a group (king queen and other important people) which are the imperfections which tarnish the reputation of the country. It's easy to say he's referring to the King specifically, but maybe Shakespeare was trying to make a broader, subtler statement regarding government as a whole. After all in Shakespeare's time the theatre and the content of plays was censored quite extensively to prevent harmful sentiments about the king and so forth from being sown. Perhaps Shakespeare was wishing to make a political statement under the radar. ....again sorry about the tardiness I am a retard when it comes to these sort of website thingies... -Zach
Quotation Three
I do believe you think what now you speak;
But what we do determine oft we break.
Purpose is but the slave to memory,
Of violent birth but poor validity,
Which now like fruit unripe sticks on the tree,
But fall unshaken when they mellow be.
Most necessary 'tis that we forget
To pay ourselves what to ourselves is debt.
Group 3: Mark D. Denz, Holly L. Johnson, Shira M. Pilarski, Eric J. Smith, Arthur T.
Williamson
Post-Wiki Entry, January 6, 2007: Disclaimer:
This all the group entered in the Hamlet Quotation Workshop.
Hey guys, this is Shira Pilarski. So, we should start discussing this quote. I think it is said by the players. Here it is: "Quotation"
Mark here, thanks to group six for this one, quote is from Act 3 Scene 2, lines 168-175, page 1712 in the Norton. And yes, I am an English major... just not a very good one.
Group 6: Jasmine L. Curry, Meghan M. Fay, Heidi A. Harrison, Amy Lynn Herstein, Sarah A.
Melchior, Emily H. Saltsman
This is in Act Three, Scene two, Lines 168-175
In the Norton book, the quote is on page 1712.
This quote comes out of the play that the players are putting on. The quote is said by the
Player King.
-Sarah
The Player King says this to the Player Queen before he is murdered. She is telling him that she will never marry again, and he says, "Yea, I know you think that now, but when I die, you'll probably reconsider." I haven't looked up any words yet, but I would nonetheless like to ask about your opinions on lines 170 and 171. Meghan Fay
A general look at the quote: or how it relates to the play as a whole.
I believe Hamlet put the players up to this to not only make the real Queen feel guilty that
she moved on so fast after the King died, but also to invoke some type of reaction from his
mother. Remember Hamlet up till this point still is unsure if his mother, The Queen, had
anything to do with his father's death. The Ghost tells hamlet not to take revenge against his
mother, and perhaps by finding out the truth for himself, Hamlet can accept what it is the
ghost said. Perhaps by finding out for himself that his mother had nothing to do with the
death of his father he can remove some of the bitter and negative feelings from his mother.
-Fatimah Walee
What I got from lines 170-171
Perhaps the play King is telling his wife (in the play) that although she has made the promise
to be true to the king in time that promise is only 'slave to the memory', and with most
things overtime we forget and eventually move on. I'm not too sure about the "violent birth"
part means but perhaps "poor validity" could mean two things:
1.) According to the OED validity means: The quality of being valid in law; legal authority,
force, or strength. "Poor validity" could be referring to the marriage between the Queen and
current husband. Law during that time looked down upon marriages between in laws. That could
be hamlets way of telling his mother how he feels and how the marriage between his mother and
uncle is viewed by society in that time.
2.) Poor validity could also be referring to the Play Queen's promise to not marry again.
Although the Play King is speaking the words, I believe they are Hamlet's.
What does anyone else think? --Fatimah
I agree, I think those are some very strong points you make. I think you make an interesting connection with validity and the Queen's marriage. I also this that this scene is a parallel to what happens before the play takes place; a sort of "flashback". Hamlet is visited by the ghost of his father and told to avenge the new King Claudius for poisoning/ murdering him. Hamlet uses the play as reassurance that the King really did poison his father. This is one of the first major climaxes in Hamlet, a beginning of the end. The line spoken by the Player King suggests that we make rash decisions in "the heat of the moment" and later we change our minds. We may be sorry for what we've done, but our emotions tend to pull us in different directions at different points in time. This quote is a very versatile line because it serves as a warning, a proverb (in a sense), and a trap leading to the major climax of the play. -Emily Saltsman
I agree with Emily. Remember that this scene in the play is Hamlet's trap for the King. He wants to make sure that what his father said about his death is true and that Claudius did kill him. He used this scene in the play to judge Claudius' response. He even asked Horatio to watch his uncle to make sure they got the correct reading of his reaction. This scene really determines the rest of the play because Hamlet now has the proof his uncle killed his father and can go on to kill his uncle in revenge. Without this scene Hamlet slaying Claudius would not mean the same thing, instead of revenging his father who should not have died it would be seen as cold blooded murder. I also agree that Hamlet uses the scene in his play to judge his mother. The language he uses in the quote refers to the bond between mother and child. He most likely uses this scene to make sure his mother knows that he resents what she did. --Heidi Harrison
Violent: Very Intense, forceful, powerful
~Sarah