The Ghost Scene Commentary Notes

• In Act 1, scene 5

• Ghost of his father tells Hamlet that he was murdered by poison poured into his ear by Claudius

• The Ghost tells him to seek revenge on Claudius and leave the judgment of his mother to heaven

• The ghost doubts the queens self morals and dignity

• Shakespeare uses numerous literary devices to express the ghost’s state of mine.  Such examples are listing, caesuras, alliterations, juxtapositions, similes, metaphors, contrasts and figurative imagery

• The ghost criticizes Claudius through listing.  Hamlet labels him as an “adulterate beast, with witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts, o wicked wit and gifts, that have the power so to seduce!” – alliteration there too, which emphasizes to Claudius’ betrayal of his brother

• Using the words “O” and “Ay” emphasizes the extreme emotions (sorrowful and angry) of the ghost

• The exclamation marks emphasize the ghosts anger – caesuras

• The ghost contrasts his “natural gifts” to that of Claudius’ – The King was seen to be more loyal

o   “Upon a wretch whose natural gifts were poor. To those of mine!”

§  Claudius: cheap relationship

§  Hamlet: loyal

• Juxtaposition:

o   “Though lewdness (bad comings) court it in a shape of heaven”

§  Meaning/purpose: the ghost claims to Hamlet that his fathers murder was an unjust debt

§  Virtue and lust: Gertrude (his mother)

•  Juxtaposition:

o   “Celestial bed” – heaven, pure : juxtaposed to …

o   …“Prey on garbage.”  - The Ghost denounces his queen in bitter terms,

§  Garbage is a metaphor for Claudius’ personality/behavior

• From lines 65-87, the Ghost explains the story of the Kings death

•  Figurative imagery: “I scent the morning air”  - setting the scene with an innocent and pure mood – which implies that the peace will be interrupted later on

• Juxtaposition:

o   “Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole”

§  Meaning/purpose: highlights the dreadful act of Claudius , disturbing the Kings peace

• Simile:

o   “That swift as quicksilver (poison- mercury) through the natural gates and alleys of the body” demonstrates that the poison rapidly killed the King

o   “And curd, like eager (acid) droppings into milk” portrays the image of acid poured into the kings ears and the influence on his blood

•     Figurative Imagery:

o   “Instant tetter barked about”- refers to immediate blisters that appeared on the Kings skin from the poison

•  “O, horrible! O, horrible! Most horrible!” – repetition underscores both the ghosts suffering and what was taken from him

• The Ghost lists his dispositions…“of life, of crown, of queen”

o   This was done to portray the extent of the Kings losses because of his death

• The line with all my imperfections on my head” signifies that the Ghost is no longer superior

• The repetition of “O horrible” stresses the Ghosts feelings towards his own death 

Nunnery Scene Notes

• Act 3, scene1
• Ophelia is sent by Claudius and Polonius to check on the condition of Hamlet. 
•  Hamlet demanded Ophelia to go to a nunnery in sense of protection 
•    Repetition of the instruction:

o“Get thee to a nunnery” (1) “Go thy ways to a nunnery” (10) “to a nunnery, go” (21)

§  Thee refers to Ophelia

§  This phrase is used numerous times to illustrate that Hamlet is playing antic-disposition, as he adheres to his sense of protection (over Ophelia)  

•  Rhetorical questions:

o    “Why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners?” (1)

§  Taking a Christian slant – everybody is born a sinner, therefore, he tries to protect Ophelia from giving birth to sinners (which will make her a sinner) by sending her to a nunnery

§  This rhetorical question is used to illustrate that Hamlet does care for Ophelia and that he is not mad

§  Hamlet is directly stating that Ophelia is a sinner and making her feel guilty  

o   “What should such fellows as I do crawling between earth and heaven?” (8)

§  “Between earth and heaven” refers to Purgatory

§  Hamlet criticizes himself purposely saying “ What should such fellows as I”

§  This device is used to show that Hamlet is playing antic-disposition because he exaggerates the fact that he is not well 

• Listing:

o   “I am very proud, revengeful, ambitious,” (5)

§  Shakespeare used listing to emphasize that Hamlet is mad as a result of his father’s murder and his uncle taking over his position

§  As he uses the three descriptive characteristics which symbolize

·         Proud: education

·         Revengeful: father’s death

·         Ambitious: to take the throne    

• Simile:

o   “As chaste as ice, as pure as snow” (17)

§   Hamlet is saying to Ophelia that if she does get married she should not engage in sexual acts

§  Ophelia’s beauty overpowers honesty when looking for a guy – therefore, Ophelia needs to be careful (this causes Hamlets paranoia, demanding her to go to a nunnery)   

• Caesuras:

o   “Get thee to a nunnery, go; farewell.”

o   Shakespeare wanted to show a sense of haste – showing true madness

•    Metaphor:

o   “What monsters you make of them”

§  Hamlet is criticizing not only Ophelia, but the woman race (misogyny) as a whole – saying that she will make her groom a ‘monster’

§  Hamlet is pretending to be mad

•  Biblical Reference:

o   “God has given you one face, and you make yourself another” (25) and “God’s creatures” (27)

§  Shakespeare uses biblical references to highlight Hamlets misogyny and his true madness

§  Hamlet is mad at Ophelia and the woman race; accusing ‘them’ that they change their personality and behavior to please others

• Personification:

o   “Noble mind”

§  Part of Ophelia’s soliloquy

§  She is showing respect for Hamlet, however, she does believe that he has is truly mad 

Claudius Praying Notes

•     Act 3, scene 3
• Main issue: Claudius tries to pray but cannot as he explains that his “offence is rank, it smells to heaven”
•  Lines 1-21:

o   King Claudius speaks of how his faults are too great, and he is worried that he can never be forgiven for them.

o   “eldest curse upon it” – the word curse refers to his brother’s death

o   Caesura:

  “A brother’s murder. Pray can I not”

·         Used to show that Claudius had a thought which triggered him to think of another – shows a sense of confusion

o   Ongoing pentameter:

§  “My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent; and, like a man to double business bound”

·         Shows Claudius confused and worrisome feelings

·         “My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent”  means that his sin overshadows the intent of wanting forgiveness by praying

·         Simile: “like a man to double business bond” having the problem of praying for Claudius is like having a double job – its hard

o   “I stand in pause where I shall first begin” – Claudius doesn’t know where or how to begin his prayers

o   “Cursed hand” – refers to himself

o   “Brother’s blood” – symbolizes Claudius’ sin of murder

o   Rhetorical Question:

§  “Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens to wash it white as snow?”

·         Claudius is asking for forgiveness

·         He is pretty much saying ‘can’t god easily just forgive me, take the burden off his shoulders’

·         Simile:”as white as snow”- Shakespeare uses this to show Claudius’ wants; which is to be forgiven and become pure, to be clean (“white as snow”)

•    Lines 22-34:

o   “My fault is past” – Claudius cannot turn back or relive his past, he rather, has to feel the guilt

o   Claudius asks “what form of prayer can serve my turn?” He is asking how can he be forgiven and what should he should do

o   “Forgive me my foul murder?” – praising to the Lord, asking for forgiveness

o   Contradiction: “Forgive me my foul murder? That cannot be; since I am still possessed” -  Claudius is asking for forgiveness but also admitting that he doesn’t deserve it as he did kill his brother (“still possessed”) – Through this, Shakespeare is illustrating Claudius’ confusion about his wants

o   “My crown, mine own ambition and my queen, may one be pardoned and retain the offence?” – Claudius is apologizing for his selfishness

•     Lines 35-43:

o   “Try to repentance can: what can it not? Yet what can it when one cannot repent? O wretched state! O bosom black as death!”

§  Here, Claudius is doubting himself about his ability to be forgiven

§  He is asking rhetorical questions to God – Shakespeare uses this to show that Claudius is weak

§  Using words like O emphasize Claudius’ guilty feelings

§  “O wretched state!” represents the state of which Claudius is in – like him asking for forgiveness

§  Simile: “bosom black as death” – meaning that Claudius asking for forgiveness is terrible; the worst thing you could do

o   “Art more engaged! Help, angels! Make assay!”

§  Praise to the heavens asking for help

§  Asking for god to make his repentance process easy

§  The exclamation marks were used to show his eagerness

o   Simile:

§  “Be soft as sinews of the newborn babe”

·         Claudius wants his forgiveness to be an ease

·         Plus, a happy and good moment, not one that has to bring him misery

·         He wants everything to be okay, as he says “all may be well”

(Then Hamlet enters)

• Lines 44-49:

o   Hamlet interrupts Claudius when he is trying to pray

o   Hamlet is seeking revenge and therefore thought to himself that at that time, when Claudius was on his knees praying, was a good time to kill him as Hamlet says “and now I’ll do it”

o   Hamlet calls Claudius a “villain”

o   Hamlet wants revenge as he says “a villain kills my father; and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send to heaven.”