Hamlet
Questions and answers
Okay, Ophelia MAY have killed herself. She was
certainly crazy. Some modern analysts wonder if it would be correct to infer
that she might have been pregnant. If this is the case, she would not “quicken
(feel life)” until after three months gestation. If she was pregnant, it makes
suicide her possible escape from a greater sin.
When Hamlet was on the ship heading to England, the
ship was overtaken by pirates. There was a battle and Hamlet ended up on the
pirate ship. The night BEFORE, he had gone into Rosentcrantz and Guildenstern’s
bag, found the letter for the king of England demanding his death and rewrote
it to have the king of England kill Rosencrantz and Guildenstern… So much for
friendship.
This is how he arrives back in Denmark (Pirates would
have returned him for a price).
The sword fight was a way for the king to kill Hamlet
without it reflecting on him. He allows Laertes to be the “weapon.” As I wrote
on Friday, they were in overkill mode (unbated sword, poison on tip, and
poisoned wine).
Unfortunately, Hamlet switched swords and Gertrude
drank the wine. A true tragedy is when everyone of importance dies. This is the
case here.
The ending is a bit off. A representative comes from
England to get the country’s thanks: Fortinbras comes from the Polish wars to
thank King Claudius for safe passage (not to attack!!!!!)
Hamlet, as the LAST living royalty, does pass on his
vote for Fortinbras to be the next king (they are probably blood relatives).
This is what happens.
Any other
questions? Now is the time. I do want you to read the summaries
presented in that booklet I gave all of you and do recommend addressing the
questions. Shakespeare is hard to read without input (my job: sorry. I have
failed here) but can also be hard to watch as the language moves so fast.
Laertes is knicked by his own poisoned sword after
they have the scuffle as the swords are switched.
Suspension of disbelief, Carah. There is no reason. In
this version, the fall would probably have sped up Laertes’ death, but there is
no fall in the play.
Hamlet was knicked on the back… he gets irate as he
realized the sword doesn’t have a protective tip on it, so they fight and the
swords both fall. Hamlet picks up the one with the poison.
It seems to be an accident. Just a moment of
confusion; however, if someone intentially stabbed me, I would want the sword
without the protective tip… wouldn’t you? Of course, Hamlet would not have
known about the poison.
There IS an Osric. He mimmicks Polonius in his role as
a suck up. Put the hat on… it is cold… take it off…. It is hot. These guys were
courtesans in the court to BE flatterers!!!
It was meant to be comic relief.
At the funeral, Hamlet DOES also jump in the grave.
The word “quick” means life. Both men argue that they want to be buried alive
with Ophelia. It is a pretty crazy scene. It is also at the burial that we
learn that Gertrude would have supported Ophelia and Hamlet’s marriage!!!!!
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